Plebeia (Plebeia) hyperplastica Engel, 2022

Engel, Michael S., 2022, New species of the stingless bee genus Plebeia (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Journal of Melittology 2022 (114), pp. 1-28 : 16-19

Plebeia (Plebeia) hyperplastica Engel , new species

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A23B37A5-2A1C-4E93-9F53-6087D08E4218

( Figs. 27–38 )

DIAGNOSIS: While this species is quite similar to P. amydra from the same region, the male terminalia is wholly unique ( Figs. 33–38 ) and cannot be confused for any other Plebeia with which I am familiar. In addition, P. hyperplastica has well-developed facial maculation ( Fig. 29 ), although the markings of the mesosomal dorsum are rather pale ( Fig. 28 ), as in P. amydra . Plebeia hyperplastica is a bit smaller than P. amydra , although their size ranges do partially overlap and as more populations are sampled, this distinction may become even less pronounced.

DESCRIPTION: As described for P. amydra (vide supra), with the following modifications: ⚲: Total body length approximately 4.00– 4.30 mm, forewing length (to base of humeral sclerite) 3.58–3.83 mm. Head wider than long, width 1.73–1.80 mm, length 1.43–1.50 mm; compound eye length 1.17–1.23 mm; upper interorbital distance 1.10 mm, lower interorbital distance 0.90–0.93 mm. Scape length 0.60–0.62 mm. Malar area 0.2–0.3× flagellar diameter; clypeus width 1.9× length. Preoccipital ridge carinate. Intertegular distance 1.23–1.27 mm. Hind wing with 5 distal hamuli.

Clypeus dark brown with mesal line of pale yellow, apicolateral corners pale yellow; supraclypeal area yellow; scape largely pale yellow below and dark brown above, pedicel and flagellum brown to dark brown; lower face with yellow occupying majority of surface except area bordering antennal torulus by distance slightly less than torular diameter, yellow then tapering upward with paraocular borders yellow and extending to concavity in ocular margin. Mesosoma dark brown to black except as noted: pronotal collar and lobe pale yellow; mesoscutum with thin stripes of pale yellow to nearly white along lateral borders; axilla pale yellow to nearly white; mesoscutellum black but blending apically to pale yellow to nearly white on medial apical margin; legs largely brown to dark brown except fore and midlegs with yellow at joints and on protibia and typically outer surface of mesotibia with strip of yellowish brown, tarsi yellow to yellowish brown except metatarsus dark brown with yellowish brown on metadistitarsus; metasoma dark brown.

♂: As described for worker except for typical caste and gender differences and as follows: Total body length approximately 4.6 mm, forewing length (to base of humeral sclerite) 4.3 mm. Head wider than long, width 1.60 mm, length 1.40 mm; compound eye length 1.20 mm; upper interorbital distance 0.93 mm, lower interorbital distance 0.63 mm. Scape length 0.52 mm. Clypeus width 1.4× mm. Malar area linear. Terminalia in figures 33–38.

Clypeus largely brown except with yellowish patch basomesally; supraclypeal area pale yellow; face below tangent of antennal toruli largely pale yellow except near upper portion epistomal sulcus and antennal torulus, yellow paraocular area tapering above as pale yellow or brown stripe to near botom of concavity in ocular margin; scape largely pale yellow ventrally, otherwise dark brown dorsally; pedicel and flagellomere I dark brown, remainder of flagellum dark brown except orangish brown ventrally. Legs largely yellowish brown to brown except darker on femora and superior prolateral portion of metatibia.

Setation generally as described for worker except more numerous, prominent, and slightly longer on face, mesoscutum, and pleura.

♀: Latet.

HOLOTYPE: ⚲, Venezuela, Aragua, Rancho Grande Biol. Stn., Portachuelo Pass , 10°21’0’’N, 67°41’0’’W, 1100 m, 4 June 1998, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley, ex: insects moving thru [sic] pass against wind-migration ( SEMC).

PARATYPES (2⚲⚲, 1♂): 2⚲⚲, 1♂, Venezuela, Aragua, Rancho Grande Biol. Stn., Portachuelo Pass , 10°21’0’’N, 67°41’0’’W, 1100 m, 4 June 1998, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley, ex: insects moving thru [sic] pass against wind-migration ( SEMC) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is a combination of the Ancient Greek preposition hupér (ῠπέρ, meaning, “over”, “beyond”, or “exceeding”) and the adjective plastikós (πλᾰστῐκός, meaning, “pertaining to shaping”), and is a reference to the rather unique male terminalia.

Figures

Figures 27–29. Worker of Plebeia (Plebeia) hyperplastica, new species. 27. Lateral habitus. 28. Dorsal view of head and mesosoma. 29. Facial view.

Figures 30–32. Drone of Plebeia (Plebeia) hyperplastica, new species. 30. Lateral habitus. 31. Dorsal habitus. 32. Facial view.

Figures 33–38. Male terminalia of Plebeia (Plebeia) hyperplastica, new species. 33. Metasomal sternum V. 34. Sternum VI. 35. Sternum VII. 36. Sternum VIII. 37. Genital capsule, dorsal view. 38. Genital capsule, ventral view.