Epeolus mongolicus, Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2021

Astafurova, Yulia V. & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2021, New and little-known bees of the genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Nomadinae) from Mongolia, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 84, pp. 11-28 : 11

Epeolus mongolicus sp. nov.

Figures 5 , 6

Material examined.

Holotype: ♀, W Mongolia, Zavkhan, 40 km SW of Uliastay , dunes, 18.VII.2005, JH (OLBL/PCMS) . Paratypes: 11 ♀, with the same labels (OLBL/PCMS, 2 ♀ - ZISP); 3 ♀, Bulgan, 170 km W of Ulaanbaatar, dunes, 1070 m, 16.VIII.2007, MK (OLBL/PCMS) ; 4 ♀, 160 km W Ulanbaatar , dunes, 1220 m, 16.VIII.2007, JH (OLBL/PCMS) .

Diagnosis.

This species is clearly distinguished from other Palaearctic species by red metasoma with spectacular bright copper-reddish (Fig. 5A, B ) or gold-yellowish (Fig. 5C ) tomentum entirely covering terga and well-developed on head and mesosoma. Unlike other Palaearctic species, the new species does not possess contrast coloration of pubescence, forming light spots or bands. The species is structurally closest to E. alpinus and E. cruciger , since it also belongs to E. cruciger species group, and especially resembles E. alpinus in having long setae on vertex and labrum with almost straight apical margin (slightly curved).

Description.

Female. Total body length 6.5-8.0 mm; forewing length (without tegula) 5.5-7.0 mm. Structure and sculpture: Head (Fig. 6A ) transverse, ca 1.3 times as wide as long. Labrum (Fig. 6B ) 1.6 times as wide as long, rounded basally and laterally, apical margin slightly curved with small distinct medial tooth; sub-apically with two well-visible teeth, medially (between teeth) slightly depressed; integument shiny, coarsely and densely punctate (15-30 μm / confluent-1). Clypeus dull, densely and finely punctate (10-15 μm / confluent-0.5), widely shiny and impunctate along apical margin. Frons with developed frontal keel. Upper half of frons densely punctate (15-25 μm / confluent-0.5), shiny and smooth between punctures. Flagellomeres ca 1.5 times as long as wide. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum coarsely and densely areolate-punctate (25-40 μm /confluent-0.5). Axilla pointed apically, but without distinct tooth (Fig. 6C ). Mesoscutellum with medial longitudinal impression; posterior margin scarcely extending over propodeum. Mesepisternum areolate-punctate. Propodeal triangle shagreened; rest vertical part of propodeum shiny and smoother (finely tessellate to smooth). Metasomal terga densely and finely punctate (10-15 μm / 1-2), interspaces smooth and dull; marginal zones transparent under tomentum. Pseudopygidial area (Fig. 6E ) short, triangular. Pygidial plate trapezoidal, truncate on apex. Processes on sides of S6 normal, with short projections. Sterna densely punctured like terga (Fig. 6F ). S5 wide, straight as seen in lateral view (Fig. 6D ). Coloration: Head mostly black, but mandibles yellow-red with dark apex; labrum entirely yellow-red; clypeus entirely yellow-red or black on upper half; antennae yellow-red on basal segments and ventrally. Mesosoma mostly black; mesepisternum entirely black or partially red (on upper half and ventrally and laterally; pronotal lobe, axilla, mesoscutellum, metanotum (medially) and legs (including spurs) yellow-red; wings with brownish darkening, stigma and veins brown. Metasoma yellow-reddish. Pygidial plate red with brownish edging. Pubescence: Body without contrast coloration of pubescence, only with tomentum of approximately the same color: bright copper-reddish (Fig. 5A, B ) or gold-yellowish (Fig. 5C ). Labrum with thin yellow setae denser and longer around sub-apical teeth. Face and genae with dense tomentum obscuring integument (sparser on upper half of frons). Upper half of frons with long thin setae. Vertex with short thick setae, dense but not obscuring integument. Mesoscutum entirely covered with tomentum (tomentum can be strongly shabby). Lateral and ventral parts of mesosoma, metanotum entirely covered with dense tomentum. Legs with sparse yellow setae. Metasomal terga entirely covered with dense tomentum obscuring integument. Pseudopygidial area with silver-like pubescence. Sterna with golden short and relatively dense setae (not entirely obscuring integument, but denser on S4 and S5).

Male. Unknown.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is named after the country of origin.

Distribution.

Mongolia (Bulgan, Zavkhan).

Figures

Figure 5. Epeolus mongolicus sp. nov., holotype (A, B) and paratype (C), female A-C habitus, lateral view (A); dorsal view (B, C). Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 6. Epeolus mongolicus sp. nov., holotype, female A head, frontal view B labrum, frontal view C mesosoma dorso-lateral view D, E apex of metasoma, lateral view (D); ventral view (E) F metasoma, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.