Eucera (Eucera) dafnii Dorchin, 2019

Dorchin, Achik, 2019, Taxonomic revision of the aequata - group of the subgenus Eucera s. str. (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Eucerini), Zootaxa 4652 (3), pp. 457-472 : 465-469

Eucera (Eucera) dafnii Dorchin , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E62FA8C6-0E7A-495C-AEE7-60FC5895349D

Distribution: Iran, Israel, Syria, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece.

Notes: This species may appear in collections under the name E. grozdanici Tkalců MS.

Molecular sequence data was provided for this species in Dorchin et al. (2018a) as sample ad14.

Pollen hosts: This species is probably oligolectic on Fabaceae or has strong preference to pollen of this plant family. Twelve females from Israel, Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria had either pure loads, or collected mainly pollen of the Trifolium - or Vicia - type together with other pollen types from the Fabaceae . One female had 6% pollen of Brassicaceae , and another 2.5% pollen of Asteroideae (Asteraceae) , but it cannot be excluded that occurrence of these pollen types resulted from contamination of the sample. Floral records show that both females and males visit Anchusa undulata (Boraginaceae) and Lepidium sp. ( Brassicaceae ), possibly for nectar without collecting pollen.

Diagnosis: Although females of this species are not easily separable from the other aequata -group species by the naked eye, both males and females exhibit some unique features. Females can be differentiated by their unique characteristics of the mesonotum and marginal zone of T1 indicated in the key. They further differentiate from those of E. aequata by having large well-defined punctures posteromedially on the scutellum ( Fig. 22 ), and slightly darker vestiture ( Figs 2, 5 ); especially the apical fasciae are pale with darker brownish hue, less strongly contrasting with the light ferruginous hairs of prepygidial fimbria (the hairs are cream-white in E. aequata but the colour of hairs quickly fades to white in worn specimens of both species) (compare Figs. 24 and 25 ). The hairs on the upper mesepisternum are lighter than in fresh female specimens of E. wattsi sp. nov., fulvous comparing to bright ferruginous, respectively (compare Figs 22 and 23 ). In addition to the characteristics indicated in the key, males differentiate by the following traits. The presence of conspicuously thickened hairbands along the gradulus of sternites ( Fig. 8 , 28 ); the presence of posterolateral carinae on S6 that are likely homologous to those of other Eucera species although modified and lacking the anteriorly converging carina observed in many of these species ( Fig. 32 ); the complete loss of apicomedial ventral process of S8 ( Fig. 38 ), a condition unmatched by any species in the Eucerini so far as is known to me.

Etymology: The new species name is proposed in honour of my teacher and friend, Amots Dafni, a pioneer pollination ecologist of the Mediterranean region, who has led the research project during which much of the type series was discovered.

Holotype: ♂, ISRAEL, Tel Yizhaq S NR, 20 m, 32°14‘34‘‘N / 34°51‘53‘‘E, at Anchusa undulata , 14.3.2011, A. Dorchin leg. ( SMNH).

Paratypes: IRAN: ♂, Azerbaijan prov. - Garbi S, Taz Ekendkaragolchans 1 km E, 2500 m, 36°36‘N / 47°19‘E, 14.5.2001, J. Prochazka leg. ( OLML) . ISRAEL: ♀, Bene Ziyyon NR, 26.3.2009, A. Dorchin leg. ( ADC) ; 2♂, Bet Hanan 1.7 km E, 14 m, 31°55‘53‘‘N / 34°45‘31‘‘E, 2.4.2010, A. Dorchin leg. ( OLML, ♂; SMNH, ♂) ; ♂, Bet Hanan 1.7 km E, 14 m, 31°55‘53‘‘N / 34°45‘31‘‘E, 2.3.2010, A. Dorchin leg. ( SMNH) ; ♀, HaEla Jcn. , 21.4.1984, E. Shney-Dor leg. ( SMNH) ; ♂, Hirbet Samara , 2.3.2009, A. Dorchin leg. ( SMNH) ; 3♀ 4♂, Nahsholim 700m E, 14 m, 32°36’41’’N / 34°55’50’’E, 14.4.2012, A. Dorchin leg. ( SMNH, ♀ 2♂; ADC, 2♀ 2♂) ; ♀, Tel Yizhaq N NR, 18 m, 32°15’03’’N / 34°51’44’’E, 10.4.2010, A. Dorchin leg.( ADC) ; 2♂, Tel Yizhaq N NR, 18 m, 32°15’03’’N / 34°51’44’’E, 10.3.2010, A. Dorchin leg. ( ADC) ; 2♀, Kefar Menahem , 3.4.2017, T. Roth leg. ( ADC, ♀; SMNH, ♀) ; 3♂, Tel Yizhaq S NR, 20 m, 32°14‘34‘‘N / 34°51‘53‘‘E, 13.3.2011, at Anchusa undulata, A. Dorchin leg. ( ADC, 2♂; SMNH, ♂) ; 2♂, Tel Yizhaq S NR, 20 m, 32°14’34’’N / 34°51’53’’E, at Anchusa undulata , 14.3.2011, A. Dorchin leg. ( ADC) ; 2♀, Tel Yizhaq S NR, 20 m, 32°14’34’’N / 34°51’53’’E, at Anchusa undulata , 16.3.2011, A. Dorchin leg. ( ADC, ♀; SMNH, ♀) ; ♂, Tel Yizhaq 1 km SW, 9 m, 32°14’51’’N / 34°51’50’’E, 10.3.2010, A. Dorchin leg. ( OLML) ; 2♂, Yaqum , 32.25°N / 34.85°E, at Iris atropurpurea , 25.3.2009, S. Watts leg. ( SMNH) ; 4♂, Yaqum , at Iris atropurpurea , 6.3.2008, Y. Sapir leg. ( SMNH, 2♂; OLML, 2♂) ; 2♂, Yaqum , at Iris atropurpurea , 9.3.2008, Y. Sapir leg. ( SMNH) ; ♂, Yaqum , at Vicia villosa , 2.3.2011, S. Watts leg. ( SMNH) ; ♂, Yaqum , 12.3.2011, S. Watts leg. ( SMNH) ; ♂, Yaqum , 17 m, 32°15’19’’N / 34°50’40’’E, 17.3.2011, S. Watts leg. ( ADC) ; ♂, Yaqum , 32.25°N / 34.85°E, at Iris atropurpurea , 18.2.2009, S. Watts leg. ( SMNH) ; ♀, Yaqum , 32.25°N / 34.85°E, at Bituminaria bituminosa , 31.3.2009, S. Watts leg. ( ADC) ; ♂, Yaqum , 32.25°N / 34.85°E, at Erodium botrys , 20.2.2010, S. Watts leg. ( SMNH) ; ♂, Yaqum , at Vicia villosa , 22.3.2011, S. Watts leg. ( ADC) ; ♂, Yaqum , at Vicia villosa , 23.3.2011, S. Watts leg. ( SMNH) ; ♂, Yaqum , 13 m, 32°15‘22‘‘N / 34°50‘41‘‘E, 18.3.2016, A. Dorchin leg. ( ADC) ; ♂, Haruzim NR, 26.2.2009, A. Dorchin leg. ( ADC) ; ♂, Haruzim NR, 35 m, 32°13’47’’N / 34°51’35’’E, 19.3.2010, A. Dorchin leg. ( ADC) ; 5♂, Sha‘alvim , 30.3.2017, T. Roth leg. ( SMNH, 4♂; ADC, 1♂) ; 2♂, Tal Shahar , 20.3.2017, T. Roth leg. ( SMNH) ; ♂, Hulda 23.3.2017, T. Roth leg. ( SMNH) ; ♂, Netiv HaLamed He , 27.3.2017, T. Roth leg. ( SMNH) ; ♂, Nahshon , 26.3.2018, T. Roth leg. ( SMNH) ; ♂, Iris Ha‘Argaman NR, 29 m, 31°55‘54‘‘N / 34°45‘11‘‘E, A. Dorchin leg. ( SMNH) ; 2♂, Karme Yosef , 22.3.2018, T. Roth leg. ( SMNH) . SYRIA: 3♂, 10.5.1952, Seidenstücker leg. ( OLML) . TURKEY: ♂, Agri, Patnos 20 km N, 1650 m, 29.5.1980, K. Warnke leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, Agri, Patnos 20 km N, 1650 m, 27.5.1983, K. Warnke leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, Agri, Patnos 20 km N, 1650 m, 7.6.1981, K. Warnke leg. ( OLML) ; 2♂, Patnos 20 km N, 1650 m, 29.5.1980, M. Schwarz leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, Anatalia, Izmir 20 km NE, Cabunubeli Gecidi , 750 m, 38.33°N / 27.16°E, 17.5.1983, E. Hüttinger leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, Ankara 10 km S, 1100 m, 8.6.1980, K. Warnke leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, mer. Antakia env., 30.4.1994, K. Denes leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, Antakia env., 30.4.1994, Mi. Halada leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Bozkir , 26.5.1998, Ma. Halada leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Burdur 28 km SEE, 1350 m, 37°40’N / 30°28’E, 8.7.2006, J. Halada leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, Erzincan, Gemecik env., 2005 m, 39.52°N / 38.25°E, 14.6.2005, Procházka leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Hakkari, Uludere 10 km W, 1000 m, 4.6.1980, M. Schwarz leg. ( OLML) ; ♀ 2♂, Hakkari, Yuksekova 10 km SW, 1780 m, 10.6.1981, K. Warnke leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Hakkari, Yüksekova 10 km SW, 1750 m, 10.6.1981, M. Kraus leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Hazar See / Elazig, 1100 m, 7.6.1980, K. Warnke leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, Konya, Beysehir env., 30.5.1996, M. Snižek leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Kozluk ( Baykan ), 3.6.1998, Ma. Halada leg. ( OLML) ; 2♂, Maras Afsin , 5.5.1985 ( OLML) ; ♀ ♂, Maras Afsin , 12.5.1985 ( OLML) ; 23♀, Muradiye env, 120km NE Van lgt, 2000m, 5.6.2001, K. Deneš sen. leg. ( OLML) ; ♀ 3♂, Mus, Dül , 1780 m, at Lepidium , 1.6.1972, H. Ösbek leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Nemrut Dag /Adiya- man, 1500 m, 1.6.1983, K. Warnke leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Seydisehir Teke Gec. , 7.2.2000, M. Snižek leg. ( OLML) ; 2♀, Siirt, Sirnak 20 km NW, 1500 m, 5.6.1980, M. Schwarz leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Sirnak / Siirt, 4.6.1977, K. Warnke leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Tunceli, 13.6.1973, K. Warnke leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, Tunceli distr., Ovacik env., 29.5.2003, J. Schneider leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, Yayladagi , 11.6.1998, Ma. Halada leg. ( OLML) . BULGARIA: ♂, Kresna , 12.5.1979, Kocourek leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, Kresna env., 170 m, 41°42’N / 23°09’E, 5- 9.5.2010, Pacholátko leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Ljubimek , 80 m, 41°50’N / 26°04’E, 25.5.2010, Mi. Halada leg. ( OLML) ; 4♀, Lozenec , 15 m, 42°13’N / 27°47’E, 16.6.2008, M. & Z. Halada leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, mer.-or. Mičurin Plaž Bâlgarka , 22.6.1988, B. Tkalců leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, mer.-or. Mičurin ( Nestinarka ), 28.6.1988, B. Tkalců leg. ( OLML) ; 2♀, mer.-or. Achtopol , 21.6.1988, B. et O. Tkalců leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Nessebar , 28.5– 10.6.1963, K. Bleyl leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, Rodopi, Hrabrino , 20.5.1997, Zaikov leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Sandanski , 6.1967, Kocourek leg. ( OLML) ; 3♀, Sandanski , 1- 8.6.1967, Kocourek leg. ( OLML) ; ♀ ♂, Sandanski , 26- 31.5.1967, Kocourek leg. ( OLML) ; 4♀ 3♂, Sandanski NE, Ploski W 3.5.2012, Snižek leg. ( OLML) . GREECE: ♂, Chalkidiki, Ouranopoli , 23.4.1987, L. Blank leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, Euböa, Xero-Geb , Drimona NE, 600-700 m, 38°53’24’’N / 23°18’58’’E, 26.5.2009, H.u. R. Rausch leg. ( OLML) ; 3♀, Kalambaka 35 km NE, 15.5.2005, J. Halada leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Lamia Bralos 30 km S, 10.5.2005, J. Halada leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Larisa , 13.4.1962, K. Warnke leg. ( OLML) ; ♀ ♂, Larisa , 15.4.1962, K. Warnke leg. ( OLML) ; 5♀, Loannina 30 km W, 16.5.2005, J. Halada leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Pelopon., Zachlorou , 28.5.1954, M. Schwarz leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Pelopónissos, Megalopoli 20 km S, 1.5.2005, J. Halada leg. ( OLML) ; 2♀, Pelopónissos, Megalopoli 20 km S, 1.5.2005, Kadlecóva leg. ( OLML) ; ♂, Pelopónissos, Melhoni 18 km W, 23.4.2005, J. Halada leg. ( OLML) ; ♀ ♂, Pelopónissos, Olympia Loutra 30 km SEE, 2.5.2005, J. Halada leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Pelopónissos, Sparti 12 km NWW, 26- 27.4.2005, J. Halada leg. ( OLML) ; ♀, Pelopónissos, Tripoli 35 km NW, Langadia SW, 3.5.2005, Kadlecóva leg. ( OLML) .

Description: Female: as in E. aequata except for the following: body length of most specimens 13–15 mm; forewing length of most specimens 8.7–9.5 mm; some smaller specimens 12 mm long with wing 8 mm long; head slightly longer, 1.2 times broader than long on average; inner margins of compound eye parallel sided, at most weakly diverging below, thus upper and lower interocular distance subequal ( Fig. 14 ); vertex very short, ocelloccipital distance 2/3–3/4 lateral ocellus diameter; clypeus protuberant, produced in front of anterior tangent of compound eye by 4/5 to full eye width in profile; galea long, 1.5–1.6 times as long as compound eye in profile.

Integument colour black, shiny as in E. aequata , but tarsal segments 2–5 usually partly ferruginous, rarely almost completely black. Surface overall with dense to confluent shallow punctures, except mesonotum with conspicuous, smooth, weakly punctate to almost impunctate area posteromedially ( Fig. 22 ); scutellum with some wide, smooth puncture interspaces medially and with clear larger punctures posteromedially ( Fig. 22 ); T1 with asymmetrical punctures, produced on one side, forming transverse ridges anteriorly, becoming striopunctate posteriorly; margin more or less uniformly wide, well defined by nearby punctation, relatively narrow, occupying about 1/3 of marginal zone ( Fig. 25 ); T2 and T3 striopunctate with dense, more or less uniform punctures, with interspaces up to two puncture diameters wide; punctures become progressively denser on T4 and T5.

Vestiture darker than in E. aequata , uniformly ferruginous on mesonotum and along preoccipital ridge, fulvous to light fulvous on mesepisternum, metepisternum, propodeum, and T1 ( Figs 2, 5 ); modified unbranched hairs posteromedially on ventral side of mesosoma apically bent, not distinctly undulating; apical fascia of T2–4 creamwhite with darker brownish hue, and prepygidial fimbria with somewhat lighter ferruginous hairs comparing to E. aequata ( Fig. 25 ); apical fascia of T2–4 narrower medially, that of T2 shortly interrupted medially, that of T3 not completely hiding underlain margin of tergite even in fresh specimens ( Fig. 25 ); dorsal side of tibia and tarsi concolourous ranging from ferruginous, brownish fulvous, to dark or light fulvous, with scopal hairs usually darker, less strongly contrasting with ferruginous hairs on ventral side of basitarsus comparing to E. aequata ; stipital hairs as in E. aequata , but modified, unbranched hairs longer, more strongly curved along lower margin of stipes.

Male: as E. aequata except for the following. Body length of most specimens 13–16 mm; forewing length of most specimens 8.5–9.6 mm, shorter in some smaller specimens as in female; head slightly longer, 1.16 times broader than long on average; inner margins of compound eye parallel sided ( Fig. 17 ); vertex very short, ocelloccipital distance about 2/3 lateral ocellus diameter as in females; clypeoocular distance short, slightly shorter than malar distance and 1/9 of mandible width at base; antenna comparatively long, slightly more than 4.0 times as long as compound eye ( Fig. 8 ); second flagellar segment 3.0 times longer than first on average ( Fig. 19 ); flagellar segments laterally compressed, distal segments more strongly crenate; S6 unique, medially depressed with narrow posterolateral carina curved laterally at each side, without anteriorly converging carina or anterolateral marginal projections ( Fig. 32 ); S7 with lobes of lateral process reminiscent of E. aequata but more elaborate, the posterior lobe elongated and curved anteriorly and the anterior lobe produced laterally to approach posterior lobe ( Fig. 35 ); S8 reminiscent of E. aequata , but apicomedial ventral process absent, indicated by weakly discerned medial convexity and groove, and with medial ridge curving laterally onto rounded apical lobe on both sides as seen in ventral view ( Fig. 38 ); genitalia robust, posterodorsal projection of gonocoxa comparatively slender ( Figs 41, 43 ); gonostylus elbowed, base directed dorsoapically then bent ventroapically as seen in lateral view ( Fig. 43 ), and with apex expended medially, L-shaped, in dorsal view ( Fig. 41 ), reminiscent of the longicornis -group; gonostylus with very long weakly branched setae on external surface, reaching almost to apex of gonostylus ( Fig. 43 ); penis valve as in E. aequata except anterior processes straight above spatha in dorsal view ( Fig. 41 ).

Integument colour black with weak metallic reflection as in female ( Fig. 8 ); T1 and T2, and in some specimens also T3, concolourous with mesosoma, following tergites darker ( Fig. 28 ); tarsal segments 4 and 5 ferruginous or segment 4 partly ferruginous. Surface of mesosoma finely shagreen, areolate, with comparatively shallow punctures, and with conspicuous shinier area posteromedially on mesonotum with sparser weakly defined punctures and some interspaces 1–2 puncture diameters wide; tergites with asymmetrical punctures on disc and striopunctate on marginal zone but punctures comparatively less clearly discerned; T3–5 irregularly sparsely punctate with some wide shiny interspaces.

Vestiture darker than in E. aequata as described for female, except T3–6 with darker brown hairs, or T3 with mixed light and dark hairs or with almost completely light hairs in some specimens, and T3–5 additionally with light brown to pale posterior bands, that of T3 sometimes incomplete or almost completely absent ( Fig. 28 ), or that of T5 absent in some specimens from Turkey; T6 and pygidial plate with light to dark brown hairs in fresh specimens ( Fig. 28 ); sternites with well-developed hair band of short plumose hairs along gradulus, partly obscured by precedent sternal plates in repose.

Figures

FIGURES 21–29. Mesosoma and metasoma in dorsal view. Female mesosoma (21–23) and metasoma (24–26), and male metasoma (28, 29) and S7 (27) of 21, 24, 27: E. aequata; 22, 25, 28: E. dafnii sp. nov.; and 23, 26, 29: E. wattsi sp. nov. (28, 29: Holotypes). M: mesonotum, S: scutellum, MZ: marginal zone of T1, AF: apical fascia, PHB: posterior hair band.

FIGURES 1–12. Habitus of species of the aequata-group. Females in dorsal (1–3) and lateral view (4–6), and males in dorsal (7–9) and lateral view (10–12) of 1, 4, 7, 10: E. aequata; 2, 5, 8, 11: E. dafnii sp. nov.; and 3, 6, 9, 12: E. wattsi sp. nov.; (8, 9, 11, 12: Holotypes). (Pictures: Oz Rittner.)

FIGURES 30–43. Sternites 6–8 and genitalia of males. Ventral view of S6 (30–32), S7 (33–35), and S8 (36–38), and dorsal (39–41) and lateral view of genitalia (42, 43) of 30, 33, 36, 39: E. aequata; 31, 34, 37, 40, 42: E. wattsi sp. nov.; and 32, 35, 38, 41, 43: E. dafnii sp. nov.. BAA: blunt anterolateral angle, PC: posterolateral carina, LPPL: posterior lobe of lateral process, LPAL: anterior lobe of lateral process, MP: medial process, AL: apical lobe, AVP: apicomedial ventral process, MC: medial convexity, MG: medial groove, MR: medial ridge, PP: posterodorsal projection of gonocoxa, G: gonostylus, AP: anterior process of penis valve, BL: basomedial lobe of penis valve, LS: lateromedial spine of penis valve.

FIGURES 13–20. Facial views and antenna of males. Facial view of females (13–15) and males (16–18) of 13, 16: E. aequata; 14, 17: E. dafnii sp. nov.; and 15, 18: E. wattsi sp. nov.. Length of first to second flagellar segment of male 19: E. dafnii sp. nov., and 20: E. wattsi sp. nov. (17–20: Holotypes). F1, F2: flagellar segment 1 and 2, respectively.