Triepeolus oblongimacula, Onuferko & Rightmyer, 2024

Onuferko, Thomas M. & Rightmyer, Molly G., 2024, A revision of the simplex species group of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Triepeolus Robertson, 1901 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 950 (1), pp. 1-106 : 53-57

Triepeolus oblongimacula sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A939584A-99F2-4D1C-B4A5-23D778D8B027

Figs 4B , 8B , 9C , 12H , 15C, 23

Proposed common name

Oblong-spot triepeolus.

Diagnosis

The following morphological features in combination tell T. oblongimacula sp. nov. apart from all other Triepeolus in the simplex species group: the axillae are entirely black and large, each with the tip extending beyond the midlength of the mesoscutellum (but not as far back as its posterior margin) and the free portion distinctly pointed, hooked (i.e., concave along the medial margin), and mesally unattached to the mesoscutellum for more than a third the medial length of the axilla ( Fig. 23B ); the mesopleura laterally do not have erect/suberect, simple setae or have only sparse, short (<¼ MOD), erect/suberect, simple setae in addition to the usual appressed, branched setae ( Fig. 9C ); the trochanters are normal (i.e., not tuberculate) ( Fig. 9C ); the dorsum of the mesosoma and metasoma have bands of pale-yellow tomentum ( Figs 8B , 15C , 23 ); and the T1 discal patch is broadly rounded laterally and rod-shaped with an inverted U- or horseshoe-shaped anteromedial projection ( Figs 15C , 23B ). Triepeolus oblongimacula most closely resembles T. obliteratus and T. rhododontus , but in T. obliteratus the dorsum of the mesosoma and metasoma have bands of pale-gray to white/off-white tomentum, the legs are never (as opposed to commonly; Fig. 23A–C ) entirely reddish orange from trochanters to tarsi, and the pseudopygidial area of the female is never (as opposed to uncommonly) reddish orange, and in T. rhododontus the T1 discal patch is somewhat narrowed and/or curved posterolaterally and thus allantoid and the axillae commonly have reddish tips, especially in the West where the species’ range overlaps with that of T. oblongimacula .

Etymology

The specific epithet is a Latin noun in apposition meaning ‘oblong-spot’ and refers to the shape of the T1 discal patch.

Material examined

Primary type material

USA • ♀, holotype; New Mexico, Rodeo , Hidalgo County; 7 Sep. 1973; M. Favreau leg.; AMNH .

Secondary type material

MEXICO – Chihuahua • 1 ♀, paratype; 10 mi N of Jiménez ; 10 Sep. 1950; R.F. Smith leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; Samalayuca ; 6 Oct. 1966; G.E. and A.S. Bohart leg.; BBSL BBSL581796 .

USA – Arizona • 1 ♀, paratype; 10 mi NW of Douglas , Cochise County; 7 Sep. 1975; E.S. Ross leg.; CAS • 1 ♀, paratype; 2 mi NE of Portal , Cochise County; 11 Sep. 1960; Cazier and Feight leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 22 Aug. 1967; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 28.3 mi S of Portal , Cochise County; 31.8420° N, 109.2520° W; 22 Aug. 2000; J.L. Neff leg.; CTMI 11991 /M.G.R. Database No. 1387 • 1 ♀, paratype; 3 mi E of Portal , Cochise County; 13 Sep. 1955; C. and M. Cazier leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 7 mi W of Tombstone , Cochise County; 29 Sep. 1963; V.L. Vesterby leg.; UCBME • 1 ♀, paratype; Apache , Cochise County; 28 Sep. 1980; J.G. Rozen leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 30 Aug.–1 Sep. 1986; K.V. Krombein leg.; USNM • 1 ♀, paratype; Box Canyon , Pima County; 31.7998° N, 110.7572° W; 15 Sep. 1994; T.L. Griswold leg.; BBSL BBSL582189 • 1 ♀, paratype; Double Adobe , Cochise County; 7 Sep. 1975; E.G. and J.M. Linsley leg.; EMEC M.G.R. Database No. 1389 • 1 ♀, paratype; Mount Graham Road ( Pinaleño Mountains ), Graham County; 27 Aug. 1994; J.G. Rozen and J.S. Ascher leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; Pearce to Cochise Stronghold , Cochise County; 1 Sep. 1991; L. Stange and R. Miller leg.; FSCA • 1 ♀, paratype; Pinaleño Mountains , Graham County; 22 Aug. 1980; C.A. Olson leg.; UAIC • 1 ♀, paratype; Southwestern Research Station (5 mi W of Portal ), Cochise County; 4 Sep. 1962; S.J. Hessel leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 9 Sep. 1966; P.H. Arnaud, Jr leg.; CAS • 1 ♀, paratype; Sunglow West Turkey Creek ( Chiricahua Mountains ), Cochise County; 12 Sep. 1991; J.G. and B.L. Rozen leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; Tombstone , Cochise County; 12 Sep. 1940; R.H. Crandall leg.; UAIC • 1 ♀, paratype; West Turkey Creek (13 mi E of Sunizona ), Cochise County; 5 Sep. 1983; J.G. Rozen and M. Favreau leg.; AMNH. – Colorado • 1 ♀, paratype; 8.3 mi N of Roggen (along route 386), Weld County; 15 Sep. 1992; L.R. Davis, Jr. leg.; FSCA • 2 ♀♀, paratypes; Boulder County; 18 Sep. 1925; C.P. Custer leg.; UCMC • 1 ♀, paratype; Roggen ; 15 Sep. ??31; UCMC • 1 ♂, paratype; Colorado, Sandhills 3 mi N of Roggen , Weld County; 7 Sep. 1991; M.J. Weissmann leg.; CSUC. – New Mexico • 1 ♀, paratype; 11 km NW of Bayard , Grant County; 32.7920° N, 108.2430° W; 2 Sep. 2009; C.S. Sheffield and S. Dumesh leg.; BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_013 ; PCYU PCYU-SD09:573 • 1 ♀, paratype; 11.2 km NE of Bayard , Grant County; 32.8110° N, 108.0260° W; 2 Sep. 2009; C.S. Sheffield and S. Dumesh leg.; BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_031; PCYU PCYU-SD09:112 • 2 ♀♀, paratypes; 17 mi S of Animas , Hidalgo County; 30 Aug. 1994; J.G. Rozen and J.S. Ascher leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 20 mi E of Animas , Hidalgo County; 20 Sep. 1999; M.G. Rightmyer leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 27–32 mi S of Animas , Hidalgo County; 24 Aug. 1994; J.G. Rozen and J.S. Ascher leg.; AMNH M.G.R. Database No. 1207 • 1 ♀, paratype; 5 mi E of Lordsburg , Hidalgo County; 14 Oct. 1970; J.C. and F.M. Hall leg.; UCR UCRC ENT 57233 • 1 ♀, paratype; 6 mi NW of Silver City , Grant County; 11–12 Sep. 1974; E.G. and J.M. Linsley leg.; EMEC • 1 ♀, paratype; Animas , Hidalgo County; 4–5 Aug. 1974; E.G. and J.M. Linsley leg.; EMEC M.G.R. Database No. 1385 • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 26 Aug. 2015; L. Packer leg.; PCYU • 1 ♀, paratype; Granite Gap (18 mi N of Rodeo ); 7 Sep. 1976; R.M. Bohart leg.; UCBME • 1 ♀, paratype; Hwy 80, 6 km S of Hwy 10; 32.1831° N, 108.9481° W; 30 Aug. 2009; C.S. Sheffield, S. Dumesh, and L. Packer leg.; BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_023 ; PCYU • 1 ♀, paratype; Mescalero Sands (45 mi E of Roswell ), Chaves County; 12–13 Sep. 1959; E.R. Tinkham leg.; CAS • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 12–13 Sep. 1959; E.R. Tinkham leg.; USNM • 1 ♂, allotype; Near Hwy 10, Doña Ana County; 32.2420° N, 107.1930° W; 30 Aug. 2009; C.S. Sheffield and S. Dumesh leg.; BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_298 ; PCYU PCYU-SD09:28 • 1 ♀, paratype; Silver City; 32.7130° N, 108.2970° W; 31 Aug. 2009; C.S. Sheffield leg.; BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_035 ; PCYU PCYU-CSNM-09-184 . – Oklahoma • 1 ♀, paratype; Norman ( Canadian River ), Cleveland County; 35.2007° N, 97.4964° W; 21 Oct. 2021; K.L.J. Hung leg.; BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_421 ; OKBS OKBS.POL.810 . – South Dakota • 3 ♀♀, paratypes; Forestburg ; 8 Sep. 1928; H.C. Severin leg.; USNM M.G.R. Database Nos 1375 to 1377 . – Texas • 1 ♀, paratype; 8 mi NW of Girvin , Pecos County; 9 Sep. 1989; J.L. Neff leg.; CTMI K07230 • 1 ♀, paratype; Dallas ; 5 Oct. 1905; F.C. Bishopp leg.; USNM • 1 ♀, paratype; Pedernales Falls State Park , Blanco County; 11 Oct. 1995; J.L. Neff leg.; CTMI 07724 • 1 ♀, paratype; Red River , Hwy 81, Montague County; 12 Oct. 2002; B. Kondratieff, J. Owens, and J. Schmidt leg.; CSUC • 1 ♀, paratype; Redford , Presidio County; 16 Oct. 1998; J.L. Neff leg.; CTMI 09280 /M.G.R. Database No. 1388 .

DNA barcoded material

Available. BIN: BOLD:AEE4216. See type material for specimens examined and sequenced (indicated by unique BOLD sample ID).

Description

MEASUREMENTS OF HOLOTYPE. Body length 11.7 mm; ITW 2.4 mm; head length 2.7 mm; head width 3.9 mm; fore wing length 8.6 mm.

Both sexes

INTEGUMENT COLORATION. Dark brown to black except as follows.Mandible with apical third golden yellow. Mandible with basal two-thirds (except for extreme base), labrum along apical and lateral margins, F1 to some extent, coxae to some extent, trochanters to tibiae (excluding brown meso- and metatibial spurs) partially to entirely, and tarsi entirely orange. F2 with orange spot basally. Tegula reddish brown. Fore wing membrane subhyaline, apically dusky. Hind wing membrane dusky subhyaline to hyaline. Pygidial plate to some extent reddish brown (difficult to see in holotype because T6 mostly retracted; described from paratypes).

PUBESCENCE. Face with tomentum densest around antennal socket. Clypeus, upper paraocular and frontal areas, and vertexal area mostly exposed. Pronotal collar with tomentum uniformly pale yellow. Mesoscutum with well-defined paramedian band of pale-yellow tomentum; pale tomentum otherwise mostly restricted to lateral and posterior margins. Mesopleuron with off-white to pale-yellow, appressed, branched setae; upper half densely setose, except behind pronotal lobe, with setae slightly sparser on hypoepimeral area; ventrolateral half nearly bare, except along margins. Mesopleuron with sparse, pale-yellow, erect/suberect, simple setae (less than ½ MOD in length) in addition to usual appressed, branched setae. Metanotum with tomentum uninterrupted, uniformly pale yellow. Propodeal triangle mostly glabrous, with (pale) setae restricted to small lateral patches. Metasomal terga with bands of pale-yellow tomentum. T1 with basal transverse band interrupted medially, apical transverse band complete (narrowly interrupted medially in some paratypes), transverse bands subparallel, discal patch transversely oblong or elliptic. T2–T4 with apical transverse bands complete and medially somewhat removed from apical margins of terga, that of T2 with pair of basomedially convergent anterolateral extensions. S2–S3 with medially interrupted apical transverse bands of white tomentum (reduced to posterolateral patches in holotype and some paratypes).

SURFACE SCULPTURE. Labrum coarsely and densely (most i <1d) rugose-punctate. Clypeus densely punctate (most i <1d) but interspaces well defined, shining; with many small punctures among larger ones. Vertexal area somewhat sparsely punctate (some i>2d), especially around ocelli. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, and axilla with punctures more or less equally dense and nearly contiguous (most i <1d). Mesopleuron with punctures in upper half nearly contiguous and denser (i <1d) than in ventrolateral half (i≤ 2d); interspaces somewhat dull due to tessellate surface microsculpture where punctures not contiguous; punctures similar in size throughout. Discs of metasomal terga with punctures very fine, dense (i ≈1d), and evenly distributed; interspaces shining somewhat.

STRUCTURE. Labrum with pair of small subapical denticles, each preceded by discrete longitudinal ridge. Pronotal collar somewhat elongate (medial length ~ 4/5 MOD). Mesoscutellum moderately bigibbous. Axilla extending beyond midlength of mesoscutellum but not as far back as its posterior margin; tip distinctly pointed and hooked (i.e., concave along medial margin), mesally unattached to mesoscutellum for ~ 2/5 medial length of axilla; lateral margin somewhat arcuate. Fore wing with three submarginal cells.

Female

Scape and pedicel extensively reddish orange. T5 with concave apical margin and large patch of pale-yellow tomentum on each side lateral to pseudopygidial area. Pseudopygidial area with underlying integument to some extent reddish orange in some paratypes, with triangular region of posteriorly directed setae with three subregions (basal patch of dense, golden setae; darker subapical band of sparser, coppery brown setae; and apical row of dense, suberect, silvery setae) within larger trapezoidal space of posteromedially directed dark brown setae. Pygidial plate apically truncate. S4 with apical transverse band of white tomentum. S5 straight in lateral view, with apical fimbria of brown bristle-like setae and brown tomentum laterally; S5 otherwise covered in off-white tomentum.

Male

Paramedian band anteriorly joined to lateral transverse band of equally dense pale-yellow tomentum along anterior margin of mesoscutum. T5–T6 with complete apical transverse bands. Pygidial plate apically rounded and slightly downturned, with lateral margin somewhat sinuate. S4–S5 each with apical/ subapical fringe of dense, long (> 1 MOD), curved, predominantly coppery brown setae, contrasting with apical transverse bands of white tomentum of preceding sterna, those of S4 coppery to silvery laterally.

Distribution

Great Plains to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico ( Fig. 12H ).

Ecology

Host records

Unknown.

Floral records

Labels of examined voucher specimens indicate that this species has been collected from the following flowering plant species: in Asteraceae , Gutierrezia sp. , Helianthus annuus , Isocoma pluriflora Greene , and Verbesina encelioides ; in Fabaceae , Acacia angustissima (Mill.) Kuntze ; and in Zygophyllaceae , Kallstroemia grandiflora .

Remarks

DNA barcode sequences of specimens identified as T. oblongimacula sp. nov. and T. obliteratus were assigned the same BIN, although only partial sequences (≤428 bp) are presently available for the former. However, sequences of T. obliteratus cluster separately from those of T. oblongimacula (see Supp. file 4) and exhibit a minimum distance of 0.0% and maximum distance of 0.6% whereas a maximum distance of 3.0% separates sequences of specimens identified as T. oblongimacula and T. obliteratus . A comparison of all available barcode sequences revealed two nucleotide characters that are diagnostic or partial (391 – A in T. oblongimacula , G or R in T. obliteratus ; 577 – G in T. oblongimacula , A or R in T. obliteratus ). It remains to be seen whether sequencing of additional specimens will result in better defined MOTUs. Despite their sequences sharing a BIN, the pronounced and consistent morphological differences between T. oblongimacula and T. obliteratus as well as their largely non-overlapping ranges (see Fig. 12G–H ) support their treatment as separate species, and therefore the two forms are herein considered to be heterospecific.

Figures

Fig. 4. Right antenna (basal portion) of male. A. Triepeolus loomisorum Rozen, 1989 (PCYU), showing the longer side of F1 noticeably longer than F2. B. T. oblongimacula sp. nov., allotype (BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_298; PCYU PCYU-SD09:28), showing the longer side of F1 and F2 subequal in length. Blue lines indicate the greatest length of F1.

Fig. 8. Pygidial plate of male, dorsal view. A. Triepeolus rufithorax Graenicher, 1928 (PCYU), which has a well-defined transverse ridge (blue arrow). B. T. oblongimacula sp. nov., allotype (BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_298; PCYU PCYU-SD09:28), which does not have a transverse ridge.

Fig. 9. Right pro- and mesotrochanters of male (anterior facing right). A. Triepeolus tuberculifer Onuferko, Rightmyer & Roig-Alsina, 2024, allotype (FSCA M.G.R. Database No. 3704), showing distinct protuberances (blue arrows). B. T. obliteratus Graenicher, 1911 (WRME WRME_EJH02370). C. T. oblongimacula sp. nov., allotype (BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_298; PCYU PCYU-SD09:28). D. T. rhododontus Cockerell, 1921 (BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_139; PCYU).

Fig. 12A–D (continued on next page). Distribution maps. A. All species in the Triepeolus simplex group. B. T. apache sp. nov. C. T. eumeniformis sp. nov. D. T. hirsutus sp. nov. Approximate geographic ranges are indicated in orange and were estimated from occurrence records known to the authors (yellow and blue circles, with the latter indicating localities of DNA barcoded specimens).

Fig. 23. Triepeolus oblongimacula sp. nov. B, D. Holotype, ♀ (AMNH). A. Paratype, ♀ (BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_035; PCYU PCYU-CSNM-09-184), habitus, lateral view. B. Habitus, dorsal view. C. Allotype, ♂ (BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_298; PCYU PCYU-SD09:28), habitus, lateral view. D. Pseudopygidial area, dorsal view.

Fig. 15. T1 of female, dorsal view. A. Triepeolus apache sp. nov., paratype (AMNH). B. T. hirsutus sp. nov., paratype (AMNH). C. T. oblongimacula sp. nov., paratype (AMNH). D. T. rhododontus Cockerell, 1921 (AMNH). E. T. segregatus (Cockerell, 1900) (PCYU). F. T. shoshone sp. nov., paratype (PCYU PCYU-GS-07:2171).