Synoeca ilheensis Lopes & Menezes, 2017

Lopes, Rogério B. & Menezes, Rodolpho S. T., 2017, SyNoeca ilheeNsis sp. nov., a new social wasp (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from Brazilian lowland Atlantic Forest, Zootaxa 4300 (3), pp. 445-450 : 446-448

Synoeca ilheensis Lopes & Menezes , sp. nov.

( Figs 1 ; 2C, D, I – L; 3D – F)

Diagnosis. Median depression in vertex present and evident, otherwise females highly similar to S. septentrionalis , some distinguished by a more globose tegula. Males with first mandibular tooth absent, tegula always more globose, S7 whitish and distinct male genitalia.

Description. Female. Metallic blue. Red markings: clypeus, mandibles, gena inferiorly, head ventrally, two weak spots on T2 and basal three-fourths of S2. Antennae blackish. Wings completely infuscated. Structure: Clypeus wider than high, narrowly truncated apically and marked by two feeble and blunt teeth. Mandible with first tooth rounded. Vertex with slight median depression. Gena wider than eye at height of sinus. Malar space about one antennal socket diameter. Pronotal carina and fovea absent. Tegula globose, with outer margin of evenly rounded. Propodeum convex, without posterior concavity.

Clypeus with very sparse macropunctures intercalated on apical two-thirds by smooth areas and basal third by dense micropuncture. Head and mesosoma with sparse, weak, but evident punctuation. Posterior face of propodeum with coarse punctures, moderately distributed medially and very dense, some coalescent, on angles. T1 strongly petiolate.

Entirely covered by whitish tomentum, denser and longer on propodeum and base of petiole. Long thick setae apically on clypeus. Moderate pilosity of thin, erect and very short setae on most of body; also longer and denser on propodeum and petiole; shorter and sparser on gaster. Fore tibiae and tarsi densely hirsute, with thick, erect, golden setae. Dense patch of short thick setae on basitibial plate.

Fore wing length: 19.7 mm.

Male. as in female, except: Red markings: clypeus on apical two-thirds, with basal third darker; entire occiput; abundant markings in mesosoma. Apical half of S7 whitish. Clypeus narrower, pointed apically. First tooth of mandible absent. Median depression of vertex much stronger. Gena narrower than eye. Smooth area only apical one-fifth of clypeus, further projected medially to center. Fore wing length: 17.2 mm.

Variation (both sexes). Specimens in alcohol darker, instead of metallic blue, widely blackish, if not entirely. Red area of clypeus varying from completely marked to only a wide band at apical margin, forming a central dark triangle. Color of clypeus may vary, reaching bright orange in some specimens. Few females may present a more elongated tegula. Median depression of vertex may vary from in depth, but always evident and stronger on males.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a tribute to the type locality, Ilhéus, Bahia-Brazil.

Distribution. Endemic to Brazilian lowland Atlantic Forest, from Moreno (Pernambuco state) to Ubatuba (São Paulo state).

Type material. Holotype ♀, Brazil: Bahia: Ilhéus , 16.v.2012, (14º48’01”S, 39º04’30”W; 10 m), coll. Menezes, R.S.T. [ RPSP] . Paratypes, same data as holotype, 1♂ [ RPSP] ; 1♂, 1♀ [MZUSP]; 1♂, 1♀ [AMNH]; 1♂, 1♀ [HYMSJRP]. Non-type material examined. Brazil: Pernambuco: Moreno , 26.ix.2012, coll. R.S.T. Menezes, 1♀ [ RPSP] ; Bahia: Ilhéus 16.v.2012, coll. R.S.T. Menezes, 9♂, 2♀ [ RPSP], same data, 04.iv.2012, 38♀ [ RPSP] ; Porto Seguro 18.xii.2011, coll. R.S.T. Menezes & S. Tomas, 1♀ [ RPSP] ; Itamaraju , 20.xii.2011, coll. R.S.T. Menezes & A.F. Carvalho, 15♀ [ RPSP] ; Santa Terezinha, Serra da Jiboia , 09.xi.2010, coll. R.S.T. Menezes & A.F. Carvalho, 1♂, 1♀ [ RPSP] ; Espírito Santo: Linhares, Reserva Vale , 21.ii.2013, coll. R.S.T. Menezes, 1♂, 1♀ [ RPSP] ; Alfredo Chaves 15.i.2010, coll. R.S.T. Menezes, 1♀ [ RPSP] ; São Paulo: Ubatuba 07.ix.2016, coll. R.S.T. Menezes, 5♀ [ RPSP] .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution of Synoeca septentrionalis from Central America and North of South America, and S. ilheensis sp. nov. from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Male and female head, frontal view; and male habitus.