Hoplitis (Chlidoplitis) haplophylli Müller, 2014

Müller, Andreas, 2014, Palaearctic Hoplitis bees of the subgenera Chlidoplitis and Megahoplitis (Megachilidae, Osmiini): biology, taxonomy and key to species, Zootaxa 3765 (2), pp. 161-174 : 163-165

Hoplitis (Chlidoplitis) haplophylli Müller , spec. nov.

Holotype: UZBEKISTAN: Samarkand env., 19.– 21.5.1994, ♂ (leg. M. Halada). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich.

Paratypes: KAZAKHSTAN: Darbaza, 40km N Tachkent, 30.5.1994, 53♀, 13♂ (leg. M. Halada). TAJIKISTAN: Dusambe env., 25.6.1981, ♂ (leg. M. Kocourek). UZBEKISTAN: Aman Zutan, 35km SE Samarkand, 30.6.1981, ♂ (leg. M. Kocourek); Samarkand env., 19.– 21.5.1994, ♂ (leg. M. Halada). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich, the Oberösterreichische Landesmuseum Linz and the private collection of M. Schwarz (Ansfelden).

Diagnosis. Based on current knowledge, the distributional range of H. haplophylli is widely separated from that of any other H. (Chlidoplitis) species, rendering the identification of this Central Asian species straightforward. Morphologically, the female differs from H. allii spec. nov. and H. onychophora (Mavromoustakis) by the unpunctured triangular area at the clypeal base ( Fig. 1 ) and from the remaining H. (Chlidoplitis) species except H. taenioceras (Benoist) by the almost straight hind tibial spurs, which regularly taper towards the unmodified, pointed and at most imperceivably curved apex; in contrast to H. taenioceras , the second segment of the labial palpus of H. haplophylli is distinctly longer than the first segment. The male differs from H. allii and H. onychophora by the subtruncate apical margin of tergum 7 lacking lateral processes ( Fig. 3 ) and from the remaining H. (Chlidoplitis) species by the long antennal segments 4–9, which are longer than broad ( Fig. 4 ), the lack of a spine-like process at tarsal segment 2 of the middle leg, the lack of a longitudinal keel or protuberance on sternum 5 and only a sparse fringe of whitish hairs at the apical margin of sternum 5 ( Fig. 2 ).

Description. FEMALE: Body length 6–7.5mm. Head: Second segment of labial palpus 1.4–1.5x as long as first segment. Anterior side of antennal segments (4)5–11 orange, posterior side darkened to different degrees. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge 2.5–2.8x as long as ocellar diameter. Apical margin of clypeus truncate, polished and medially slightly impressed with small to nearly imperceivable triangular incision ( Fig. 1 ). Clypeus and supraclypeal area densely punctured with interspaces rarely exceeding the diameter of half a puncture except for the apical clypeal margin, which is broadly unpunctured, and for the clypeal base, which has an unpunctured triangular area that tapers towards and sometimes reaches the clypeal centre ( Fig. 1 ). Underside of mandibular base and hypostomal area ciliated with long curved hairs forming a hypostomal basket. Paraocular area and frons covered with rather dense and long whitish pilosity. Pilosity of clypeus slightly less dense, yellowishwhite and directed at an angle of 45–60o towards the apical clypeal margin. Mesosoma: Scutum rather densely punctured with interspaces varying in size between the diameter of less than half a puncture and the diameter of one and a half, rarely two punctures. Scutellum densely punctured with interspaces rarely exceeding the diameter of half a puncture. Basal zone of propodeum shagreened in its upper third and polished in its lower two thirds. Tegula yellowish translucent and indistinctly punctured on its anterior third. Hind coxa with distinct longitudinal keel. Hind tibial spurs long, almost straight and regularly tapering towards the unmodified, pointed and imperceivably curved apex. Metasoma: Discs of terga 1–6 densely punctured with interspaces reaching the diameter of half a puncture to rarely one puncture. Marginal zones of terga 1–5 reddish-brown, very densely punctured with punctures about half as large as punctures on tergal discs; apical half to apical fourth of marginal zones of terga 1–2 unpunctured. Terga 1–5 with dense apical white hair bands, which are usually interrupted on terga 1–2. Tergum 6 covered with rather sparse and appressed white pilosity. Scopa whitish.

MALE: Body length 6–8mm. Head: Second segment of labial palpus about 1.5x as long as first segment. Antenna not modified, segments 3–13 longer than broad ( Fig. 4 ). Antennal segments (3)4–11(12) orange. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge 2.4–2.7x as long as ocellar diameter. Mesosoma: Scutum rather densely punctured with interspaces varying in size between the diameter of less than half a puncture and the diameter of one and a half, rarely two punctures. Scutellum densely punctured with interspaces rarely exceeding the diameter of half a puncture. Basal zone of propodeum shagreened in its upper third and polished in its lower two thirds. Tegula yellowish translucent and indistinctly punctured in its anterior third. Hind coxa with distinct longitudinal keel. Tarsal segments of middle leg of normal shape, lateroapically without spine-like processes. Metasoma: Discs of terga 1–5 densely punctured with interspaces reaching the diameter of one to one and a half punctures; disc of tergum 6 less densely punctured with interspaces reaching the diameter of up to three or more punctures. Marginal zones of terga 1–5 yellowish-white to yellowish-brown, very densely punctured with minute punctures except for the apicalmost zone, which is unpunctured. Terga 1–5 with dense apical white hair bands ( Fig. 3 ), which may be interrupted on terga 1–2 in older specimens. Tergum 6 laterally with distinct yellowish-brown tooth separated by a deep roundish incision from the yellowish-brown apical tergal margin, which is slightly protruding medially ( Fig. 3 ). Tergum 7 quadrate, its yellowish-brown apical margin subtruncate with rounded edges ( Fig. 3 ). Apical margin of sternum 1 sharply edged and slightly protruding medially, of sternum 2 evenly rounded to medially truncated, of sterna 3 and 5 slightly emarginated and of sternum 4 distinctly emarginated. Marginal zones of sterna 1–5 with whitish hair bands, which are longest on sterna 3–4. Sternum 5 lacks longitudinal keel or protuberance. Sternum 6 medioapically prolonged into long process of narrowly triangular shape ( Fig. 2 ).

Distribution. Southeastern Central Asia ( Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan); westernmost record: Samarkand ( Uzbekistan).

Pollen hosts. Probably oligolectic on Haplophyllum (Rutaceae) : all 16 pollen loads (1 locality) analyzed so far exclusively consisted of Haplophyllum pollen.

Nesting biology. Unknown.

Etymology. Haplophyllum = genus of the Rutaceae , referring to the probably exclusive pollen host of H. haplophylli .

Figures

FIGURE 1 – 9. 1: Hoplitis haplophylli, clypeus of female. 2: Hoplitis haplophylli, sterna 3 – 6 of male. 3: Hoplitis haplophylli, terga 4 – 7 of male. 4: Hoplitis haplophylli, antenna of male. 5: Hoplitis taenioceras, antenna of male. 6: Hoplitis heinrichi: tarsus of middle leg. 7: Hoplitis heinrichi: last antennal segment of male. 8: Hoplitis illustris: last antennal segment of male. 9: Hoplitis heinrichi: brood cell in preexisting insect burrow in the ground, which is entirely constructed from chewed leaves; below the cell, a partition of chewed leaves has been built, separating the cell from the lower part of the burrow.