Homalictus groomi, Dorey & Schwarz & Stevens, 2019

Dorey, James B., Schwarz, Michael P. & Stevens, Mark I., 2019, Review of the bee genus Homalictus Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) from Fiji with description of nine new species, Zootaxa 4674 (1), pp. 1-46 : 24-26

Homalictus groomi sp. nov.

( Figs 15–16 )

Material examined. Holotype ♂: yCMR_136 (SAMA 32-036178), 4/5/ 15, 922 m asl, -17.58268, 177.93645, C Matthews, Viti Levu.

Allotype ♀: ED31_F04 (SAMA 32-036179), 1/4/15, 1,004 m asl, -17.58508, 177.91965, E Deans, Viti Levu.

Paratypes 3 ♂: yCMR52_E06 (SAMA 32-036180), 5/5/ 15, 889 m asl, -17.57001, 177.95586, C Matthews, yCMR44_E05 (SAMA 32-036181), 5/5/ 15, 889 m asl, -17.57001, 177.95586, C Matthews, and yCMR41_B05 (SAMA 32-036182), 6/5/ 15, 923 m asl, -17.58268, 177.93645, C Matthews; and 1 ♀: yCMR27_D03 (SAMA 32- 036183), 6/5/ 15, 923 m asl, -17.58268, 177.93645, C Matthews.

Diagnosis. Males: In combination: Antennal sockets and paraocular area strongly depressed ( Fig. 15d ) and posterior surface of the propodeum has diagonal striae ventrally and proximally and joins dorsal striae ( Fig. 15c ). Additionally, male genitalia have a large ridge proximal to the gonostylus ( Fig. 15e ).

Females: In combination: Bee mostly green, supraclypeal area mostly moderately colliculate ( Fig. 1e ) and posterior margin of scutum concave ( Fig. 15f ).

Description. Males: Measurements: UID 0.65 mm. LID 0.55 mm. AOD 0.2 mm. IAD 0.13 mm. OAD 0.37 mm. IOD 0.17 mm. OOD 0.21 mm. GW 0.15 mm. EW 0.31 mm. BL 4.75 mm. ML 0.13 mm. SL 0.27 mm. FL 2.9 mm.

Colouration: Clypeus, supraclypeal area, frons, paraocular area, scutum and propodeum dorsally golden green and metallic. Scutellum golden green and metallic or some pink and blue. Metasoma dark green or green and dark green along posterior edges.

Sculpturing: Paraocular area colliculate, some horizontal striae along central margin of compound eyes, longitudinal striae posteriorly and proximally above antennal socket and striae course and messy. Frons mostly longitudinal striae, transverse striae under ocelli, striae messy and colliculate above antennal sockets. Supraclypeal area mostly moderately colliculate. Clypeus fine and moderate colliculate. Vertex punctures fine, close and open. Scutum anteriorly moderately colliculate and lineolate; medially finely colliculate; posteriorly finely and moderately fine colliculate. Scutellum punctation open. Propodeum; dorsally strong striae, posterior striae triangular, weak medial anterior groove and coarsely strigate-rugose; laterally moderately colliculate and some striae anteriorly and dorsally; posteriorly finely colliculate, striae originating ventrally and medially almost forms circles with dorsal striae and diagonal striae ventrally and proximally.

Morphology: Scape extends to or below anterior margin of medial ocellus. Interantennal distance greater than diameter of socket. Labrum simple. Area posterior of vertex striae strong and close. Region around antennal sockets extending to paraocular area depressed. Posterior margin of scutum shape concave. Gonostylus with strong posterior projection and weaker proximal projection, dorsoapical crest of gonocoxite well developed. Entire genital is smaller and the gonocoxite narrower than in H. fijiensis .

Females: Measurements: UID 0.7 mm. LID 0.66 mm. AOD 0.22 mm. IAD 0.1 mm. OAD 0.42 mm. IOD 0.18 mm. OOD 0.18 mm. GW 0.27 mm. EW 0.32 mm. BL 5.31 mm. ML 0.16 mm. SL 0.29 mm. FL 4.04 mm.

Colouration: Clypeus anteriorly black. Middle and upper clypeus golden and partly iridescent. Supraclypeal area golden, blue and purple. Frons golden and some purple iridescence. Paraocular area golden, golden green and metallic and some purple iridescence. Scutum and scutellum very dark green, strongly metallic purple and pink and partly metallic orange. Propodeum dorsally golden green and metallic. Metasoma black, dark green and some iridescent purple.

Sculpturing: Paraocular area colliculate, some messy striae below antennal sockets, longitudinal striae posteriorly and proximally above antennal socket and striae course. Frons mostly longitudinal striae. Supraclypeal area mostly moderately colliculate, medial area finely colliculate or finely colliculate anteriorly. Clypeus finely colliculate. Vertex punctures fine, close and open and small and open. Scutum anteriorly moderately colliculate and lineolate; medially and posteriorly finely colliculate. Scutellum punctation open. Propodeum; dorsally linear pattern, weak medial anterior groove and finely strigate-rugose; laterally finely colliculate, some striae anteriorly, dorsally and ventrally; posteriorly finely colliculate, striae originating ventrally meet those from dorsal side and diagonal striae ventrally and proximally. Pygidial plate with close and fine punctures.

Morphology: Scape extends to posterior margin of medial ocellus. Interantennal distance about equal to diameter of socket. Labrum with two medial projections parallel from one another. Clypeus not depressed medially. Area posterior of vertex with strong striae and broken. Posterior margin of scutum concave.

Comments. Like H. hadrander , H. groomi is found mostly at higher elevations but has also been sampled at a lower elevation site in the southern part of Viti Levu. It is possible that the climate (or some other factor) in this region is similar to climates at higher elevations.

Distribution. Homalictus groomi has mostly been sampled from the central highlands of Viti Levu, near Nadarivatu ( Fig. 16 ). A single specimen has been collected from a remote forested region in the south of Viti Levu at 250 m asl; otherwise, H. groomi has been collected between 730 m asl and 1,000 m asl.

Etymology. Homalictus groomi is named after Dr. Scott V. C. Groom who initiated recent studies of Fijian bees and provided the first understandings of their origins and phylogenetics.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Propodeum dorsally showing (a) coarsely, (b) moderately and (c) finely strigate-rugose sculpturing. Fovea along anterior inner margin of eye (d) present and (h) absent. Supraclypeal area showing (e) mostly moderately, (f) mostly finely and (g) entirely finely sculpturing.

FIGURE 15. Homalictus groomi sp. nov. male (a) dorsal habitus, (b) lateral habitus, (c) dorso posterior, (d) anteriorly frontal face and (e) ventral genitalia. Female (f) dorsal habitus, (g) lateral habitus, (h) dorso posterior, (i) anteriorly frontal face and (j) pygidial plate.

FIGURE 16. Collection map of Homalictus groomi sp. nov. from specimens with identity confirmed by mtDNA COI gene. Sample size is 43.