Oxytrigona banana, Lepeco, 2024

Lepeco, Anderson, 2024, Contribution to the taxonomy of Oxytrigona Cockerell, 1917 (Apidae, Meliponini), Zootaxa 5506 (3), pp. 369-395 : 371-373

Oxytrigona banana sp. nov.

( Figures 1 , 2 )

Type material. Holotype, RPSP, female worker “ Brasil, SP, Ribeirão Preto \campus USP-RP (oco de árvore)\ - 21.164610, -47.856541 04.iv.2023 \Lepeco, Almeida, Guevara, Tavares” . Paratypes, RPSP, 27 female workers, same label; AMNH , 3 female workers, same label; DZUP , 3 female workers, same label; INPA , 3 female workers, same label; MZUSP , 3 female workers, same label; 31 female workers “ Brasil: SP, Ribeirão Preto \ 21°09’53”S 47°51’24”W \campus USP 04.vi.2024 \Almeida, Carvalho, Mateus” .

Comments. Specimens belonging to this newly described species are often identified as O. tataira in collections. However, it has distinctive taxonomic characters separating it from the latter and also from Oxytrigona cagafogo ( Müller, 1874) , which is found along the eastern portion of the Atlantic forest (see below). The new species is mainly restricted to central Brazil, occurring mainly in the Cerrado biome.

Diagnosis. Mesosoma mostly black, with lighter head and metasoma, as in O. cagafogo , except that the mesoscutum has the medial surface brown in O. banana . In terms of color, the species closely resembles Oxytrigona tataira (Smith, 1863) , being differentiated from that by the lack of branched short setae posterior to the level of tegula on the mesoscutum disc, and sparser coverage of short setae on the lateral surfaces of S4 and S5 posteriorly. From other species it can be differentiated by the vertex with dark brown setae; hind tibia, and basitarsus with black setae; hind basitarsus relatively broad ( Figure 1D ), with a strongly curved dorsal margin, posterior distal corner somewhat rounded towards a curved distal margin; and tiny setae on T3 margin <0.3 MOD.

Description. Holotype female worker. Measurements. Approximate body length: 5.5 mm; maximum head width: 2.1 mm; length of forewing: 4.9 mm; maximum width of T2: 1.4 mm. Color. Head predominantly light orange, becoming yellowish ventrad antennal socket. Surface near ocelli with black maculae. Mandible predominantly dark brown, with lighter spot at mid-length. Antennal scape light brown, becoming black distally. Pedicel and flagellum predominantly dark brown, lighter ventrally. Mesosoma predominantly black. Pronotum with light brown maculae dorsally. Mesoscutum with lighter brown coloration between notauli, lateral surface with lighter stripe adjacent to tegula. Scutellum predominantly light brown. Propodeum with lateral yellowish spot. Legs predominantly black, with lighter spots on fore femur and tibia, all trochanters and tarsi. Tegula yellowish. Wing veins and pterostigma dark brown. Forewing membrane light brown infumate on proximal half and marginal cell, becoming almost hyaline distally. Hind wing membrane slightly infumate proximally, becoming hyaline distally. Metasoma predominantly brown, terga without distinct lighter areas posteriorly. T1 and S1 orange. T6 yellow. Pubescence. Predominantly black on entire body, except for tiny white setae on face. Labrum with erect setae about MOD long. Frons with tiny decumbent setae scattered, long erect setae relatively abundant on dorsal third of frons. Surface between mid and lateral ocelli with simple short setae. Erect setae of vertex up to 2 MOD in length. Antennal scape with erect dark setae restricted to distal end, up to 0.3 MOD in length. Pedicel with black erect setae with up to 0.2 MOD in length. F2 without distinctly long setae. Mesoscutum with erect setae with up to 2 MOD in length, equally distributed throughout sclerite; decumbent setae brownish, becoming branched on surface anterior to mid-level of tegula. Scutellum with long erect setae up to 4 MOD in length, evenly distributed. Mesepisternum with erect setae with up to 3 MOD in length; decumbent setae brownish, branched. Propodeum with brownish branched setae on lateral surfaces. Legs with black setae only. Distal corner of dorsal margin of hind tibia with relatively sparse tuft of black setae with few apical ramifications. Wings with black erect setae on veins and membrane. Metasoma with black erect setae among brownish shorter setae. Posterior surface of T2 with dense erect setae with up to 0.5 MOD in length. Posterior surface of T3 with dense erect setae with up to 2 MOD in length; posterior margin mostly with simple setae up to 0.3 MOD in length. Posterior surface of T4 with dense erect setae with up to 2 MOD in length; posterior margin mostly with simple setae up to 0.6 MOD in length, few bifurcate setae medially. Lateral surface of S4 and S5 with sparse black erect setae among loosely dense shorter brownish setae. T6 with relatively sparse erect setae up to 3 MOD. Integumental sculpturing. Head integument predominantly shiny, with scattered weak punctures, except for clypeus and paraocular area ventrad antennal socket. Mesosoma shiny, with relatively dense punctures, except for medial surface of propodeum, smooth and lacking punctures. Metasomal terga mostly loosely reticulate, becoming punctate on posterior surface. T2 smooth on anterior two-thirds. Structure. Head 1.2 × wider than its medial length; clypeus 2.2 × wider than its medial length; malar space 1.8 × longer than width of F3; distance between antennal sockets about 0.8 × socket diameter; minimum distance between lateral ocellus and eye about 1.1 × distance between lateral ocelli. Antennal scape 4.7 × longer than socket diameter. Scutellum 0.6 × longer than the minimum distance between axillae. Fore femur 4 × longer than its maximum width, ventral margin not carinate; mid basitarsus 2.5 × longer than its maximum width; hind tibia 2.8 × longer than its maximum width, distal margin strongly incurved; hind basitarsus 0.8 × as wide as maximum hind tibial width, 1.4 × longer than its maximum width, posterior margin evenly curved, distal corner projecting and forming a broad curve, distal margin curved. Marginal cell 4.4 × longer than its maximum width. Posterior margin of S6 widely rounded.

Male. Unknown.

Variation. In the northwestern portion of its distribution (Brazilian states of Goiás, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, and Distrito Federal), this species can be found in lighter colors, with brownish legs and brownish spots on the mesosoma, sometimes without black marks on the mesoscutum. This is the region where the species approximate the range of Oxytrigona flaveola , from which it can be distinguished by the shape of the basitarsus and the presence of black setae on the vertex.

Etymology. The name refers to the characteristic smell released by the workers, which resembles that of ripe banana fruit. Name used in apposition.

Biological notes. The type material was collected in a nest built within a hollow part of the trunk of a living tree ( Caesalpinia pluviosa DC. ). The nest has an external architecture similar to other species of the genus. The entrance was approximately 1.5 m above ground level, having a transversely elongated shape, about 15 cm long per 1.5 cm wide ( Figure 2 ). Workers were distributed throughout the entrance after 9:00 am. They were particularly aggressive during the periods of abundant sunlight (ca. 11:00 am to 4:00 pm), but were quite shy before 9:00 am, not leaving the nest. When stimulated, workers responded by biting the hair and skin of observers, releasing a vinegar-like scent. However, when removed from the nest early in the morning, the workers emitted a sweeter aroma, reminiscent of bananas. It is worth of mention that the docile behavior was only observed in periods of relatively low temperature (ca. 18ºC in the morning).

Distribution. Southeastern and central Brazil and Paraguay (see Table 1 ). The species is mainly found in the Cerrado biome.

Additional examined material. BRAZIL. Goiás. DZUP: ♀ “ ITAGUATINS, Goiás\( Sto.Antonio )\Dobzhansky, 3/8/49 ”; MZUSP: 2 ♀ “ BRASIL: GO: Colinas do Sul,\ Serra da Mesa 2 - 15 xii 1995 \14° 01’S, 48°, 12’W Silvestre,\ Dietz & Campaner - cerrado”; ♀ “ BRASIL: GO: Campinaçu,\ Serra da Mesa , 13°52’S \ 48°23’W 18.ii-2.iii1996 \ Silvestre, Brandão &\ Yamamoto col.”; ♀ “ BRASIL: GO: Campinaçu,\ Serra da Mesa , 13°52’S \ 48°23’W ii-18 - 25.96\Malaise\Silvestre, Brandão &\ Yamamoto col.”; RPSP: 3 ♀ “ BRASIL: GO: Colinas do Sul \ Serra da Mesa , 2- 16xii1995,\14°01’75”S 48°12’78”W”; 3 ♀ “ Serra da Mesa \ Colinas do Sul-GO \Brasil-02,16- XII-1995 \14°01’75”S, 48°12’78”W\ Silvestre leg”; UnB: 2 ♀ “ Brasil, GO, Flores de\Goiás, S14°27’39” \ W47°60’18”, 450 m.;\ 26. i.2010; AJCAguiar ”; ♀ “ Brasil, Goiás, Flores de\Goiás; 29.12.2014, col. Ivan. \10:00-10:30h.”; ♀ “ Brasil, Goiás, Formosa, Distrito do\Bezerra, Fazenda Santo Antônio , -\15.30755, -47.19584,\ 28.i.-5.ii.2012, Excursão\Disciplina Entomologia de Verão”; Mato Grosso. DZUP: ♀ “ RIO BRILHANTE - MT\ BRASIL 21-28/X/70 \ V.O.Becker leg.”; RPSP: 2 ♀ “ BRAZIL:Porto do\Tapirape, Mato\Grosso, XII-28-1965 \- I-15-1966 ”; Mato Grosso do Sul. MZUSP: ♀ “Fz. de Canaã, 3Lagoas\ VI 1966 \MT\ F. Lane col. (Cerrado)” ; 21 ♀ “ Três Lagoas , Mato Grosso \ 24-V-1964 \Exp. Depto. Zool.”; RPSP: 7 ♀ “ Brasil: MS, Bonito \ 02.vii.1998 [cod.86]\ S.Mateus, col.” ; 77 ♀ “Porto XV de Novembro\ MT. Brasil, SF-22,52-22a\ 8-IV-1966 Camargo leg.” ; 45 ♀ “Reta 1-M.T.\ Brasil \ 8-IV-1966 \ Camargo ”; Minas Gerais. DZUP: 86 ♀ “ Campina Verde \MG Brasil XI 63 \ M. Alvarenga leg” ; 15 ♀ “ UBERABA MG\ Brasil - X - 61 \ C. Elias leg.”; RPSP: 14 ♀ “C. das Alagoas\M.G. Brasil \SE-22,48-20a\ 23-III-1973 \ G. Penha leg.”; Piauí. DZUP: 8 ♀ “R. GONÇALVES-PI\E.E.URUÇUI-UNA\ 19.V.84 \ GRAF.V. leg”; São Paulo. DZUP: ♀ “ Brasil, São Paulo, Cajuru,\ Faz. Rio Grande , 21°12’S \ 47°09’W, 25.iv.2000, Melo \& Gaglianone ” ; ♀ “ Pôrto Cabral - SP\ Brasil Rio Paraná\ X 41 L. Travassos ” ; 5 ♀ “ São Paulo \ Itapolis \Faz.Palmeiras\Out.,1945\ F.Lane col.” ; ♀ “ São Paulo \ Itapolis \Out 1945\ F. Lane col.” ; ♀ “ São Paulo \N.Granada\ Faz.Guabiroba \ J.Lane \ III.1960 ”; MZUSP: ♀ “ Sto. Amaro - S. Paulo\ Brasil - I - 1963 \ John lane col.”; RPSP: 16 ♀ “ Brasil: SP, Mogi Mirim \(colet. meliponicultura)\ 08.iii.2022 C. Menezes ” ; ♀ “F.F.C.L.RP USP\SP. Brasil \ 20/VII/1984 \ HELENA CABETTE ” ; 5 ♀ “Icém-SP-Brasil\ 19-VII-1999 \ Faustini leg.\ N°1 cagafogo” ; ♀ “ RIB PRETO \ JUL.66 ” ; 2 ♀ “Rib. Preto Ago 95 \Brown\ Oxytrigona ” ; 2 ♀ “ Ribeirão Preto \SP Brasil \ 3 -VII-1985 \ M. Issa leg.” ; 22 ♀ “ Ribeirão Preto \SP BRASIL \SF-23,48-21d\ 22-VIII-1978 \ M.Mazucato leg” ; 2 ♀ “ Ribeirao Preto \SP. Brasil \ 04.XII.1991 \ M.Mazucato ” ; 3 ♀ “ Ribeirão Preto \SP-Brasil\ 11-VI-1986 \ J.A.Tavares ” ; 67 ♀ “ Ribeirão Preto-SP.\ Brasil 3 -VII-1985 \ Mazucato ” ; ♀ “ Ribeirão Preto-SP \ BRASIL, 21/IV/2003 \ 21°09’50”S, 47°51’11”W \ R. Carvalho leg.” ; 77 ♀ “S. Benedito das Areias\ 47°04’W, 21°17’S SP\ Brasil 26.VIIi.2001 \ Pedro & Camargo col.”; SEMC : ♀ “BR-S. P.: R. Paraná\PORTO CABRAL\ 20-31.III-1944 \Trav. Fo. & Carrera \& E. Dente ”. PARAGUAY. Concepción. SEMC: 3 ♀ “ PARAGUAY:\ CONCEPCION: Estancia\ San Luis , 19-27.oct 1999,\ B. Garcete ” .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Holotype worker of Oxytrigona banana sp. nov. (RPSP 23.1802) from Ribeirão Preto (São Paulo, Brazil). A) habitus, lateral view, scale bar: 1 mm; B) dorsal view, scale bar: 1 mm; C) head, frontal view, scale bar: 1 mm; D) hind basitarsus, scale bar: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 2. Nest entrance of Oxytrigona banana sp. nov., photographed in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Credits of the images: Eduardo Almeida.