Augochlora (Augochlora) atlantica, Lepeco & Gonçalves, 2020

Lepeco, Anderson & Gonçalves, Rodrigo Barbosa, 2020, A revision of the bee genus Augochlora Smith (Hymenoptera; Apoidea) in Southern South America, Zootaxa 4897 (1), pp. 1-97 : 11-16

Augochlora (Augochlora) atlantica sp. nov.

( Figures 4 A–D; 5A–D; 51H)

Diagnosis. Females of this species differs from Augochlora females in the study area by the coloration pattern: head blue with distinctive cyan-green iridescences, mesosoma blue with darkened mesoscutum disc and metasoma blue with darkened tergal discs. They are similar to A. mulleri in bearing a strongly projected mid trochanter ventral margin (as in Fig. 1G ), and can be separated by the T1 sparsely punctate and S1 projection short. Males are diagnosed by the hind tibia anterior surface with sparse tiny setae among long setae, mesoscutum dorsally darkened, and by the unusually long metapostnotum in comparison to other males of Augochlora s. str.

Comments. This species is rarely collected and was found only in some localities within the southeastern Atlantic forest. Although only eleven specimens were examined, they clearly correspond to a new species according to the very distinctive morphology and restricted distribution.

Description. ♀. Measurements. Maximum interocular distance: 1.64–2.08 (x‾ = 1.81, n = 9); head length: 2.28–2.76 (x‾ = 2.48, n = 9); clypeus width: 0.70–0.86 (x‾ = 0.78, n = 9); clypeus length: 0.54–0.68 (x‾ = 0.59, n = 9); clypeoantennal distance: 0.42–0.50 (x‾ = 0.46, n = 9); clypeus ocellar distance: 1.36–1.52 (x‾ = 1.43, n = 9); inter-tegular distance: 1.52–1.89 (x‾ = 1.64, n = 9); T1 width: 24–2.56 (x‾ = 2.42, n = 9); T2 width: 2.40–3.16 (x‾ = 2.67, n = 9); body length: 9.50–11.50 (x‾ = 10.06, n = 9).

Head. Labrum basal surface black; basal elevation transverse. Mandible mostly black, subapical region brown; mandible strongly constricted at midlength, about half basal width; preapical tooth large and sharp, produced near mandible apex; distal part of adductor ridge weakly swollen. Clypeus mostly blue with green reflections, apical black band, length <1 OD; punctate, punctures large and weak, mostly smooth in between, loosely imbricate on basal margin; apex not prolonged over apical border. Epistomal angle acute, strongly protruding over clypeus. Supraclypeal area blue with green reflections; sparsely punctate, imbricate in between. Lower paraocular area with green reflections; contiguously punctate; long setae (= 1 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. Antennae: mostly dark brown, flagellum ventrally brown. Frons with green reflections; crowded punctate; not protuberant above antennal sockets. Preoccipital area strongly lamellate, lamella expanded near post gena. Gena blue. Post gena darkened; microreticulate, some scattered weak punctures; setae length <3 OD. Hypostomal carina not projected anteriorly.

Mesosoma. Pronotum dorsolateral angle orthogonal Fore leg: coxa black with weak blue iridescence; trochanter black; femur dark brown; ventral surface strongly rounded; long plumose setae (<5 OD); tibia and tarsus dark brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Mesoscutum mostly blue, medially darkened; sparsely punctate on disc, I> PD, sparser posterior to median line, microreticulate in between, contiguously punctate anteriorly and on lateral surfaces; setae length <OD. Scutellum medial furrow inconspicuous; blue; densely punctate, I <PD; with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer dark setae (4 OD). Mesepisternum blue; preepisternum contiguously punctate near pronotal lobe; hypoepimeral area contiguously punctate; below scrobe densely punctate, I <PD, imbricate in between, ventrally crowded; with tiny setae becoming longer ventrally. Mid leg: coxa black; trochanter black; ventral margin widely projected; femur dark brown, flattened, mesofemoral brush yellowish; tibia and tarsus dark brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Tegula dark brown. Metanotum with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer dark setae (= 2 OD). Metepisternum blue; contiguously punctate, becoming crowded to rugose above superior metapleural pit. Hind leg: coxa blue, anterior and posterior surfaces ventrally separated by a smoothly curved area; trochanter black; setae length = 3 OD; femur dark brown; tibia and tarsus dark brown; outer surfaces without dark setae. Metapostnotum blue; shorter than scutellum; entirely covered with radiating carinae, medially somewhat rugose. Propodeum blue; with tiny and long (3 OD) setae intermixed; posterior surface crowded punctate to rugulose; lateral carinae ending below propodeum half; lateral surfaces imbricate between punctures.

Metasoma. T1 anterior surface punctate-puncticulate, smooth in between; mostly blue, base darkened; with dense coverage of tiny decumbent setae among long setae. T1 dorsal surface sparsely punctate on disc, I> 2 PD, interspaces imbricate, coarser and denser punctation on lateral surfaces; mostly blue, dorsally darkened; tiny setae dorsally, long setae (2 OD) on lateral surfaces; apex inflexed, black. T2 mostly blue, dorsally with dark spot; sparsely punctate on disc, coarser and denser punctation on lateral surfaces, mostly imbricate in between, smooth on lateral surfaces; marginal area with punctate portion shorter than apical black band on sublateral surfaces; tiny decumbent setae near base and on lateral surfaces, long setae (2 OD) on lateral surfaces. T3 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly blue, apical band black; tiny setae apex not reaching apical margin sublaterally. T4 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly black with weak blue iridescence, apical band black; mostly with tiny decumbent setae, long setae (3 OD) scattered on disc and lateral surfaces. T5 black; pseudopygidial area not covered by scale-like setae, colliculate integument exposed. Pygidial plate black, apex rounded. S1 with short spiniform projection; black; long setae (> 3 OD) medially, margin with tiny decumbent setae. S2 mostly black, apical band yellowish; medioapical margin sharp; punctate, microreticulate in between; long setae (> 3 OD). S3–4 as S2. S5 apical margin widely rounded; black; long setae (> 3 OD). S6 black; long dark setae on apex.

Description. Ƌ. Measurements. Maximum interocular distance: 1.70; head length: 2.48; clypeus width: 0.72; clypeus length: 0.68; clypeoantennal distance: 0.44; clypeus ocellar distance: 1.42; intertegular distance: 1.70; T1 width: 2.24; T2 width: 2.40; scape length: 0.64; body length: 11.00.

Head. Labrum basal surface yellowish. Mandible mostly yellowish, apex brown. Clypeus green with copper reflection; apical border exposed, yellowish; densely punctate, I = 0.5 PD, punctures large, imbricate in between; setae length = 2 OD. Epistomal angle acute, protruding over clypeus. Supraclypeal area copper; densely punctate, imbricate in between. Paraocular area green, with golden and copper reflections; contiguously punctate, punctures small; long setae (2 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. Antennae: scape black; pedicel as long as F1; dark brown; F1 yellowish; shorter than F2; F3 longer than wide; remaining flagellomeres mostly dark brown, ventrally yellow. Frons blue; contiguously to crowded punctate; setae length = 1–2 OD. Gena blue. Post-gena with golden reflection, darkened near hypostoma; imbricate, some scattered punctures; sparse long setae up to 3 OD.

Mesosoma. Pronotum lateral angle acute. Fore leg: coxa ventrally black with weak blue iridescence; trochanter and femur dark brown with green reflections; strongly swollen, posterior margin regularly rounded; tibia and tarsus light brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Mesoscutum mostly green with blue iridescence, medially darkened; sparsely punctate on disc, I> PD, contiguously punctate anteriorly and on lateral surfaces, interspaces microreticulate; setae length = 0.5–1 OD. Scutellum medial furrow inconspicuous; blue; mostly punctate, punctures coarse, denser punctation medially; longer setae (2 OD) near apex. Mesepisternum blue; preepisternum punctate near pronotal lobe; hypoepimeral area densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, imbricate in between. below scrobe densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, imbricate in between. Mid leg: coxa and trochanter dark brown; setae length 3 OD; femur dark brown with weak blue iridescence; swollen; tibia and basitarsus dark brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Tegula dark brown. Metanotum tiny setae near base, scattered long setae (2 OD). Metepisternum blue; contiguously punctate, crowded punctate to striate near hind wing. Hind leg: coxa and trochanter dark brown with weak blue iridescence; femur dark brown with weak blue iridescence; tibia dark brown, anterior surface with sparse tiny setae among long setae; basitarsus more than 6.5x longer than maximum width, parallel sided; brown. Metapostnotum blue; medially almost as long as scutellum; slightly concave; entirely filled with sinuous carinae. Propodeum blue; with tiny and long (2 OD) setae intermixed; posterior surface contiguously punctate; lateral carinae lamellate, ending below propodeum half; lateral surfaces imbricate among punctures.

Metasoma. T1 anterior surface punctate, I = PD, interspaces smooth; black; with abundant tiny decumbent setae among long setae. T1 dorsal surface punctate, I = PD, denser punctation on lateral surfaces, with an impunctate area near apical margin medially; mostly blue, dorsally darkened; tiny setae on disc, lateral surfaces with longer setae (= 1 OD); apex inflexed, black. T2 mostly blue, dorsally darkened; punctate on disc, I = PD, minutely and sparsely punctate near base, denser and coarser punctation on lateral surfaces, imbricate in between; marginal area with punctate portion shorter than apical black band on sublateral surfaces; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (= 1 OD) near margin and lateral surfaces, pre-marginal setae ending far from apical margin on sub-lateral surfaces. T3 weakly punctate, interspaces imbricate; mostly blue, dorsally darkened, apical band black; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (2 OD) near margin and lateral surfaces. T4 weakly punctate, interspaces imbricate; mostly blue, apical band black; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (2 OD) scattered on disc and lateral surfaces. T5 mostly blue, apical band black; long setae (2 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. T6 black; mostly with long setae (<3 OD). T7 dark brown. S1 with a slight elevation medially; black; with long plumose setae (2 OD) medially, margin with tiny decumbent setae. S2 mostly black with weak blue iridescence; apical band brownish; medioapical margin sharp; punctate, microreticulate in between; with long plumose setae (= OD), tiny setae on apex. S3-4 as S2. S5 black; not depressed transversally on median surface; homogeneously pilose, without glabrous patch medially. S6 black; setae length = 2 OD, tiny setae on apex. S7 lateral apodemes shorter than half S8 width. S8 anterior projection more than four times longer than apical width; posterior margin weakly projected.

Genitalia: Gonobase 2 times wider than long; ventral arms curved on apex. Gonocoxite about 1.5 times longer than wide. Gonostylus, dorsal surface glabrous. Ventral process of gonostylus: inner lobe spatulate, expanded; with tiny setae and bristles intermixed; outer lobe with short setae with length = 0.4x inner lobe size. Gonapophysis ventral prong poorly produced; dorsal bridge margin weakly projected; ventral bridge absent; apodeme narrow and hooked.

Distribution. Augochlora atlantica is found in the eastern coast of the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo, Paraná, and S„o Paulo (see Appendix for examined material).

Etymology. The name is a reference to its known occurrence range, restricted to the coastal Atlantic forest.

Type material. Holotype, DZUP, 1♀ DZUP \565889 SANTA LEOPOLDINA, \ ES-BRASIL-9/9/66 \ C. T. & C. Elias ”. Paratypes, DZUP, 5♀ DZUP \565884, DZUP \565885, DZUP \565886, DZUP \565887, DZUP \565888” “ SANTA LEOPOLDINA, \ ES-BRASIL-9/9/66 \ C. T. & C. Elias; 1³ DZUP \568221, SANTA LEOPOLDINA, \ ES-BRASIL-9/9/66\C. T. & C. Elias.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–C) Female mandible, anterior view. A) Augochlora aurinasis (Vachal); B) Augochlora daphnis Smith; C) Augochlora genalis sp. nov. Scale bar: 0.2 mm. D–G) Female mid trochanter, anterior view. D) Augochlora nausicaa (Schrottky); E) Augochlora francisca (Schrottky); F) Augochlora phoemonoe (Schrottky); G) Augochlora mulleri Cockerell. H–L) Female metasoma, anterior portion (T1 and S1), lateral view. H) Augochlora thusnelda (Schrottky); I) Augochlora nausicaa (Schrottky); J) Augochlora braziliensis (Vachal); K) Augochlora francisca Schrottky; L) Augochlora phoemonoe (Schrottky). D–L not in scale.

FIGURE 4. Female of Augochlora atlantica sp. nov. A) habitus, B) frontal view of head, C) dorsal view of mesosoma, D) dorsal view of metasoma. Scale bar: 1.0 mm, all at same scale.