Penapis larraini Packer

Packer, Laurence, 2012, Penapis larraini Packer, a new species of rophitine bee (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) from a fog oasis in Northern Chile, Zootaxa 3408, pp. 54-58 : 55

Penapis larraini Packer , new species

( Figs. 1 , A–J)

Diagnosis. The male can be differentiated from other species of the genus by the absence of sublateral processes on S6 and the form of the sublateral processes on S5 ( Figs. 1C–F ). In side view, the latter have a narrow, digitiform apex, which is dorsoventrally flattened ( Fig. 1E ). All other species in the genus have rounded (in P. penai angulate) sublateral processes on S6 and approximately triangular processes on S5, which are not dorsoventrally flattened, rather they are uniformly obliquely compressed. The female is most easily distinguished by the punctation of the metasomal terga: T1–T4 have large, shallow punctures on the apical half (excepting the apical impressed areas) and T2–T4 have minute, denser punctures bearing minute setae that are restricted to the anterior half of the tergum (slightly more extensive medially) ( Fig. 1J ). Other species have the horizontal portion of T1 impunctate, or almost so, and the minute punctures of T2–T4 more extensive, at least on T3 approaching the apical impressed areas medially to a distance much less than the length of the impressed area ( Fig. 1K ). The male has similar sculpture but is more readily separated by the sternal characters noted above.

Description. Male: Head width 1.85–1.90mm, ITW 1.4–1.45mm, wing length 4.8–5.0mm, body length 7.4–7.6mm. Lower part of face moderately projecting ( Fig. 1A ). Pterostigma with pale disc bordered by brown marginal veins. Midtibial spur gently curved almost to base. S4 with more than 10 outwardly recurved plumose setae on each side; apical comb pale amber, more than 20 straight setae on each side, narrowly interrupted medially ( Fig. 1B ), comb setae finer and longer than in other species. S5 with median apical process shorter than sublateral process, laterally compressed and somewhat downcurved apically; sublateral process in lateral view with deep basal portion ending in acute angulation ventrobasad of dorsoventrally flattened, narrow apical projection ( Figs. 1C–E ). S6 lacking sublateral process, surface flat, apical concavity broad, truncate ( Fig. 1F ). S8 and genital capsule as in figures 1G and 1H.

Female: Head width 4.8–5.2mm, ITW 1.42–1.52mm, wing length 4.8–5.2mm, body length 7.3–8.4mm. Midfemur flat over most of anterior surface, somewhat concave towards apex because of apicodorsal swelling. Scopa pale straw. Metasomal terga with sparse, shallow, large punctures on apical half (apical impressed areas excepted); punctures smaller, denser and more distinct on T5 and T6; anterior half of T2–T4 with minute punctures separated by> their diameters; minute punctures extending slightly past midlength of tergum medially, less extensive laterally ( Fig. 1J ).

Material studied. Holotype male: CHILE Region I, Alto Patache, xi.1997, W. Sielfeld. Allotype female, one male paratype and two female paratypes with identical label data, PUCV with one pair of paratypes at PCYU. Three female paratypes (one missing the head) same locality, 820m, one each from 30.xi.1997, 02.xii.1997 and 07.xii.1997, H. Larrain, two at PCYU, one at PUCV. Although not stated on any labels, the locality is at 20°49’S; 70°09’W.

Etymology. The species is named after Horacio Larrain, eco-anthropologist and archaeologist of the Universidad Boliviariana in Iquique, northern Chile. The name is appropriate as his wife, Marta, is a sister of the renowned, late Chilean entomologist Luis Peña, after whom the genus and its type species were named. Dr. Larrain collected the first specimens of the species seen by the author and has been involved with numerous research projects on the locus typicus.

Figures

FIGURES 1 A – K. A – J. Penapis larraini Packer, n. sp. A – H male, I – J female. K. Penapis toroi female. A. head lateral view. B. S 4 ventral view. C. apex of metasoma ventral view. D. S 5 ventral view. E. S 5 lateral view. F. S 6 ventral view. G. S 8 ventral view. H. Genital capsule ventral view. I. Head lateral view. J. T 1 – T 3 dorsal view. K. T 1 – T 3 dorsal view. Note that the individual shown in J has the most sparse but large punctures of all the specimens available. Scale line = 1 mm.