Leptometriella separata (Holmberg)

A. Roig-Alsina, 2008, A revision of the South American bee genus Leptometriella Roig-Alsina (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Emphorini), Zootaxa 1688, pp. 20-36 : 29-31

Leptometriella separata (Holmberg)

( Figs. 1–2 , 9, 13, 18–21)

Teleutemnesta separata Holmberg, 1903: 405 –406. Lectotype female, by present designation: Argentina, Salta, Molinos, 1–IV–1900 (MACN, examined).

Ancyloscelis humilis Vachal, 1904: 19 . Holotype male, Argentina, Tucumán, Girard (Paris, examined). Jörgensen, 1912a: 158. Schrottky, 1913: 254. Synon. nov.

Ancyloscelis minuta Friese, 1908: 52 . Lectotype female, by present designation: Argentina, Salta, Marzo, Steinbach (Berlin, examined). Jörgensen, 1909: 224. Jörgensen, 1912a: 158 (synonymyzed with humilis ). Schrottky, 1913: 254. Synon. nov.

Melitoma (Ancyloscelis) specularis Vachal, 1909: 21 . Holotype male, Argentina, Chaco de Santiago del Estero, Río Salado, E. R. Wagner (Paris, examined). Synon. nov.

Melitoma (Ancyloscelis) separata: Vachal, 1909: 21 .

Melitoma (Ancyloscelis) humilis: Vachal, 1909: 21 . Leptometria separata : Brèthes, 1910: 298.

Leptometria humilis : Brèthes, 1910: 298. Jörgensen, 1912b: 321. Leptometria minuta : Brèthes, 1910: 298.

Leptometria specularis : Brèthes, 1910: 298.

Ptilothrix separata: Schrottky, 1913: 254 .

Diadasia separata: Cockerell, 1919: 120 . Schrottky, 1920: 172. Diadasia humilis: Schrottky, 1920: 171 .

Diadasia specularis: Schrottky, 1920: 172 .

Leptometriella separata: Roig Alsina, 1999: 24 .

Type material. There is a single specimen of Teleutemnesta separata preserved in the Holmberg Collection ( MACN), which is here designated as the lectotype. It bears the handwritten labels “Molinos, IV–1 –900” and “ separata [female symbol] Holmberg”. It is badly damaged, lacking the head, the prothorax, the forelegs, the left mid leg, the left hind leg, and the metasoma. Although in poor condition, there is no doubt on the identity of the species. Several characteristics can be observed that single out the lectotype specimen as a Leptometriella: small size, presence of a basitibial plate on the hind leg, plumose scopal hairs with straight short barbulae oblique to the rachis, hind basitarsus distinctly projected apically over the following tarsomere, claws pointed and arolia distinct (hind leg only), metapostnotum with sparse hairs on most of its surface except bare band close to metanotum, and horizontal part of the mesopleura in front of the middle coxae short. The lectotype is identified at the species level by the metapostnotum with hairs scattered over most of its surface ( Fig. 2 ), the upper bare band narrow, and by the yellowish, translucent tegula. The pattern of the vestiture (both color and density) of the missing metasoma was described in detail by Holmberg (1903), who pointed out the reddish color of the prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae, characteristic of this species.

The holotype of Ancyloscelis humilis Vachal bears the handwritten labels “Tucuman / Rep Arg” and “Ancyloscele / humilis / [male symbol] Vachal”; it is in good condition. The holotype of Melitoma specularis Vachal bears the printed label “Museum Paris / Chaco de Santiago del Estero / bords du Rio Salado / Env. d'Icaño / E.R. Wagner 1904” and the handwritten label “ Ancyloscelis / [male symbol] / specularis / Vach.”; it is in good condition. Both types are males of L. separata . They are readily identified as such by the elevated vertex of the head, the bilobed apex of T7 of the male, and the translucent tegula.

Friese (1908) based his Ancyloscelis minuta on a composite series. I have studied two specimens from Berlin labeled as types. The female corresponds to L. separata (Holmberg) , and has been selected as the lectotype, following the interpretation of minuta made by previous authors ( Jörgensen, 1912a, 1912b, Schrottky, 1920) who considered minuta Friese as a synonym of humilis Vachal. The male specimen corresponds to Diadasina riparia (Ducke, 1907) . Both specimens, which are in good condition, bear identical printed labels “ Argentina / Salta 2500 / 3.1905 / Steinbach”, and identification labels “ Ancyloscelis / minuta / 1907 Friese det.”

Diagnosis. This species is easily distinguished by the metapostnotum with sparse hairs on most of its surface except a glabrous band close to the metanotum, the vertex of the head much elevated behind the ocelli, the yellowish, translucent tegula, through which the alary sclerites are easily seen, and the bilobed apex of the male T7. The male has a unique seventh sternum, with the apical lobes secondarily fused ( Fig. 20 ).

Redescription. Female. Length 6.5–8.0 mm; length of forewing 5.3–6.0 mm.

Black, except apex of mandible and flagellomeres 3–10 dark reddish brown, distal tarsomeres and translucent apical margin of S1–S5 yellowish brown, tibial spurs yellowish, and tegula yellowish, translucent. Wings pale amber, with veins and pterostigma yellowish brown. Vestiture yellowish brown to pale gray, but on inner side of mid and hind basitarsus, and on most of metasomal sterna orange brown; on prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae orange. Hairs on face of moderate length, on clypeus 0.5–1.0 times MOD, between antennal sockets up to 2.2 times MOD. Hairs on scutum 1.4–2.0 times MOD; on mesopleuron 2.0–2.8 times MOD; metapostnotum with short hairs 0.4–0.6 times MOD, except glabrous band close to metanotum. T1–T4 with welldefined apical bands of dense, appressed hairs. T2 basally to apical band with dense semierect hairs 0.7–1.0 times MOD, and intermixed erect hairs 1.2–1.3 times MOD; T3–T4 with appressed hairs and intermixed erect hairs. Punctures on clypeus and labrum larger than those on rest of body, on clypeus 0.1–0.2 times MOD, separated by 0.5–1.0 times their diameter. Margins of scutum with punctures dense, but median part of posterior half with punctures irregularly distributed, separated by 1–5 times their diameter; basal part of scutellum polished, with punctures regularly distributed; punctures on mesopleuron finer than those of scutum; upper part of metapostnotum glabrous, polished. Vertex of head strongly elevated behind ocelli, distance from median ocellus to vertex in frontal view as long as 1.4–1.5 ocellar diameters. Proportion of UID to LID 1:0.9; IAD to AOD 1:0.42. Proportion of scape, pedicel and first three flagellomeres 3:0.8:1:0.6:0.6; first flagellomere as long as 1.2 times its apical width. Mandible without distinct preapical tooth. Metapostnotum nearly vertical, in same plane as metanotum. Gradulus of T6 with gradular carina restricted to posterior portion of tergum.

Male. Length 5.2–7.5 mm; length of forewing 4.8–5.8 mm.

Color of cuticle and vestiture similar to that of female. Distribution of vestiture and punctation similar to that of female, although denser. Hairs on face between antennal sockets up to 2.8 times MOD, on scutum 2.3– 2.6 times MOD. With well-defined apical bands on T1–T6; T2 basally to apical band with erect, moderately long hairs 0.8–1.6 times MOD and without appressed hairs; T3–T6 with hairs progressively more decumbent, but without short appressed hairs. Hairs of S2– S5 0.8 –1.1 times MOD. S6 evenly covered with short hairs, 0.2–0.3 times MOD. Proportion of first three flagellomeres, 1:0.9:0.9; first flagellomere as long as 1.1 times its apical width. Mandible tapering apically. T7 with apical points forming short rounded lobes (Fig. 9). S7, S8 and genital capsule as in figures 18–21.

Color variation. Specimens of L. separata present a striking color change related to age. Fresh specimens, recently emerged, have a yellowish-brown to tawny vestiture, while old specimens have a pale greyish vestiture. This variation in color is seen in nature and also in preserved specimens, as for example in series taken from the same place and date. Almost invariably tawny specimens have wings with neat margins, while pale grayish specimens have tattered wings.

Material studied. Argentina: Jujuy: 2 males, Esperanza, 3-III-1961, J. Foerster ( MLP). Salta: 1 female lectotype of T. separata Holmberg, Molinos, 1-IV-1900 ( MACN); 3 males, Coronel Moldes, I-1945, F. Monrós ( MLP); 1 male, Rosario de Lerma, XI-1992, M. Fritz ( MACN); 2 females, 3 males, La Viña, XII-1992, M. Fritz ( MACN); 5 females, La Viña, 28-XII-1992, on Sphaeralcea, A. Roig Alsina and L. Horovitz ( MACN); 5 females, 1 male, Embarcación, XI-1989, A. Roig Alsina ( MACN); 1 female, 40 km N Embarcación, 10-XI- 1993, A. Roig Alsina ( MACN); 3 females, 20 km E La Candelaria, 20-I-1986, on Sphaeralcea, J.L. Neff ( CTMI); 1 male, Amblayo, 22-III-1990, A. Roig Alsina ( MACN); 1 female, Cafayate, Yacochuya, 20-III- 1974, A. Willink ( IFML); 1 female, 2 males, Cafayate, 24-II-1993, P. Hazeldine ( MACN); 15 females, 14 males, 6 km S Pichanal, 9-XI-1993, A. Roig Alsina ( MACN). Tucumán: 1 female, 16 km N San Pedro de Colalao, 16-XII-1976, L. Stange ( IFML); 1 female, 1 male, El Cadillal, 4-I-1976, L. Stange ( IFML); 3 females, 5 males, 11 km NW El Cadillal, 28-X-2004, A. Roig Alsina and L. Compagnucci ( MACN); 1 female, Tapia, 9-XI-1968, A. Willink ( IFML); 1 male 6 km W Tapia, 20-XI-1993, A. Roig A. ( MACN); 1 female, Trancas, 20-XI-1940 ( MLP); 1 female, Horco Molle, 700 m, 20-XI-1972, L. Stange ( IFML); 2 females, Tafí Viejo ( MACN); 1 male, Garmendia, III-1946, Sacristi ( IFML); 1 female, 1 male, Guasapampa, 1-XII-1940 ( MLP); 1 female, Manantiales, 2-XII-1941 ( MLP); 4 females, 2 males, Chorromoro, 22-XI-1940 and 12-XI-1942, A. Ogloblin ( MLP); 1 female, Chicligasta, Arroyo Celeste, 5-XII-1973, on Sphaeralcea, J.L. Neff ( CTMI); 2 females, Amaicha del Valle, 1-2-II-1985, L. Moffatt ( MACN). Catamarca: 1 male, Santa María, 29-XI-1974, A. Willink ( IFML); 1 female, 2 males, Santa María, 16-I-1986, on Sphaeralcea bonariensis, J.L. Neff ( CTMI); 2 females, 1 male, Andalgalá, 19-XI-1944 ( MLP); 2 females, Andalgalá, 17-X-1973, on Sphaeralcea, J.L. Neff ( CTMI); 1 male, Andalgalá, 11-X-1973, on Modiola sp., J.L. Neff ( CTMI); 3 females, Andalgalá, 7-II-1973 and 17-X-1973, on Sphaeralcea, J.L. Neff ( IFML); 2 females, San Fernando, III-1990, A. Roig A. ( MACN); 1 female, Arroyo ca. Infanzón, ruta 11, 22-XI-1977, Willink & Fidalgo ( IFML); 7 females, 1 male, El Rodeo, 19-I-1989, L. Moffatt ( MACN); 1 female, El Rodeo, 16-IV-1972, C. Porter ( IFML); 1 male, El Alto, 21-III-1950, R. Maldonado ( MLP); 2 females, 2 males, El Alto, 11-I-1960, A. Willink ( IFML); 14 females, 2 males, Las Viñas, 9-XI-1942, on Sphaeralcea, A. Ogloblin ( MLP); 1 female, Joyango, 29-X-1972, L. Stange ( IFML). La Rioja: 2 females, Durazno, 15-XI-1944 ( MLP); 3 females, Schagui, 800 m, IV-1951, Budin ( IFML); 1 male, Ochoa Huasi, 17-III, A. Martínez ( MLP); 1 female, Malanzán, I-1923, M. Gómez ( MACN); 1 female, Huanchín, I-1928, M. Gómez ( MACN). Santiago del Estero: 1 male holotype of M. specularis Vachal , bords du Rio Salado, Environs d'Icaño, 1904, E.R. Wagner (Paris)¸ 9 females, 5 males, Termas de Río Hondo, 24-IV-1951 and 29-XI-1951, A. Ogloblin ( MLP); 1 female, Dique Frontal, Termas de Río Hondo, 3-V-1972, C. Porter ( IFML); 1 female, 2 males, Costas del Salado, km 511, M. Gómez ( MACN); 1 female, 1 male, Desvío 511, Depto. Matará, XI-1928, M. Gómez ( MACN); 1 female, 3 males, Campo Gallo, III-1940, A. Prosen ( MLP); 1 female, 3 males, Tapso, 2-XI-1942, A. Ogloblin ( MLP); 6 females, 4 males, Quirós, 28-XI-1941 ( MLP). Formosa: 1 male, Gran Guardia, J. Foerster ( MLP). Chaco: 1 female, 1 male, Roque Sáenz Peña, Ohnmeiser ( MACN); 1 female, Fontana, 5-XI-1935, J.B. Daguerre ( MACN). Córdoba: 2 females, Totoral, 18-II-1948, P. López ( IFML); 1 male, Villa María, 17-XI-1940 ( MLP); 1 female, La Calera, XI-1952 ( MLP); 1 female, Colón, 10 km Jesús María, 3-XII-1973, on Gaillardia megapotamicum, J.L. Neff ( CTMI); 1 female, Jesús María, 19-XI-1940 ( MLP); 1 female, 4 males, Río Segundo, 20-XI-1952 ( MLP); 1 male, Deán Funes, 12-XII-1940 ( MLP); 8 females, 1 male, Depto. San Martín, 3- I-1948 ( IFML); 1 male, Villa Carlos Paz, Cerro de la Cruz, 16-XII-1983, A. Oliva ( MACN). Mendoza: 1 female, Godoy Cruz, Blanco Encalada, 8-I-1940 ( MLP); 1 female, Cacheuta ( MACN). San Luis: 1 male, Potrero de los Funes, 14-XI-1941, A. Ogloblin ( MLP); 1 male, San Jerónimo, XI-1972, G. Williner ( MACN). La Pampa: 1 female, General Pico, 7-XI-1945 ( MLP). Santa Fe: 1 male, Piquete, 20-I-1930, A. Bridarolli ( MACN); 1 female, Rosario ( MACN); 1 male, Candiotti, 22-XI-1945, A. Ogloblin ( MLP); 1 female, 2 males, Guadaloupe, 5-XI-1945 ( MLP); 1 female, 4 males, Vera, 2-XI-1945, A. Ogloblin ( MLP); 1 female, Saladillo, 28-XI-1921, Hubrich ( ZSM). Buenos Aires: 1 male, Canal San Fernando, 3-XI-1945, A. Ogloblin ( MLP); 3 females, Buenos Aires, 22-XI-1908, 8-III-1910, 2-I-1915, J. Brèthes ( MACN). Río Negro: 2 females, I-1991, U. Fritz ( MACN).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Leptometriella separata, female: 1, labrum (c, preapical carina with median denticle), scale line = 0.1 mm; 2, posterior view of mesosoma (mtp, metapostnotum; b, bare basal band), scale line = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 14 – 21. Leptometriella hirsutula, male: 14, genital capsule, ventral (left) and dorsal (right) views; 15, S 7, ventral view showing vestiture; 16, S 7, dorsal view; 17, S 8, ventral view. L. separata, male: 18, genital capsule, ventral (left) and dorsal (right) views; 19, S 7, ventral view showing vestiture; 20, S 7, dorsal view; 21, S 8, ventral view. Scale lines = 0.1 mm.