Centris (Xanthemisia) purhepecha, Vivallo & Vásquez-Lenis & Mérida-Rivas, 2023

Vivallo, Felipe, Vásquez-Lenis, Elder A. & Mérida-Rivas, Jorge A., 2023, New species of Centris (Xanthemisia) Moure from the Mesoamerican Dominion and the Mexican Transition Zone (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Zootaxa 5351 (3), pp. 341-355 : 347-349

Centris (Xanthemisia) purhepecha sp. nov.

( Figures 13‒18 )

Diagnosis. Female: Integument blackish ( Figs. 13, 14 ). Clypeal surface irregular and strongly coriaceous, with coarse and sparse punctation, denser towards the epistomal suture interrupted at the middle by a relatively well-defined unpunctated and shiny area ( Fig. 13 ). Clypeal disc slightly concave longitudinally with a not well-defined smooth and unpunctated area at the center ( Fig. 13 ) and with two small elevations near the upper margin (lateral view) ( Fig. 14 ). Body completely covered with blackish hairs, including T1. T2 with dark brown pubescence, lighter at distal margin. T3‒T5 with light yellowish brown pubescence ( Figs. 13, 14 ). Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae orange ( Figs. 14, 16 ). Male: Integument blackish, except clypeus, lower and supraclypeal areas and anterior surface of escape yellow ( Figs. 17, 18 ). Labrum yellow with lateroinferior margins dark brown ( Fig. 17 ). Pubescence dark brown to black, with light yellowish hairs on distal terga and sterna ( Fig. 18 ). Clypeal disc longitudinally concave (lateral view), with two small dark brown elevations near the upper margin. Labrum semicircular with slightly truncated lower margin ( Fig. 17 ). Distance between lateral ocellus and the compound eye shorter than the diameter of median ocellus ( Fig. 17 ).

Description. Holotype female: Measurements: Approximately body length: 19.8 (19.5); head width: 6.2 (6.1); intertegular span: 6.5 (6.3); forewing length: 13.9 (13.3); UID: 3.1 (3.0); LID: 3.1 (3.0); mandible length: 2.8 (2.6); mandible basal width: 1.4 (1.3); labrum length: 0.9 (0.8); labrum width: 1.7 (1.6); F1 length: 1.0 (1.1); F2 length: 0.3; F3 length: 0.4; scape length: 1.0; diameter of median ocellus: 0.4; distance between lateral ocellus and compound eye: 0.8 (0.7). Coloration: Integument blackish ( Figs. 13, 14 ), except legs and metasoma dark brown, lighter on distal margins of T2‒T5 and S2‒S5. Wing membrane and veins dark brown with weak purple iridescence ( Fig. 14 ). Integument and sculpture surface: Clypeal surface irregular and strongly coriaceous, with coarse and sparse punctation, denser towards the epistomal suture interrupted at the middle by a relatively well-defined unpunctated and shiny area ( Fig. 13 ). Clypeal disc rounded by perpendicular and transversal striations at lateral and lower sides, respectively ( Fig. 13 ); center of disc with a not well-defined smooth and unpunctated area, with coarse and very sparse punctures, denser laterally ( Fig. 13 ). Labrum with fine and very dense punctation, denser than on laterosuperior margin of clypeus ( Fig. 13 ). Terga and sterna with fine and very dense punctation, sparser distally, with smooth distal margin, wider on sterna. Pubescence: Body completely covered with blackish hairs, including T1. T2 with dark brown pubescence, lighter at distal margin ( Fig. 14 ). T3‒T5 with light yellowish brown hirs ( Fig. 14 ). Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae orange ( Fig. 16 ). Structures: Flabellum elliptical with anterior margin acute and projected forward. Maxillary palpus with four palpomeres (2 nd>3 rd>1 st>4 th). Mandible with five teeth, the fifth on the inner surface of the mandible ( Fig. 13 ). Acetabular carina reaching the base of third tooth ( Fig. 13 ). Central area of epistomal suture more arched than central lower margin of clypeus ( Fig. 13 ). Clypeal disc slightly concave longitudinally, with two small elevations near the upper margin (lateral view). Labrum relatively semicircular, with lower margin slightly truncated ( Fig. 13 ). Vertex above the upper interocular tangent ( Fig. 13 ). Inner orbits of compound eyes almost parallel-sided ( Fig. 13 ). Fore elaiospathe with primary anterior comb compact located from the strigilar cavity to the apex of fore basitarsus; secondary anterior comb formed by three giant, long, apically curved hairs. Hairs of hind elaiospathe forming a compact comb. Basitibial plates lanceolate; primary plate shiny, with secondary plate slightly oriented diagonally, compared with the primary plate, and with narrow lower margin ( Fig. 15 ). Pygidial plate with preapical lateral constriction and broadly rounded apical margin ( Fig. 16 ).

Paratype male: Measurements: Approximately body length: 17.9; head width: 5.7; forewing length: 17.5; UID: 1.9; LID: 2.4; mandible length: 2.7; mandible basal width: 1.1; labrum length: 1.0; labrum width: 1.6; F1 length: 1.2; F2 length: 0.3; F3 length: 0.4; scape length: 0.8; diameter of median ocellus: 0.4; distance between lateral ocellus and compound eye: 0.3. Coloration: Integument, blackish, except legs and metasoma dark reddish brown ( Fig. 18 ). Lower and supraclypeal areas and anterior surface of escape yellow ( Fig. 17 ). Clypeus yellow, except lateroinferior margins brownish, with two dark brown, narrow, short perpendicular lines on laterosuperior area, not reaching the disc ( Fig. 17 ). Labrum yellow with lateroinferior margins dark brown ( Fig. 17 ). Wing membrane and veins dark brown, without iridescence ( Fig. 18 ). Integument and sculpture surface: Clypeus finely coriaceous, with coarse and relatively sparse punctation on lateral sides, almost absent on disc ( Fig. 17 ). Labrum with relatively uniform punctation, finer and denser than on clypeus ( Fig. 17 ). Terga with fine, dense and uniform punctation, absent on distal margins. Pubescence: Dark brown to black ( Figs. 17, 18 ). T1 with dark brown pubescence, with a mixture of long and plumose hairs on lateroanterior surface. T2 and T3 with mostly short and simple hairs. T4‒T7 mostly with yellowish pubescence, longer and denser towards the apex of metasoma ( Fig. 18 ). Claws of middle and hind legs with a tuft of plumose hairs at the base ( Fig. 18 ). Structures: Mandible with three apically acute teeth ( Fig. 17 ). Apical tooth larger than the others, sub equal in size ( Fig. 17 ). Second tooth closer to third than to the apical tooth ( Fig. 17 ). Trimmal angle relatively straight ( Fig. 17 ). Acetabular carina reaching the base of third tooth. Clypeal disc longitudinally concave (lateral view), with two small dark brown elevations near the upper margin. Labrum semicircular, wider than long, with slightly truncated lower margin ( Fig. 17 ). Vertex below the upper interocular tangent ( Fig. 17 ). Inner orbits of compound eyes slightly converging dorsally ( Fig. 17 ). Distance between lateral ocellus and the compound eye shorter than the diameter of median ocellus ( Fig. 17 ). Hind femur swollen, well-developed. Pygidial plate absent.

Type material. Holotype female: Mex, Mich Uruapan, 1943 m 19,482; -102,004 25/10/2022 Elder Lenis UAPU.5437 [QR code] ( CECOM) . Paratypes: 1 female: Mex, Mich Uruapan , 1943 m 19,482; -102,004 25/10/2022 Elder Lenis UAPU.5475 [QR code] ( CECOM) . 1 female: Mex, Jal Talpa 2313 m 20,16 N; 104.68 W 6/11/2012 Jorge Mérida ECOAB.55930 [QR code]\ ECO-TAP-E-96647 Mex., Jal., Talpa Sierra Occidental, 2313 m 20.15719 N, 104.67592 W 06/11/2012, 13:45 Col. Jorge Mérida\ C. (Xanthemisia) carolae ♀ det. G. Melo’ 13 ( ECOAB) . 1 female: Mex, Jal Talpa 2119 m 20,17 N; 104.71 W 6/11/2012 Jorge Mérida ECOAB.55931 [QR code]\ ECO-TAP-E-96638 Mex., Jal., Talpa Cumbre de Guadalupe, 2119 m 20.16791 N, 104.71288 W 06/11/2012, 12:20. Col Jorge Mérida\ Centris carolae det. G. Melo’ 13 ( ECOAB) . 1 female: Km 12, Autopista Mexico - Cuautla , Tepoztlán ; Morelos 10/11/1996 I. Hinojosa, HD 1336 , 13:25 H, 1650 m, 18°58’24” -99°04’57”. cultivo de temporal, atraída por escencia (Mezcla)\ Centris (Xanthemisia) carolae Snelling ♀Ayala’97 MUSEO DE ZOOLOGÍA HYMENOPTERA 02711 ( MZFC) . 1 male: Km 19.5 , Autopista México - Cuatla , Tepoztlán ; Morelos 16/06/1996 I. Hinojosa, HD - 733 11:30 H, 1350 m, 18º56’17” -99º02’18”, Selva baja caducifolia\ Centris (Xanthemisia) carolae Snelling ♁ Ayala, 1997 MUSEO DE ZOOLOGÍA HYMENOPTERA 00358 ( MZFC) .

Type locality. MEXICO: Michoacán State: Uruapan (latitude: 19.482; longitude: 102.004; 1943 masl).

Etymology. The epithet refers to the indigenous ethnicity Pur’hepecha who inhabits the State of Michoacán, the place where the holotype was collected. This new species is dedicated in their homage.

Floral records. Senna foetidissima (Ruiz & Pav. ex G. Don) H. S. Irwin & Barneby (Caesalpiniaceae) , Phytolacca icosandra L. ( Phytolaccaceae ), Bidens aequisquama (Fernald) Sherff (Asteraceae) , Desmodium cordistipulum Hemsl. (Fabaceae) , and Psittacanthus sp. (Loranthaceae) .

Distribution. MEXICO: Jalisco State: Cumbre de Guadalupe, Talpa de Allende. Michoacán State: Uruapan. Morelos State: Tepoztlán ( Fig. 19 ).

Comment. Considering the light pubescence on the distal segments of the metasoma, Centris purhepecha sp. nov. looks similar to C. carolae . However, these species are easily recognized by the pubescence on the dorsal surface of the mesoscutellum (dark brown to black in C. purhepecha sp. nov. ( Fig. 14 ); yellow in C. carolae ), by the coloration of the clypeus and labrum (blackish in C. purhepecha sp. nov. ( Fig. 13 ); dark reddish brown in C. carolae ), and by the pubescence on head (blackish in C. purhepecha sp. nov. ( Fig. 13 ); whitish in C. carolae ). This new species is also superficially similar to C. aureiventris Vivallo, Vélez & Fernández, 2013 , a South American species that occurs in mountainous areas of Colombia and Peru ( Vivallo et al., 2013). However, they differ by the position of the inner orbits of the compound eyes (almost parallel-sided in C. purhepecha sp. nov. ( Fig. 13 ); converging downward in C. aureiventris ), by the pubescence on the ventral surface of mesepisternum (blackish in C. purhepecha sp. nov. ( Fig. 14 ); white yellowish in C. aureiventris ), and on the distal segments of the metasoma (light yellowish brown in C. purhepecha sp. nov. ( Fig. 14 ); yellowish in C. aureiventris ).

Figures

FIGURE 19. Distribution records for the species of Centris (Xanthemisia) inhabiting the Mexican Transition Zone (purple) and the Mesoamerican Dominion (pine green). The Nearctic Region and the Pacific Dominion are indicated in gray and pink, respectively.

FIGURES 13–16. Centris purhepecha sp. nov. (holotype female). Fig. 13. Head, frontal view (scale bar 2 mm). Fig. 14. Habitus, lateral view (scale bar 5 mm). Fig. 15. Basitibial plates (scale bar 0.5 mm). Fig. 16. Pygidial plate, dorsal view (scale bar 0.5 mm).

FIGURES 17–18. Centris purhepecha sp. nov. (paratype male). Fig. 17. Head, frontal view (scale bar 2 mm). Fig. 18. Habitus, lateral view (scale bar 5 mm).