Trigona (Nostotrigona) mandaloriana sp. nov. Ribeiro

(Fig. 5A–D; 6M–O; 7B)

Trigona recursa: Camargo et al. 2013: [partim, catalog, geographic distribution].

Diagnosis: Integument predominantly black. Clypeus with abundant silvery decumbent hair on the lower paraocular area, and sparse and slightly brown on the upper half of the face. Mandible reddish-brown, with five teeth. Clypeus with erect setae of length approximately 0.15 mm, about 1.2× the diameter of the scape. Scape reddish brown on the dorsal surface and light brown on the ventral surface, with long erect setae (0.10 mm), about 0.8× the scape diameter. Clypeus with short distance between the epistomal suture and inferior tangent of the antennal socket, approximately 0.3× the scape diameter. Malar area with a length of approximately 0.8× the diameter of the scape. Carina post-ocellar low and smooth. Vertex with setae of length approximately 0.24 mm, about 2× the diameter of the scape. Mesoscutum with setae of length approximately 0.19 mm, about 1.6× the scape diameter, scutellum with longer setae (0.33 mm), approximately 2.7× the scape diameter. Metatibia relatively narrow and shallow, approximately 3.4× longer than wide. Metabasitarsus with anterior and posterior margins subparallel, apex rounded to sub-rectangular. Wing membrane hyaline, slightly smoky in the apical fifth and marginal cell. Venation and pterostigma brown. Metasoma elongated, approximately 2× longer than wide. Total body length approximately 5.0 mm length.

Description: Coloration: Integument predominantly black. Clypeus black. Labrum reddish-brown. Scape reddish brown on the dorsal surface and light brown on the ventral surface. Pedicel reddish-brown. Mandible reddish-brown, blackened teeth. Radicle light brown. Flagellum brown. Pronotal lobe, mesoscutum, axilla, scutellum, propodeum and mesepisternum black. Proleg reddish-brown, mesoleg and metaleg brown-blackened. Tegula reddish-brown. Wing membranes hyaline, slightly smoky in the apical fifth and marginal cell. Venation and pterostigma brown. T1 reddish-brown, T2–T6 brown-blackened. Sterna brown blackened.

Pubescence: Clypeus and supraclypeal area with erect, black and branched setae (0.15 mm), approximately 1.2× the diameter of the scape, mixed with branched hairs of about 0.07 mm, approximately 0.6× the diameter of the scape. Clypeus and paraocular area with decumbent silvery hairs more abundant on lower area than upper area towards the vertex. Scape with erect, black, branched setae of approximately 0.10 mm, approximately 0.8× the scape diameter, evenly distributed. Frons upper with erect branched setae, black, about 0.17 mm, mixed with branched hairs of about 0.06 mm. Vertex with erect, black, branched setae, approximately 0.24 mm. Mesoscutum covered by erect branched setae, relatively long black (0.19 mm), evenly and sparsely distributed on the disc and abundant on the anterior edge and on the sides. Mesoscutellum with erect branched setae, black, approximately 0.33 mm. Metatibia with simple erect setae on the posterior margin of about 0.34 mm, mixed with branched setae of approximately 0.21 mm. Metasoma: T1 smooth and polished; T2 with very fine, decumbent and short setae forming a narrow apical band; T3–T5 with black, erect and sparse setae. Sides of apical fourth of T3-T6 with abundant setae, forming a wide band; Simple setae on T3 (0.09 mm), T4 (0.12 mm), T5 (0.09 mm). 13 mm) and T6 (0.18 mm). Sterna with simple setae (0.21 mm: 0.26 mm: 0.23 mm: 0.18 mm: 0.16 mm = length of S1-S5, respectively).

Punctation: Integument smooth and polished at the spaces between the piliferous punctures.

Proportions: Length of compound eye 2.3× its width; inner orbits of the compound eyes concave, slightly converging downwards; compound eye length shorter than upper and maximum interorbital distance, longer than lower interorbital distance (1.30 mm: 1.40 mm: 1.45 mm: 1.15 mm = compound eye length and interorbital distances upper, maximum and lower, respectively). Malar area with 0.10 mm, about 0.8× the diameter of the scape. Clypeus length less than half its width (0.44 mm: 1.11 mm = clypeus length and width, respectively); clypeus slightly convex in lateral view; supraclypeal area slightly more prominent than the clypeus, at the level of the face. Labrum simple. Mandible with five well-defined teeth. Interalveolar distance greater than the diameter of the antennal socket and shorter than the alveolorbital distance (0.25 mm: 0.17 mm: 0.34 mm = interalveolar distance, antennal socket diameter and alveolorbital distance, respectively). Frons slightly depressed along the midline. Vertex slightly convex, with post-ocellar carina. Interocellar distance (0.10 mm) is much smaller than the ocellorbital distance (0.41 mm). Scape length 6.5× its width (0.78mm: 0.12mm). Pedicel width slightly less than the diameter of the second flagellomere (0.12 mm: 0.15 mm). Paraboloid scutellum slightly projecting backwards. Metatibia approximately 3.4× longer than wide (2.14 mm: 0.63 mm). Metabasitarsus approximately 1.6× longer than wide (0.79 mm: 0.45 mm) with anterior and posterior margins subparallel, posterior margin widening smoothly at apical third, distal margin concave. Elongated metasoma, approximately 2× longer than wide.

Male: Unknown.

Etymology: The epithet is homage to the American series “The Mandalorian”.

Geographic distribution (Fig. 8): Brazil (Acre and Amazonas).

Biological note: Life history unknown.

Type material: Holotype (worker). Label data: Brasil –AM, PARNA [= Parque Nacional] do Jaú, 10–24 Nov 2003 / M.L. Oliveira & J.A. Cunha leg. Vila Seringalzinho (INPA).

Paratypes (106 workers): BRAZIL, Acre: Rio Branco, 10/09/94, A.H. Machado 09, 1 (INPA); Amazonas: PARNA do Jaú, 10–24 Nov 2003 / M.L. Oliveira & J.A. Cunha leg. Vila Seringalzinho, 2 (INPA); idem, except “ 7–16 Mai 2004, M. Oliveira leg”, 3 (MPEG); idem, except “ 17–19/nov/2005 / M.L. Oliveira & E. R.F. Pereira leg. coleta avulsa”, 3 (RPSP); RPSP 824c / Tapera, lago Caurés, R [io]. Negro, AM, Brasil, 27–28.VII.1999, 62°11’W, 01°19’S, Camargo, Pedro, Mazucato / Trigona recursa Smith, 1863, Det. Camargo, 2000, 15 (INPA); idem, except “ RPSP 786c / Tabocal, rio Uneiuxi, AM, 13–15.VII.1999, Brasil, 65°06’W, 00°35’S ”, 15 (INPA); idem, except “ RPSP 744c / Tapurucuara—Mirim, rio Negro, AM, 01–04.VII.1999, Brasil, 66°24’W, 00°25’S ”, 18 (INPA); idem, except “ RPSP 736c”, 12 (INPA); Parintins, Fé em Deus, Tribo Sateré Mawé, 07.v.2005 / Rede entomológica, O.A. Santos, Leg. / Trigona sp. 3 (Ducke, 1916), Det. M.L. Oliveira, 2005, 1 (INPA); Benjamin Constant, BR –374, KM 5, Sítio Kaapora (Agno) / –4.3831 / –70.0311, 18 a 21 abril 2019 M. Oliveira & S. Lima, 1 (INPA); Novo Aripuan„, 05°15’53”S; 60°07’08”W, Malaise de solo / Floresta úmida, ix.2004, Henriques, Silva & Pena Leg., 1 (INPA); Querari, S„o Gabriel da Cachoeira, 2ª Pel [ot„o]. Esp [ecial]. de Fronteira, 01°05’N / 69°51’W, 21/5/1993, Vidal, J; Ferreira, RLM col. / Malaise / 0064101, 1 (INPA); Manacapuru, Mundo Azul, Sítio Agroinclusivo, – 3.279958; –60.546108, 14.ii.2020; Mahlmann, Oliveira & Nogueira Leg., 5 (INPA); Iranduba, Sítio Santa Marta / AM 070 Km28, 03°06’ / 60°19’W, 20.xi.2015, M.L. Oliveira leg., 5 (INPA); Novo Air„o, 02°38’39”S 60°56’07”W; 27.viii.2011. / Armadilha luminosa móvel, 18:00–21:00 h. J.A. Rafael, D. Takiya & J. T. Câmara, 1 (INPA); Rio Purus, Arim„, 3/2/92, M. V. Garcia / Trigona sp. grupo albipennis Det. Camargo, 2001, 22 (INPA).

Comments: Trigona (Nostotrigona) mandaloriana sp. nov. has a sympatric distribution with Trigona (Nostotrigona) juvenili sp. nov. The following characters are strong indication for separating these two forms: a distinctly enlarged metabasitarsus on the apical half of the posterior margin, forming an acute angle and a mesoscutum with long setae (0.26 mm), approximately 1.9× the scape diameter in Trigona (Nostotrigona) juvenili sp. nov.