Chelostoma ( Chelostoma ) levantense Müller, 2025

Müller, Andreas, Pisanty, Gideon & Dorchin, Achik, 2025, Western Palaearctic Chelostoma bees of the subgenus Chelostoma (Megachilidae, Osmiini): biology, taxonomy and key to species, Zootaxa 5717 (3), pp. 329-369 : 336-339

Chelostoma ( Chelostoma) levantense Müller , sp. nov.

Holotype. ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: Northern District : Mount Hermon, 3km N Majdal al-Shams, 33°17′35′′N / 35°45′33′′E, 1500 m, 4.5.2010, 1♀ (leg. C. Sedivy, C. Praz). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich

Paratypes. ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: Central District: Nes Tsiyona, 31.928°N / 34.78°E, 4.3.2009, 1♀ (leg. A. Dorchin); Haifa District : Mount Carmel , 27.3.2000, 1♂ (leg. M. Török); Mount Carmel , En Hod , 32°41.97′N / 34°58.56′E, 80 m, 2.4.– 16.4.2000, 3♀ (leg. S. Roberts); Mount Carmel , Etzbah, 32°42′41′′N / 34°54′74′′E, 180 m, 5.4.1999, 2♀ (leg. S. Roberts), 3.4.– 4.4.2000, 6♀, 2♂ (leg. S. Roberts); Mount Carmel , Haibar, 300 m, 5.4.2000, 3♂ (leg. S. Roberts); Mount Carmel , Kedumim, 200 m, 10.4.2000, 1♀, 1♂ (leg. S. Roberts); Mount Carmel , Mitla, 300 m, 6.4.– 17.4.2000, 2♀, 1♂ (leg. S. Roberts); Northern District : Mount Hermon , 19.4.1988, 6♂ (leg. M. Kraus); 20 km NE Qiryat Shemona, Hermon Cableway, 33 ° 18 ′ N / 35 ° 46 ′ E, 16.5.1996, 1♀ (leg. M. Hauser); Humra Hill, 12.3.2009, 1♂ (leg A. Dorchin) ; Bet Rimon, N Kafr Kana , 7.5.2019, 1♀ (leg. T. Kwast) ; Southern District: Negev , 15 km SE Dimona, 21.3.1990, 1♀ (leg. R. Leys) ; Negev , 5 km SE Yeroham, 21.3.1990, 1♂ (leg. R. Leys) ; Avedat, 10.4.1990, 2♀ (leg. K. Warncke); Wadi Hevyon, 13 km E Yeroham, 12.4.1990, 1♀ (leg. K. Warncke); Har Ramon, 30 km SW Mizpe Ramon , 13.4.1990, 2♀, 1♂ (leg. K. Warncke) . JORDAN: Irbid: Tall Al Arbatin, 20 km S North Shuna, 19.4.1996, 4♀ (leg. M. Halada); North Shuna , 29.- 30.4.1996, 3♀ (leg. M. Halada); Jerash: 10 km N Jerash, 19.– 20.4.2002, 8♀ (leg. M.Snizek) . LEBANON: North: Horch Ehden, Nabeh Jouit , 34.31608°N / 35.98269°E, 1336 m, 24.4.2019, 1♀, 2♂ (leg. M. Boustani); Horch Ehden , Trail 1, 34.30972°N / 35.98939°E, 1534 m, 2.5.2017, 1♂ (leg. M. Boustani). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich, the Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum Linz and the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History Tel Aviv .

Additional material. ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: Central District: Haruzim NR, 32°13′47′′N / 34°51′35′′E, 35 m, 30.3.2009, 1♀, 1♂ (leg. A. Dorchin) , 17.02.2010, 1♂ (leg. A. Dorchin) ; Bet Hanan , 6.3.2009, 3♂ (leg. A. Dorchin) ; 1.3 km SE Bet Hanan , 31°55′43′′N / 34°45′52′′E, 35 m, 3.3.2010, 1♂ (leg. A. Dorchin) ; 0.8 km S Bet Hanan , 31°55′41′′N / 34°46′20′′E, 34 m, 3.3.– 4.3.2010, 2♀ 15♂ (leg. A. Dorchin) ; 1.1 km SE Bet Hanan , 31°55′43′′N / 34°46′00′′E, 30 m, 3.3.– 4.3.2010, 3♂ (leg. A. Dorchin) ; Sharon Plain, Nahal Alexander , 32°24.331′N / 34°53.042′E, 10.3.2019, 1♀, 1♂ (leg. K. Levy) , 24.3.2020, 2♀ (leg. K. Levy) , 31.3.2021, 2♂ (leg. K. Levy); Sharon Plain, Tel Yizhaq NR, 32º14′34′′N / 34º51′53′′E, 20 m, 16.3.2011, 1♂ (leg. A. Dorchin) ; 1.75 km SW Gan Soreq , 31°56′06′′N / 34°44′34′′E, 18m, 7.3.2010, 1♀ (leg. A. Dorchin) ; Central Coastal Plain, Bené Deror , 7.3.2012, 3♂ (leg. O. Afik) ; Central Coastal Plain, Qadima , 3.2012, 1f, 4♂ (leg. O. Afik) ; Central Coastal Plain, Zur Moshe , 13.3.2012, 2♂ (leg. O. Afik) ; Geva′ot HaKhurkhar NP, 31°56′08′′N / 34°47′10′′E, 50–60 m, 23.3.– 1.4.2010, 2♀ (leg. A. Dorchin) ; Iris Ha′Argaman NR, 31°55′54′′N / 34°45′11′′E, 29 m, 2.3.2010, 2♀ (leg. A. Dorchin) ; Judean Foothills, Ya′ar Adolam , 8.4.2010, 1♀ (leg. T. Koznichki) , 20.4.2011, 2♀ (leg. T. Koznichki) , 3.4.2013, 1♀ (leg. Y. Berner), 25.3.2015, 1♂ (leg. T. Chaprazaro) ; Nahshon junction, 9.3.2017, 9♂ (leg. T. Roth) ; Nes Tsiyona , 31.928°N / 34.78°E, 4.3.– 31.3.2009, 2♀, 6♂ (leg. A. Dorchin) , 13.3.2015, 1♂ (leg. G. Pisanty) ; Shfela, Shiller , 25.0.2021, 1♂ (leg. Y. Halevi) ; Ya′ar Kedoshim , 7.3.– 30.3.2014, 2♀, 2♂ (leg. N. Shamir) , 15.4.– 16.4.2017, 2♀ (leg. Y. Farago); Haifa District: Daliyat el-Karmil S Haifa, 5.7.1997,1 ♀ (leg. J. Rozen) ; 1.3km N Tiv′on , 32°44′14′′N / 35°07′55′′E, 163 m, 23.3.2012, 1♀ (leg. A. Dorchin) ; Kerem Maharal , 32.643°N / 34.981°E, 800 m, 3.4.2015, 1♀ (leg. G. Pisanty) ; Mount Carmel, En Hod , 32°41′97′′N / 34°58′56′′E, 80 m, 4.4.1999, 3♀ (leg. S. Roberts) ; Mount Carmel, Etzbah , 32°42′41′′N / 34°54′74′′E, 180 m, 5.4.– 9.4.1999, 6♀, 1♂ (leg. S. Roberts) , 3.4.– 4.4.2000, 4♀, 4♂ (leg. S. Roberts); Mount Carmel, Kedumim , 200 m, 10.4.2000, 5♂ (leg. S. Roberts) ; Mount Carmel, Mitla , 300 m, 6.4.– 17.4.2000, 5♀ (leg. S. Roberts) ; Mount Carmel, Quarry , 23.4.2000, 1♂ (leg. M. Török) ; Mount Carmel, Yagur , 26.3.2011, 1♂ (leg. G. Pisanty) ; Mount Carmel, Ramat haNadiv, 22.3.2012, 1♀ (leg. T. Shapira) , 26.2.– 2.4.2013, 2♀, 2♂ (leg. T. Shapira) ; Jerusalem District: Shoresh , 31.79252°N / 35.06936°E, 680 m, 6.4.– 7.4.2012, 1♀, 1♂ (leg. J.S. Ascher, A. Payne) ; Judean Foothills, Harel , 18.3.2011, 1♂ (leg. G. Pisanty) ; Judean Foothills, Ya′ar Yish′i , 26.2.2013, 1♂ (leg. Y. Berner) , 8.5.2015, 2♀ (leg. T. Chaprazaro) ; Netiv Halamed Heh , 27.3.2017, 1♂ (leg. T. Roth) ; Northern District: Tiberias , - 200m, 22.3.1975, 1m (leg. K. Guichard) ; 10 km E Nahariyya , 9.4.1988, 1♂ (leg. R. Leys) ; Humra Hill , 12.3.2009, 1♀ (leg A. Dorchin) ; 600 m E Alonim , 32º43′11′′N / 35º09′17′′E, 138 m, 21.3.2011, 1♀ (leg. H. Ztohari) ; Yiftach , 17.4.2014, 1♀ (leg. O. Winberger) , 30.3.2016, 2♂ (leg. O. Winberger) ; Ramot Naftali , 5.4.2015, 1♂ (leg. O. Winberger) ; Yir′on , 8.4.2015, 1♂ (leg. O. Winberger) , 30.3.2016, 2♀ (leg. O. Winberger) ; Gush Halav , 31.3.2016, 1♀ (leg. O. Winberger) ; 1 km SW Ziv′on , 33.019°N / 35.407°E, 5.4.2016, 2♀ (leg. G. Pisanty) ; Malkiya , 19.4.2016, 1♀ (leg. O. Winberger) ; Southern District: Judean Foothills, Beit Govrin , 28.3.2010, 1♀ (leg. G. Pisanty) ; Judean Foothills, Park Britannia , 15.4.2011, 3♀ (leg. T. Koznichki) , 13.3.2013, 1♂ (leg. Y Berner), 26.3.– 6.5.2015, 6♀ ( T. Chaprazaro) , 24.3.– 14.4.2016, 2♀ (leg. T. Chaprazaro) ; Judean Foothills, Lakhish , 21.3.– 10.4.2012, 1♀, 7♂ (leg. T. Shapira) , 6.3.– 8.4.2013, 14♀, 8♂ (leg. T Shapira) ; 2 km E Lakhish , 31.557°N / 34.870°E, 4.3.– 19.3.2016, 1♀, 9♂ (leg. G. Pisanty) ; 3 km NE Lakhish , 31.578°N / 34.870°E, 26.2.– 23.3.2016, 3♀, 6♂ (leg. G. Pisanty) ; Beit Nir , 31.626900°N / 34.884633°E, 11.3.2018, 2♀ (leg. T. Roth) ; Tel Zafit , 31.682911°N / 34.848353°E, 31.3.2018, 1♂ (leg. T. Roth) ; Tel Aviv District: Tel Aviv University, Botanical Garden , 32°06′50′′N / 34°48′31′′E, 2.– 5.04.2012, 1♂ (leg. J.S. Ascher) ; West Bank: Tell Jericho , - 300m, 12.2.1986, 1♂ (leg. A.W. Ebmer) ; Nabi Musa Road , 22.2.2014, 1♂ ( A. Gotlieb) . JORDAN: Ajloun: Ajloun env., 32°19′N / 35°43′E, 2006, 1♀ (leg. F. Kantner) ; Irbid: S Irbid, 13.4.2009, 1♀ (leg. M. Snizek) ; Jerash: Alhuna SW Jerash, 12.4.2009, 1♀, 1♂ (leg. M. Snizek) ; NE Rajib W Jerash, 14.4.2009, 1♀ (leg. M. Snizek) . LEBANON: Beqaa: Beqaa valley, Mansourah, Aana village , 33.691°N / 35.7581°E, 900 m, 2.4.2023, 2♀ (leg. T. Wood) ; 5 km S Rachaiya, Mount Hermon nature reserve , 33.4586°N / 35.8395°E, 1500 m, 8.4.2023, 1♂ (leg. T. Wood) ; North: Horch Ehden, Nabeh Jouit , 34.31608°N / 35.98269°E, 1336 m, 24.4.2019, 1♂ (leg. M. Boustani) ; Horch Ehden, Trail 1, 34.30972°N / 35.98939°E, 1534 m, 2.5.2017, 1♂ (leg. M. Boustani) . SYRIA: Al-Quneitra: Golan Heights, Nahal Zawitan , 32.960°N / 35.690°E, 209 m, 24.4.2019, 1♀ (leg A. Dorchin) .

Diagnosis. C. levantense is in both sexes very similar to the two other representatives of the C. emarginatum species group. The females differ from both C. edentulum and C. emarginatum by i) the shorter body length, which is usually less than 8 mm, ii) the apical margin of the labrum, which has a small triangular to semicircular incision ( Fig. 3 ), and iii) the mandible, which bears three teeth almost equidistant from each other, with the basalmost tooth being of about the same size as the second outermost tooth ( Fig. 4 ). The males can be distinguished from the other two species of the C. emarginatum group by the following combination of characters: i) body length at most 8 mm, ii) vertex short with distance between inner margins of lateral ocelli being about as long as distance between posterior margin of lateral ocellus and occipital margin ( Fig. 6 ), iii) tibial spur of fore leg apically usually slightly emarginate resulting in two small lobes ( Fig. 7 ), iv) minimal distance between inner margins of the two patches of short black thorns on sternum 3 about the same as maximum diameter of one patch or slightly shorter ( Fig. 9 ), and v) long hairs protruding from apical part of gonoforceps whitish.

Description. FEMALE ( Fig. 1 ): Body length 6–8 mm. Head: Head 1.0-1.075× as long as wide. Distance between posterior margin of lateral ocellus and occipital margin 1.5-1.7× as long as ocellar diameter. Clypeus slightly convex, its apical margin laterally protruding and medially straight with several small triangular teeth; punctation of clypeus laterally moderately dense with interspaces reaching the diameter of one to two punctures, on narrow median and apical zone distinctly more scattered and finer. Labrum flat over almost its entire length, its apical margin medially with small but distinct triangular to semicircular incision ( Fig. 3 ). Mandible with three teeth, whose tips are almost equidistant from each other and whose basalmost tooth is of about the same size as the second outermost tooth ( Fig. 4 ). Proboscis short ( Fig. 1 ), reaching in repose not till base of fore coxa; second segment of labial palpus about 3× as long as first segment and about 0.5× as long as compound eye. Mesosoma : Posterior and lateral surface of propodeum largely polished. Basal area of propodeum medially about as long as metanotum to slightly longer, flat, not bordered by raised ridge along its entire posterior margin and with rather fine longitudinal carinae ( Fig. 5 ). Metasoma: Marginal zones of terga 1–4(5) with dense and short white hair bands ( Fig. 1 ), which are usually not interrupted in fresh specimens. Terga 2–3 not constricted at base. Scopa white, its hairs not plumose ( Fig. 1 ).

MALE ( Fig. 2 ): Body length 6–8 mm. Head: Head 0.925 –0.975 × as long as wide. Distance between posterior margin of lateral ocellus and occipital margin 1.25–1.5× as long as ocellar diameter and between inner margins of lateral ocelli about as long as distance between posterior margin of lateral ocellus and occipital margin ( Fig. 6 ). Hypostomal area without tubercles or tooth-like projections. Proboscis short ( Fig. 2 ), reaching in repose not till base of fore coxa; second segment of labial palpus about 3× as long as first segment and about 0.5× as long as compound eye. Anterior side of antennal segments (5)6-12(13) yellowish-red. Mesosoma : Posterior and lateral surface of propodeum largely polished. Basal area of propodeum medially about as long as metanotum to slightly longer, flat, not bordered by raised ridge along its entire posterior margin and with rather fine longitudinal carinae. Tibial spur of fore leg apically usually slightly emarginate resulting in two small and weakly separated lobes ( Fig. 7 ). Metasoma: Marginal zones of terga 1–5 with very loose and long white hair bands ( Fig. 2 ), which are widely interrupted on terga 1–3. Terga 2–3 weakly constricted at base. Tergum 7 basally with oval pit and apically with two teeth, which are about as long as basally wide to slightly longer, apically truncate and separated from each other by semicircular incision twice as wide as to slightly longer than tooth width ( Fig. 8 ). Median projection of sternum 2 large, half-elliptical, concave and distinctly rising towards posterior margin, its anterior margin rounded in ventral view and slightly overhanging concave anterior surface in lateral view ( Fig. 9 ). Sternum 3 with two lateral, longish-oval to narrowly kidney-shaped patches of short black thorns ( Fig. 9 ); minimal distance between inner margins of these two thorn patches about as long as maximum diameter of one patch or slightly shorter. Sternum 4 densely covered with whitish pilosity, which surpasses apical margin and is lateroapically curled downwards. Apical margin of sternum 5 with a single row of long yellowish bristles. Sternum 6 roughly quadrangular in shape, its apical half polished, very sparsely haired and impunctate. Gonoforceps with long and whitish hairs protruding from its apical part.

Distribution. From northern Lebanon over southern Syria and northern Jordan to southern Israel ( Fig. 74 ).

Pollen hosts. Polylectic; pollen sources known so far include Cistaceae , Ranunculaceae , Brassicaceae , Resedaceae and Zygophyllaceae ( Sedivy et al. 2008, as Chelostoma species 3 ). Flower records: Diplotaxis erucoides ( Brassicaceae ), Caylusea hexagyna ( Resedaceae ) (label records).

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the small distribution area restricted to the Levant, which is the geographic area that ranges from southernmost Turkey to the Sinai Peninsula.

Figures

FIGURE 74. Distribution of the eight Chelostoma species newly described in the present publication: C. dolichocephalum (violet), C. kurdistanicum (orange), C. levantense (white), C. meronense (dark blue), C. miripalpum (light blue), C. negevense (red), C. ornithogali (yellow) and C. scabiosae (green). Made with Natural Earth (ww w.naturalearthdata.com).

FIGURES 1–9. Chelostoma levantense: 1: Female, 2: Male, 3: Labrum of female, 4: Mandible of female, 5: Basal area of propodeum of female, 6: Vertex of male, 7: Fore tibial spur of male, 8: Terga 5–7 of male, 9: Median projection of sternum 2 of male in ventral view.