Megachile (Pseudomegachile) ericetorum Lepeletier 1841

Dorchin, Achik & Praz, Christophe J., 2018, Taxonomic revision of the Western Palaearctic bees of the subgenus Pseudomegachile (Hymenoptera, Apiformes, Megachilidae, Megachile), Zootaxa 4524 (3), pp. 251-307 : 292-294

Megachile (Pseudomegachile) ericetorum Lepeletier 1841

Megachile ericetorum Lepeletier 1841: 341 , ♀ ♂, “Département des Landes” [ France]. Lectotype ♀, designated by Tkalců 1967: 100, MNHN.

Megachile fasciata Smith 1844: 694 , ♀, “near Southampton; Byfleet, near Weybridge” [ England].

Megachile rufitarsis Smith 1844: 695 , ♂, “Byfleet, near Weybridge” [ England]. Preoccupied, not Megachile rufitarsis Lepeletier 1841 .

Megachile ericetorum euroa Tkalců 1988: 49 , ♂, “ Africa sept. Algeria Alger-Tipasa ” [ Algeria]. Holotype ♂, paratype ♂, OLML.

Megachile ericetorum oraniensis Zanden 1989: 72 , ♀ ♂, “ Tizi n’Tichka , Marokko” [ Morocco]. Holotype ♀, paratypes ♀ ♂, ETHZ.

Megachile ericetorum melaleuca Zanden 1989: 72 , ♀ ♂, “ Tizi n’Tichka , Marokko” [ Morocco]. Holotype ♀, paratypes ♀ ♂, ETHZ.

Chalicodoma ericetorum tyrneri Tkalců 1994: 87 , ♀ ♂, “ Asia min. Turkey oc. Arkent pr. Aywalik ” [ Turkey]. Holotype ♂, paratypes ♀ ♂, coll. P. Tyrner (Litvinov, Czech Republic).

Description: M. ericetorum is rather morphologically distinct, having dark integument with complete light apical tergal hair bands (rare, entirely melanic forms are known). Additional distinctive characteristics of the female are the long, slender, and weakly dentate mandible ( Fig. 13 ) approaching the condition observed in the subgenus Chalicodoma , the comparatively long vertex, the shape of the apical clypeal margin as well as other characteristics mentioned in the key. Unique characteristics of the male are the unmodified front tarsi, nonetheless with long posterior hair fringe and with a distinct spot on the ventral surface of the second segment ( Fig. 27 ); the structure of sternites 5 and 6 ( Figs 66, 67 ), and other characteristics mentioned in the key.

M. ericetorum was found to be most closely related to the flavipes species group ( Fig. 1 ), which is corroborated by the following characteristics: a small basal inferior tooth on the lower margin of T7 is present in addition to the apicomedian spine ( Fig. 38 ), although the latter is absent in the flavipes species group ( Fig. 39 ), thus only in these two taxa T7 is not emarginated; the disc of S5 is densely covered with sclerotized capitate hairs like in most other Pseudomegachile , but includes some bifid hairs anteromedially ( Fig. 66 ) as found almost only in the flavipes species group; S6 is simple as in the flavipes species group but slightly swollen on both sides thus approaching the condition of swollen lateral lobes seen in most other groups, further it comprises intermediate number and density of sclerotized capitate and spatulate hairs between the flavipes and the cyanipennis species groups ( Fig. 67 ).

Distribution: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Europe, Israel, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, Caucasus.

Note: This widely distributed species exhibits some geographic variation in the colour of the vestiture; nevertheless, we do not recognize subspecies as no populations appears particularly divergent or isolated from the others. Dark forms (e.g. M. ericetorum melaleuca ) have been found as isolated specimens within ordinary looking populations and we do not recognize a valid subspecies for them.

Pollen hosts: Probably oligolectic on Fabaceae ( Westrich 1989) , although according to Westrich (1989) Lamiaceae pollen is very occasionally also used (see also Gogala 2014).

Nesting biology: Nests located in existing cavities such as existing holes in soil or clay banks, or in reed stems; cells arranged linearly and made of mud; Ferton (1895) observed females gathering moist soil close to streams (see also Le Goff 2004), a behavior not observed in bees of the subgenus Chalicodoma , which add secretions to dry mud for nest construction; exterior of cells coarse and irregular, inner wall lined with a thin layer of resin; cell closed with a plug of soil; nest closure made of a layer of mud covered by a thin layer of resin, with sometimes an additional layer of mud ( Ferton 1895, Westrich 1989, Praz 2017).

Material examined: AUSTRIA: Bad Hall , 28.6.1979, Parré leg. ; Linz–Plesching o, 3.7.1961, J. Gusenleitner leg. ; BELGIUM: Koksijde , 22.7.2007, N. Vereecken leg. ; Sandanski , 12.7.1966, Kocourek leg. ; CROATIA: Dubrovnik , E.5.1966, W. Schlaefle leg. ; CZECH REPUBLIC: Ceske Budekovice , 17– 27.6.2007, M. & Z. Halada leg. ; Ceske Budekovice, Srubec , 6.7.2005, M. & Z. Halada leg. ; FRANCE: Avignon , 1.6.2007, N. Vereecken leg. ; Bouches d. Rhône, Alpilles 3km NW Eyguières 43°43,32N 4°59,63E, 8.6.1997, C. Schmid-Egger leg. ; Bouches-d. Rhone, Alpilles , 1km N Aureille, 43°42'89 N 4°57,26 E, 8.6.1997, C. Schmid-Egger leg. ; Ht-Alpes 6km SW Briançon, Prelles 1200m 44°51.51N 6°34,71E, 6.6.1997, C. Schmid-Egger leg. ; Hte-Savoie, Monnetier / Pt. Salève 650–900m, 1.7.1999, Merz & Löbl leg. ; Maine-et-Loire (49), Nyoiseau, Le Tertre , 5.6.2003, C. Baliteau leg. ; Provence, Callian , 8– 14.7.1929, 12– 17.6.1930, 9– 13.6.1931, 28.6.1933, Naef leg. ; Provence, Fréjus , 3– 7.7.1932, T. Steck leg. ; Var, 18km W St. Tropez, S. Vaucade 43°15,08N 6°23,27E, 7.6.1997, C. Schmid-Egger leg. ; Var, 20km NNW St Tropez, 4 km E Les Mayon 43°19,53N 6°25,01E, 7.6.1997, C. Schmid-Egger leg. ; Vaucluse , 2km E Roussillon, 43°54,30N 5°18,96E, 9.6.1997, C. Schmid-Egger leg. ; Villers-Allerand ( Marne ), 2, 11.7.1952, 3.7.1953, F. J. Manning leg. ; GERMANY: Freiburg i. B., 17, 18.6.1938, J. P. Wolf leg. ; Kaiserstuhl , 30.6.1938, J. P. Wolf leg. ; Kaiserstuhl , 11.7.1965, W. Schlaefle leg. ; GREECE: Argolida, Mycenae 37°43'55 N 22°45' 02E, 27.6.2009, C. Praz leg. ; Ilia, Olympia , 4– 11.7.1979, M. C. Day, G. R. Else, D. Morgan leg. ; Karfas / Chios , 15.5.1995, Perrandin leg. ; Lakonia, Geraki 37°01'59 N 22°42' 50E, 28.6.2009, C. Praz leg. ; Lesbos Polichitos , 24.6.2008, C. Sedivy leg. ; Levadia , A.6.1966, W. Schlaefle leg. ; Olympia , 29.6.1964, W. Grünwaldt leg. ; Peloponnese, Argolida, Mycenae 37°43'55 N 22°45' 02E, 27.6.2009, C. Praz leg. ; Peloponnese, Lakonia, Geraki 37°01'59''N 22°42'50''E, 28.6.2009, C. Praz leg. ; Saloniki , E.5.1963, W. Schlaefle leg. ; Saloniki , E.6.1960, W. Schlaefle leg. ; Thessalia, Nr. Kalambaka, Pinios riverbed, 14– 20.7.1979, M. C. Day, G. R. Else, D. Morgan leg. ; HOLLAND: Terwinselen, Brunssum Z.L., 5.7.1952, Br. Arnout, coll. Manning leg. ; IRAN: Fars, Shiraz , 24.5.2014, S. Kiani leg. ; Mazandaran Pr. Kojuk env. 36°23N 51°40E 1560m, 7.6.2014, J. Halada leg. ; Teheran Prov. Khojeer NP 35°39'02 N 51°43' 39E, 25.5.2009, Sedivy, Praz & Talebi leg. ; Teheran Prov. Sorkheh Hasar NP 35°43'02 N 51°35' 00E, 24.5.2009, Sedivy, Praz & Talebi leg. ; Teheran, T. Modares Univ. Agricult. Campus 35°44'33 N 51°09'49'' E, 28.5.2009, Sedivy, Praz & Talebi leg. ; Yasuj region Kalus 37°41’58’’N 51°28’43’’E, 30.5.2009, Sedivy, Praz & Monfared leg. ; Yasuj Region, Kalus 30°41'58’’N 51°28'43’’E, 30.5.2009, 1.6.2009, Sedivy, Praz & Monfared leg. ; ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: Mt. Hermon 33°18’56’’N / 35°48’28’’E 2180m, 28.6.2010, A. Dorchin leg. ; ITALY: Campania, Buonabitacolo 40°18'29 N 15°37' 32E, 3.7.2011, Trunz, Litman, Praz leg. ; Cattolica , 29.6.1963, W. Grünwaldt leg. ; Piemonte, Neviglie 500m, 28.5.2003, A. Müller leg. ; Sardinia, Alghero, Mugoni , 17.5.2007, P. Niolu leg. ; Trento , 29.7.1956, W. Schlaefle leg. ; Vintschgau Bz, Schlanders 900m, 11.7.1997, A. Müller leg. ; KAZAKHSTAN: 20 km SE Aksay env., 16– 19.6.1992, J. Halada leg. ; Alma-Ata , 25.6.1992, J. Halada leg. ; River Ili Aidarli , 14.6.1992, J. Halada leg. KYRGYZSTAN: Tchon-Aryk foothills 2km S Bishkek 42°47N 74°34E, 19.6.1999, Makogonova leg. ; Tschuy, Distr. Almamedin SE Bischkek, Besch-Kungey 42°48'5'' 74°38'19'', 1.6.2010, H. & R. Rausch leg. ; LEBANON: Becharré , 1400m, 1– 4.7.1931, Zerny leg. ; MACEDONIA: Skopje , M.7.1958, W. Schlaefle leg. ; MOROCCO: 7 km O el Kalaa d. Mgouna, M. 6.1962, W. Schlaefle leg. ; Atlas, Tachdirt , 2450m, 26– 29.6.1930, Ebner leg. ; Rich , 26.5.1990, W. Schlaefle leg. ; Tachguelt - Ljoukak, Tizi-n-Test 1200m– 2100m, 21.4.2009, A. Müller leg. ; Tadderte , M.6.1962, W. Schlaefle leg. ; Volubilis , 23.5.1970, W. Schlaefle leg. ; SERBIA: Avala , M.7.1958, W. Schlaefle leg. ; SLOVENIA: Portoroz , 26–23.5– 6.1974, F. Parre leg. ; SPAIN: Andalucia, 20km SW Algeciras Punta Tarifa , 2.5.2003, J. Halada leg. ; Andalusia, Granada , 1– 7.6.1925, Zerny leg. ; Aragon, Albarracin , 22– 30.6.1924, Zerny leg. ; Coca , 30.5.1989, W. Schlaefle leg. ; Malaga , 2.4.1959, W. Schlaefle leg. ; nr Pinturas rupestres, nr Navazo, nr. Albarracin , prov. Teruel , 27.7.1987, leg.; PN Garraf , 23.5.2010 [Jordi Bosch leg.] ; TUNISIA: 20km S Tabarka , 16.4.2001, M. Halada leg. ; Beja, 5km NE Nefza , 30.4.2012, C. Praz leg. ; TURKEY: 27km SE Aksaray Ihlara 38°14N34°18E, 18.7.1998, C. Schmid- Egger leg. ; 54km W Kayseri Göreme 38°39N 34°52E, 17.7.1998, C. Schmid-Egger leg. ; 5kmE Oramar / Hakkari 1500m, 16.6.1984, K. Warncke leg. ; Afsin / Maras 1300m, 9.6.1984, K. Warncke leg. ; Anatolia 20km westl. Konya, 16.7.1968, W. Aigner leg. ; Antalya, Saklikent , 31.5.2009, J. S. Ascher, H. Özbek, J. G. Rozen leg. ; Elazig, 7.6.1980, K. Warncke leg. ; Hakkari 22km S Baytüsseban 1200m, 26.6.1985, Schacht leg. ; Kayseri Göreme 1000m NN, 9.7.1988, C. Schmid-Egger leg. ; Nevschehirs Ürgüp , 21.7.1971, K. Warncke leg. ; S-Türkei Taurus / Eregli zw. Halkapinar u Kösere Obstgärten , 3.7.1996, Brechtel & Ehrmann leg. ; Sultan Daglari Yalvac env., 5.7.1993, K. Denes leg. ; Tatvan , 30.6.1993, K. Denes leg. ; Tuzluca , 17.8.1972, K. Warncke leg. ; Urfa, 3.6.1968, J. Gusenleitner leg. ; Ürgüp , M.6.1960, W. Schlaefle leg. ; Ürgüp As. , 26– 29.6.1977, J. Heinrich leg.

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Figures

FIGURE 1. Phylogenetic tree obtained in maximum likelihood analysis of the concatenated DNA matrix. Outgroup taxa are indicated in grey. The full dataset (two nuclear genes, 28S, and the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase I) was obtained for taxa in bold (“backbone phylogeny”), while other taxa only have the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase I. Numbers shown at nodes are bootstrap values based on 1000 bootstrap replicates performed in RAxML v.7.0.4. For the flavipes species group, the country is indicated as a two-letters country code. The different species groups recognized in the western Palaearctic as well as isolated species not included in these groups are indicated.

FIGURES 6–21. Clypeus and mandibles of females. 6: M. foersteri. 7: M. incana. 8: M. blepharis sp. nov.. 9: M. cinnamomea. 10: M. saussurei. 11: M. nigripes. 12: M. seraxensis. 13: M. ericetorum. 14: M. sanguinipes. 15 (hairs removed on left): M. maxschwarzi sp. nov.. 16 (hairs removed on left): M. flavipes. 17 (hairs removed on left): M. tecta. 18: M. cinnamomea. 19, 20 (profile): M. farinosa. 21: M. riyadhensis (profile). CT: clypeal tooth, APA: apical premarginal area of mandible, HT: clypeal hair tuft, FC: facial comb of hairs.

FIGURES 22–37. Diagnostic traits of males. 22: inferior mandibular projection of M. nigripes. Anterior coxal spine of 23: M. nigripes, 24: M. lanata. Front legs of males of 25: M. foersteri (anterior surface), 26: M. cyanipennis (anterior surface), 27: M. ericetorum (ventral surface), 28: M. cinnamomea (ventral surface), 29: M. cyanipennis (ventral surface), 30: M. cinnamomea (dorsal surface), 31: M. farinosa (dorsal surface). T6 and T7 of 32: M. farinosa, 33: M. cinnamomea, 34: M. lanata, 35: M. seraxensis, 36: M. schnabli, 37: M. riyadhensis. IBP: inferior basal projection, ACS: anterior coxal spine, AG: anterior groove, BAM: basitarsal anterior margin, MPS: minute posterior spot, PAC: preapical carina, LS: lateral spine.

FIGURES 65–70. Sternites 4–6 of males. 65–67: M. ericetorum. 68–70: M. lanata. PAMG: preapical medial groove. Scale bars equal 1 mm.

FIGURES 38–46. Diagnostic traits of males. Profile of T7 of 38: M. ericetorum, 39: M. cinnamomea. Sternite 4 in ventral view of 40: M. saussurei, 41: M. farinosa, 42: M. flavipes, 43: M. lanata. Antenna in dorsal view of 44: M. cyanipennis, 45: M. tecta, 46: M. sanguinipes. AMS: apicomedial spine, IT: inferior tooth, PAR: preapical ridge, PAC: preapical carina, MD: marginal depression, PAMG: preapical medial groove.