Hoplitis (Hoplitis) galichicae Müller, 2016

Müller, Andreas, 2016, Hoplitis (Hoplitis) galichicae spec. nov., a new osmiine bee species from Macedonia with key to the European representatives of the Hoplitis adunca species group (Megachilidae, Osmiini), Zootaxa 4111 (2), pp. 167-176 : 168-170

Hoplitis (Hoplitis) galichicae Müller spec. nov.

Holotype. MACEDONIA: N.P. Galicica, 600–1500m, 26.6.2014, ♂ (leg. J. Halada & M. Fabianová). Deposited in the private collection of M. Schwarz (Ansfelden).

Paratypes. MACEDONIA: N.P. Galicica, 600–1500m, 26.6.2014, 25♀, 6♂ (leg. J. Halada & M. Fabianová). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich and the private collections of M. Schwarz (Ansfelden) and the author.

Diagnosis. With a body length of only 5–6.5mm, H. galichicae is the smallest representative of the Hoplitis adunca species group in Europe, where all other species of that group attain a body length of at least 6–6.5mm. The female is further characterized by the only weakly convex clypeus ( Fig. 1 ) in combination with the long and slender, almost straight and apically pointed hind tibial spurs ( Fig. 3 ), the short antennal segment 3, which is about 1.5x as long as wide, and the sparse pilosity of the supraclypeal area ( Fig. 1 ). The male is additionally characterized by the oval, laterally rounded and evenly haired lobes of the membraneous appendage of sternum 6, which are directed laterally and separated from each other by an angle of almost 120o ( Fig. 6 ), in combination with the slender, almost straight and apically pointed hind tibial spurs.

Description. FEMALE: Body length 5–6.5mm. Head: Head about 0.95x as long as wide ( Fig. 1 ). Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge about 1.6x as long as ocellar diameter. Maximal width of genal area about 0.6x as long as maximal width of compound eye. Second segment of labial palpus 1.75–1.85x as long as first segment. Antennal segment 3 about 1.5x as long as wide. Clypeus weakly convex ( Fig. 1 ); in profile, clypeal surface not or only slightly projecting above surface of supraclypeal area. Punctation of clypeus and supraclypeal area very dense with interspaces rarely exceeding the diameter of half a puncture except sometimes for a small polished area at the clypeal base ( Fig. 1 ). Face rather sparsely covered with long white hairs, which do not hide the cuticular surface neither on clypeus and paraocular nor on supraclypeal area ( Fig. 1 ). Mesosoma: Punctation of scutum and scutellum dense with interspaces usually not exceeding the diameter of one puncture except for the lateral parts of the scutum, where the interspaces may reach the diameter of one and a half to two punctures. Punctation of mesepisternum dense with interspaces varying in size between the diameter of half a puncture and the diameter of one to one and a half punctures. Tibial spur of fore leg with short and pointed tooth, which is about as long as its basal width. Inner tibial spur of hind leg yellowish and long and slender, its apex pointed and only very slightly curved ( Fig. 3 ). Pilosity on inner side of hind basitarsus yellowish-white. Tegula blackish in its anterior third and yellowish-brown in its posterior two thirds. Stigma and veins of fore wing (dark) brown to black. Metasoma: Punctation of tergal discs rather scattered with interspaces varying in size between the diameter of one and a half to one puncture (laterally) and the diameter of two to three, rarely four punctures (medially). Punctation of marginal zones of terga distinctly finer and denser than on discs and restricted to the basal half. Terga 1–4(5) with short apical white hair bands, which are medially interrupted in older specimens. Longest hairs on median half of tergum 1 less than half as long as maximal length of lateral hair tuft. Discs of terga 5–6 with very sparse appressed white pilosity. Sternum 6 densely punctured and dull except usually for a narrow unpunctured median zone; its apical carina very weak, evenly rounded, of constant height throughout and continuous or only narrowly interrupted medially ( Fig. 2 ). Scopa whitish except sometimes for some blackish hairs at its base.

MALE: Body length 5–6mm. Head: Head about 0.85x as long as wide. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge about 1.45x as long as ocellar diameter. Maximal width of genal area about 0.5x as long as maximal width of compound eye. Second segment of labial palpus 1.7–1.8x as long as first segment. Antennal segment 3 1.1x, segment 4 0.7x, segments 5–11 0.75x, segment 12 1x and segment 13 1.6x as long as wide ( Fig. 4 ). Anterior side of antennal segments (3)4–12 and posterior side of segments (5)6–12 yellowish except sometimes for the slightly darkened upper margin ( Fig. 4 ). Mesosoma: Punctation of scutum, scutellum and mesepisternum similar to that of the female albeit slightly finer and less dense on scutum and scutellum. Tibial spurs of hind leg yellowish and slender, almost straight and apically pointed. Colour of tegula and of wing venation as in the female. Metasoma: Punctation of terga similar to that of the female. Terga 1–4(5) with short apical white hair bands, which are medially interrupted in older specimens. Apical margin of tergum 6 medially crenulate and laterally with distinct tooth ( Fig. 5 ). Apical margin of tergum 7 evenly rounded ( Fig. 5 ). Sterna 2–3 with strong transverse swellings, which are almost devoid of punctures and narrowly interrupted medially ( Fig. 7 ). Transverse swelling of sternum 4 distinctly less strongly developed than on sterna 2–3, sparsely punctured and broadly interrupted medially ( Fig. 7 ). Apical margins of sterna 2–4 almost straight and beset with white hairs, which are much longer laterally than medially ( Fig. 7 ). Sternum 5 strongly shagreened in its basal half, rather coarsely and densely punctured in its preapical part with interspaces reaching the diameter of up to one and a half to two punctures, and very finely and densely punctured along its marginal zone; its apical margin slightly emarginated medially ( Fig. 6 ). Base of sternum 6 with a pair of large translucent flaps ( Fig. 6 ). Lateral lobes of the bilobed membraneous appendage of sternum 6 oval (about 1.6x as wide as long), laterally rounded to truncate, densely covered with hairs slightly directed backwards and separated from each other by an angle of almost 120o ( Fig. 6 ).

Distribution. Known so far only from the Galichica national park in southwestern Macedonia.

Pollen hosts. The pollen loads of six females of the type series all consisted exclusively of pollen of an unknown species of Sedum (Crassulaceae) . Interestingly, the pollen masses in the metasomal scopae of all females were noticeably moist, indicating that the females had added nectar to the collected pollen probably in order to facilitate the transport of the minute Sedum pollen grains, which were found to have a diameter of only about 15Μm. If H. galichicae should turn out to have a clear or even exclusive preference for the flowers of Crassulaceae as pollen hosts, it would be an exception within the Hoplitis adunca species group as most of its members are oligolectic or mesolectic on flowers of Boraginaceae (mostly Echium ) and/or Fabaceae ( Sedivy et al. 2013b; Müller 2015; Tab. 1 ). However, Crassulaceae pollen was found to be rarely collected also by H. loti and H. ravouxi , two mesolectic species of the Hoplitis adunca species group, which otherwise show a clear preference for the pollen of Loteae (Fabaceae) ( Sedivy et al. 2013b).

Nesting biology. Unknown. As most species of the Hoplitis adunca species group nest in depressions or cavities of stones and rocks and build their brood cells with mud often combined with small pebbles ( Sedivy et al. 2013a; Müller 2015), H. galichicae is expected to exhibit an analogous nesting behaviour as its relatives.

Etymology. galichicae = from the Galichica mountain range in southwestern Macedonia.

Figures

FIGURE 1 – 7. Hoplitis galichicae. 1: Head of female. 2: Sterna 5 – 6 of female. 3: Inner hind tibial spur of female. 4: Antenna of male. 5: Terga 4 – 7 of male. 6: Sterna 5 – 6 of male. 7: Sterna 2 – 5 of male.