Augochlora (Oxystoglossella) iphigenia Holmberg

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 : 18-21

Augochlora (Oxystoglossella) iphigenia Holmberg

(Figs. 4, 6, 11, 16, 24)

Augochlora iphigenia Holmberg 1886: 179 –181 (two females from Argentina, Buenos Aires, La Tinta and Tandil). Female lectotype (hereby designated) from province of Buenos Aires, south of La Tinta, II-7-1883, in MACN. Dalla Torre 1896: 95. Schrottky 1903: 180. Schrottky 1913: 242. Silveira et al. 2002: 178.

Oxystoglossa semiramis Schrottky 1911: 78 (females from Brazil, S. Paulo: Ypiranga and Jundiahy; types in the Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, not examined). Moure 1940b: 58. Moure 1943: 151. New synonym.

Halictus brochidens Vachal 1911: 22 (females from Brazil and Argentina: Buenos Aires and Santa Fe) Lectotype from Buenos Aires designated by Moure & Hurd (1987: 274), in Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, not examined. Cockerell 1914: 325. New synonym.

Augochlora semiramis: Michener & Lange 1958: 487 –489. Jakobi 1964: 73, 74. Sakagami & Moure 1965: 308 –309. Sakagami et al. 1967: 270, 273, 282. Sakagami & Moure 1967: 133–134.

Augochlorella iphigenia: Ordway 1966: 512 . Moure & Hurd 1987: 250. Moure 2007: 773.

Augochlora (Oxystoglossella) semiramis: Eickwort & Eickwort 1972: 19 , 26, 32, 41, 42. Laroca et al. 1982: 101. Moure & Hurd 1987: 274. Wittmann & Hoffman 1990: 30. Silveira et al. 2002: 178. Moure 2007: 771.

Holmberg's A. iphigenia has been interpreted in the past as belonging to the genus Augochlorella . Recently, B. Coelho, who examined the specimen presently designated as the lectotype, realized that it was not an Augochlorella (Coelho, in Silveira et al. 2002), but she did not indicate the proper assignment for the species. Our study indicates that A. iphigenia is the valid name of the common, widespread species of the subgenus Oxystoglossella of Augochlora , previously treated with the name of A. semiramis Schrottky.

The lectotype specimen hereby designated of A. iphigenia bears the following labels: a small green triangle with the date " II/7/83," a small white label "Tipo," and a large white label bordered with red " Iphigenia Holmb." in Holmberg's handwriting. The date indicates that this is one of the two females mentioned in the original description, the one from the margins of the Collon-gueyú creek, south of La Tinta in the province of Buenos Aires, collected on black thistle. The second specimen mentioned by Holmberg is lost.

The lectotype specimen is in poor condition: it lacks the head, the left foreleg, the right foreleg beyond the femur, the left wings, and the distal tarsomeres of both hind legs. Nevertheless, the typical hind tibial spur, the size, and the sculpture and pubescence of the meso and metasoma, allow to identify the species with certainty. Holmberg (1886), in the detailed original description, mentions for the head the convex, shiny supraclypeal area with sparse punctures characteristic of this species, as well as the tooth on the hypostomal carina ("… rima cibaria marginata, parallela, antice curvatim ampliata.").

Diagnosis. This species is readily distinguished from other species in the study area by the small size, the poorly developed black bare apical bands on the metasomal terga of both sexes, the hypostomal carina of the female forming a tooth at the angle, and the basal area of the metapostnotum of the male nearly as long as the scutellum and longer than the metanotum. It is distinguished from other species of Oxystoglossella that occur north of the studied region, by the polished supraclypeal area, with small, scattered punctures.

Female. Length of body 4.00–6.00; length of forewing, 3.25–3.85; maximum width of head, 1.10–1.50; length of head 1.50–2.00; ocello-ocular distance 2.0–2.8 times MOD. Color. Bright metallic green with golden tints. Following parts black: base of mandible, apical band on clypeus (as long as 0.2–0.3 times length of clypeus), scape, pedicel, dorsal surface of flagellum, coxae, trochanters, femora except apex, hypostomal area, and metasomal sterna. Labrum, apex of mandible, ventral surface of flagellum, narrow apical bands on T1–T5 brown to dark brown (on T2 0.6 times MOD). Tegula, tibiae, and tarsi light brown to yellowish brown. Wings hyaline, with yellowish-brown veins and pterostigma.

Pubescence. White, plumose, except as noted. Hairs dense on paraocular area (0.03–0.18) and frons (0.06– 0.32). Clypeus with sparse, short (0.04–0.05) and long (0.28–0.32) simple to short-branched hairs; supraclypeal area with sparse, short (0.03–0.04) and long hairs (0.16–0.18). Light brown setae on mandible (0.22) and on apex of labrum. Disc of scutum with short (0.04–0.07) and long hairs (0.20–0.24), longer hairs on scutellum (0.40); hairs long on metanotum (0.24) and on lateral area of mesepisternum (0.12–0.24). Hind femur with long scopal hairs (up to 0.52), hind tibia and basitarsus with shorter hairs on outer surface. Disc of T1–T4 with dense hairs, on disc of T2 (0.03–0.12); T1–T4 with narrow bare apical bands; T5 with erect brown hairs (up to 0.22) and median area with elongate, setae-like spicules pointing towards midline of area; sternal hairs long, on S2 up to 0.54.

Sculpture. Clypeus smooth and shiny between punctures; with large punctures (0.03–0.05) separated by 1–2 times their diameter; supraclypeal area smooth and shiny, with scattered small punctures (0.02–0.03). Disc of scutum with dense small punctures (0.02) and interspersed larger ones (0.04); interspaces smooth and shiny. Scutellum shiny, with very small punctures on disc, larger posteriorly (0.01–0.02). Metanotum finely rugulose. Mesepisternum with small (0.02–0.03), dense punctures and shiny interspaces on hypoepimeral area and below scrobal furrow; anterior to mesepisternal furrow finely rugulose. Basal area of metapostnotum finely striate; striae radiating, medially irregular, anastomosed, and laterally regular, parallel. Disc of T2 finely punctate (0.004–0.01), shiny between punctures.

FIGURES 11–16. 11: T5 of A. iphigenia Holmberg, Ƥ. 12: T5 of A. amphitrite (Schrottky) , Ƥ. 13: Scutellum of A. amphitrite , Ƥ. 14–16, Head, frontal view, Ƥ—14: A. amphitrite ; 15: A. nausicaa (Schrottky) ; 16: A. iphigenia . Scale lines: Fig. 11: 0.1 mm; Fig. 12: 0.2 mm; Fig. 13: 0.5 mm; Figs. 14–16: 0.2 mm.

Structure. Frontal carina extending halfway between upper level of antennal socket and median ocellus. Mandible without lower apical expansion, but trimmal expansion on upper margin sinuose, large, particularly in macrocephalic females. Hypostomal carina elevated at angle, forming more or less developed tooth (Fig. 6). Lateral angle of pronotum forming slightly obtuse angle. Scutellum flat. Middle trochanter in lateral view with ventral margin gently curved. Hind femur ventrally concave. S1 without median spine or tubercle.

Male. Length of body 4.75–6.00; length of forewing, 3.50–3.70; maximum width of head, 1.00–1.55; length of head 1.50–1.75; ocello-ocular distance 1.7–2.0 times MOD. Color. Bright metallic green with golden tints. Following parts black: scape, pedicel, dorsal surface of flagellum, hypostomal area, narrow apical bands on terga (on T2 0.35 times MOD), T6 entirely, and metasomal sterna. Clypeus with narrow (0.02) apical band yellowish to brown, labrum yellowish, mandible yellowish brown. Ventral surface of flagellum pale brown. Tegula yellowish brown to brown, with translucent anterior margin and without green marks. Trochanters and femora black with green reflections, tibiae and basitarsi yellowish to yellowish brown, but tibiae suffused with black dorsally; other tarsomeres yellowish brown to brown.

Pubescence. With white, abundant, plumose hairs. Hairs densely distributed on paraocular area (0.06–0.22) and frons (0.08–0.26). Clypeus and supraclypeal area with hairs slender, sparser than on other parts of head; on clypeus short (0.06–0.07) and long hairs (0.16–0.18), on supraclypeal area short (0.05–0.06) and long hairs (0.18– 0.20). Setae on mandible white (0.16), yellowish on labrum. Hairs dense on lateral angle of pronotum; scutum with short (0.04–0.06), and long hairs (0.20–0.24). Length of hairs on scutellum (0.28); on metanotum (0.30), on lateral area of mesepisternum (0.06–0.14). T1–T5 with dense hairs (on disc of T2 0.04–0.12) and narrow bare apical bands; erect hairs on T6 (0.16), hairs on S1–S6 light brown, longer on S2 (0.24).

Sculpture. Clypeus smooth and shiny between punctures, with moderate punctures (0.03–0.04); supraclypeal area with scattered, small, shallow punctures (0.02–0.03); interspaces smooth and shiny. Disc of scutum with small punctures (0.02–0.04), separated by 0.5–1.0 puncture diameter; interspaces smooth and shiny. Scutellum shiny, with small punctures on disc (0.02), larger posteriorly (0.04). Mesepisternum with small (0.02–0.05), dense punctures and shiny interspaces on hypoepimeral area and below scrobal furrow; anterior to mesepisternal furrow finely rugulose. Basal area of metapostnotum finely striate; striae radiating, irregular, anastomosed medially, and regular, parallel, laterally. Disc of T1–T4 finely punctate (punctures on disc of T2 0.01–0.02).

Structure. Basal area of labrum striate, along midline approximately one fourth of labral length, on lateral margin not reaching lateralmost setae. Basal process of gonostylus small, with short setae. Ventral process of gonostylus with short setae restricted to apex; apex rounded. Dorsal process of gonostylus bearing very long setae that surpass ventral process.

Variation. Females of this species present cephalic polymorphism. Larger females have considerably swollen vertex and genae. The observed allometry agrees with the allometry described by Sakagami & Moure (1965).

Distribution. Argentina: Buenos Aires, Chaco, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, Misiones, Santa Fe, San Luis. Brazil: Distrito Federal, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo (according to Silveira et al. 2002; Moure 2007). Uruguay: Canelones, Colonia, Montevideo, Maldonado.

Material studied. Argentina, Buenos Aires: MACN: 1Ƥ: “12270”; 7Ƥ: “12286”; 1Ƥ: 9-XII-1902, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 24-II-1903, J. Brèthes; 3Ƥ: 5-III-1903, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 12-X-1903, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 8-XII-1903, J. Brèthes; 2Ƥ: 4-IV-1904, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 8-XII-1905, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 29-I-1906, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 16-II-1906, J. Brèthes; 2Ƥ: 2-III-1907, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 29-III-1907, J. Brèthes; 2Ƥ: 22-X-1907, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 25-XII-1907, J. Brèthes; 4Ƥ: IV-1907, J. Brèthes; 2Ƥ: 20-I-1908, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 22-XI-1908, J. Brèthes; 2Ƥ: 8-XII-1908, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 21-XII-1908, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: I-1909, J. Brèthes; 5Ƥ: 3-I-1909, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 9-I-1909, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 12-I-1909, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 2-II-1909, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 25-II-1909, J. Brèthes; 2Ƥ: 24-III-1909, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 8-IV-1910, J. Brèthes; 3Ƥ: 13-XI-1911, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 5-XI-1914, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 6-XI-1915, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 26- XII-1919, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 15-I-1922, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: 17-IV-1923, J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: Castelar INTA, Jardin Botánico, 22-XI-1998, Col. A. Roig A.; 4Ƥ: Ciudad Autónoma, 30-X-2008, Col. M. Dalmazzo; 1Ƥ: Escobar, Maquinista Savio, 5-I-1997, on Baccharis pingrae, Col. A. Roig A. ; 5Ƥ, 53: Escobar, Maquinista Savio, 5-I-1997, on Vernonia rubricaulis, Col. A. Roig A. ; 1Ƥ,13: Escobar, Maquinista Savio, 6-I-1998, Col. A. Roig A.; 1Ƥ: Escobar, Maquinista Savio, 6-I-1998, on Grindelia sp. Col. A. Roig A.; 3Ƥ: Esteban Echeverría, 8km SW Guernica, 9-X- 1999, Col. A. Roig A.; 2Ƥ: Florencio Varela 5Km SE, Bosques, 13-XI-1996, Col. A. Roig A.; 1Ƥ: Florencio Varela 5Km SE, Bosques, 29-XI-1998, Col. A. Roig A.; 2Ƥ: Flores, 19-III-1915; 13: Laguna La Brava, 3-I-2009, on Picris echioides, Col. R. González V. ; 1Ƥ: Luján, H. H. Maristas; 1Ƥ: Magdalena, 16-XI-1985, Col. Moffatt; 9Ƥ: Magdalena 17Km E, 16-XI-1985, Col. Moffatt; 9Ƥ: a 20 Km SE Magdalena, Ea. El Destino, 25-II-2000, A. Roig A.; 2Ƥ: a 20 Km SE Magdalena, Ea. El Destino, 25-II-2000, on Bacchais pingraea, A. Roig A. ; 1Ƥ: a 20 Km SE Magdalena, Ea. El Destino, 25-II-2000, on Sida rhombifolia, A. Roig A. ; 13: a 20 Km SE Magdalena, Ea. El Destino, 25-II-2000, on Viguiera anchusaefolia, A. Roig A. ; 1Ƥ: Moreno, “45268”; 8Ƥ: Moreno, La Reja, 8-XI-1992, Col. A. Roig A.; 1Ƥ,23: Moreno, Parque Muñiz, 26-II-2003, Col. L. Compagnucci; 23: Moreno, Reja Grande, 13- II-2000, A. Roig A.; 1Ƥ, 33: Otamendi, 21-XII-1994, Col. A. Roig A.; 2Ƥ: Punta Indio, 11-X-2005, Col. L. Compagnucci; 2Ƥ: Saavedra, Ao. Sauce Chico, Gran Chaco, 23-XII-1997, Col. A. Roig A.; 1Ƥ: San Antonio de Areco, 5-XII-2004, Col. L. Compagnucci; 1Ƥ: San Fernando, 30-I-1954; 1Ƥ: San Isidro, 10-III-1916, Col. C. Amadeo; 1Ƥ, 13: San Isidro, Martínez, 15-III-1993, Col. A. Roig A.; 1Ƥ: San Isidro, Refugio Ribera Norte, 20-I-2009, Col. R. González V.; 1Ƥ: San Isidro, Refugio Ribera Norte, 20-I-2009, on Sida rhombifolia, Col. R. González V. ; 33: San Isidro, Refugio Ribera Norte, 20-I-2009, on Cichorium intybus, Col. R. González V. ; 103: San Isidro, Refugio Ribera Norte, 20-I-2009, on Baccharis salicifolia, Col. R. González V. ; 1Ƥ: San Miguel, F-C-P, 21-IV-1938, Col. S.I.Nóvoa;1Ƥ: San Miguel, 11-IV-1955, Col. P. Riviere; 4Ƥ: Arg., Bs. As., San Pedro, 3-I-2009, Col. A. Roig A.; 27Ƥ: Sierra de los Difuntos, 12-I-2009, on Picris echioides, Col. R. González V. ; 1Ƥ: Sierra de los Difuntos, 16-I- 2009, Col. R. González V.; 36Ƥ: Sierra de los Difuntos, 16-I-2009, on Picris echioides, Col. R. González V. ; 8Ƥ: Sierra de los Difuntos, 16-I-2009, on Carduus sp., Col. R. González V.; 5Ƥ: Sierra de los Difuntos, 27-XII-2009, on Picris echioides, Col. R. González V. ; 1Ƥ: Tandil, sierras, 11-I-2008, Col. M. Sabatino; 1Ƥ: Tigre 12Km NO, 15-I-1990, Col. A. Roig A. & L. Moffatt; 1Ƥ: Tigre 12Km NO, 15-I-1990, on Echinodorus sp. Col. A. Roig A. & L. Moffatt; 1Ƥ: Tigre 12Km NO, 15-I-1990, on Grindelia sp. Col. A. Roig A. & L. Moffatt; 2Ƥ, 13: Tigre 12Km NO, 26-II-1993, on Sphaeralcea sp. Col. A. Roig A.; 13: Tigre 12Km NO, 26- I-2006, on Eryngium sp. Col. A. Roig A.; 1Ƥ: Tigre, Delta, 15-XII-2002, Col. L. Compagnucci; 1Ƥ: Tornquist, Villa Ventana, 22-XII-1997, A. Roig A.; 6Ƥ: Tornquist, Villa Ventana, 18-II-1999, A. Roig A. FAUBA: 2Ƥ: Magdalena Ea. Carretero, 9-IX-1999, Col.

A. Basilio; 2Ƥ: Magdalena Ea. Carretero, 23-III-2000, Col. A. Basilio; 1Ƥ: Magdalena Ea. Carretero, 22-V-2000, Col. A. Basilio; 6Ƥ, 63: Magdalena Ea. San Isidro, 23-III-1999, Col. A. Basilio; 1Ƥ: Magdalena Ea. San Isidro, 3- VII-1999, Col. A. Basilio; 2Ƥ: Magdalena Ea. San Isidro, 23-VIII-1999, Col. A. Basilio. Chaco: MACN: 1Ƥ: “213”, “6879”. Córdoba: MACN: 6Ƥ: Agua de Oro, XII-1939, Col. J. De Carlo; 6Ƥ, 33: Agua de Oro, II-1940, Col. J. De Carlo; 1Ƥ, 13: Alta Gracia, I-1909, Col. L. Vigil; 13: Charbonier 2km N, 23-XII-2006, Col. A. Roig A.; 3Ƥ: El Durazno, 17-X-1999, on Echinopsis aurea, Col. B. Schlumpberger ; 1Ƥ: El Durazno, 15-XI-1999, on Echinopsis aurea, Col. B. Schlumpberger ; 1Ƥ: Huerta Grande, 21-II-2006, Col. J.J. Martinez; 2Ƥ: Los Cocos, III-1929; 5Ƥ, 23: Salsacate, Cruz del Eje, San Marco Sierra, Carlos Molinas, I-1979, Col. M. Viana; 1Ƥ: San Javier, La Paz, 31-XII-1928, “24153”, Col. C. Bruch; 3Ƥ: San Marcos Sierra 12km SE, 23-XII-2006, Col. A. Roig A.; 1Ƥ: San Marcos Sierra, 23-XII-2006, Col. A. Roig A. IFML: 1Ƥ: Alta Gracia, 18-XI-1975, Col. A. Willink; 12Ƥ: Bialet Massé, 11-I-1976, Col. A. Willink; 1Ƥ: Punilla, Huerta Grande, II-1947, Col. Villafañe; 2Ƥ: Villa Ciudad de América, Dique los Molinos, I-1981, Col. A. Willink. Entre Ríos: MACN: 1Ƥ, 13: Gualeguaychú, Col. H. Rossi; 1Ƥ: Gualeguaychú, 19-IV-1924, Col. M.D. Jurado; 2Ƥ, 13: La Paz, Los Algarrobos, I-1952, Col. R.L. Orfila; 2Ƥ: Palmar de Colón, Intendencia, I-2001, Col. G. Roitman; 1Ƥ: Pronunciamiento, III-1973, Col. G. J. Williner. IFML: 1Ƥ: Villaguay, 3-II-1959, Col. Ajmar & Bennasar; FAUBA: 1Ƥ: Paraná, 18-XII-2004, on Rapistrum rugosum, Col. J.P. Torretta & N. Montaldo ; 1Ƥ: Paraná, 18-XII-2004, on Sphaeralcea bonariensis, Col. J.P. Torretta & N. Montaldo. Misiones: MACN: 5Ƥ: “7028”; 85Ƥ: “7517”; 1Ƥ: Posadas, “7517”; 4Ƥ, 13: Puerto Aguirre, III-1934, Col. Kenet & Haiward; 4Ƥ: Puerto Bemberg, 7-XII-1933, Col. Haiward. San Luis: MACN: 2Ƥ, 53: Cortaderas, 20-II-2005, Col. A. Roig A.; 1Ƥ: El Totoral, 3-I-2003, Col. L. Compagnucci; 8Ƥ: Merlo, 30-XII-2002, Col. L. Compagnucci; 2Ƥ: Pancanta, Las Verbenas, 26-II-2003, Col. A. Roig A.; 13: Paso de los Funes, II-1926, “28317”. Santa Fe: MACN: 1Ƥ: Santo Tomé, X-1925, Col. J. Pellerano; 1Ƥ: El Pozo, 1-X-2004, Col. M. Dalmazzo; 1Ƥ: Santa Clara de Buena Vista, 8-X-2006, Col. M. Dalmazzo. Uruguay: MACN: 1Ƥ, 13: Colonia; 1Ƥ: I-1950; 1Ƥ, 13: Montevideo, 25-II-1909, Col. J. Brèthes; 1Ƥ: Piriápolis, Col. A. Stevenin. FCE-HY: 1Ƥ: Arroyo Laureles, 12- II-1954, Col. F.H.C.; 1Ƥ: Canelones, Suarez, 15-I-1963; 1Ƥ: Montevideo, Malvin, 19-XII-1965, Col. F. Achaval; 1Ƥ: Montevideo, P. Rivera, XII-1965, Col. F.M.Esc.; 1Ƥ: Canelón Chico, 8-X-2006, Col. E. Santos & E. Martínez; 22Ƥ, 103: Canelones, Sauce, I-2006, Col. E. Santos; 11Ƥ, 13: Canelones, Sauce, 26- I-2006, Col. E. Santos; 2Ƥ: Canelones, Sauce, 24-XI-2006, Col. E. Santos; 1Ƥ, 13: Canelones, Sauce, I-2007, Col. E. Santos; 10Ƥ: Canelones, Sauce, 28-I-2007, Col. E. Santos; 2Ƥ, 13: Canelones, Sauce, 25-II-2007, Col. E. Santos. MNHNM: 1Ƥ: “0447”; 1Ƥ: “0448”.

Floral records: Baccharis pingraea ; Baccharis salicifolia ; Carduus sp.; Cichorium intybus ; Echinodorus sp.; Echinopsis aurea ; Eryngium sp.; Grindelia sp.; Picris echioides ; Rapistrum rugosum ; Sida rhombifolia ; Sphaeralcea bonariennsis ; Vernonia rubricaulis ; Viguiera anchusaefolia .