Epicharis (Epicharitides) obscura Friese, 1899

Villamizar, Germán & Vivallo, Felipe, 2024, Taxonomic revision of the oil-collecting bee subgenus Epicharis (Epicharitides) Moure, 1945 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), with the description of two new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 928 (1), pp. 1-61 : 35-39

Epicharis (Epicharitides) obscura Friese, 1899

Figs 8 , 11

Epicharis obscura Friese, 1899: 40 (original description).

Epicharis maculata f. interrupta Schrottky, 1908: 96 (original description).

Epicharis maculata f. parvula Schrottky, 1908: 96 (original description, comparative note with Epicharis grandior Friese, 1899 [= E. picta Smith, 1874 ]).

Epicharis obscura – Friese 1900: 119–120 (description, distribution). — Schrottky 1902a: 559–561, 564 (key, morphology of adult, distribution). — Bertoni 1911: 138 (nesting biology); 1918: 220 (distribution). — Sazima & Sazima 1989: 108–110 (floral record). — Buzato 1990: 16, 19–21, 48 (floral records, bionomy, figure of adult). — Franco 1991: 17, 23, 25, 54 (floral record, bionomy, figure of adult). — Varassin & Sazima 2012: 108–109 (floral record, bionomy). — Sigrist & Sazima 2014: 1012–1013 (floral record, bionomy).

Centris (Epicharis) obscura – Friese 1901: 241, 263, 345 (list, description of the male, distribution).

Epicharitides obscura – Moure 1945a: 312–313 (new combination, morphology of adult); 1945b: 399– 400 (distribution, diagnosis, key). — Laroca et al. 1993: 160 (nesting biology).

Epicharis (Epicharitides) obscura – Moure & Seabra 1959: 119, 125 (cited, comparative note with E. rufescens ). — Pedro & Camargo 1999: 200 (catalogue). — Gaglianone 2001: 186 (distribution, floral records); 2005: 192 (floral records). — Silveira et al. 2002: 102 (list, distribution). — Rocha-Filho 2004: 4 (cited). — Sigrist & Sazima 2004: 38 (floral records). — Andena et al. 2005: 84 (list). — Steiner et al. 2006: 6 (list). — Moure et al. 2007: 139 (catalogue, distribution). — Rasmussen & Ascher 2008: 80 (list). — Gaglianone et al. 2011: 659 (list, distribution). — Imperatriz-Fonseca et al. 2011: 10 (list, floral records). — Menezes 2011: 25–26, 30–31 (floral record, bionomy). — Mello et al. 2012: 4–5 (bionomy). — Werneck. 2012: 55 (cited). — Pinheiro et al. 2018: 418–419 (bionomy, floral record).

Epicharis maculata f. interrupta – Moure et al. 2007: 139 (taxonomic decision for synonymy). — Rasmussen et al. 2009: 29 (list).

Epicharis maculata f. parvula – Moure et al. 2007: 139 (taxonomic decision for synonymy). — Rasmussen et al. 2009: 35 (list).

Diagnoses

Females

Pubescence mostly black with whitish hairs on gena, area of mesoscutum near tegula and propodeum; face with yellow maculae poorly developed, mainly on lower paraocular areas and labrum; malar area sub-rectangular; yellow maculae on entire disc of mesoscutellum; metasoma without distinct yellow maculae or with short spots on lateral sides of T3 and T4; tegula and wing veins dark brown.

Males

Head and mesosoma with black and whitish hairs intermixed giving a grayish appearance; yellow maculae well-developed on face and mesoscutellum; malar area sub-rectangular; lateral sides of T2–T5 with yellow to testaceous maculae, lateral sides of T2 with a sub-rectangular spot; tegula and veins of wings dark brown; middle trochanter flat with a small projection and hind femur slender; pubescence of hind tibia and basitarsus scopa-like.

Type material

Lectotype (here designated)

BRAZIL • ♀; “Kammerlacher\ Epicharis obscura ♀ [Handwritten] det. Friese 1898 n. sp\ Lectotype Epicharis obscura Friese, 1899 des. F. Vivallo, 2017 [Blue label]”; NHMW.

Paralectotype

BRAZIL • 1 ♀; “Brasil S. Leopoldina 1897\ Epicharis obscura [Handwritten] 1910 Friese det.\ Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Dept. Invert. Zool. No. 26418 [Handwritten]\ Type [Red label]\ Epicharitides obscura Friese [Handwritten] Det. By H.F. Schwarz ”; AMNH .

Epicharis maculata f. interrupta

Holotype female ( ZMB, not studied).

Epicharis maculata f. parvula

Holotype female ( ZMB, not studied).

Material examined (n = 13 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂)

BRAZIL • 1 ♀; “Brasilien\ Epicharis obscura 1900 Friese det.”; HNHM. – Espírito Santo • 1 ♂; “Esp. Santo Staud.; 98\ Epicharis obscura ♂ det. Friese 1898”; HNHM. – Minas Gerais • 1 ♀; “ Florestal MG BRASIL; 05/12/2001 E.A.B. Almeida \ CEDAF 7767-23417 ”; DZMG • 1 ♀; “ Sabará MG BRASIL; 10/03/2001 R.B. Martines /Abelhas da Zona Metalúrgica MG; Ch. Do Lessa ; 8000-24403”; DZMG. – Rio de Janeiro • 1 ♀; “ Sumidouro RJ BRASIL; 26/03/2011; R.L. Guaritá /Monitoram.; Fauna Furnas MG e RJ 20936-59993\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) obscura ♀ Friese, 1899 R.R. Ferrari det. 2011”; DZMG. – São Paulo • 1 ♀; “ CAMPINAS, SP MATA DA FAZ. STA. GENEBRA ; 05/04/1985 \ 101\ 860013\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) \ Epicharis obscura Friese, 1899 det. Gaglianone, 2000”; RPSP • 2 ♀♀; “ CAMPINAS, SP MATA DA FAZ. STA. GENEBRA ; 05/III/1990 \ Epicharis obscura ( Friese, 1899) Det. Camargo 1990 \ E. (Epicharitides) obscura Friese, 1899 Det. Moure, 1992 ”; RPSP • 1 ♀; “ CAMPINAS, SP MATA DA FAZ. STA. GENEBRA ; 17/03/1980 \ 145\ 860012\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) obscura \ Epicharis grandior Friese, 1899 det. Gaglianone, 2000”; RPSP • 1 ♀; “ Mogi das Cruzes, SP Brasil; 03.XII.2012; Leg. G.D. Cordeiro \ Epicharis (Epicharitides) obscura Friese, 1899 F. Vivallo det, 2014\ 293”; CEPANN. – Sergipe • 2 ♀♀; “ Itabaiana, SE, Brasil Serra de Itabaiana ; 06/I/2001 Leg. Michelette, ERF”; RPSP.

Morphology

Female ( Fig. 8A–B )

MEASUREMENTS. Approximate body length: 15.2 (14.9–15.3). Head width: 4.8 (4.7–4.9). Mesosoma width: 5.1 (4.9–5.1). Metasoma width: 5.3 (5.2–5.4). Forewing length: 11.2 (11–11.2).

COLORATION. Predominantly dark brown to black, lighter brown on apex of labrum and mandible, legs, lateral sides of T1 and S1. Brown integument on ventral surface of flagellomeres, except basal half of F1. Maculation as follows: an irregular elliptical spot on corner of lower paraocular area; on basal half of labrum, emarginated on medial area; an elliptical spot on upper malar area; an irregular stripe near to dorsolateral angle of pronotum; a faint spot on dorsal surface of tibia basally; on disc of mesoscutellum, finely interrupted medially; small spots on basal lateral sides of T3 and T4. Tegula, wings and veins dark brown. Tarsus reddish brown.

PUBESCENCE. Dark brown to black with whitish hairs intermixed giving a grayish aspect on paraocular area, vertex, dorsal surface of fore tibia, on mesoscutum near the tegula and lateral sides of T3–T5. Whiter on gena, hypoepimeral lobe, metepisternum, metanotum and propodeum. Ferruginous hairs on apex of labrum, mandible and ventral surface of basitarsus and hind tibia. Long, decumbent, scattered and simple hairs on lateral sides of clypeus and lower gena (2–5× OD), denser on apical half of labrum. Paraocular area near the alveolus with dense, short and plumose hairs (0.5–1 × OD), sparser towards frons and vertex. Long, dense and plumose hairs on vertex and occipital area near the carina (2–5× OD), shorter on gena. Sparse and plumose hairs on dorsum and lateral sides of mesosoma (2–3 × OD), sparser and shorter on pronotum, longer on propodeum. Ventral surface of mesosoma with long, semi erected and coarse hairs. Anterior surface of coxa with finer hairs. Terga covered with appressed hairs. Anterior surface of T1 with long, scattered and plumose hairs (1–2 × OD). Long, scattered and simple hairs on lateral sides of T3–T5 and distal margin of T5 (1–3× OD), being longer progressively towards distal segments. Apical half of sterna with long, dense and simple hairs, mainly on lateral sides, remaining half nearly glabrous.

SCULPTURE SURFACE. Clypeus and labrum areolate, more evident on lateral sides of clypeus and on apical half of labrum. Coarse and sparse punctation on paraocular areas and vertex (2–5 × puncture width), coarser towards frons and denser on occipital area and gena. Mesoscutum with coarse and scattered punctation (2–5× puncture width), denser on metepisternum and sparser nearly absent on propodeum and mesoscutellum. Terga weakly imbricate. Preapical area of T5 smooth. Coarse and sparse punctures through medial area of sterna, denser towards distal margins and on lateral sides.

STRUCTURES. Head broader than long (1.2: 1). Ratio of upper and lower interocular distances: 0.7–0.8: 1. Maximum interocular distance shorter than length of compound eye (0.7–0.6: 1). Clypeus broader than long (1.5: 1) with length equal to clypeocellar distance (1: 1). Labrum longer than broad (1.2–1.1: 1). Interalveolar distance longer than alveolorbital distance (2.4–2.3: 1). Interalveolar distance shorter than alveolocellar distance (0.7–0.8: 1). Lateral ocelli at the same level of the upper supraorbital tangent. Interocellar distance equal than ocellocular distance (1: 1). Frontal carina extending from tip of supraclypeal carina to median ocellus (1.8–1.6× OD). Length of F1 equal to summed length of F2 and F3 and shorter than length of F2–F4 (0.5–0.6: 0.5–0.6: 1). Vertex below the upper supraorbital tangent. Clypeal carinae conspicuous, lower half of epistomal suture poorly evidenced. Mesoscutellum rounded in lateral view, slightly flat.

VARIATION. Faint spots nearly absent on corner of lower paraocular area. Maculae on labrum reduced. An exemplar from the Brazilian State of Sergipe has more developed maculae: faint longitudinal stripe on clypeus and supraclypeal area; wider maculae on corner of paraocular area; stripes on T2–T5. Gena, paraocular area and ventral surface of mesosoma with mostly whitish pubescence.

Male ( Fig. 8C–D )

As the female, except as follows:

MEASUREMENTS. Approximate body length: 15.0 (15–15.2). Head width: 4.8 (4.8–4.9). Mesosoma width: 5.0 (4.9–5.1). Metasoma width: 5.1 (5–5.2). Forewing length: 11.0 (10.9–11.1).

COLORATION. Yellow maculation as follows: on paraocular area, from alveolar tangent to lower paraocular area, bifurcated upwards; on ventral surface of scape and basal half of F1, barely evident; an irregular triangle shape on lower clypeal disc, finely extending towards upper margin; at supraclypeal area; labrum; on macular area; on most of mandible, except near the base as longitudinal stripes and apex; an irregular spot on basal margin of fore tibia; on disc of mesoscutellum; an irregular sub-rectangular spot on lateral sides of T2; a small spot on lateral sides of T3–T6.

PUBESCENCE. Black and whitish hairs intermixed giving a grayish appearance on gena, mesosoma, legs (except hind tibia and basitarsus) and T1. Dorsal surface of fore and middle basitarsi covered by whitish hairs. Basal lateral sides of clypeus, disc of labrum and base of mandible nearly glabrous. Dorsum of mesosoma and propodeum with longer, denser and plumose hairs (3–5× OD). Disc of T1 with longer and denser hairs than those on propodeum. Appressed hairs on T3 restricted to apical half, almost absent on basal half.

SCULPTURE SURFACE. Coarser and denser punctation on lateral sides of clypeus (0.2–2 × puncture width), disc weakly areolate on basal surface. Paraocular area with fine and scattered punctures (2–5× puncture width), denser and coarser towards frons and almost absent near the ocelli. Mesosoma with coarser punctures, mostly on metepisternum.

STRUCTURES. Head broader than long (1.2: 1). Ratio of upper and lower interocular distances: 0.6–0.7: 1. Maximum interocular distance shorter than length of compound eye (0.7–0.8: 1). Clypeus broader than long (1.8–1.7: 1) with length equal to clypeocellar distance (1: 1). Labrum longer than broad (0.8: 1). Interalveolar distance longer than alveolorbital distance (2.6–2.5: 1). Interalveolar distance shorter than alveolocellar distance (0.7: 1). Interocellar distance longer than ocellocular distance (1.2–1.1: 1). Frontal carina inconspicuous (1.9–1.8 × OD). Length of F1 equal to F2 (1: 1), F2 shorter than F3 (0.8: 1) and F3 slightly shorter than F4 (0.9: 1), (0.8: 0.8: 0.9: 1). Clypeal carinae and epistomal suture conspicuous. Malar area sub-rectangular. Length of apical tooth more than twice the length of the preapical tooth. Middle trochanter flat with a small triangular projection. Hind femur and tibia slender. Anterior and posterior surfaces of hind basitarsus sub-parallel.

Type localities

Epicharis obscura : BRAZIL: Espírito Santo: Santa Leopoldina. Epicharis maculata f. interrupta and E. maculata f. parvula : PARAGUAY: Distrito Capital: Asunción.

Distribution ( Fig. 11 )

BRAZIL: Sergipe: Itabaiana*. Minas Gerais: Ibiá ( Gaglianone 2001), Florestal*, Sabará*, Pocinhos do Rio Verde ( Gaglianone 2001). Espírito Santo: Santa Teresa ( Gaglianone 2001; Varassin & Sazima 2012), Santa Leopoldina ( Friese 1899; Schrottky 1902a; Gaglianone 2001), São João de Petrópolis ( Gaglianone 2001). Rio de Janeiro: Sumidouro*, Reserva Biológica União ( Menezes 2011), Rio de Janeiro ( Gaglianone 2001). São Paulo: Corumbataí ( Andena et al. 2005), Teodoro Sampaio ( Gaglianone 2001; Gaglianone et al. 2011), Campinas ( Sazima & Sazima 1989; Buzato 1990; Franco 1991; Gaglianone 2001; Sigrist & Sazima 2004; Gaglianone et al. 2011; Sigrist & Sazima 2014), São Paulo ( Moure 1945b; Gaglianone 2001; Gaglianone et al. 2011), Mogi das Cruzes*. Paraná: Parque Estadual Serra do Mar ( Pinheiro et al. 2018). PARAGUAY: Distrito Capital: Asunción ( Schrottky 1908). Alto Paraná: Presidente Franco ( Bertoni 1918).

Comments

According to Friese (1899), the type series of Epicharis obscura consists of two females from “São Leopoldina” (Santa Leopoldina, Brazil), one of them housed at NHMW. Additionally, Moure et al. (2007) indicated that the other female of the type series was housed at ZMB, but it is actually deposited at AMNH.

The forms E. maculata interrupta and E. maculata parvula were cited by Moure et al. (2007) as junior synonyms of E. obscura . Unfortunately, we cannot confirm this interpretation because the type specimens used by Schrottky were not found during the development of this research.

Most records of E. obscura are in the Brazilian States of São Paulo and Minas Gerais (Parana biogeographic domain sensu Morrone 2014), extending northward to Sergipe State. Considering the information cited above about the Schrottky’s type material, the record from Asunción ( Paraguay) remains doubtful.

Figures

Fig. 8. Epicharis (Epicharitides) obscura Friese, 1899. A–B. Female (Brazil: Mogi das Cruzes; CEPANN). A. Head, frontal view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C–D. Male (Brazil: Santa Teresa; HNHM). C. Head, frontal view. D. Habitus, lateral view. Scale bars: A, C = 1 mm; B, D = 5 mm.

Fig. 11. Distribution records for Epicharis luteocincta Moure & Seabra, 1959, E. minima (Friese, 1904) and E. obscura Friese, 1899. Symbols with a cross represent records from literature.