Augochlorodes Moure, 1958

Gonçalves, Rodrigo B. & Melo, Gabriel A. R., 2008, New species of the bee genus Augochlorodes Moure (Hymenoptera, Apidae s. l., Halictinae), Journal of Natural History 42 (19 - 20), pp. 1385-1403 : 1386-1390

Augochlorodes Moure

Augochlorodes Moure, 1958 . Type species: Augochlorodes turrifaciens Moure, 1958 ; by monotypy.

Augochlorodes ; generic diagnosis, Eickwort (1969).

Augochlorodes ; generic diagnosis, Engel (2000).

Comments

The phylogenetic position of Augochlorodes is uncertain ( Danforth and Eickwort 1997; Engel 2000) and apomorphic characters have not been recognized for it. In spite of this, the new species seem to be very closely related to the type species. Considering that augochlorine males are more distinctive than females and provide a greater number of phylogenetic characters – e.g. Augochlorella ( Coelho 2004) , Thectochlora ( Gonçalves and Melo 2006) – it is possible that the discovery of males could allow a phylogenetic analysis to test the monophyly of the genus and to investigate the relationships among its species. It is recognized that the genus comprises relatively small species (approximate body length 6–7.5 mm) that occur only in southern and south-eastern Brazil.

Aspects of the biology are known only for A. turrifaciens based on nest observations made by Michener and Seabra (1959) in Rio de Janeiro. Since only a few flower records are available, it is not possible to determine specialization for pollen resource. An unidentified species from Curitiba (Paraná) was reported visiting five plant families ( Cure 1983), and indication of a probable polylectism, as found in most of the Augochlorini ( Engel 2000) .

Diagnosis

Based on females, the genus can be distinguished from other Augochlorini by the following combination of characters: epistomal suture almost straight, preoccipital carina absent, pronotal lateral angle not produced, inner hind tibial spur pectinate ( Moure 1958), prementum short, tegulae oval and basitibial plate well-defined ( Eickwort 1969). The new species and the examined specimens of A. turrifaciens agree with the description of the genus ( Moure 1958) except for the following characters: the ratio between head width and length is variable, the scape can reach or surpass the vertex, and the anterior mesoscutal projection is present only in A. turrifaciens and A. rostratus sp. nov., in the other species the mesoscutum is weakly projected over the mid portion of the pronotum.

Key for the species of Augochlorodes (females only)

1. Anterior border of mesoscutum broadly rounded; reduced body length, maximum length less than 6 mm; maximum width of head less than 1.6 mm, maximum length of head 1.5 mm ............................. 2 Anterior border of mesoscutum acuminate; maximum body length up to 6.5 mm, head maximum width more than 1.8 mm, maximum length of head more than 1.6 mm ....................................... 5

2. Mesoscutum polished, shiny, without conspicuous microreticulations ( Figure 2C ), punctation sparse and mostly coarse; long and erect pubescence on lateral surface of propodeum mostly plumose (Paraná).......................................... Augochlorodes politus sp. nov. Mesoscutum dull, with conspicuous microreticulations, punctation relatively dense and fine ( Figures 2A, B and D ); long and erect pubescence on lateral surface of propodeum mostly simple................... 3

3. Frons punctation shallow and relatively weak; punctures on lower parocular area with variable diameter; supraclypeal area with sparse punctation ( Figure 1B ) (Rio Grande do Sul)......................................................... Augochlorodes incomitatus sp. nov. Frons punctation deep and coarse; punctures on lower parocular area with uniform diameter; supraclypeal area densely punctured......... 4

4. Length of clypeus 1.3×the distance between upper epistomal suture and lower rim of antennal alveolus; supraclypeal area without microreticulation, polished between the punctures ( Figure 1A ); mesoscutum with abundant decumbent pubescence; lateral surface of propodeum with microreticulation restricted to its anterior portion; body metallic green (Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul)............................................................. Augochlorodes clementis sp. nov. Length of clypeus 1.1×the distance between upper epistomal suture and lower rim of antennal alveolus; supraclypeal area with microreticulation between the punctures ( Figure 1C ); mesoscutum with sparse decumbent pubescence; lateral surface of propodeum entirely microreticulated; body metallic green with some bluish reflection (Paraná, Santa Catarina, São Paulo)........................... Augochlorodes vachali sp. nov.

5. Face as long as wide; lateral surface of parocular area with a well-defined darkened stripe ( Figure 1D ) (Rio Grande do Sul)............................................... Augochlorodes rostratus sp. nov. Face wider than long ( Figure 1E ); lateral surface of parocular area without a darkened stripe (Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo).................................................................................. Augochlorodes turrifaciens

Figures

Figure 1. Female head, frontal view. (A) Augochlorodes clementis (holotype). (B) A. incomitatus (holotype). (C) A. politus (paratype, DZUP 025497). (D) A. rostratus (holotype). (E) A. turrifaciens (DZUP 025489); (F) A. vachali (holotype). Scale bar: 0.5 mm; all figures at same scale.

Figure 2. Mesoscutum, dorsal view. (A) Augochlorodes clementis (holotype). (B) A. incomitatus (holotype). (C) A. politus (holotype). (D) A. vachali (holotype). Scale bar: 0.5 mm; all figures at same scale.