Agapostemonoides weyrauchi, Gonçalves, Rodrigo B. & Melo, Gabriel A. R., 2006

Gonçalves, Rodrigo B. & Melo, Gabriel A. R., 2006, Notes on the Neotropical bee genera Agapostemonoides Roberts & Brooks and Rhinetula Friese, with description of a new species of Agapostemonoides (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Halictinae), Zootaxa 1136, pp. 39-48 : 41-43

Agapostemonoides weyrauchi new species

( Figs. 2, 3 , 9 , 18 )

Comments and diagnosis

Contrary to Roberts & Brooks (1987), the morphological differences between what they considered only forms of the same species are significant, especially in the males. Therefore, a new species, A. weyrauchi , is here proposed for the South American form. It can be easily distinguished from A. hurdi , especially by the lamellate dorsal portion of the occipital carina and the dense puncation on lateral portions of the disc of T1. Additional diagnostic features are presented in the above key.

The only examined female has the terga with a dark brown background, with basal yellow bands on T2–T4. Additional collecting might reveal in this species the same metasomal color dimorphism exhibited by females of A. hurdi .

Description

Holotype male: unless otherwise described, as in A. hurdi . (2) Clypeus: coarse punctures separated by one time or less than their diameters. (4) Vertex: occipital carina lamellate dorsally, lamella about as high as one­half the ocellar diameter. (10–12) Mesoscutum: pubescence pale yellow; on scutellum and metanotum, light brown. (17) Tegula: translucent amber, covered with small appressed hairs anteriorly, glabrous posteriorly. (18) Fore leg: coxa metallic green; external surface of trochanter, femur and tibia amber, inner surface yellow. (20) Hind leg: posteroventral tooth vestigial. (21) Terga: coarse punctures on T1 about one­puncture diameter apart; T2–T6 with strong punctation, punctures with about half the diameter of those on T1. S7 and S8 as in the Fig. 9 .

Paratype female: unless otherwise described, as in A. hurdi . (4) Vertex: occipital carina lamellate dorsally, lamella about as high as one­half the ocellar diameter. Mesoscutum: pubescence short, on anterior corners subequal in length to one ocellar diameter. (21) Terga: dark brown with yellow transverse bands on T2–T4; integument reflective, with only a dull luster; T1 with conspicuous punctation laterally, sparsely pubescent on basal half; setae on lateral portions of T2–T5 light brown. (22) Sterna: pubescence light brown.

Type material

Holotype male ( DZUP), Peru: “ TINGO MARIA \ (Rio Huallaga)\ 700m I: 1948\ leg. Weyrauch”. Paratypes: 1 female and 1 male, Bolivia: “Puerto Villa 1200m, Yungas Bolívia / 13–20/XII/55 Peña”.

Etymology

Named after the collector of the holotype, Wolfgang Weyrauch. The holotype bears a handwritten label by Moure, with the name “Weyrauchia agapostemonoides ” on it.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. 1, Anterior portion of metasoma of Agapostemonoides hurdi (female from Darién, Panama), dorsal view. 2, Same, A. weyrauchi sp. nov. (female from Puerto Villa, Bolivia). 3, Detail of head of A. weyrauchi (male from Puerto Villa, Bolivia); arrow pointing to lamellate dorsal portion of occipital carina. 4, Clypeus and supraclypeal area of Rhinetula denticrus (male from Barro Colorado, Panama). 5, Same, R. rufiventris (male from Tingo Maria, Peru). 6, Hind tibia and basitarsus of R. denticrus (same specimen of fig. 4). 7, Same, R. rufiventris (male from Rurrenabaque, Bolivia). Figs. 1 & 2, 4 & 5, 6 & 7, respectively, at same scale. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 8 – 11. Male S 7 and S 8, ventral view. 8, Agapostemonoides hurdi (from Darién, Panama). 9, A. weyrauchi (from Puerto Villa, Bolivia). 10, Rhinetula denticrus (from Barro Colorado, Panama). 11, R. rufventris (from Tingo Maria, Peru). All figures at same scale. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 18 – 19. Distribution maps. 18, Agapostemonoides hurdi and A. weyrauchi sp. nov. 19, Rhinetula denticrus and R. rufiventris.