Chilicola liliana Packer

Packer, Laurence & Genaro, Julio A., 2007, Fifteen new species of Chilicola (Hymenoptera: Apoidea; Colletidae), Zootaxa 1468, pp. 1-55 : 41-43

Chilicola liliana Packer , n. sp.

( Figs.14A–G )

Diagnosis: This species is known only from females and species groupings in Chilicola are normally based largely upon male characters. Nonetheless, it seems most similar to C. olmue Toro and Moldenke and C. minor (Philippi) two Chilean species moved from Toro and Moldenke’s subgenus Heteroediscelis to Anoediscelis by Michener (1995). The following combination of characteristics allies this species to C. minor and C. olmue : mandible with subapical tooth shorter than apical tooth, maxillary palpus 6-segmented, anterior tentorial pit elongate and comma-shaped, facial fovea absent (although area above antennal sockets somewhat depressed), pronotal collar short, distal stigmal perpendicular crossing second submarginal cell near middle, hind tibial spurs unmodified, dorsal surface of propodeum much shorter than scutellum, scopal hairs with short branches on anterior of rhachis. All of these characters appear plesiomorphic except for the elongate anterior tentorial pit ( Fig. 14A , Packer, unpublished data), but as this is found in many subgenera of Chilicola , it is not possible to associate this new species with named subgenera. It can be differentiated from C. minor and C. olmue by its shorter head only slightly longer than broad (62:58) whereas both other species have heads that are almost 1.2X longer than wide (68:57). The next species described, C. tregualemu , also appears related to C. minor and C. olmue but is approximately 1.1X larger than C. liliana with compound eyes more strongly convergent below and with stronger punctation and propodeal sculpture (see below). In the absence of males, this species is considered unassigned to subgenus.

Description. Female: Length 3.7mm, wing length 2.5mm, head width 1.0mm.

Colouration: Entirely dark brown except for apex of mandible (reddish), extreme apex of fore- and midfemora and extreme base of fore- and midtibiae orange. Tegula and wing veins dark brown. Apical impressed area of metasomal terga translucent. See comments section for variation in colour among individuals.

Pubescence: White, fine, mostly short, few long hairs (2MOD) on frons and genal area, 1.5MOD on lateral surface of mesosoma and tibial scopa. Apicolateral patches of short plumose hairs on T1 and T2. Corbicula of S2 with long hairs, 3MOD, with numerous short branches anteriorly on rhachis. S5 with apical lunule broadly U-shaped, 0.7X as long as broad.

Surface Sculpture: Microsculpture moderately dense, surface dull, shinier on lateral surface of mesosoma and metasomal terga. Punctures small and generally well defined on clypeus and lower paraocular with slightly larger punctures, i=1–2d, on clypeus; i~d on lower paraocular area. Supraclypeal area with punctures difficult to discern against roughened surface. Frons with punctures denser below, i~d; sparser laterally and in front of ocelli, i=1–3d. Vertex with obscure irregular punctures. Genal area with minute obscure sparse punctures. Pronotal collar with punctures dense laterally, i~d, obscure medially. Mesoscutum with i=1–2d except somewhat denser anteriorly and posteriorly. Scutellum with irregular punctures, i=1–4d. Metanotum with small dense punctures, i~d. Mesopleuron with small irregular punctures, i=1–5d. Dorsal surface of propodeum with irregular longitudinal striae on weakly rugulose background, striae not reaching posterior margin; rest of propodeum almost impunctate shiny with weak microsculpture; dorsolateral area narrowly roughened. Metasomal terga with very obscure and sparse punctures.

Structure: Head: Slightly longer than broad, length to width 62:58 ( Fig. 14A ). Maxillary palpus unmodified 0.6X as long as prementum. Prementum with fovea large, carinate laterally. Lacinia an elongate triangle, 3X as long as greatest width. Lorum more than 0.33X as long as cardo. Labrum more than 2X as broad as long (33:14), apex very slightly produced medially. Mandible short and broad, length:basal depth ~2:1, subapical tooth long but not reaching apex of mandible. Clypeus slightly broader than long, length to breadth 41:43, lower one quarter extending beyond lower ocular tangent, lacking median longitudinal groove. Epistomal suture expanded below anterior tentorial pit forming elongate comma, pit not separated from suture. Subantennal sutures slightly convergent below, supraclypeal area slightly longer than broad (20:18). Frons above antennae depressed. Frontal line distinct for lower 0.4X length between supraclypeal area and median ocellus. Facial fovea absent. Inner margin of compound eye emarginate, eyes convergent below UOD:LOD 74:52. OOC shorter than IOC 25:20. Vertex subequal to length of lateral ocellus, abruptly rounded onto occipital region. Upper ocular tangent crossing lower tangent of median ocellus. Genal area less than one 0.5X as broad as compound eye (17:40). Malar space linear such that presence or absence of malar suture indetectable.

Mesosoma: Elongate , distance from anterior of pronotal collar to articulation of metasoma approximately 2X its greatest depth. Pronotal collar short, 1.3LOL. Episternal groove complete; scrobal groove weakly defined posterior to scrobe, absent anteriorly. Propodeum with dorsal surface short, not much longer than metanotum (scutellum:metanotum:propodeum 30:14:16); propodeal sulcus absent. Hind tibial spurs long and not strongly curved or strongly sclerotised. Hind tarsal claws bifid. Basal vein very weakly curved; distal stigmal perpendicular crossing near middle of second submarginal cell; stigma shorter than length of marginal cell on wing margin; stigmal margin on marginal cell very weakly convex; first recurrent vein and first submarginal crossvein approximately interstitial on Rs+M.

Metasoma: T1 shorter than wide (85:110). Apical impressed areas poorly defined, approximately 0.25X length of tergum.

Sting apparatus: As in Figs. 14B–G . Hemitergite 7 with lateral portion of marginal ridge somewhat thickened, considerably so close to base of lateral process; lateral process short and acute; lateral lamella long; medial portion of marginal ridge weakly concave; spiracle separated from posterior margin of lamina spiracularis by approximately its own diameter, closer to lateral than medial portion of marginal ridge; posterior margin of lamina spiracularis angularly concave ( Fig. 14B ). Hemitergite 8 with anterior ridge weakly convex for basal 0.75, somewhat anteriorly produced for apical 0.25; apodeme larger than plate ( Fig. 14C ). First valvifer with dorsal process shorter than ventral process, dorsal margin sinuate. Second valvifer with apodemal ridge straight, region basal to gonostylus membranous, gonostylus converging towards apex from broad base ( Fig. 14D ). Ventral margin of sting shaft straight for basal half, then somewhat swollen before narrowing to apex ( Fig. 14E ). Furcula with ventral arms parallel-sided, dorsal arm short, in lateral view ventral arm slightly convex dorsally, dorsal arm laterally compressed deeper than ventral arm ( Figs. 14F and G ).

Material studied. Holotype female and three female paratypes: ARGENTINA: Santa Cruz, ~ 56km S. of Perito Moreno, 19.xi.2003, L. Packer; ten additional female paratypes, same data except 23.xi.2003; ARGEN- TINA: Chubut, Estacion Agroforestal del Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria ( INTA), Trevellin, Site 1, 43°07’651”S, 071° 33’723”W, 30.i.2006, M.E. Hollmann ex. Trifolium repens (Fabaceae) , one female; same data except site 3, 43 o06’871” 0 71 o 35’410”, 6.xii.2006, A–I. Gravel, one female; same as previous except 1.ii.2006, two females; same except 17.i.2006, one female; same except site 4, 43 o06’025” S 0 71 o33’155”W, 26.i.2006, one female. The holotype female and four paratypes are at MACN, Hollmann’s specimen is at INTA, the remaining paratypes are at PYU. One paratype bears a blue label that states: VOUCHER SPECIMEN DNA EXTRACTION E.A.B. Almeida #60 extraction date: 7/2004.

Etymology. This species is named, with gratitude and affection, after the senior author’s mother.

Comments. There is some variation in colour among the type series. Some females have the basal portion of the mandible yellow and some have a small irregular orange mark on the clypeus.

Most of the specimens from Santa Cruz were collected along the banks of a tiny stream from flowers of Taraxacum (Asteraceae) .

Figures

FIGURES 14 A – G. Chilicola liliana Packer, n. sp. Female. A. Head in frontal view. B – G sting apparatus: B. Hemitergite 7, C. hemitergite 8, D. first and second valvifer, E. sting shaft, F and G. furcula dorsal and lateral views respectively.