Epeolus rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2022

Astafurova, Yulia V. & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2022, Review of the Epeolus julliani species group (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Epeolus Latreille, 1802), with descriptions of two new species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 94, pp. 191-213 : 191

Epeolus rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin sp. nov.

Figs 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8B, C , 9G, H , 10

Material examined.

Holotype: ♀, Russia, Buryatia Republic, Gusinoye Lake, Baraty , 25.VII.2007, A. Lelej, M. Proshchalykin, V. Loktionov [ZISP] ; Paratypes: 1 ♀, 1 ♂, the same label as in the holotype [FSCV/ ZISP]; 6 ♀, 1 ♂, the same label as in the holotype, but 26.VII.2007 [FSCV/ ZISP]; 1 ♂, Naushki , Selenga River, 30.VII.2007, A. Lelej, M. Proshchalykin, V. Loktionov [ZISP] .

Additional material.

China, Beijing, park of the Summer Palace , 18.VIII.1954, (1 ♀), G. Bey-Bienko [ZISP] ; Mongolia, Khutag, Selenga River , 25.VII.1975, (1 ♂), E. Narchuk [ZISP] ; 200 km SEE of Baruun-Urt, Moltsoy Els , 1250 m, 27.VII.2007, (3 ♀, 14 ♂), M. Kadlecova, M. Halada, P. Tymer [OLBL] ; 100 km NE of Ondorkhaan, Kerulen River , 970 m, 22.VII.2007, (3 ♂), M. Kadlecova [OLBL] ; 100 km W Choibalsan , 820 m, 23.VII.2007, (1 ♂), M. Halada [OLBL] ; 15 km W Choibalsan, Kerulen River , 770 m, 24.VII.2007, (1 ♂), M. Halada [OLBL] .

Diagnosis.

This species is most similar to Epeolus transitorius , with which it uniquely shares a deep depression in the anteromedian area of the mesepisternum, but can be separated from it by the position of the subpleural signum on a small elevated plate (Fig. 8C ) and the presence of a strong, sharp carina on the mesepisternum lateral to the anteromedian depression (Fig. 8B ) (vs weak rounded corners, Fig. 8A ). The differences between Epeolus rasmonti sp. nov., E. transitorius and other species of the Epeolus julliani group are outlined in Table 1 .

Description.

Female. Total body length 7.0-9.0 mm (Figs 4 , 5A ); forewing length (without tegula) 6.0-7.0mm.

Structure and sculpture: Head (Fig. 5B ) 1.3 times as wide as long. Labrum (Fig. 5C ) 1.55 times as wide as long, more or less rounded basally and laterally, weakly concave medially, apical margin straight without medial tooth; apically with two well-visible carina-shaped teeth (tubercles); integument shiny, areolate punctate (10-30 μm). Clypeus densely and finely punctate (10-15 μm / confluent-0.5), narrowly impunctate along apical margin. Frons with developed frontal keel. Frons and vertex coarsely and areolate punctate (30-40 μm). F1 long, ca 1.5 times as long as wide, F2 distinctly shorter than F1 (1.0-1.1 times as long as wide), succeeding flagellomeres slightly longer than wide (ca 1.2 times). Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum coarsely and mostly areolate punctate (30-70 μm), a few small interspaces between punctures shiny and smooth. Axilla slightly convex laterally, apically with distinct short tooth. Mesoscutellum with shallow medial longitudinal impression; poste-rior margin scarcely extending over propodeum. Mesepisternum areolate punctate on upper half and with dull, delicately shagreened interspaces on lower part; anteromedian area with deep depression, laterally from anteromedian depression with strong sharp carina (Fig. 8B ). Propodeal triangle shagreened. Metasomal terga densely and finely punctate (10-15 μm / confluent-1), interspaces shiny; marginal zones wide, equal to length of discs. Pseudopygidial area narrow, linear. Pygidial plate trapezoidal, apically truncate. Processes on sides of S6 normal, with short projections. Metasomal terga and sterna with punctures more or less equally dense (Fig. 5D ).

Integument coloration: Head mostly black, but mandibles (excluding darker apex), labrum, clypeus along apical margin, scape and F1 reddish (amber). Mesosoma mostly black; pronotal lobe, tegulae, axillae, mesoscutellum, metanotum medially and legs (including spurs) reddish (amber); wings with brownish darkening, stigma and veins brown. Mesepisternum partially reddish (usually in middle part, lower scobal area). Metasomal terga black; marginal zones brownish to dark-golden apically. Py-gidial plate reddish with brownish edging. Sterna brownish to reddish; margins golden.

Pubescence: Body with relatively sparse pubescence; tomentum white, except black on tergal discs. Labrum with thin sparse setae. Paraocular area with dense tomentum obscuring integument; remaining part of face and vertex with sparse thin pubescence. Upper half of frons with relatively long erect simple setae mixed with adpressed sparse plumose pubescence. Genal area with relatively dense plumose setae, but not obscuring integument. Pronotum dorsally with tomentum obscuring integument, but medially setae sparse and short. Mesoscutum with dense tomentum peripherally and with narrow paramedial strips. Mesepisternum with sparse, short plumose pubescence or glabrous on lower part and with relatively dense and longer plumose pubescence on upper half. Metanotal integument obscured by tomentum except medially. Legs with sparse pubescence. T1 with basal band of tomentum interrupted medially and connected with apical band laterally; margins of T1-T4 with widely interrupted bands of tomentum. Black tomentum on T1-T4 discs and in interrupted area sparser than pale tomentum. T5 obscured by white tomentum laterally and black medially. Pseudopygidial area with white pubescence. Discs of metasomal sterna with short brownish plumose setae, sparse on S2 and entirely obscured by tomentum on S3-S5; margins with dense and pale tomentum interrupted medially.

Male. Structure, sculpture, coloration and are similar to those of the female (Figs 6 , 7 ), but pubescence more developed. Total body length 5.5-8.0 mm; forewing length (without tegula) 6.0-6.5 mm. F1 1.3-1.4 times as long as wide, succeeding flagellomeres ca 1.1 times as long as wide. Labrum with dense, plumose setae medially. Face obscured by plumose tomentum, but on upper frons sparser and mixed with long setae (Fig. 7B ). Mesoscutum with paramedial strips wider than in female. Axillae and mesoscutellum black or reddish. Mesepisternum mostly areolate-punctate, with shiny, smooth interspaces on lower part; entirely obscured by tomentum. Hind basitarsus boarded by dense fringe of long golden setae (Fig. 7C ). Metasomal terga with apical bands narrower interrupted than in female. Pygidial plate (T7) reddish, shiny, coarsely and densely punctate, ca 1.2 times wider than long, narrowed toward apex; apical margin rounded, slightly bilobed or almost straight (Fig. 7D ). Margins of S2 and S3 with dense uninterrupted white tomentum bands; S4 and S5 normal, with gold long setae. Genitalia as on Fig. 9G, H .

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a patronym honoring our colleague and friend Prof. Pierre Rasmont (University of Mons, Belgium) on the occasion of his 65th birthday and in recognition of his many contri-butions to the study of bee diversity.

Distribution

(Fig. 10 ). Russia (Buryatia Rep.), Mongolia (Bulgan, Dornod, Khentii, Sukhbaatar), China (Beijing).

Figures

Figure 4. Epeolus rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., holotype, female, habitus, lateral view. Scale bar: 1.0 mm.

Figure 5. Epeolus rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., holotype, female A habitus, dorsal view B head, frontal view C labrum, frontal view D metasoma, ventral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A, D); 0.5 mm (B); 0.3 mm (C).

Figure 6. Epeolus rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., paratype, male A, B habitus, lateral view (A) ventral view (B). Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 7. Epeolus rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., paratype, male A habitus, dorsal view B head, frontal view C hind basiratsus, dorsal view D T 7, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A); 0.5 mm (B-D).

Figure 8. Epeolus transitorius Eversmann, 1852, female (A), E. rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., paratype, female (B, C), E. kyzylkumicus Astafurova, sp. nov., female (D) A, B lower mesepisternum, ventral view C subpleural signum (arrow), ventral view D S 6, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.3 mm (C, D).

Figure 9. Male, genitalia A, C, E, G, I genital capsule, dorsal view B, D, F, H, J penis, dorsal view A, B Epeolus seraxensis Radoszkowski, 1893 C, D Epeolus kyzylkumicus Astafurova, sp. nov. E, F E. julliani Perez, 1884 G, H E. rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov. I, J E. laticauda Bischoff, 1930. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 10. Distribution of Epeolus transitorius Eversmann (red dots) and E. rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov. (blue dots).