Triepeolus hirsutus, 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 : 29-34

Triepeolus hirsutus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C7F899F6-FA16-44CB-93E5-C6F2F9E27EB5

Figs 5C , 12D , 15B, 17, 18A

Proposed common name

Southwestern bristly triepeolus.

Diagnosis

The following morphological features in combination tell T. hirsutus sp. nov. apart from all other Triepeolus in the simplex species group except T. parahirsutus sp. nov.: the mesopleura have sparse, pale-yellow, erect/suberect, simple setae (reaching about ½ MOD in length) in addition to the usual appressed, branched setae ( Figs 17A, C , 18A ); the legs are entirely reddish orange from trochanters to tarsi ( Fig. 17A–C ); and the T1 discal patch is rectangular or trapezoidal with an inverted U- or horseshoe-shaped anteromedial projection ( Figs 15B , 17B ). Females of T. hirsutus and T. parahirsutus are readily distinguished from each other by the pseudopygidial area, which in the former has three subregions of differentiated setae—a basal patch of dense, golden setae, a darker subapical band of sparser, coppery brown setae, and an apical row of dense, suberect, silvery setae ( Fig. 17D )—and in the latter does not have distinct subregions of differentiated setae but rather setae that are golden to silvery and relatively uniform in density. Additionally, T. hirsutus is generally smaller (body length 5.5–9.0 mm; ITW 1.2–1.7 mm) ( Fig. 17A–C ) than T. parahirsutus (body length 8.0–12.0 mm; ITW 1.7–2.5 mm) and in the former the axillae almost never (as opposed to commonly) have reddish tips. Although it might not be possible to separate certain males morphologically, T. hirsutus can easily be separated from T. parahirsutus by geography; the former is known only from the Southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico whereas the latter is known only from Central and South Texas. Additionally, T. hirsutus may be confused with T. apache sp. nov. due to their small size and as the ranges of both species overlap considerably, but in T. apache 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 and the T1 basal band forms an inflexed arch and is thus gradually narrowed but not completely interrupted medially, such that the discal patch has a short, narrowed (i.e., inverted V-shaped) anteromedial projection.

Etymology

The specific epithet is a Latin adjective meaning ‘bristly’ and refers to the pale, erect/suberect, simple setae on the mesopleura.

Material examined

Primary type material

USA • ♀, holotype; Arizona, 8 mi NE of Portal , Cochise County; 17 Aug. 1990; J.G. Rozen and J. Krieger leg.; AMNH .

Secondary type material

MEXICO – Chihuahua • 1 ♀, paratype; 10 mi N of Jiménez ; 10 Sep. 1950; R.F. Smith leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 21 Sep. 1970; R.M. Bohart leg.; UCBME • 1 ♀, paratype; 18 km NW of Jiménez ; 26 Aug. 1991; J.G. Rozen leg.; AMNH SM0326380 • 1 ♀, paratype; 35 km NW of Janos ; 31 Aug. 1991; R. Ayala leg.; INHS 8621/SM0326388 • 1 ♀, paratype; 5 mi N of Escalón ; 20 Sep. 1970; G.E. and R.M. Bohart leg.; BBSL . – Sonora • 1 ♀, paratype; 30 km E of Agua Prieta ; 31.3194° N, 109.2714° W; 29 Aug. 2003; A. Romero leg.; BOLD sample ID: CMNTO_308 ; RLM SBV036299 .

USA – Arizona • 3 ♀♀, paratypes; 10 mi NE of Portal , Cochise County; 24Aug. 1966; J.G. and B.L. Rozen leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 13 mi SW of Apache , Cochise County; 24 Aug. 1983; Rozen and Favreau leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 14 mi S of Apache , Cochise County; 28 Aug. 1980; R.J. McGinley leg.; USNM • 1 ♀, paratype; 16 mi NE of Douglas , Cochise County; 23 Aug. 1962; J.G. Rozen, M. Statham, and S.J. Hessel leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 31 Aug. 1962; J.G. Rozen, M. Statham, and S.J. Hessel leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 18 mi SW of Apache , Cochise County; 22–23 Aug. 1994; J.G. Rozen and J.S. Ascher leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 28 Aug. 1994; J.G. Rozen and J.S. Ascher leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 2 mi E of Apache , Cochise County; 16–17 Aug. 1988; J.G. Rozen and E. Quinter leg.; AMNH • 2 ♀♀, paratypes; same data as for preceding; 22 Aug. 1988; Rozen, Quinter, and Brewster leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 29 Aug. 1988; J.G. Rozen and E. Quinter leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 2 mi NE of Portal , Cochise County; 1 Sep. 1989; J.G. and B.L. Rozen and R. Foster leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 2 mi SW of Willcox , Cochise County; 4 Sep. 1983; J.G. Rozen and M. Favreau leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 2.5 mi N of Portal , Cochise County; 27 Jul. 1961; E.G. Linsley leg.; UCBME • 1 ♀, paratype; 4 mi E of Willcox , Cochise County; 19 Aug. 1992; J.G. Rozen leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 4 mi SW of Congress , Yavapai County; 15 Sep. 1961; P.D. Hurd leg.; UCBME • 1 ♀, paratype; 4 mi W of Quijotoa , Pima County; 1 Sep. 1970; J.G. and K.C. Rozen leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 5 mi S of San Simon , Cochise County; 27 Aug. 1996; J.G. and B.L. Rozen and A. Pence leg.; AMNH • 3 ♀♀, paratypes; 8 mi NE of Portal , Cochise County; 23–25 Aug. 1989; J.G. Rozen and R.L. Foster leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 14 Aug. 1990; J.G. Rozen and R.L. Foster leg.; AMNH • 3 ♀♀, paratypes; same data as for preceding; 28 Aug. 1990; J.G. and B.L. Rozen and J. Krieger leg.; AMNH • 2 ♀♀, paratypes; 9 mi N of Elfrida , Cochise County; 5 Aug. 1961; J.G. Rozen leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 9 mi NE of Portal , Cochise County; 23 Aug. 2002; J.G. Rozen leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; Apache , Cochise County; 17 Aug. 1961; M.A. Cazier leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; Chiricahua Mountains , Cochise County; 9 Sep. 1951; Timberlake leg.; USNM • 1 ♂, allotype; Douglas , Cochise County; 31.3432° N, 109.4980° W; 23 Aug. 2007; PCYU • 1 ♀, paratype; Hereford , Cochise County; 20 Aug. 1989; R.M. Bohart leg.; UCBME • 1 ♀, paratype; Mohave Community College ( Kingman ), Mohave County; 13 Sep. 1976; R.C. Miller leg.; UCBME • 1 ♀, paratype; San Simon , Cochise County; 30 Aug. 1958; R.M. Bohart leg.; UCBME • 1 ♀, paratype; W side of Willcox Playa ; 23 Aug. 1961; J.C. Bequaert and F. Werner leg.; UAIC • 1 ♀, paratype; Willcox , Cochise County; 21 Aug. 1972; J.G. Rozen and R. McGinley leg.; AMNH • 4 ♀♀, paratypes; same data as for preceding; 18 Aug. 1985; J.G. Rozen leg.; AMNH. – California • 1 ♀, paratype; 18 mi W of Blythe , Riverside County; 11 Oct. 1971; E.E. Grissell leg.; UCBME. – New Mexico • 1 ♀, paratype; 1 mi N of Rodeo , Hidalgo County; 25 Aug. 1967; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 2 Sep. 1972; M. and T.M. Favreau leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 19 Aug. 1974; J.G. Rozen leg.; AMNH • 3 ♀♀, paratypes; same data as for preceding; 21 Aug. 1974; Rozen and Favreau leg.; AMNH • 2 ♀♀, paratypes; same data as for preceding; 28–29 Aug. 1987; J.G. and B.L. Rozen leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 2 mi N of Rodeo , Hidalgo County; 22 Aug. 1996; J.G. and B.L. Rozen and A. Pence leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 2 mi S of Road Forks (Hwy 80), Hidalgo County; 21 Aug. 2013; E.S. Wyman leg.; BOLD sample ID: CCDB-22791 A03 ; AMNH AMNH_IZC 00292364 • 1 ♀, paratype; 2.3 mi NW of Rodeo , Hidalgo County; 16 Sep. 1960; M.A. Cazier leg.; AMNH M.G.R. Database No. 1206 • 1 ♀, paratype; 26 mi S of Animas , Hidalgo County; 20 Aug. 1986; J.G. Rozen leg.; AMNH • 2 ♀♀, paratypes; same data as for preceding; 20 Aug. 1986; R.J. McGinley and B.M. Norden leg.; USNM • 1 ♀, paratype; 5 mi N of Rodeo , Hidalgo County; 26 Aug. 1985; J.G. and B.L. Rozen leg.; AMNH • 5 ♀♀, paratypes; same data as for preceding; 1 Sep. 1989; J.G. and B.L. Rozen and R. Foster leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; 7 mi SW of Rodeo , Hidalgo County; 22 Aug. 1964; J.G. and B.L. Rozen leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; Animas, Hidalgo County; 1 Sep. 2009; S. Dumesh leg.; PCYU • 1 ♀, paratype; Lordsburg, Hidalgo County; 6 Sep. 1984; R.M. Bohart leg.; UCBME • 1 ♀, paratype; Middle Wells (21 mi S of Animas ), Hidalgo County; 23 Aug. 1973; Rozen and Favreau leg.; AMNH • 2 ♀♀, paratypes; Rodeo, Hidalgo County; 22 Aug. 1958; C.G. Moore leg.; UCBME • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 3 Sep. 1973; M. Favreau leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 6 Sep. 1973; M. Favreau leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; same data as for preceding; 9 Sep. 1973; M. Favreau leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀, paratype; S of Apache , Hidalgo County; 2003; L. Packer leg.; PCYU .

DNA barcoded material

Available. BIN: BOLD:ACP8071. See type material for specimens examined and sequenced (indicated by unique BOLD sample ID).

Non-barcoded material

USA • 2 ♀♀, T. loomisorum Rozen, 1989 paratypes; Arizona, 13 mi SW of Apache , Cochise County; 1 Sep. 1988; E. Quinter leg.; AMNH M.G.R. Database Nos 1754 , 1756 .

Description

MEASUREMENTS OF HOLOTYPE. Body length 7.2 mm; ITW 1.4 mm; head length 1.8 mm; head width 2.5 mm; fore wing length 5.1 mm.

Both sexes

INTEGUMENT COLORATION. Dark brown to black except as follows. Mandible with apical two-fifths golden yellow (entirely dark brown/black in some paratypes). Mandible with basal three-fifths, labrum, scape, pedicel, F1 entirely and succeeding flagellomeres to some extent, tegula, coxae to some extent, trochanters to tarsi (excluding brown meso- and metatibial spurs) entirely, metasomal terga laterally, and metasomal sterna to some extent orange. Fore wing membrane subhyaline, apically dusky. Hind wing membrane dusky subhyaline to hyaline. Pygidial plate to some extent reddish brown.

PUBESCENCE. Face with tomentum densest around antennal socket. Tomentum slightly sparser on 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 (attaining anterior margin in holotype and allotype; tapering slightly toward but not attaining anterior margin in some paratypes); 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 sparsely setose. Mesopleuron with sparse, pale-yellow, erect/suberect, simple setae (reaching about 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. T1 with basal transverse band of pale-yellow tomentum interrupted medially, apical transverse band of pale-yellow tomentum more narrowly interrupted medially (complete in some paratypes), transverse bands subparallel, discal patch widely trapezoidal. T2–T4 with complete apical transverse bands of pale-yellow tomentum, that of T2 with pair of basomedially convergent anterolateral extensions. S2–S3 with apical transverse bands of white tomentum.

SURFACE SCULPTURE. Labrum with punctures nearly contiguous (most i <1d). 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 (most i≤ 1d); interspaces well defined, shining. Mesopleuron with punctures in upper half denser (i ≤1d) than in ventrolateral half (i ≤3d); interspaces shining; 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 very small subapical denticles, each preceded by discrete longitudinal ridge. Pronotal collar short (medial length ~½ MOD). Mesoscutellum moderately bigibbous. Axilla not extending beyond midlength of mesoscutellum; tip distinctly pointed, but mesally unattached to mesoscutellum for less than ⅓ medial length of axilla; lateral margin relatively straight. Fore wing with three submarginal cells.

Female

T5 with concave apical margin and large patch of off-white to pale-yellow tomentum on each side lateral to pseudopygidial area. Pseudopygidial area 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 mostly straight in lateral view, with apical fimbria of coppery bristle-like setae.

Male

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

Distribution

Southwestern United States and northern Mexico ( Fig. 12D ).

Ecology

Host records Two (female) paratypes of T. hirsutus sp. nov. at the AMNH were apparently taken from the same Protoxaea Cockerell & Porter, 1899 ( Hymenoptera : Andrenidae : Oxaeinae ) nest 8 mi NE of Portal in Cochise County, Arizona, USA.

Floral records

Labels of examined voucher specimens indicate that this species has been collected from the following flowering plant species: in Asteraceae , Baccharis sp. , B. salicina Torr. & A.Gray , Baileya pleniradiata Harv. & A.Gray ex A.Gray , Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal , Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby , Heterotheca sp. , and Hymenothrix wislizeni A.Gray ; and in Euphorbiaceae Juss. , Euphorbia sp.

Remarks

In addition to the diagnostic morphological features that separate T. hirsutus sp. nov. from similar species, its status as a separate species is supported by a separate BIN and large barcode sequence divergence (5.6%) from its nearest neighbor, T. parahirsutus sp. nov. (see Supp. file 4). Based on known records, adults of T. hirsutus are most active from August to September.

Figures

Fig. 5. Axillae and mesoscutellum of male, dorsal view. A. Triepeolus intrepidus (Smith, 1879) (PCYU PCYU-SD09:612). B. T. roni Genaro, 1999 (USNM M.G.R. Database No. 5922). C. T. hirsutus sp. nov., allotype (PCYU). D. T. brittaini Cockerell, 1931 (BOLD sample ID: 05-NS-0718; 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. 17. Triepeolus hirsutus sp. nov. A–B. Holotype, ♀ (AMNH). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Habitus, dorsal view. C. Allotype, ♂ (PCYU), habitus, lateral view. D. Paratype, ♀ (AMNH) pseudopygidial area, dorsal view.

Fig. 18. Mesosoma of female, lateral view. A. Triepeolus hirsutus sp. nov., paratype (AMNH). B. T. paucipunctatus sp. nov., holotype (UCBME M.G.R. Database No. 1216). C. T. saturninus Cockerell & Sandhouse, 1924 (UCBME). D. T. simplex Robertson, 1903 (PCYU). Blue arrows indicate long (≥½ MOD), erect/suberect, simple setae.

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).