Savannychapis Freitas, 2022

Freitas, Felipe V., 2022, New genus and subgenus of South American long-horned bees (Apidae, Eucerini), Zootaxa 5196 (4), pp. 595-600 : 596-597

Savannychapis Freitas New genus

Type species: Gaesischia interrupta Urban 1989c [p. 90]

Diagnosis: The genus Savannychapis is easily recognizable among the remaining Neotropical genera closely related to Gaesischia ( Dasyhalonia Michener, LaBerge and Moure , Florilegus Robertson , Gaesochira Moure and Michener , Hamatothrix Urban , Micronychapis Moure and Michener , Pachysvastra Moure and Michener , Platysvastra Moure , Santiago Urban , and Svastrina Moure and Michener ) by (i) the maxillary palpi with three palpomeres ( Fig. 2-e ); by the (ii) sixth sternum of males with a posterolateral carinae on each side of the median line, approaching, but neither attaining the apex of the sternum nor each other near the median line ( Fig. 2-f ); (iii) T6 without lateral parts elevated or forming tooths. Among Neotropical Eucerini , the only other genus with the combination of three or fewer palpomeres and carinae on S 6 in some of its species is Melissoptila Holmberg ; however, the presence of elevations or tooths on the laterals parts of T6 is a diagnostic character for that genus together to the number of maxillary palpomeres, while Savannychapis lacks elevations on lateral parts of T6.

Etymology: The name is a free combination of savanna in reference to the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna), where the type species seems to be endemic, plus the suffix - nychapis regarding its sister genus Micronychapis .

Included species: Savannychapis interrupta (Urban 1989) comb. n.

Distribution: This species seems to have a broad distribution in the domain of Cerrado (Brazilian savanna), with records in the Brazilian states of Bahia, Mato Grosso, and Minas Gerais.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Savannychapis interrupta (Urban 1989): Female (Paratypus) in a) lateral and b) frontal views; specimen from Bahia, Brazil. Male in d) dorsal and e) frontal views; specimen from Mato Grosso, Brazil. g) detail of the three-segmented maxillary palpi, and h) sterna of male, to highlight the structure of S6 with two apicolateral carinae, not converging near the midline, and with basolateral depressions. Both specimens were studied by Dr. Danuncia Urban (DZUP) and used to confirm the identity of the vouchers included in the phylogenetic study subsidizing the proposal of the new genus. Scale bars = 2 mm.