Monoeca haemorrhoidalis (Smith)

ROZEN, JEROME G., MELO, GABRIEL A. R., AGUIAR, ANTÔNIO JOSÉ CAMILLO & ALVES-DOS-SANTOS, ISABEL, 2006, Nesting Biologies and Immature Stages of the Tapinotaspidine Bee Genera Monoeca and Lanthanomelissa and of Their Osirine Cleptoparasites Protosiris and Parepeolus (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apinae), American Museum Novitates 3501 (1), pp. 1-60 : 54

Monoeca haemorrhoidalis (Smith)

Melissodes haemorrhoidalis Smith, 1854: 313 . Type female, South America (BMNH).

Tetralonia reversa Smith, 1879 : 111. Type female, Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca (BMNH). Synonymy indicated by LaBerge and Moure (1962: 11).

Tetrapedia piliventris Friese, 1899: 293 . Holotype male, Brazil: São Paulo, Santos (NHMW). NEW SYNONYMY.

The specimens from the population studied in Piraquara, Parana´, agree with the type material listed above, as well as with additional specimens from Rio de Janeiro (listed below). This species is most similar to M. schrottkyi (Friese, 1902) and M. xanthopyga Harter­Marques , Cunha, and Moure, 2001. These three species, together with M. pluricincta (Vachal, 1909) , represent the largest members of Monoeca (from 10 to 14 mm in length); also, they possess relatively long pubescence on the mesoscutum and scutellum (longest plumose setae about 2.5–3.13 as long as diameter of flagellum). Monoeca pluricincta is readily distinguished by its conspicuous yellow integumental tergal bands and by its shallower medial sulcus on the upper frons. The other three species differ mostly by details of the pubescence and structure of the metasomal terga and sterna ( figs. A1–A6 ) and can be separated using the key presented below. Females of M. haemorrhoidalis and M. schrottkyi can be readily separated from one another based on the pattern of pubescence on the metasomal terga. Many males of M. haemorrhoidalis , however, are quite similar to M. schrottkyi in possessing broad bands of yellow pubescence on the terga.

Among the six species of Monoeca examined (see Biology of Monoeca haemorrhoidalis , above), females of the four species mentioned here have a large, wax­extruding area at the base of T6 (figs. A7, A8).

The specimens of M. haemorrhoidalis from Piraquara, especially the males, vary considerably in color of the body pubescence and in the distribution of the pubescence on the metasomal terga. The females are less variable; most of them have the marginal zone of T2 and entire T3–T4 covered with bright yellow setae, while only a few females have the metasomal terga covered with dark pubescence. The males vary from having very light colored (pale yellow to light orange) to entirely black pubescence on the head, thorax, and legs, including all sorts of combinations. The setation on the metasomal terga also varies from very dense, with broad marginal bands on the terga, to very sparse, with only a few scattered setae along the tergal margin.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Female type of Melissodes haemorrhoidalis , ‘‘Type H. T.’’, ‘‘B. M. Type / Hym / 17.B. 858’’, ‘‘ Melissodes / haemorrhoidalis / S. Amer. Sm.’’ and ‘‘F. Sm. coll. / 79.22’’; female type of Tetralonia reversa, ‘‘Type B. M.’’, ‘‘B. M. Type / Hym / 17.B.8111’’, ‘‘ Tetralonia / reversa / Type Smith’’ and ‘‘TEJUCA / Jan 1. 1857 / J. Gray’’; male holotype of Tetrapedia piliventris , ‘‘Santos / Brasilien / Dr. Brauns. / 18.10.97’’, ‘‘ Tetrapedia / piliventris / det. Friese 1898 / n. sp.’’ (?) and ‘‘Holotype’’; 1 female ( DZUP), ‘‘Tijuca—R.J. / 16.I.56 / Moure leg.’’ and ‘‘ Monoeca / reversa / (Smith, 1879) / Det. Moure 1980’’; 1 male ( DZUP), ‘‘Floresta da Tijuca / D. Federal BRASIL / I­1954 / C.A.C. Seabra Coll.’’ and ‘‘ Monoeca / brasiliensis / Lep. Serv. / Det. J. S. Moure 1957’’; 1 female ( DZUP), ‘‘Praia Lagoinha do Leste / Florianópolis, SC, Brazil / 27.XII.2002 / A. Zillikens leg.’’ and ‘‘In nest aggregation of / Monoeca sp. ’’; plus numerous males and females collected at the nesting site, as well as additional older specimens collected in the same locality and deposited in the DZUP collection.

Figures

Fig. 1. Nesting site of Monoeca haemorrhoidalis, showing dense ground cover in foreground. Fig. 2. Close­up of two nest entrances of same. Fig. 3. Main burrow of Monoeca haemorrhoidalis showing repetitive tamping impressions on shiny burrow wall. Fig. 4. Monoeca haemorrhoidalis, spiral inner surface of cell closure. Figs. 5, 6. Closure ends of cells of Monoeca haemorrhoidalis, showing plugged entrance holes made by females of Protosiris gigas; holes are filled by them as they depart.