Augochlora (Augochlora) hirsuta, Lepeco & Gonçalves, 2020

Lepeco, Anderson & Gonçalves, Rodrigo Barbosa, 2020, A revision of the bee genus Augochlora Smith (Hymenoptera; Apoidea) in Southern South America, Zootaxa 4897 (1), pp. 1-97 : 51-53

Augochlora (Augochlora) hirsuta sp. nov.

( Figure 26 A–D)

Diagnosis. The species has a well-marked median furrow on scutellum, a strong angulation separating the anterior and posterior surfaces of hind coxa ventrally. From A. braziliensis and A. daphnis it can be separated by the projected angle on hypostomal carina anteriorly. From A. esox it differs in the overall increased body pubescence, which can be translated in the length of mesoscutum setae (about 2 OD or more). Augochlora hirsuta sp. nov. also lacks the usual dark spots present in most A. esox .

Comments. At first sight the three females included in this species may be confused with A. esox , but the locality data and the consistently increased body pubescence are clear indications that these belong to a new species.

Description. ♀. Measurements. Maximum interocular distance: 1.55–1.80 (x‾ = 1.65, n = 3); head length: 2.12–2.44 (x‾ = 2.25, n = 3); clypeus width: 0.56–0.64 (x‾ = 0.60, n = 3); clypeus length: 0.56–0.60 (x‾ = 0.58, n = 3); clypeoantennal distance: 0.44–0.46 (x‾ = 0.45, n = 3); clypeus ocellar distance: 1.30–1.46 (x‾ = 1.37, n = 3); inter-tegular distance: 1.46–1.70 (x‾ = 1.57, n = 3); T1 width: 2.08–2.40 (x‾ = 2.20, n = 3); T2 width: 2.40–2.64 (x‾ = 2.48, n = 3); body length: 8.00–9.50 (x‾ = 8.83, n = 3).

Head. Labrum basal surface black; basal elevation transverse. Mandible mostly black, subapical region brown and with basal green spot; medial portion not strongly constricted, minimum width between 0.7x and 0.9x basal width; preapical tooth large and sharp, produced near mandible apex; distal part of adductor ridge weakly swollen. Clypeus mostly green with golden reflection, apical black band <OD; punctate, punctures large and weak, imbricate in between; apex not prolonged over apical border. Epistomal angle acute, strongly protruding over clypeus. Supraclypeal area green with golden reflection; densely punctate, imbricate in between. Lower paraocular area with golden reflection; crowded punctate, punctures weak; long setae (1–2 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. Antennae: mostly black, flagellum ventrally brown. Frons with golden and blue iridescences intermixed; crowded punctate; not protuberant above antennal sockets. Preoccipital area strongly lamellate, lamella expanded near post gena. Gena with golden reflection. Post gena mostly darkened with golden and green reflections; microreticulate, some scattered weak punctures; setae length <4 OD. Hypostomal carina projected anteriorly.

Mesosoma. Pronotum dorsolateral angle orthogonal. Fore leg: coxa brown with weak green reflection; trochanter brown; femur brown; ventral surface slightly rounded; long plumose setae (<4 OD); tibia brown; tarsus brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Mesoscutum green with golden reflection; contiguously punctate, anterior border rugulose; setae length = 2 OD. Scutellum with a strongly marked medial furrow; green with golden reflections; densely punctate, I <PD; with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer dark setae (4 OD). Mesepisternum green; preepisternum rugose; hypoepimeral area densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, imbricate in between; below scrobe densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, imbricate in between, ventrally crowded punctate; with long setae (3 OD). Mid leg: coxa brown; trochanter brown; ventral margin not swollen, almost straight; femur brown, flattened, mesofemoral brush yellowish; tibia and tarsus brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Tegula brown with anterior green spot. Metanotum with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer yellowish setae (= 3 OD). Metepisternum green; densely punctate, becoming crowded punctate to rugose above superior metapleural pit. Hind leg: coxa green; anterior and posterior surfaces ventrally separated by a strong angulation; trochanter dark brown; setae length = 4 OD; femur dark brown; tibia and tarsus brown; outer surfaces without dark setae. Metapostnotum green; shorter than scutellum; entirely with radiating carinae, medially somewhat rugose. Propodeum green; with tiny and long (3 OD) setae intermixed; posterior surface with tiny and larger punctures intermixed, imbricate in between; lateral carinae ending below propodeum half; lateral surfaces imbricate among punctures.

Metasoma. T1 anterior surface punctate, smooth in between; mostly brown with golden and green reflections; with dense coverage of tiny decumbent setae among long setae. T1 dorsal surface sparsely punctate on disc, I> 2 PD, tiny punctures, imbricate in between, denser punctation on lateral surfaces; dorsally darkened, dull, lateral surfaces green; tiny setae dorsally, long setae (2 OD) on lateral surfaces; apex not inflexed, brown. T2 dorsally darkened, dull, lateral surfaces green; weakly punctate, imbricate in between; marginal area with punctate portion longer than apical brown band on sublateral surfaces; tiny decumbent setae near base and on lateral surfaces, long setae (2 OD) on lateral surfaces. T3 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; dorsally darkened, lateral surfaces green, apical band dark brown; tiny setae apex not reaching apical margin sublaterally. T4 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly green, apical band brown; mostly with tiny decumbent setae, long setae (3 OD) scattered on disc and lateral surfaces. T5 black; pseudopygidial area not covered by scale-like setae, colliculate integument exposed. Pygidial plate black, apex rounded. S1 without elevation; black with weak green reflection; long setae (> 2 OD) medially, margin tiny decumbent setae. S2 mostly black, apical band yellowish; medioapical margin sharp; punctate, microreticulate in between; long setae (> 3 OD). S3–4 as S2. S5 apical margin widely rounded; dark brown; long setae (> 3 OD). S6 dark brown; long dark setae on apex.

Distribution. This species was only collected in San Martin de Los Andes, in the Neuquén province, Argentina.

Etymology. The name is an allusion to the increased body pilosity found in the three available specimens, feminine from the Latin adjective hirsutus.

Type material. Holotype, DZUP, ♀ “ DZUP \568292” “S. M. D. l. Andes\RA Neuquen XI 64\F. H. WALZ ” . Paratypes, DZUP, 2♀ “ DZUP \568293” “ DZUP \568294” “S. M. D. l. Andes\RA Neuquen XI 64\F. H. WALZ ” .

Figures

FIGURE 26. Female of Augochlora hirsuta sp. nov. A) habitus, B) dorsal view of metasoma, C) frontal view of head, D) dorsal view of mesosoma. Scale bar: 1.0 mm, all at same scale.