Caenohalictus galletue Rojas & Toro

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 : 503

Caenohalictus galletue Rojas & Toro

(Figs. 6, 14–16, 29)

Caenohalictus galletue Rojas & Toro 2000: 175 –176. Holotype: male. Chile, Malleco, Termas de Manzanares. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Santiago.

Diagnosis. This species is very similar to C. opaciceps , with which it is sympatric. It can be distinguished by the less produced clypeus (Fig. 29) and the strong punctures of T1–T3 separated by 1–2 PD in the male (Fig. 6). Male genital capsule (Figs. 14–16): igp scarcely developed, slightly produced dorsally but not reaching the penis valve; penis valve without outer basal tooth; ogp with a few scattered short setae; mgl rounded, small; va slender, short. Unfortunately we do not have any females of this species, but according to the key of Rojas and Toro (2000) they can be identified by the weakly carinate pronotal lobe and the dark marginal zones of the terga, shiny greenish medially.

Variation. As in many Caenohalictus species, C. galletue varies in color, with the mandible of the male with either brown or yellow apex.

Comments. One of the male specimens examined was from the same locality and date of the specimens studied by Rojas and Toro (2000): “Malleco Chile /Cord. Lonquimay/ 2.ii.62 Lago Galletué ” (MLPA). This species visits flowers of Baccharis rhetinodes (Asteraceae) .

Distribution in Argentinean Patagonia. Humid regions of Western Neuquén. Also found in Chile: Maule, Bío Bío and La Araucanía.

Examined material. ARGENTINA : Neuquén: 4M, Lago Moquehue, 28–I–2012, R. González Vaquero ( MACN). 1M, Lago Moquehue, 3–II–2012, J.P. Torretta ( FAUBA). 3M, Villa Pehuenia, 27–I–2012, R. González Vaquero ( MACN). CHILE: La Araucanía: 1M, Lonquimay Lago Galletué , 2–II–1962 ( MLPA).