Plebeia (Plebeia) vidali Engel, 2022

Engel, Michael S., 2022, New species of the stingless bee genus Plebeia (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Journal of Melittology 2022 (114), pp. 1-28 : 25-27

Plebeia (Plebeia) vidali Engel , new species

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:EA89BF88-38C9-43D4-A909-BC260BA8A60E

( Figs. 48–50 )

DIAGNOSIS: The new species is most similar to P. jatiformis (Cockerell) , a species that ranges from southern Mexico to Panama, but can be distinguished by the narrow- er yellow markings of the lower paraocular area ( Fig. 49 ), separated from the antennal torulus by approximately a torular diameter and well separated from the anterior tentorial pit, and by the uniformly brown postgena ( Fig. 48 ).

DESCRIPTION: As described for P. deceptrix (vide supra), with the following modifications: ⚲: Total body length approximately 3.58–3.92 mm, forewing length (to base of humeral sclerite) 3.42–3.50 mm. Head wider than long, width 1.53–1.67 mm, length 1.23–1.33 mm; compound eye length 1.00– 1.12 mm; upper interorbital distance 0.93– 0.97 mm, lower interorbital distance 0.77–0.78 mm. Scape length 0.53–0.60 mm. Malar area linear; clypeus broad, width 1.6–1.9× length. Preoccipital ridge rounded. Intertegular distance 1.07–1.13 mm. Hind wing with 5 distal hamuli.

Clypeus yellow medially and apically, otherwise brown, breadth of medial yellow area quite variable, sometimes encompassing majority of clypeus; supraclypeal area largely yellow with reddish brown along margins; scape largely dark brown except yellowish brown to orange over most of ventral surface, pedicel and flagellum brown to dark brown; lower paraocular area largely yellow in lateral half, otherwise reddish brown, yellow continues along ocular margin until level of concavity in ocular margin, remainder of head brown to reddish brown. Pronotum light reddish brown except yellow on dorsal collar and pronotal lobe; mesoscutum reddish brown with thin stripes of yellow along lateral borders; axilla yellow; mesoscutellum light brown mesally, otherwise yellow; metanotum reddish brown laterally, yellow mesally; pleura largely reddish brown except yellowish in lightest individuals; propodeum reddish brown except lighter, nearly yellow, in lightest individuals; legs largely yellow with light brown marks on femora, mesotibia, prolateral surface of mesobasitarsus, and prolateral surface of metabasitarsus, such areas of brown faint to absent in lightest individuals; wing membranes hyaline and weakly infumate, veins brown to dark brown; metasoma generally light reddish brown to yellow brown except typically darker on terga IV–VI, particularly in apical margins and more yellow on sterna proximal to segment V.

Clypeus with minute punctures separated by a puncture width or less, such punctures coarser and denser laterally; supraclypeal area sculptured as on medial disc of clypeus; lower and upper face with minute, punctures separated by 2–5× a puncture width, integument between punctures smooth and shining, such punctures become gradually sparser near ocelli and ocellocular space, small impunctate strip bordering lateral ocellus; vertex with punctures larger, shallower, more irregular. Mesoscutum smooth, shining, with minute, setiferous punctures separated by 1–3× a puncture width, punctures more spaced in posterior third; punctures of mesoscutellum slightly larger and sparser.

Scape with minute, appressed, simple setae, intermixed with scatered, erect simple setae, such erect setae at most as long as diameter of scape Hypoepimeral area with plumose setae numerous on anterior third to upper half.

♀: Latet.

♂: Latet.

HOLOTYPE: ⚲, Costa Rica: San José Prov., Pozo Azul , junction Rios Parrita & Candelaria [presumably the conjunction of the Río Grande de Candelaria and Río Pirrís-Parrita, not far from the border with Puntarenas Province, at about 9.643104, -84.294199], 9 Dec 1961, 85 m, A. Wille ( SEMC).

PARATYPES (4⚲⚲): 3⚲⚲, Costa Rica: San José Prov., Pozo Azul , junction Rios Parrita & Candelaria [presumably the conjunction of the Río Grande de Candelaria and Río Pirrís-Parrita, not far from the border with Puntarenas Province, at about 9.643104, -84.294199], 9 Dec 1961, 85 m, A. Wille ( SEMC); 1 ⚲, Costa Rica: San José Prov., Rio Damitas , 14.5 km N. Puerto Quepos, 200 m, 16 August 1962, A. Wille & C.D. Michener ( SEMC) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet honors the writings and life of Gore Vidal (Eugene L.G. Vidal, 1925–2012).

Figures

Figures 48–50. Holotype worker of Plebeia (Plebeia) vidali, new species. 48. Lateral habitus. 49. Facial view. 50. Dorsal view of mesosoma.