Hylaeus ulaula, Magnacca, Karl N., 2011

Magnacca, Karl N., 2011, Two new species of Hylaeus (Nesoprosopis) (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) from O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, Zootaxa 3065, pp. 60-65 : 63

Hylaeus ulaula n. sp.

Fig. 2

Diagnosis. This species is structurally almost identical to H. crabronoides , but the coloration is strikingly different. Due to the large facial markings, it would key to H. mimicus in Daly & Magnacca (2003). It is readily separated from that species and H. makaha by both the extensive red coloration of the head and mesosoma; and the structure of the head, which is strongly convex in lateral view with a prominent upper frons and clypeus as in H. crabronoides .

Description. Ƥ. Head. Front of head strongly convex in lateral view, apical portion of clypeus curving caudad and frons strongly convex between median ocellus and antennal sockets. Clypeus bulging well beyond the margin of the eye in lateral view. Mandible with two teeth. Malar space short, length 0.4 times the diameter of the median ocellus. Upper paraocular area and frons with small round pits less than one pit width apart, smaller and denser medially, contiguous above the supraclypeal area. Apex of clypeus weakly emarginate. Dorsal end of facial fovea not reaching to level of lateral ocellus. Vertex hair very short 2–4, simple. Mesosoma. Fore tarsus with most hairs erect, apically curved. Scutum with inconspicuous punctation consisting of very small, shallow pits 2–3 pit widths apart, ground dull; hair extremely short (about 2, rarely to 6), simple. Scutellum with slightly larger pits, slightly lustrous. Metanotum dull. Mesepisternum with shallow pits 1–2 pit widths apart, ground smoothly coriaceous, lustrous; with long, yellow, plumose hair. Hypoepimeron weakly punctate, slightly swollen. Basal area of propodeum, including brow, smoothly coriaceous and lustrous. Metasoma. Disk of T2 impunctate, smoothly coriaceous, lustrous, with fine, pale, appressed hairs spaced about one hair length apart or more. T6 hair long, dark brown, erect. Color. Face with three separate yellow marks: paraocular area with a broad stripe filling in area between clypeus and eye, extending broadly along eye above antennal socket; clypeus with an irregular apical mark, probably highly variable. Clypeus, supraclypeal area, mandibles, entire gena behind eye, and scape orange; frons from antennal sockets and above supraclypeal area to vertex black. Pronotum black, with yellow marks on lobes and interrupted transverse collar stripe; tegula transparent orange-brown, apparently with an indistinct yellow spot. Mesonotum largely orange-red, lateral and posterior margins black. Scutellum predominantly dark brown, irregularly rufous on the disc; axillae, metanotum, and propodeal triangle dark brown. Mesepisternum dark brown anterior of episternal groove, orange-red posterior; metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum also orange-red. Front coxae black, mid and hind coxae and all trochanters orange. All tibiofemoral joints narrowly marked with yellow. Front legs otherwise orange, tinged with brown; mid and hind tibiae and femora brown dorsally, grading to orange ventrally, tarsi brown. Wings slightly smoky. Metasoma prominently banded, T2–5 yellow-orange anterior and posterior with a broad dark brown medial band; T1 mostly brown dorsally with a large irregular pale spot on each side, T6 almost entirely brown.

3. Unknown. Probably with face marks resembling H. crabronoides and body coloration resembling the female.

Holotype. O‘ahu: Ƥ ( BPBM 17299), Makaha Valley, 2200 ft., 21.502°N 158.168°W, at Chamaesyce herbstii , 10.viii.2010, K. Magnacca, GenBank accession no. JN679600 .

Etymology. From the Hawaiian ‘ula‘ula, very red, referring to the coloration. It is a non-latinized genderless adjective.

Discussion. A pale female specimen from Maui, identified as H. specularis in Daly & Magnacca (2003: 192), was presumed to have been heavily bleached by storage in alcohol or other materials, but may instead be a relative of H. ulaula .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Hylaeus ulaula, holotype Ƥ. A) Lateral habitus. B) Head and mesosoma, dorsal view. C) Head, frontal view.