Thyreus batelkai, Straka, Jakub & Engel, Michael S., 2012

Straka, Jakub & Engel, Michael S., 2012, The apid cuckoo bees of the Cape Verde Islands (Hymenoptera, Apidae), ZooKeys 218, pp. 77-109 : 84-89

Thyreus batelkai sp. n. Figs 12-20

Holotype.

♂, Cape Verde Isl., Santo Antao, 1382 m, Espongeiro, 13.x.2009 [13 October 2009], 17°06'17"N, 25°05'21"W, J. Straka & J. Batelka lgt. (SEMC).

Paratypes.

Santo Antão: 1♀, 21.11.1980 [21 Noveber 1980], SANTO ANTAO, 400-1000 supra Porto Novo, Islas do Cabo Verde - 1980, H. Hölzel, W. Lobin, P. Ohm [collectors] (FISC); 1♀, Cabo Verde, Santo Antão, 5.01.99 [5 January 1999], Ribeira Grande, Orgãos, 50-200 m, leg. Aistleitner (EAFC); 1♀, Cabo Verde 00/10, Ilha d. S. Antão, Ribeira Grande, 2.12.2000 [2 December 2000], leg. Aistleitner (EAFC); 2♀♀, Cabo Verde 00/21, Ilha d, S. Antão, Cruzinha da Garça, 50 m, 7.12.2000 [7 December 2000], leg. Aistleitner (EAFC); 5♀♀, Cabo Verde 00/23, Ilha de S. Antão, Cruzinha da Garça, 10-50 m, 9.12.2000 [9 December 2000], leg. Aistleitner (EAFC); 1♂, 2♀♀, Cabo Verde 00/24, Ilha de S. Antão centr., Lagoa–E, 1150-1300 m, 10.12.2000 [10 December 2000], leg. Aistleitner (EAFC); 2♀♀, 1♂, Cape Verde Isl., Santo Antao, 1382 m, Espongeiro, 13.X.2009 [13 October 2009], 17 °06'17"N, 25°05'21"W, J. Straka & J. Batelka lgt. (JSPC); 2♀♀, 1♂, same data as previous except 12.-13.X.2009 [12-13 October 2009], 17°06'N, 25°05'W (JSPC, SEMC); 8♀♀, 4♂♂, Cape Verde Isl., Santo Antao - Selada de Alto Mira - Cirio, 4.-5.XI.2011 [4-5 November 2011], 17°04'N, 25°13'W, J. Straka & J. Batelka lgt. (JSPC, FISC); 2♀, 1♂, Cape Verde Isl., Santo Antao - Curral das Vacas - Bordeira de Norte, 6.XI.2011 [6 November 2011], 17°02'N, 25°14'W, J. Batelka & J. Straka lgt. (JSPC); 1♂, Cape Verde Isl., Santo Antao - black dunes 3 km W of Porto Novo, 7.XI.2011 [7 November 2011], 17°0'47"N, 25°06'30.84"W, J. Straka & J. Batelka lgt. (JSPC); 1♀, Santo Antao, Selada de Alto Mira - Cirio, 4-5.xi.2011 [4-5 November 2011], 17°04'N, 25°13'W, J. Straka & J. Batelka lgt. (SEMC); São Vicente: 6♂♂, 10♀♀, Cabo Verde 00/25, Ilha de S. Vicente, Calhau - Baia d. Gatas, -5 m, 13.12.2000 [13 December 2000], leg. Aistleitner (EAFC).

Diagnosis

. Thyreus batelkai can be distinguished in the male by the combination of the lateral white patches of the sixth metasomal tergum greatly reduced, especially in comparison to the patches on the fourth and fifth terga, and the second tergum with the lateral white patch L-shaped (as on the first tergum) or at least with a smaller anterior patch (Fig. 14); while the female can be recognized by the mesoscutum with plsa (anterior posterolateral mesoscutal) present anterior to and along the border with the tegula, extending posteriorly and meeting, or less frequently almost meeting, pls (posterolateral mesoscutal); the second metasomal tergum with the lateral white patch L-shaped (as on the first tergum) or at least with a smaller anterior patch (Figs 12, 14); and the apical depression of the fifth tergum bare medially, rarely with a few punctures with short setae. In both sexes the mesoscutum has coarse punctures throughout; the mesoscutellum is coarsely punctate, with punctures dense and nearly contiguous; the apicolateral corners of the mesoscutellum are prominently and sharply pointed, for-ming an angle of less than 40° (Figs 14, 15); and all of the white, anterior mesoscutal patches are well developed.

Description.

As described for Thyreus denolii (vide supra) except as follows: ♂: Total body length 13.7 mm (7.9-13.7 mm); forewing length 9.6 mm (6.5-10.6 mm). Head wider than long (length 2.7 mm, width 3.5 mm); upper interorbital distance 2.2 mm; lower interorbital distance 1.6 mm. Intertegular distance 3.1 mm (2.3-3.4 mm); mesoscutellar posterior margin weakly sinuate, with apicolateral angle projecting as a prominent spine, with a defined median emargination (Fig. 15). Apex of seventh metasomal tergum with apicolateral prominences distinct, margin between frequently broadly U-shaped, weakly concave, without medial emargination or swelling; male terminalia as in Figures 16-20.

Mesoscutum with well-defined, coarse, contiguous to nearly contiguous punctures; mesoscutellum, including axilla, as on mesoscutum. Pleura with coarse, contiguous punctures; hypoepimeral area as on remainder of pleura, without impunctate area bordering scrobe.

White patches on mesosoma as follows: deps (dorsal mesepisternal), lpn (lateral pronotal), and als (anterolateral mesoscutal) present; ms (median mesoscutal) present, often extending to posterior tangent of mls (mediolateral mesoscutal); mls (mediolateral mesoscutal) present; plsa (anterior posterolateral mesoscutal) present anterior to and along border with tegula, extending posteriorly and meeting, or less frequently almost meeting, pls (posterolateral mesoscutal); t (tegular) present posteriorly on tegula; pls (posterolateral mesoscutal) present; ps (parascutellar) and s (mesoscutellar) absent; deps (dorsal mesepisternal), hypm (hypoepimeral area), and lp (lateral propodeal) present, veps (ven tral mesepisternal) absent (Figs 12, 14). Metasomal terga with prominent patches of appressed, plumose white setae as follows: first metasomal tergum with large, L-shaped patches laterally; second metasomal tergum with large, L-shaped patches laterally as on first tergum, infrequently L-shape is incomplete with secondary rounded secondary anterior patch almost connecting posterior transverse patch; third through fifth metasomal terga with more or less transverse to rounded lateral patches (Figs 12, 14).

♀: As described for the male except in usual gender differences and as follows: Total body length 7.4-13.6 mm; forewing length 5.7-10.4 mm. Head wider than long (length 3.2 mm, width 3.9 mm); upper interorbital distance 2.3 mm; lower interorbital distance 1.8 mm. Intertegular distance 1.7-3.4 mm; mesoscutellar posterior margin forming a more gently, broad curve that is more straight medially between apicolateral angles, apicolateral angles forming a prominent spine, medially not to faintly emarginate. Apical depression of fifth tergum impunctate medially. Pygidial plate relatively narrow, margins converging apically, largely straight, apex narrowly rounded, surface imbricate except apicolaterally with smooth areas, basal half with shallow, coarse punctures.

Clypeus with small punctures separated by less than a puncture width, but with variable punctures in size apically and more sparsely punctate than in middle, some interspaces among punctures about as large as a puncture width, integument between smooth.

Integument and pubescence as in male except dark brown on pygidial plate; third through fifth metasomal terga with more or less transverse to rounded lateral patches (Figs 13, 15).

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a patronym honoring Jan Batelka, a prominent collector of the new species, authority on the systematics of beetles, and close friend.