Euglossa clausi, Nemesio, Andre & Engel, Michael S., 2012

Nemesio, Andre & Engel, Michael S., 2012, Three new cryptic species of Euglossa from Brazil (Hymenoptera, Apidae), ZooKeys 222, pp. 47-68 : 49-52

Euglossa clausi sp. n. Figures 111

Holotype.

♂, with the following data: "Euglossini do PERD, Pq. E. Rio Doce, 3859-11105" and “Marliéria, MG, Brasil, 04/07/1999, A. Nemésio” (UFMG). Details of the type locality are: Parque Estadual do Rio Doce (19°43'S, 42°34'W; 200 m a.s.l.), in the municipality of Marliéria, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil.

Paratypes.

3♂♂, with the following label data: "Euglossini do PERD, Pq. E. Rio Doce, 3859-11106" and “Marliéria, MG, Brasil, 04/07/1999, A. Nemésio”; "idem, 3872-11131" and “idem” (UFMG); "idem, 3876-11137" and “idem” (UFMG). 1♂, "Brazil, E. Santo, No. Linhares, 12.xi.1968, R.L. Dressler" (FMNH). 1♂, "Brazil, Bahia, Res. Mte. Pascoal, 8.xi.1968, R.L. Dressler" (FMNH). 1♂, "Brazil, E. Santo, Conceicao da Barra, 10.xi.1968, R.L. Dressler" (FMNH). 1♂, "Brazil, Bahia, Itabuna, 19.vi.1971, H. Kennedy, cineole" (SEMC). 1♂, "Brazil, Bahia, Itabuna, 6.xi.1968, R.L. Dressler" (SEMC).

Diagnosis.

Euglossa clausi can be distinguished readily from both Euglossa crassipunctata and Euglossa sapphirina owing to its larger size (ca. 15% larger than both species), and a combination of integumental coloration that exactly matches neither of the aforementioned species (and for this reason has been confused with both: vide Nemésio 2009: 85-87). The paraocular ivory markings in Euglossa clausi are wider below (Fig. 3) than in both Euglossa crassipunctata and Euglossa sapphirina . The metatibia and sterna (Figs 1, 6) are blue, contrasting the otherwise green metasoma, a color combination not found in Euglossa crassipunctata (green metasoma, including the sterna, and metatibia) and Euglossa sapphirina (blue throughout). The apical setae of S7 of Euglossa clausi are distributed throughout the invaginated section and the posterolateral projections of the anterior section of S8 angled but not prominent, instead being more strongly developed in Euglossa moratoi (Figs 7, 8), as is the development of the basolateral projections of the posterior section. The gonostylus of Euglossa clausi is more straight or even slightly downcurved (Figs 9-11), relative to that of Euglossa moratoi (Figs 23-25), and both differ from the terminalia of Euglossa crassipunctata (Figs 12-15).

Description.

♂: Body length ca. 10.0 mm; forewing length ca. 7.7 mm; head width 4.4 mm; interorbital distance at level of antennal sockets 2.5 mm; maximum interorbital distance 2.7 mm; labiomaxillary complex in repose reaching tip of body; scape length 0.8 mm; compound eye length 2.7 mm; mesoscutellum width 2.5 mm, length 1.2 mm; abdominal width 4.2 mm.

Coloration and vestiture: Clypeus and upper frons dark blue, remainder of head greenish-blue (Fig. 3); ivory paraocular markings well developed, reaching malar area, wider below; anterior surface of antennal scape black with very minute ivory marking in some specimens (including holotype); mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, and metasoma bluish-green (Figs 1, 2). Wing membranes lightly infumate. Pubescence very sparse, predominantly fulvous setae on metasoma and around antennal sockets, black and fulvous setae on mesosoma, black setae especially on mesoscutum (compared to predominantly fulvous setae in Euglossa moratoi ). Protibia and probasitarsus fringed with dense fulvous setae; velvet area occupying all ventral surface of mesotibia, posterior mesotibial tuft approximately one-third size of anterior tuft, almost an isosceles triangle in shape, merging with anterior tuft; anterior mesotibial tuft oval, about three times larger than posterior tuft (Figs 4, 5); metatibia oblong-rhomboid, inflated (Fig. 6).

Punctation: Mesoscutum with punctation separated by a puncture width or less, with large circular punctures; punctures on mesoscutellum sparser than on mesos cutum medioposteriorly, separated there by a puncture width or greater, with larger circular punctures. Punctation on discal base of T1 with large circular punctures of roughly same size more clearly defined medially than in other species and separated by less than a puncture width; punctures of T1-T6 dense, comprised of minute circular punctures; punctures on T7 sparser than on preceding terga, with large circular punctures; S2 with small, widely-separated tufts.

Terminalia: Male terminalia as in figures 7-11. S7 slightly invaginated mesally, forming a shallow incision with converging sides forming angle of ~110°, lateral sections faintly curved; apical setae throughout invaginated section, comprising seven alveoli (with one seta each) on each side; notospiculum weak, slightly divided apically, posterolateral projections of anterior section weak, not prominent; posterior section triangular, sharply pointed, with basolateral points not as sharply developed as in Euglossa moratoi , slightly more rounded; anterior-most section of gonobase projected ventrally, forming angle of ~100° with remainder of ventral edge; gonostylus simple ('type V’ of Ospina-Torres et al. 2006), lateral lobe pointed and slightly curved downwards; gonostylar setae long throughout; dorsal process of gonocoxa well developed, apical process evenly rounded laterally.

♀: Unknown.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a patronym honoring Dr. Claus Rasmussen, noted corbiculate bee biologist and systematist, in recognition of his years of kind collegiality.

Baits.

Specimens of this species have been collected mostly from baits of cineole and vanillin, while a few specimens were collected from skatole.

Geographic distribution.

Euglossa clausi sp. n. is a widespread bee in the Atlantic forest. Males have been collected from the state of Pernambuco in the north, to the northern portion of the state of São Paulo in the south (vide Nemésio 2009: 115 for specific locations where this species has been recorded).

Comments.

Specimens of this species had been labeled in collections under the nomen nudum “cyanifrons”. It may be that additional material is located in other institutions under this name. In addition, individuals of this species were treated in the literature as Euglossa sapphirina ( Tonhasca et al. 2002a, 2002b, 2003; Neves and Viana 2003; Nemésio and Silveira 2006, 2007) or Euglossa crassipunctata ( Milet-Pinheiro and Schlindwein 2005; Moura and Schlindwein 2009; Nemésio 2009, 2010b, 2011a, 2011b).