Chilicola catamarcense Packer

Packer, Laurence & Genaro, Julio A., 2007, Fifteen new species of Chilicola (Hymenoptera: Apoidea; Colletidae), Zootaxa 1468, pp. 1-55 : 10-12

Chilicola catamarcense Packer , n. sp.

( Figs. 4A–H )

Diagnosis: See above account for species group characteristics. Both sexes can be differentiated from all other species of Chilicola by the elongate pronotum with angulate anterolateral corners combined with the almost complete lack of frontal swellings. Additionally, male C. catamarcense can be differentiated from other species in the group by the following combination of characters: hind tibia attaining almost maximal depth near midlength ( Fig. 4F ), length approximately 1.1X intertegular span and space for approximately 10 or more punctures between admedian and parapsidal lines.

Description. Male: Body length 3.0mm, forewing length 2.3mm, head width 0.9mm.

Colouration: As for C. obesifrons n. sp. but wing veins paler, pale straw with stigma cream-coloured along margin with marginal cell.

Surface Sculpture: As in C. obesifrons with following exceptions. Punctures smaller throughout, denser on lower paraocular area i~d, those of upper paraocular area extending onto areas around median ocellus and mesad of upper inner eye margin. Hypostomal and genal areas weakly punctate on strongly microsculptured but shiny background. Punctures of mesoscutum somewhat finer ( Fig. 4E ), of scutellum somewhat denser i<d. Punctures of mesopleuron more regularly spaced i~d.

Pubescence: As for C. obesifrons .

Structure: As in C. obesifrons except as follows: Head shorter ( Fig. 4A ), length to width 60:55. Frons very slightly swollen around median ocellus and mesad of upper inner margin of eye; median ocellus clearly visible in profile ( Figs. 4B ). Supraclypeal area shorter ( Fig. 4A ), slightly over 1.5X as long as apical breadth (26:16). Scape slightly longer than pedicel and first three flagellomeres combined, 3X as long as apical depth. Hind tibia approximately 3X as long as apical depth, abruptly expanded from base to near midlength, subparallel for apical half ( Fig. 4F ). Hind basitarsus 5.5X as long as greatest depth, parallel sided. Propodeal sulcus only developed on posterior surface and extreme posterior of dorsal surface of propodeum.

Terminalia : Figs 4G and H . As in C. obesifrons except ventral medial lobe more obtuse and membranous lobes to penis valve somewhat longer.

Female: Body length 3.2mm, forewing length 2.5mm, head width 0.9mm.

Colouration: as for C. obesifrons ; wing veins dark amber.

Surface Sculpture: As in female of C. obesifrons except as follows: Microsculpture more strongly developed and surface less shiny. Upper paraocular area with sparse, weak punctures, i=1–3d, encroaching the slightly swollen areas of frons. Supraclypeal area with very few punctures. Metanotum dull, punctures i<d. Propodeal sulcus practically imperceptible throughout.

Pubescence: As in female of C. obesifrons .

Structure: As for C. obesifrons except as follows: Carina surrounding premental fovea weakening in apical 0.33. Head length to width 62:55 ( Fig. 4C ). Frons weakly swollen around median ocellus and mesad of upper inner margin of eye, outline of median ocellus just visible in profile; area between medial and lateral swellings flat. Gena almost 0.5X as long as maximum breadth of compound eye ( Fig. 4D ).

Material studied. Holotype male, allotype female, one male and four female paratypes: ARGENTINA, Catamarca, Andalgala, 25.x.1972, G.E. Bohart, other paratypes all from ARGENTINA, Catamarca, as follows: same data as holo- and allotype except 4.xi.1972, one male; Cuesta de la Chilca (base), 7.xi.1972, J.L Neff, ex Prosopis chilensis (Fabacaeae) , one male; Andalgala-Colpes Rd., 90km marker, 24.x.1972, ex Zizyphus mistol (Rhamnaceae) , one male; 15km S of Colpes, 27.x.1972, G.E. Bohart, two males; Andalgala, 4.xi.1972. G.E. Bohart, one male; Andalgala, Desert Scrub Site, IBP Program, J.L. Neff, one male and one female (headless). With the exception of one male and one female paratype (PYU), Bohart’s series, including the holo- and allotypes, is at Logan and Neff’s specimens are at CTMI. Some specimens bear a label Chilicolope foveata, Moure ms., an unpublished manuscript name.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the Argentinian Province from which all specimens were collected.

Comments. Found in the same general area as C. obesifrons but after the winter, rather than summer, rains; thus, the two seem allochronically separated and are clearly morphologically distinct.

Figures

FIGURES 4 A – H. Chilicola catamarcense Packer, n. sp. Male head: A. frontal view, B. lateral view. Female head: C. frontal view, D. lateral view. E. surface sculpture of mesoscutum and scutellum of male. F. Hind leg of male. G – H. Male genitalia: G. dorsal view to left and ventral view to the right, H. lateral view. Stippling in A and F indicates pale colouration, in G and H membranous regions.