Caenohalictus iodurus (Vachal)

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 : 507-510

Caenohalictus iodurus (Vachal)

( Figs. 35 , 39–41, 51–52)

Halictus (Paragapostemon) iodurus Vachal 1903: 123 . Lectotype: male, Chile. Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Designated by Moure & Hurd, 1987: 180.

Caenohalictus iodurus: Michener 1979: 188 .

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished by its long malar area, longer than 1/3 of the mandibular width (Figs. 51–52), and the long whitish hairs scattered throughout the body. Although the male of C. iodurus can be separated from the male of C. turquesa by its longer malar area and features of the genital capsule, females of both species are difficult to separate. Females of C. iodurus also have a long malar area but the mid and hind basitarsi are entirely brown to dark brown. Male genital capsule (Figs. 39–41): igp slightly produced backwards, bearing a slender dorsal process with a rounded apex, which reaches the penis valve; penis valve with outer basal tooth; ogp with 4–5 long setae, finely plumose apically, that intersect those of the opposite gonostylus, plate with a smooth inner apical angle dorsally; mgl strongly concave; va slender, slightly compressed.

Variation. Rojas and Toro (2000) mentioned variation between specimens from Central Chile (Regions IV, VIII, IX and Santiago Metropolitan Region) and from Magallanes, in the extreme south of Chile. The specimens from Central Chile have compound eyes with dark hairs and differ in some features of the genital capsule of the male: they lack the outer basal tooth on the penis valve, and the slender dorsal process of igp ends in a sinuose apex, like the ones from Mendoza examined in this study. The males from the Patagonian steppe studied agree with those described by Rojas and Toro (2000) from Magallanes.

Comments. Females have the malar area as long as 1/3 of the mandibular width, and the mid and hind basitarsi are entirely brown to dark brown. Most specimens examined had no more than the apical quarter of the marginal zone of the terga translucid. Plants visited: unknown.

Distribution in Argentinean Patagonia. Arid to subhumid regions of Río Negro and western Santa Cruz. Also found in Mendoza ( Argentina ) and in Chile: Coquimbo, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Bío Bío, La Araucanía and Magallanes.

FIGURES 39–50. Genital capsule of the male. 39, 42, 45, 48 dorsal view. 40, 43, 46, 49 ventral view. 41, 44, 47, 50 lateral view. 39–41, C. iodurus . 42–44, C. turquesa . 45–47, C. thamyris . 48–50, C. autumnalis . igp, inner gonostylar plate. Scale 200 µm.

FIGURES 51–58. Head. 51, 53, 55, 57 male. 52, 54, 56, 58 female. 51–52, C. iodurus . 53–54, C. turquesa . 55–56, C. thamyris . 57–58, C. autumnalis . Scale 200µm.

Examined material. ARGENTINA : Mendoza: 2M 4F, Las Heras: Los Penitentes 2400m, 15–II / 11–III– 1995, I. Peralta ( MACN). 1M, Las Cuevas, III–1940, A. Giai ( MACN). 4F, Horcones 2900m, 10–I–1985, A. Roig Alsina ( MACN). Río Negro: 1M, Valcheta, II–1924, M. Gómez ( MACN). 4M, Ñorquinco, 5–II–1994, A. Roig Alsina ( MACN). Chubut: 1F, Golfo San Jorge, 31–X–1906, C. Ameghino ( MACN). Santa Cruz: 7M 5F, Ruta 40 Arroyo Feo, 27–I–1994, A. Roig Alsina ( MACN). 6M 3F, Río Pinturas Cueva de las Manos, 28–I–1994, A. Roig Alsina ( MACN). 1M 3F, Perito Moreno: Estancia La Oriental 840m, 14/ 17–II–1998, yellow pan trap, C. & M. Vardy ( BMNH). 1F, Perito Moreno: Estancia La Oriental 840m, 14/ 17–II–1998, yellow pan trap, C. & M. Vardy ( MACN). 5M 5F, Lago Argentino Estancia La Cristina, 27–I–1953, A. Willink ( MLPA). 2F, 56km S of Perito Moreno, XI–2003, L. Packer ( PCYU). 1M, Near Los Antiguos –46.6174 –71.2687, 17–XII–2005, Gravel & Rocha ( PCYU). 4F, 25km S Los Antiguos –46.87972 –71.79472, 18–XI / 24–XII–2006, pan trap, A–I. & M. Gravel & L. Packer ( PCYU). CHILE: Santiago Metropolitan Region: 4F, Farellones, Valle Nevado, 9–XII–2006, L. Packer ( PCYU).

Figures

FIGURES 32 – 38. Hind tibial spur of the female. 32, C. opaciceps. 33, C. cyanopygus. 34, C. flammeus n. sp. 35, C. iodurus. 36, C. turquesa. 37, C. thamyris. 38, C. autumnalis. Scale 50 µm.