Augochlora (Augochlora) nausicaa, Schrottky

Dalmazzo, Milagros & Roig-Alsina, Arturo, 2011, Revision of the species of the New World genus Augochlora (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) occurring in the southern temperate areas of its range, Zootaxa 2750, pp. 15-32 : 26-28

A. (Augochlora) nausicaa (Schrottky)

(Figs. 2, 8, 15, 18, 20, 23)

Odontochlora nausicaa Schrottky 1909: 144 (female from Argentina, Buenos Aires, type lost). Schrottky 1911: 74. Schrottky 1913: 241.

Augochlora (Augochlora) nausicaa: Moure & Hurd 1987: 264 . Benitez-Vieyra et al. 2006: 950. Moure 2007: 766. Wiemer et al. 2009: 509.

Although the type of O. nausicaa is lost, this species can be identified with certainty, because this is the only one in the area of Buenos Aires that agrees in detail with Schrottky's original description (1909) and with the key to the species of Odontochlora ( Schrottky 1911). Although the species has a wide distribution, it is uncommon in collections.

Diagnosis. Female of this species can be recognized by the median tuberculiform elevation on the first metasomal sternum, and the short mandible. The male is distinguished by the dark mandible, labrum and flagellum, the entirely green clypeus without yellowish apical band or marks, the flat scutellum, and the lack of tubercle on S1.

Female. Length of body 6.50–6.85; length of forewing, 5.20–5.50; maximum width of head, 2.00–2.25; length of head, 1.75– 2.15; ocello-ocular distance 1.7–2.3 times MOD.

Color. Metallic green with bluish tints, which may turn to violet; some specimens with golden reflections mainly on clypeus. Mandible and labrum dark brown to black. Hypostomal area blackish with green tints. Scape, pedicel and flagellar dorsal surface black, ventral surface of flagellum dark brown. Clypeus with black apical band one fifth to one fourth as long as clypeus. Tegula dark brown with green anterior spot. Legs black, with green tints on anterior and hind coxa, but reduced elsewhere. T1–T4 with apical black bands (on T2 0.6 times MOD), T5 black, sterna black. Wings hyaline with light brown veins and pterostigma.

Pubescence. Whitish to light yellowish brown. Hairs dense on paraocular area (0.08–0.22) and frons (0.08– 0.14). Clypeus with sparse, short (0.06–0.08) and long (0.20–0.28) simple to short-branched hairs; supraclypeal area with sparse, short (0.05–0.06) and long hairs (0.16–0.18). Light brown setae on mandible (0.26) and on apex of labrum. Disc of scutum with short (0.04–0.08) and long (0.16–0.20) brownish hairs, on scutellum longer (0.40); hairs long on metanotum (0.20) and on lateral area of mesepisternum (up to 0.24). Hind femur with long, white scopal hairs (up to 0.50), hind tibia and basitarsus with white hairs on outer surface. Disc of T1–T4 with short, white pubescence, and sparse, erect hairs (on disc of T2, 0.02 and 0.12 respectively), on T3–T4 erect hairs longer, brownish; T5–T6 with brown hairs, on T5 up to 0.16; hairs on S2–S5 white, long, on S2 up to 0.50, hairs on S6 brown.

Sculpture. Clypeus polished, with large punctures (0.03–0.06) separated by 0.5–1.0 times their diameter; supraclypeal area with dense punctures (0.03–0.04), separated by 0.2–0.5 times their diameter, interspaces smooth to weakly tesselate. Disc of scutum with dense punctures (0.02–0.03), on center of disc separated by 0.2–0.5 puncture diameters. Scutellum with dense, small punctures (0.02), nearly coalescent anteriorly. Metanotum finely rugulose. Mesepisternum with dense punctures (0.02–0.03) and shiny interspaces on hypoepimeral area and below scrobal furrow; anterior to mesepisternal furrow punctate. Basal area of metapostnotum entirely striate; striae irregular medially, and regular, parallel, laterally. Disc of T2 with small punctures (0.01–0.02) separated by one puncture diameter or more, interspaces shiny, punctures denser preapically.

FIGURES 17–24. 17: Middle trochanter of A. phoemonoe (Schrottky) , Ƥ. 18; Middle trochanter of A. nausicaa (Schrottky) , Ƥ. 19; Hind femur of A. phoemonoe , Ƥ. 20: Hind femur A. nausicaa , Ƥ. 21–24: Labrum, 3. 21: A. amphitrite (Schrottky) ; 22: A. phoemonoe ; 23: A. nausicaa ; 24: A. iphigenia Holmberg. Scale lines: Figs. 17–22: 0.2 mm; Figs. 23–24: 0.1 mm.

Structure. Frontal carina reaching median ocellus. Mandible short, distance between base of mandible and starting point of lower apical expansion (outer view), equal or shorter than basal width of mandible (0.9–1.0). Lateral angle of pronotum forming right angle. Scutellum rather flat, without median longitudinal furrow. Middle trochanter short, with ventral margin straight in lateral view. Hind femur ventrally concave. S1 with median tubercle, in some specimens reduced to low elevation.

Male. Length of body 6.50–7.20; length of forewing, 4.60–5.50; maximum width of head, 1.85–2.00; length of head, 1.75–1.95; ocello-ocular distance 1.5–1.7 times MOD. Color. Similar to that of female, except as follows: mandible and labrum dark brown; hypostomal area green; clypeus green, without apical pale band; scape, pedicel and dorsal surface of flagellum black, ventral surface of flagellum brown; coxae, trochanters and femora dark brown to black with green tints, tibiae and tarsi dark brown; T1–T4 green with deep violet tints, with black apical bands (on T2 0.6 times MOD), T5 mostly dark brown to black; S1 with blue tints, S2–S6 dark brown.

Pubescence. Whitish to yellowish brown, plumose, on most of body. Hairs dense on paraocular area (0.06– 0.24) and frons (0.07–0.30). Clypeus and supraclypeal area with whitish hairs simple, sparser than on other parts of head; on clypeus short (0.06–0.07) and long hairs (0.18–0.20), on supraclypeal area short (0.05–0.06) and long hairs (0.18–0.20). Hairs light brown on mandible (0.20) and on apex of labrum. Disc of scutum with short (0.04– 0.06), and long (0.18–0.20) interspersed hairs. Length of hairs on scutellum (0.38), on metanotum (0.36), and on lateral area of mesepisternum (0.06–0.14). Disc of T1–T4 with short, white pubescence, and sparse, erect white to light brown hairs, shorter on T2 (0.10), and longer on T3–T4; T5–T6 with brown to black hairs (0.20). Disc of T2 with short, dense pubescence (0.02), shorter than on basal depression of tergum, immediately after gradulus, where hairs are longer (0.10–0.12). Hairs on S1–S5 whitish (on S2, 0.24), on S6 brown.

Sculpture. Clypeus with even, large punctures (0.03–0.06), separated by their diameter or less, interspaces smooth to weakly tessellate; supraclypeal area with dense punctures (0.03–0.05), nearly coalescent on entire surface. Disc of scutum with close, deep punctures (0.03–0.04), and shiny interspaces. Scutellum with punctures (0.02–0.06) sparser medially, with shiny interspaces. Mesepisternum with dense punctures (0.02–0.04) and shiny interspaces on hypoepimeral area and below scrobal furrow; anterior to mesepisternal furrow punctate. Basal area of metapostnotum entirely striate, with regular striae. Disc of T2 with moderate punctures (0.02–0.03), and shiny interspaces; punctation finer on other terga.

Structure. Basal area of labrum strongly striate, along midline long, approximately 0.4 times of labral length, on lateral margin reaching lateralmost setae. Scutellum rather flat, without median longitudinal furrow. S1 without spine or tubercle. Basal process of gonostylus reduced, with short setae. Ventral process of gonostylus setose from base to apex, setae shorter than diameter of gonostylus; apex of process rounded. Dorsal process of gonostylus reduced, with long setae in a row.

Variation. Females usually have the supraclypeal area smooth and shiny between punctures, but in some specimens the surface can be weakly tesselate.

Distribution. Argentina: Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Córdoba, Jujuy, Misiones, Salta, Tucumán; Brazil: Rio Grande do Sul.

Material studied. Argentina, Buenos Aires: MACN: 3Ƥ: Delta, Río Chana; 1Ƥ: Delta, Río Sarmiento, La Ursulina, 19-XI-2001, Col. L. Compagnucci; 1Ƥ: Otamendi, 21-XII-1994, Col. A. Roig A.; 1Ƥ: Otamendi, 22-X- 2006, Col. J.J. Martinez; 2Ƥ: Tigre, Río Lujan, Club ACA, 18-I-2002, Col. A. Roig A.; 13: Zelaya, 6-V-1936, Col. J. Pereyra. Catamarca: MACN: 1Ƥ: Concepción, II-1928, Col. M. Gómez. IFML: 1Ƥ: El Alto, 3-XII-1958, Col. Willink; 13: El Rodeo, 16-IV-1972, Col. C. Porter. MLP: 1Ƥ: Los Angeles, 1943. Jujuy: IFML: 1Ƥ: Ruta 9 limite con Salta, 18-III-1978, Col. Willink & Fidalgo. Misiones: IFML: 13: L.N. Alem, Instituto Alberdi, 17-XI- 1969, Col. C. Porter; 1Ƥ: San Pedro, 16-XI-1973, Col. Willink & Tomsic. Salta: IFML: 2Ƥ: Orán, Angosto del Pescado, 26-X-1978, Col. P. Fidalgo. Tucumán: MACN: 43: Acheral 8Km W, 17-XI-1993, Col. A. Roig A. 2Ƥ: Famailla, 30-X-2004, Col. L. Compagnucci & A. Ojanguren; 3Ƥ,13: Lules 12Km W, 17-XI-1993, Col. A. Roig A. IFML: 1Ƥ: Acheral, Tafí, 18-XII-1973, Col. L. Stange; 13: Burruyacu, Villa Padre Monti, 7-II-1948, Col. R. Golbach; 1Ƥ: El Cadillal, 4-I-1976, Col. L. Stange; 1Ƥ: Horco Molle, Parque Sierra San Javier, 20-VI-1972, Col. L.A. Stange; 2Ƥ: Horco Molle, 12-X-1973, Col. L. Stange; 1Ƥ: Horco Molle, 5-I-1976, Col. L. Stange; 13: Quebrada Cainzo, 10-XII-1950, Col. R. Golbach; 13: Trancas, Tacanas, 3-III-1948, Col. Hayward & Willink; 13: Trancas, Tacanas, 3-III-1948, Col. Monrós & Golbach. MLP: Aconquija, 11-XI-1942, Col. A.A. Ogloblin. Brazil: MACN: 2Ƥ,13: Brazil, Pelotas, 9-V-1955, Col. C. Biezanko.

Floral records: Cyclopogon elatus ( Benitez-Vieyra et al. 2006, Wiemer et al. 2009).