Homalictus fijiensis ( Perkins & Cheesman, 1928 )

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 : 10-13

Homalictus fijiensis ( Perkins & Cheesman, 1928)

( Figs 6–7 )

Halictus fijiensis Perkins & Cheesman, 1928: 21 .

Halictus suvaensis Cockerell, 1929: 357 .

Homalictus suvaensis (Cockerell) — Michener 1965: 181 (new combination); Michener 1979: 229 (synonymy).

Homalictus fijiensis (Perkins & Cheesman) — Michener 1965: 180 (new combination); Michener 1979: 229.

Material examined. Type material: Holotype—Fiji, ♂, Fiji 1.1905 R.C.L.P, Halictus fijiensis type. Cheesman and Perkins. R.C.L. Perkins Coll. B.M. 1942-95 . B.M. TYPE HYM. 17A2586. [Specimen collection number] NHMUK010576228 .

Fiji: Cuvu (5 ♂, 6 ♀),24, 25.vi.1915 (Veitch); Suva (1 ♀), 22.ix.1920; Yasawa (1 ♂), 14.x.1921; Ovalau, (1 ♂), 21.x.1921; Taveuni (1 ♀), 19.xii.1921 (Simmonds) (after Perkins & Cheesman 1928). Types deposited in NHMUK. The material below is consistent with the type specimen described by Perkins & Cheesman (1928).

Other material examined. 5 ♂: 17FJ81 (SAMA 32-036189), 28/4/17, 12:00 PM, 612 m asl, -17.67438, 177.53976, JB Dorey, Mt. Batilamu , long grass and weeds on the path down the mountain . 17FJ188 (SAMA 32- 036190), 28/4/17, 12:08 PM, 543 m asl, -17.61783, 177.53863, JB Dorey & OK Davies, Mt. Batilamu , cleared embankment with purple weed flowers . Near a possible nesting site with substantial areas of exposed clay, down the mountain track . 17FJ211 (SAMA 32-036191), 19/4/ 17, 934 m asl, -17.5826, 177.93654, BA Parslow, Nadari- vatu Rd, towards telecom tower . ABT008 (SAMA 32-036192), 8/8/10, 11:01 AM, 71 m asl, -19.038, 178.170, SVC Groom, Kadavu . AAO043 (SAMA 32-036193), 19/7/11, 11:59 AM, 7 m asl, -18.247, 178.080, SVC Groom, Viti Levu—Coastal . 5 ♀: 17FJ24 (SAMA 32-036184), 28/4/17, 11:30 AM, 664 m asl, -17.67602, 177.54025, JB Dorey & OK Davies, Mt. Batilamu , swept off long grass with no canopy, used for cattle and goat farming. Overcast but warm. Swept off flowering weeds amongst grass . 17FJ187 (SAMA 32-036185), 17/4/17, 12:08 PM, 872 m asl, - 17.73819, 178.06611, OK Davies, Monasavu Rd, swept off low grass where they were flying in a group in front of the clay nesting site . 17FJ210 (SAMA 32-036186), 19/4/ 17, 934 m asl, -17.5826, 177.93654, BA Parslow, Nadari- vatu Rd, towards telecom tower . ABT005 (SAMA 32-036187), 7/8/10, 11:01 AM, 71 m asl, -19.038, 178.170, SVC Groom, Kadavu . AAO042 (SAMA 32-036188), 19/7/11, 11:59 AM, 7 m asl, -18.247, 178.080, SVC Groom, Viti Levu—Coastal .

Diagnosis. Male: In combination: Bee mostly green, supraclypeal area mostly moderately colliculate ( Fig. 1e ), antennal sockets and paraocular area not strongly depressed, antennal sockets and paraocular area not strongly depressed, clypeus mostly finely colliculate, frons has vertical striae and scape extends at or below anterior margin of medial ocellus. Additionally, the genitalia of H. fijiensis are unique in having both a proximally and posteriorlydirected gonostylus ( Fig. 6e ).

Female: In combination: Bee mostly green, supraclypeal area mostly moderately colliculate ( Fig. 1e ), scape does not extend beyond posterior margin of medial ocellus and propodeum has a strong anterior medial groove dorsally ( Fig. 6i ). Additionally, females can be distinguished from some species (except H. hadrander , H. ostridorsum and H. tuiwawa ) by a dense ( Fig. 2 ) medial line of hair on the pygidial plate ( Fig. 6j ).

Description. Males: Measurements: UID 0.66–0.87 mm. LID 0.59–0.68 mm. AOD 0.15–0.22 mm. IAD 0.13– 0.17 mm. OAD 0.34–0.47 mm. IOD 0.18–0.42 mm. OOD 0.18–0.38 mm. GW 0.25–0.32 mm. EW 0.35–0.39 mm. BL 4.55–4.9 mm. ML 0.11–0.16 mm. SL 0.25–0.32 mm. FL 3.14–3.72 mm.

Colouration: Whole clypeus golden green and metallic. Supraclypeal and paraocular area metallic green or golden green. Frons, scutum, scutellum, and dorsal area of propodeum golden green and metallic. Metasoma green, dark green along posterior edges.

Sculpturing: Paraocular area colliculate, longitudinal striae posteriorly and proximally above antennal socket or striae and colliculate along margin of compound eyes.Frons mostly longitudinal striae,transverse striae under ocelli and colliculate above antennal sockets.Supraclypeal area mostly moderately colliculate.Clypeus finely colliculate.Vertex punctures small, close and open.Scutum anteriorly moderately colliculate and lineolate; medially moderately fine colliculate, rarely lineolate; posteriorly moderately fine colliculate. Scutellum punctation close, open and sparse. Propodeum;dorsally linear pattern,strong striae, weak or strong medial anterior groove and coarsely strigate-rugose;laterally finely or moderately colliculate,lineolate,ventral and anterior striae curve towards each other and can meet or some striae anteriorly and dorsally;posteriorly moderately fine colliculate,transverse striae medially and ventrally and proximally.

Morphology: Scape extends to or below anterior margin of medial ocellus. Interantennal distance greater than diameter of socket. Labrum simple. Clypeus not depressed medially. Area posterior of vertex with strong striae or striae close. Posterior margin of scutum straight. Gonostylus with posterior and proximal projections, dorsoapical crest of gonocoxite well developed. Gonocoxite relatively broad and penis valves strongly hooked.

Females: Measurements: LID 0.84–1.01 mm. AOD 0.29–0.38 mm. IAD 0.11–0.14 mm. OAD 0.29–0.65 mm. IOD 0.22–0.28 mm. OOD 0.22–0.30 mm. GW 0.30–0.67 mm. EW 0.39–0.45 mm. BL 5.32–5.80 mm. ML 0.11– 0.18 mm. SL 0.28–0.36 mm. FL 3.75–3.94 mm.

Colouration: Clypeus anteriorly black; middle iridescent; posteriorly green, golden green and metallic, rarely orange. Supraclypeal area green or golden green and metallic. Frons green, golden green and metallic, rarely orange. Paraocular area green, golden green and metallic, rarely orange. Scutum golden green and metallic, rarely red and orange. Scutellum golden green and metallic, rarely orange and red. Propodeum dorsally golden green and metallic. Metasoma green and dark green along posterior edges or rarely almost black.

Sculpturing: Paraocular area colliculate, longitudinal striae posteriorly and proximally above antennal socket or striate and colliculate along margin of compound eyes. Frons mostly longitudinal striae, having transverse striae under ocelli and colliculate above antennal sockets. Supraclypeal area moderately colliculate, medial area finely colliculate, rarely finely colliculate anteriorly. Clypeus mostly finely colliculate. Vertex punctures small and close, rarely small and open. Scutum anteriorly moderately colliculate and lineolate; medially finely colliculate, moderately fine colliculate, rarely lineolate; posteriorly moderately fine colliculate. Scutellum punctation close and open. Propodeum; dorsally linear pattern, strong striae, strong medial anterior groove or coarsely strigate-rugose; laterally finely colliculate, moderately colliculate, lineolate, ventral and anterior striae curve towards each other and meet or some striae ventrally; posteriorly moderately fine colliculate, transverse striae medially and ventrally and proximally, rarely transverse striae dorsally. Pygidial plate close fine punctures medially.

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 strong or weak close striae. Posterior margin of scutum straight.

Comments. Homalictus fijiensis exhibits a significant amount of morphological variation. Female body and wing length can vary from 4.9–7.0 mm and 3.7–5.0 mm, respectively, while male body and wing length varies from 4.5–6.0 mm and 3.1–4.2 mm respectively ( Michener 1979). Colour can also vary greatly in H. fijiensis , with most individuals being mostly green, but others can be more orange and golden (e.g. ABT005 from Kadavu). Some individuals can have a blue scutum, but never have an essentially entirely blue thorax as seen in H. hadrander . This variation is the reason that Michener (1965) synonymised H. suvaensis with H. fijiensis .

H. fijiensis is the most common bee found in the Fijian lowlands and can be found in both disturbed and undisturbed areas, often in great local abundance.

Distribution. Homalictus fijiensis has the widest distribution of any of the Fijian Homalictus species, being found on every island where we have sampled ( Fig. 7 ). While most common at lower elevations, H. fijiensis has been found up to 1,120 m asl.

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 2. Grades of (a) pit density and (b) pit size. Reproduced from Houston (1975) with permission from CSIRO Publishing.

FIGURE 6. Homalictus fijiensis male (a) dorsal habitus (b) lateral habitus, (c) dorsoposterior view, (d) face frontal view and (e) ventral genitalia. Female (f) dorsal habitus, (g) lateral habitus, (h) dorso posterior, (i) anteriorly frontal face and (j) pygidial plate.

FIGURE 7. Collection map of Homalictus fijiensis from specimens with identity confirmed by mtDNA COI gene. Sample size is 500.