Epeolus gorodkovi Astafurova, 2022

Astafurova, Yulia V. & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2022, Review of the Epeolus cruciger species group (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Epeolus Latreille, 1802) of Asia, with the description of two new species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 92, pp. 305-328 : 305

Epeolus gorodkovi Astafurova sp. nov.

Figs 3 , 4 , 9A, E

Material examined.

Holotype: ♂, Tajikistan, Pamir Mts , Murgab River Valley, Zapadny Pshart River, 3325 m, on Myricana squamosa, 29.VI.1958, K. Gorogkov [ZISP] . Paratypes: 1 ♀, 16 ♂, the same label as in the holotype [ZISP]; 1 ♂, Afghanistan, Ghazni, Moqur , 2000 m, 24.VI.1970, Kabakov [ZISP] .

Diagnosis.

Structurally and in coloration, the new species is very similar to Epeolus alpinus but differs in having uninterrupted apical tergal bands, denser and lighter pubescence on tergal discs (light brown to yellowish) and yellowish marginal zones on terga (black or brownish in Epeolus alpinus ). The upper half of frons, ocellocular area and mesoscutum are mostly confluently punctate (with a few shiny interspaces) and similar to those in E. cruciger . Differences between the new species and other species of the Epeolus cruciger group are outlined in Table 1 .

Description.

Male (holotype). Total body length 6.5 mm (Fig. 3C ); forewing length (without tegula) 5.0 mm.

Structure and sculpture: Head (Fig. 4A ) transverse, ca 1.3 times as wide as long. Labrum (Fig. 4C ) 1.6 times as wide as long, rounded basally and laterally, apical margin slightly curved medially with small distinct medial tooth; sub-apically with two well-visible teeth; integument shiny, coarsely punctate (15-25 μm / confluent-1). Clypeus densely and finely punctate (ca 10 μm / confluent). Frons with well-developed frontal keel. Upper half of frons mostly with confluent punctures (15-20 μm), sparser on ocellocular area. Antennae short, flagellomeres ca as long as wide. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum (Fig. 4E ) coarsely (25-40 μm) and mostly areolate-punctate with a few interspaces at most a half puncture diameter. Axillae short and flat, apically with small tooth (Fig. 4E ). Mesoscutellum with medial longitudinal impression; posterior margin scarcely extending over propodeum. Mesepisternum areolate-punctate, with shiny interspaces on hypoepimeral area. Propodeal triangle shagreened; posterior vertical surface shiny and smooth. Metasomal terga densely and finely punctate (10-15 μm / 0.5-1), interspaces shiny and smooth. Pygidial plate (T7) coarsely and densely punctate, shiny between punctures, 1.0-1.1 times as long as basal width, narrowed toward apex, with shallow punctures; apical margin slightly curved (Fig. 4D ). Sterna punctured like terga, but sparser.

Integument coloration. Head black, except partly red-yellowish mandibles, brownish antennae and apically yellowish F1. Mesosoma black, except red-yellowish tegulae, tibiae and tarsi. Metasomal terga black, but marginal zones pale-yellow to golden. Sterna brownish with marginal zones the same color as on terga.

Pubescence: Tomentum whitish to yellow (except sometimes brownish on tergal discs). Labrum apically with sparse thin setae. Paraocular and supraclypeal areas with dense tomentum obscuring integument, pubescence on clypeus sparser, shorter and shabby. Upper half of frons with long simple setae. Vertex with sparse thick (plumose) setae. Gena with dense tomentum, but not obscuring integument. Pronotum dorsally with tomentum obscuring integument. Mesoscutum with tomentum of adpressed plumose setae (dense on anterior third and peripherally) and long erect simple setae. Metanotal integumentalmost obscured by short tomentum. Mesepisternum and ventral parts of mesosoma with long tomentum obscuring integument. Legs with white setae. Terga (Fig. 4F ) with uninterrupted apical (on marginal zone) light bands of tomentum; T1 entirely covered light tomentum, but with setae medially sparser and shorter; pubescence on other tergal discs short, relatively dense, the same color as on marginal zones or darker to brownish. Marginal zones of S2 and S3 with dense uninterrupted white bands of tomentum; S4 and S5 normal, with golden long setae. Gonostylus as in Fig. 9A, E .

Female. Structure, sculpture, coloration and pubescence are similar to those of the male (Fig. 3A, B ). Head (Fig. 4B ) 1.25 times as wide as long. Flagellomeres ca 1.1 as long as wide. Pseudopygidial area short, triangular. Pygidial plate trapezoidal, apically truncate. Processes on sides of S6 normal, with short projections. S5 wide, straight as seen in lateral view. Head with adpressed tomentum around antennal sockets (in the single female specimen). T1 with wide basal whitish band of tomentum medially separated by brownish sparser pubescence and connected with apical band laterally; brownish pubescence on tergal discs contrasting with light tomentum bands on marginal zones.

Variability.

The male specimen from Afghanistan has a red labrum, F1, pronotal lobes and pygidial plate.

Etymology.

The new species is named in honor of famous Russian entomologist and zoogeographer Kirill B. Gorodkov (1932-2001), the collector of the type series.

Distribution.

Tajikistan, Afghanistan.

Figures

Figure 3. Epeolus gorodkovi Astafurova, sp. nov., paratype, female (A, B), holotype, male (C), A-C habitus, lateral view (A); dorsal view (B, C). Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 4. Epeolus gorodkovi Astafurova, sp. nov., holotype, male (A, C-F), paratype, female (B, G) A, B head, frontal view C labrum, frontal view D T 7, dorsal view E, G mesosoma, dorsal view F metasoma, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B, E-G); 0.3 mm (C, D).

Figure 9. Male, gonostylus, ventral view (A-D), lateral view (E-H) A, E Epeolus gorodkovi Astafurova, sp. nov. B, F E. asiaticus Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov. C, G E. alpinus Friese, 1893 D, H E. cruciger (Panzer, 1799). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.