Homalictus tuiwawae, 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 : 40-43

Homalictus tuiwawae sp. nov.

( Figs 27–28 )

Material examined. Holotype ♂: 17FJ216 (SAMA 32-036155), Nadarivatu , Fiji, 810 m asl, -17.6185, 177.9787, 18.4.2017, BL Barnden, Nadarivatu Rd, towards telecom tower, caught on 4 petal yellow flower.

Allotype ♀: 17FJ158 (SAMA 32-036156), 19/4/17, 10:35 AM, 865 m asl, -17.609817, 177.979867, JB Biddle, RK Schober, JB Dorey & CS Matthews, caught amongst weeds and grass above kava plantation (cleared and surrounded by forest). Sunny and little to no breeze in clearing.

Paratypes 3 ♂: ED42_D03 (SAMA 32-036157), 28/8/ 10, 923 m asl, -17.58268, 177.93645, E Deans; ABL002 (SAMA 32-036158), 4/8/10, 12:45 AM, 842 m asl, -17.678, 178.001, SVC Groom; ABL003 (SAMA 32-036159), 4/8/10, 12:45 AM, 842 m asl, -17.678, 178.001, SVC Groom; and 3 ♀: 17FJ80 (SAMA 32-036160), 28/4/17, 11:00 AM, 842 m asl, -17.67782, 177.54044, JB Dorey, Mt. Batilamu , long grass and weeds on the path down near the edge of the forest. Some ‘butterfly’ suitable flowers. Swept off the trees. Generally, overcast with some sun. Males generally caught around the outside of the compound . ABN001 (SAMA 32-036161), 4/8/10, 1:45 PM, 665 m asl, -17.735, 178.075, SVC Groom ; ABO001 (SAMA 32-036162), 4/8/10, 2:02 PM, 357 m asl, 17.727, 178.084, SVC Groom .

Diagnosis. Males: In combination: Supraclypeal area mostly moderately colliculate, frons has many diagonal striae and labrum lacks two medial projections (simple).

Females: In combination: supraclypeal area mostly finely colliculate, scutum golden green and metallic and pygidial plate has a dense line of hairs medially. The latter character is useful to distinguish H. tuiwawae from H. concavus , H. atritergus and H. kaicolo .

Description. Males: Measurements: UID 0.61 mm. LID 0.48 mm. AOD 0.19 mm. IAD 0.13 mm. OAD 0.35 mm. IOD 0.15 mm. OOD 0.2 mm. GW 0.22 mm. EW 0.27 mm. BL 3.75 mm. ML 0.11 mm. SL 0.22 mm. FL 3.09 mm.

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

Sculpturing: Paraocular area colliculate, longitudinal striae posteriorly and proximally above antennal socket. Frons with many diagonal striae and transverse striae under ocelli. Supraclypeal area mostly moderately colliculate, medial area finely colliculate. Clypeus finely colliculate. Vertex with very few fine and open punctures. Scutum anteriorly moderately colliculate and lineolate; medially and posteriorly moderately fine colliculate. Scutellum punctation close and open. Propodeum; dorsally weak medial anterior groove and coarsely strigate-rugose; laterally finely colliculate, some striae anteriorly and dorsally and some striae ventrally; posteriorly finely colliculate and transverse striae 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 striae strong and close. Posterior margin of Scutum shape mostly straight. Gonostylus moderate, dorsoapical crest of gonocoxite well developed. Penis valves strongly hooked.

Females: Measurements: UID 0.63–0.66 mm. LID 0.6–0.64 mm. AOD 0.22–0.23 mm. IAD 0.09–0.1 mm. OAD 0.38–0.42 mm. IOD 0.17–0.18 mm. OOD 0.16–0.2 mm. GW 0.16–0.24 mm. EW 0.27–0.32 mm. BL 4.13– 0.49 mm. ML 0.13–0.15 mm. SL 0.25–0.26 mm. FL 3.56–3.61 mm.

Colouration: Clypeus anteriorly black; posteriorly golden green and metallic. Whole clypeus partly iridescent and golden green and metallic. Supraclypeal area, frons and paraocular area golden green and metallic. Scutum golden green and metallic partly metallic orange and pink and can appear reddish. Scutellum golden green and metallic and partly metallic orange and pink. Propodeum dorsally golden green and metallic with some iridescent pink, purple or blue. Metasoma green, dark green along posterior edges and some iridescent purple.

Sculpturing: Paraocular area striate, colliculate along margin of compound eyes. Frons mostly longitudinal striae, can have transverse striae under ocelli and colliculate above antennal sockets. Supraclypeal area mostly finely colliculate. Clypeus finely colliculate. Vertex punctures fine and open. Scutum anteriorly moderately colliculate and lineolate; medially and posteriorly finely and moderately colliculate. Scutellum punctation close and open. Propodeum; dorsally has a linear pattern, some posterior transverse striae and coarsely strigate-rugose; laterally finely colliculate and posteroventral and anterior striae curve towards each other and can meet; posteriorly finely colliculate, transverse striae medially and ventrally and proximally. Pygidial plate with close and fine punctures medially.

Morphology: Scape extends to above vertex. 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 close. Posterior margin of Scutum shape mostly straight.

Comments. Homalictus tuiwawae is the second most common native bee encountered in Fiji and the most common bee in the highlands.

Distribution. Homalictus tuiwawae has a large distribution on the largest island of Viti Levu, ranging from the central highlands to Mt. Batilamu ( Fig. 28 ). Collections of H. tuiwawae have been made between 660 m asl and 1,000 m asl.

Etymology. Homalictus tuiwawae is named in recognition of Marika Tuiwawa, the herbarium curator at the Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment at the University of the South Pacific. Marika Tuiwawa has been a key facilitator for past and ongoing bee research in Fiji, contributing greatly to our ecological and behavioural studies, and the discovery of new species in Fiji.

Figures

FIGURE 27. Homalictus tuiwawae 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 28. Collection map of Homalictus tuiwawae sp. nov. from specimens with identity confirmed by mtDNA COI gene. Sample size is 58.