Megalopta chaperi ( Vachal, 1904 )

Santos, L. M. & Melo, G. A. R., 2014, Updating the taxonomy of the bee genus Megalopta (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Augochlorini) including revision of the Brazilian species, Journal of Natural History 49 (11), pp. 575-674 : 608-610

Megalopta chaperi ( Vachal, 1904)

( Figures 2E , 7B , 8A , 15A )

Halictus chaperi Vachal, 1904:113 . Holotype female, Venezuela (MNHP, not examined).

Examined material

(8♀, 2♂). See Appendix 2.

Diagnosis

This species differs from M. amoena , M. guimaraesi and M. mura sp. n. by the very short basal area of metapostnotum, its length about one-third as long as metanotum ( Figure 2E ). Its males are also distinguished by the metanotum in dorsal view with dense pilosity ( Figure 7B ).

Description

Female. (1) Mandible bidentate and with supplementary teeth. (2) Labral elevation with lateral surface slightly raised in relation to central portion. (3) Clypeus with the surface between punctures on basal and central area variable, microreticulate or sometimes smooth. (4) Central portion of supraclypeal area with sparse punctation, punctures separated by ≥ 1 pd. (5) Antennae reddish brown. (6) Upper frons flat, not strongly declivous toward sulcus around median ocellus. (7) Ocellocular distance smaller than the F1 length. (8) Mesoscutum adjacent to parapsidial line densely punctured, punctures contiguous, punctation becoming sparser towards mesoscutal lip (<1 pd). (9) Scutellum with posterior margin raised to anterior margin of metanotum. (10) Metanotum with integument, in oblique view, not hidden by short plumose pilosity. (11) Basal area of metapostnotum reddish brown, about one-third as long as metanotum, with few longitudinal rugulosities restricted to central area, laterally smooth along basal half and microreticulated along apical region ( Figure 2E ). (12) Mesepisternum with contiguous punctation. (13) Metepisternum sometimes with dense pilosity, integument not entirely visible through pilosity; posterior upper margin modified into a conspicuously large process covered with velvety pilosity, its diameter at least 0.5× the tegula length. (14) T1 with dorsal surface of disc with sparse punctation, the punctures separated by ≥ 1 pd, posterior marginal zone smooth between punctures. Male. (15) Scape with diameter gradually enlarging toward the apex. (16) Flagellum reddish brown. F1–F11 not differing in diameter; F2 about as long as F3; F6–F11, in anterior view, with the anterior and posterior margins depressed, in posterior view with basal glabrous area at same level of remaining surface. (17) Metanotum with integument, in dorsal view, hidden by dense short plumose pilosity ( Figure 7B ). (18) Basal area of metapostnotum reddish brown, its length one-third of that of metanotum, covered by dense short plumose pilosity ( Figure 7B ). (19) Metepisternum as in the female. (20) 1st and 2nd tarsomeres of foreleg with longest simple setae shorter than summed length of the three apical tarsomeres. (21) S3 with longitudinal sulcus only in the apical half, the posterolateral margin notched ( Figure 8A ). (22) S4 with medial protruding process, profile of process triangular in lateral view; basal portion glabrous; posterolateral margin notched, notch not extending to basal half of sclerite ( Figure 8A ).

Measurements

Approximate body length: (12.0–13.1); maximum width of head: (3.2–4.1); intertegular distance: (3.5–4.1); length of forewing with the tegula: (9.6–11.2); length of forewing: (8.9–10.4).

Comments

In the specimens from Uiramutã and Amajari, in Roraima, the basal and central areas of the clypeus have a smooth surface between punctures. The specimen deposited in DZUP, with data label ‘Batatais-SP\ 27/XI/87’\ J.S. Moure col.’, has likely been mislabelled. It was probably collected by Moure in his trip to the Ilha de Maracá, Roraima, conducted in 1987.

Distribution

BRAZIL. Roraima: Amajari, Uiramutã. VENEZUELA: Unknown locality.

Figures

Figure 2. Females of Megalopta. (A) Lateral view of head of M. guimaraesi Santos & Silveira from Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Brazil; (B‒F). posterolateral view of mesosoma; (B) M. nitidicollis Friese from Rio Branco, Brazil; (C) M. aeneicollis Friese from Novo Airão, Brazil; (D) M. aegis Vachal from Caldas Novas, Brazil; (E) M. chaperi Vachal from Amajari, Brazil; (F) M. amoena Spinola from Alenquer, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 7. Males of Megalopta. (A) Ventral view of sternum 3‒6 of M. aegis Vachal from Caldas Novas, Brazil; (B‒E) posterolateral view of mesosoma; (B) M. chaperi Vachal from Amajari, Brazil; (C) M. amoena Spinola from Alenquer, Brazil; (D) M. guimaraesi Santos & Silveira from Formosa, Brazil; (E) Megalopta mura sp. n. from Presidente Figueiredo, Brazil; (F) lateral view of mesosoma M. mura sp. n. from Ouro Preto do Oeste, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 8. Males of Megalopta. (A‒C) Ventral view of sternum 3‒4; (A) M. chaperi Vachal Amajari, Brazil; (B) M. amoena Spinola from Alenquer, Brazil; (C) M. mura sp. n. from Parauapebas, Brazil; (D, E) Dorsal view of posterior surface of F6‒F11; (D) M. sulciventris Friese from Manaus, Brazil; (E) M. aegis Vachal from Parauapebas, Brazil; (F) dorsal view of flagellum of M. amoena from Alenquer, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 15. Distribution records of Megalopta species. (A) M. chaperi Vachal; (B) M. guimaraesi Santos & Silveira (black circles) and M. mura sp. n. (grey squares); (C) M. piraha sp. n (grey squares) and M. yanomami sp. n. (black circles); (D) M. atlantica Santos & Silveira (grey square), M. guarani sp. n (triangle), M. xavante sp. n (hexagon), M. karitiana sp. n (black circle), M. mapinguari sp. n (black square) and M. purpurata Smith (grey circle).