Caenohalictus thamyris (Jörgensen), Jorgensen

Gonzalez-Vaquero, Rocio Ana & Roig-Alsina, Arturo, 2013, Revision of the species of the bee genus Caenohalictus (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) occurring in Argentinean Patagonia, Zootaxa 3670 (4), pp. 493-515 : 512-513

Caenohalictus thamyris (Jörgensen)

( Figs. 1 , 4, 7, 30, 37, 45–47, 55–56, 62)

Augochlora (Pseudaugochloropsis) thamyris Jörgensen 1912: 114 . Lectotype: female. Argentina , Mendoza. Museo de La Plata, La Plata. Examined, present designation.

Pseudagapostemon babuarus Jörgensen 1912: 112 . Holotype: male. Argentina , Mendoza, Chacras de Coria. Museo de La Plata, La Plata. Examined, new synonym.

Caenohalictus thamyris: Michener 1979: 189 .

Diagnosis. Caenohalictus thamyris has many unique features: its body size, longer than 7.5 mm, the finely striate metapostnotum (Fig. 7), the clypeus entirely producing under the lower orbital tangent, and the long malar area (Figs. 55–56). The male lacks the creamy-yellow apical band of the clypeus, and yellow markings on the legs (except on the apex of the distitarsi) and the mandible has no pre-apical tooth. In this species the apical margin of S4 is medially concave and S5 has a deep apical median notch and bears specialized setae directed inwards (Fig. 4); in the remaining species considered herein S4 and S5 are unmodified. Male genital capsule (Figs. 45–47): igp produced downwards, covered by a few short, flattened, truncated, specialized setae, plate bearing two short processes, one reaching the inner side, the other one reaching the small outer basal tooth of the penis valve; ogp bearing 1–2 long setae, plate expanded, with an acute inner apical angle, with a cluster of short setae laterally; mgl half-moon shaped; va compressed, with its apical half tapering. The clypeus of the female has a group of apical setae in the middle and welldefined, prominent lateral lobes (Fig. 30); the labrum also has a distinctive shape ( Fig. 62 ).

Variation. Specimens studied from La Rioja and Misiones ( Argentina ) displayed a slightly more produced clypeus and compound eyes with dark brown hairs in contrast with the remaining specimens, which had compound eyes with whitish hairs.

Comments. Jörgensen (1912) described the sexes of this species with different names. The type of Augochlora (Pseudaugochloropsis) thamyris is in good condition, and for this reason we selected thamyris as the valid name for the species. Jörgensen (1912) did not mention a locality for C. thamyris in the original description, nor the number of specimens that he studied. There is only one female preserved in the Museum of La Plata, which is designated here as the lectotype. This specimen has the following labels: “ Argentina /Mendoza/ 12.III.1907 /P. Jörgensen” “ Augochlora / thamyris n. sp. ” (MLPA #2186). The holotype of Pseudagapostemon babuarus lacks the head and is weakly discolored. Despite this, the specimen can be easily recognized as the male of C. thamyris by the specialized setae of S4 and S5, and the finely striate metapostnotum. This specimen has the following labels: “ Argentina /Mendoza/ 3.X.1908 /P. Jörgensen” “ Pseudagaposte- / mon babuarus n. sp. ” (MLPA #2181).

Caenohalictus thamyris is extremely similar to C. dolator and C. rostraticeps . According to Rojas and Toro (2000), C. rostraticeps can be distinguished from C. dolator by its finely striate metapostnotum, which is imbricate with just a few short striae in C. dolator . The head and mesosoma are uniformly green in C. rostraticeps , whereas in C. dolator these structures have reddish highlights. Caenohalictus rostraticeps has a black greenish, dull, metasoma and metapostnotum, and the pygidial plate of the male is truncate, while C. dolator has a metallic green metapostnotum, a bluish-green metasoma, and the male has a rounded pygidial plate. Caenohalictus thamyris has a shiny bluish-green metasoma and metapostnotum, a finely striated metapostnotum, the male has a rounded pygidial plate and the S8 lacks the short median process illustrated by Rojas and Toro (2000: figure 38). In spite of these differences, the genital capsule and the S5 are very similar. Whether these differences represent variation of a single species or characterize three different species, needs to be further investigated taking in consideration specimens from the whole distribution area.

In contrast with the other species mentioned in this study, C. thamyris has a broad distribution and can be found in very distant provinces of Argentina , such as Misiones, La Rioja and Chubut. This species visits the following plants: Asteraceae : Proustia cuneifolia , Senecio filaginoides ; Brassicaceae : Diplotaxis tenuifolia , Sisymbrium sp.; Fabaceae : Prosopis sp., Zuccagnia punctata ; Loranthaceae : Ligaria cuneifolia ; Zygophyllaceae : Larrea cuneifolia , L. divaricata .

Distribution in Argentinean Patagonia. Arid to semiarid regions of Río Negro and Chubut. The only species of Caenohalictus with records for almost every province in Argentina besides Patagonia. As this species reaches northern Argentina , it probably occurs in neighboring countries too.

Examined material. ARGENTINA : Misiones: 24M 3F, Gobernación de Misiones, Del Ponte ( MACN). Jujuy: 1F, Ruta 9 Km 1762 ca Posta de los Hornillos 2380m, yellow pan trap, P. Fidalgo ( MACN). Salta: 1M, Iruya, 29–XII–2001, L. Compagnucci ( MACN). Catamarca: 1M, Portezuelo, 27–XI–1941 ( MLPA). 1M, El Rodeo 1240m, I–1942, B. Schaefen ( MLPA). La Rioja: 2M, Aminga, 5–XI–2011, Roig Alsina, González Vaquero & Compagnucci ( MACN). 2M, Anillaco, 1/ 6–XI–2011, Roig Alsina, González Vaquero & Compagnucci ( MACN). 2M 2F, Sanagasta Pampa de la Viuda 2100m, 4–XI–2011, Roig Alsina, González Vaquero & Compagnucci ( MACN). 45M, sin localidad, E. Giacomelli ( MACN). 4M, San Francisco, 10–II–1923, M. Gómez ( MACN). 3M, San Francisco, II–1923, M. Gómez ( MACN). 7M, sin localidad, 18–I–1923 ( MACN). 1M, sin localidad, I–1923, M. Gómez ( MACN). 1M 1F, sin localidad, E. Giacomelli ( MACN). 1F, sin localidad, M. Gómez ( MACN). 3M, sin datos ( MACN). 2M, Sébila, 21–XI–1944 ( MLPA). San Juan: 1M, Calingasta PN El Leoncito, 19–V–2011, D. Medán ( FAUBA). Santiago del Estero: 1M, Cuesta del Salado Desvío 511, M. Gómez ( MACN). 1M 3F, Guayasán Santos Lugares, 5–V–1948 ( MLPA). Mendoza: 1M, San Rafael 14km NW El Sosneado, 17–I– 2012, D. Medán ( FAUBA). 1F, Ñacuñán, 23–X–1994, G. Debandi ( MACN). 1F, Ñacuñán, 18/VII–16/ VIII–1998, S. Lagos (IADIZA). 1M, Luján Cerro Cacheuta 1400m, XII–2005, G. Debandi (IADIZA). 1M, Ciudad de Mendoza Zoológico, V/ VI–1997, Roig & Debandi (IADIZA). 1M 2F, Ciudad de Mendoza Reserva Divisadero Largo, 1/ 18–X–2002, G. Debandi (IADIZA). 1M, Cerro de la Gloria, 17–XI–1941 ( MLPA). Santa Fé: 1F, Cerca de Rosario, J. Lazarte ( MACN). San Luis: 4M, Potrero de los Funes, I/ II–1926, M. Gómez ( MACN). 1M, San Jerónimo, XI–1972, G.J. Williner ( MACN). Córdoba: 1M, Agua de Oro, XII–1939, J. De Carlo ( MACN). 1F, Sierras de Córdoba ( MACN). 1M, sin localidad, E. Giacomelli ( MACN). Buenos Aires: 2M, Saldungaray, 2–XI– 2006, L. Compagnucci ( MACN). La Pampa: 1M, Lihuel Calel, 13–II–2007, L. Compagnucci ( MACN). 4M 2F, Toay, E. Anquiloo, H. Marrero ( FAUBA). 1F, Dique las Carreras, 21/ 26–II–1993, S. Roig (IADIZA). Río Negro: 1F, Chimpay Estancia La Irma, 5/ 8–X–1993, Malaise trap, J.L. Farina ( MLS). 2F, Río Colorado, 2–III–1954 ( MLPA). Chubut: 1M, Puerto Madryn, 8–II–2011, H.M. Mazzeo ( FAUBA). 2F, Puerto Madryn Botánico CENPAT, 2–X–2012, R. González Vaquero ( MACN). 2M, Puerto Madryn, 2–X–2012, R. González Vaquero ( MACN).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. 1, mesoscutum of C. thamyris, male. 2, lateral sulcus of T 2 of C. opaciceps, male. Scale 1, 200 µm; 2, 20 µm.

FIGURES 59 – 62. Labrum of the female. 59, C. cyanopygus. 60, C. flammeus n. sp. 61, C. turquesa. 62, C. thamyris. Scale 100 µm.