Xylocopa (N.) frontalis ( Olivier, 1789 )

Lucia, Mariano, Alvarez, Leopoldo J. & Abrahamovich, Alberto H., 2014, Large carpenter bees in Argentina: systematics and notes on the biology of Xylocopa subgenus Neoxylocopa (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Zootaxa 3754 (3), pp. 201-238 : 216-218

Xylocopa (N.) frontalis ( Olivier, 1789)

( Figures 4 , 11 , 18 , 24 , 30 , 36 , 42 , 48, 54 , 58 )

Apis frontalis Olivier, 1789: 64 (primary homonym of Apis frontalis Villers, 1789 ). Holotype: ♀, whereabouts unknow. Type locality: French Guiana, Cayenne

Xylocopa fasciata Lepeletier, 1841: 202 . synonymized by Smith 1874: 284

Xylocopa nitens Lepeletier, 1841: 176 . synonymized by Hurd 1978: 81

Xylocopa frontalis quadrimaculata Meunier, 1890: 64 . synonymized by Hurd 1978: 81

Xylocopa morio callichlora Cockerell, 1911: 287 . synonymized by Hurd 1978: 81

Xylocopa frontalis var. coeruleomicans Enderlein, 1913:158 . synonymized by Hurd 1978: 81 Xylocopa frontalis var. viridimicans Enderlein, 1913:158 . synonymized by Hurd 1978: 81 Xylocopa frontalis fabricii Cockerell, 1926: 658 . synonymized by Hurd 1978: 81

Xylocopa frontalis trinitatis Cockerell, 1926: 658 . synonymized by Hurd 1978: 81 Xylocopa frontalis roseata Cockerell, 1926: 658 . synonymized by Hurd 1978: 81

Xylocopa frontalis var. obscuripennis Cockerell, 1949: 484 . synonymized by Hurd 1978: 81 Xylocopa frontalis var. purpureipennis Cockerell, 1949: 484 . synonymized by Hurd 1978: 81 Xylocopa americana Prance, 1976: 238 (nom. nud.).

Xylocopa (Megaxylocopa) frontalis, Hurd & Moure, 1963: 151 ; Minckley 1998: 151

Diagnosis. The female of this species can be distinguished from other Argentinian large carpenter bees by the following combination of characters: conspicuous carinae below lateral ocelli ( Fig. 4 ), T1–4 with reddish bands, and T2–T3 with short and scattered hairs ( Fig. 11 ). The male can be easily recognized by T2–T3 with median pubescence short, 0.1–0.3 times MOD ( Fig. 24 ), large black bands on metasomal terga and the lateral ocelli above supraocular line. The female of this species resembles that of X. nigrocincta in the reddish bands on the metasomal terga; however, it differs from that species in the presence of the carina located below the lateral ocelli.

Female. Approximate body length 30 (26.7–38); head length 7.7 (7.2–8.4); head width 8.5 (8–9); mesosoma width 10.4 (9–12); metasoma width 11.5 (10.6 –14); forewing length 25.3 (24.3–27.3); forewing width 7.4 (7–8). Coloration. Integument predominantly black, except T1–4 and S1–3 with ferruginous bands ( Fig. 11 ), tegula dark. Wing dark brown with green iridescent. Pubescence. Black, head with abundant hairs scattered on ocellocular and supraocular area and inner part of gena; distal area of clypeus and below lateral ocelli hairless ( Fig. 4 ). Mesosoma with abundant plumose hairs, except hairless on disc and posterior area of scutum. Metasoma with long hairs laterally; T1 with some plumoses hairs in the basal half and scaterrerd simple hairs in the apical; T2–T3 with short and scattered hairs; T4–6 with long hairs; sterna with long and decumbent hairs ( Fig. 11 ). Sculpturing. Head regularly and densely punctate; punctate on internal part of the gena dispersed. Ocellocular and supraocular area impunctate. Scutum densely punctate, except impunctate on disc and posteriorly. Metasomal terga regularly and sparsely punctate, densely punctated on lateral side. Structure. Head broader than long (proportion 1.1–1.2:1); inner orbits incurved, proportion of upper to lower interocular distance 1:1; middle interocular distance 6–8 mm. Vertex broad, distance ocelloccipital (to median ocellus) 4.1–5.1 times MOD; orbitoccipital distance long 1.7–2.2 mm. Lateral ocelli above supraocular line, proportions of interocellar to ocelocular distance 0.8–0.9:1, interocellar to ocelloccipital 1–13:1, ocellocular to alveolocellar 0.7–0.9:1, orbitoccipital to ocellocular 1–1.2:1, alveolocular to interalveolar 1.2–1.4:1. Proportion of clypeocellar distance to distance between median ocellus and posterior margin of head (1.4–1.6:1). Conspicuous carinae below lateral ocelli ( Fig. 4 ). Clypeus broader than long (proportion 2–2.2:1), dorsolateral sides quite abruptly elevated above adjacent parocular areas; proportion of length of scape, pedicel and first four flagellomeres 3.2–3.5:0.2–0.3:1:0.3–0.4:0.3–0.4:0.3–0.4. Labrum broader than long, with three basal protuberances the laterals more developed than the median. Scutellum gently rounded as seen in profile. Apex of basitibial plate beyond middle length of tibia, asymmetrically bifid, posterior apical lobe rounded and just shorter or same development than anterior lobe.

Male: As in the female, except as follow: Approximate body length 32 (29–33); head length 5.5 (5.3–5.5); head width 7 (6.6–7.2); mesosoma width 10.8 (9.8–11.6); metasoma width 12 (11.4–12.6); forewing length 25.5 (23–26.7); forewing width 6.9 (6.6–7.4). Coloration. Integument predominantly brown yellowish, dark brown except as follows: edges of clypeus, subantennal sulcus, middle and apical portion of mandible, ventral face of F1; coxa, trochanter, femur, propodeum, T2–6 apically, on T1 less notorious. Tegula yellowish in anterior part, otherwise translucent brown. Wings light yellow with golden iridescent. Pubescence. Yellowish (varying from ferruginous to yellows); T6–7 with dark brown to black pubescence ( Fig. 24 ). Head with long hairs, short and scattered on the clypeus; short and abundant on the median and internal portion of the gena; pubescence of ventral surface of posterior tibia distributed throughout the surface ( Fig. 30 ). Metasoma with short hairs laterally, T1 with plumose hairs; T2 on basal half with plumose and simple hairs; T2–T3 with median pubescence short, 0.1–0.3 times MOD; T4–5 with short hairs in middle and long and abundant hairs laterally; T6–T7 with long and decumbent hairs. Sculpturing. T2–5 sparsely punctate, T1 and T6–7 densely punctate. Structure. Head broader than long (proportion 1.2–1.3:1). proportion of upper to lower interocular distance 1–1.1:1; upper interocular distance 7.5–8.7 times MOD; middle interocular distance 4.3–4.7 mm. Distance ocelloccipital (to median ocellus) 2.3–2.8 times MOD, orbitoccipital distance longer 1.2–1.4 mm. Lateral ocelli above supraocular line. Proportions of interocellar to ocelocular distance 0.8–1.1:1, interocellar to ocelloccipital 0.9–1.3:1; ocellocular to alveolocellar 1– 1.5:1; orbitoccipital to ocellocular 1.2–1.4:1; alveolocular to interalveolar 1.3–1.7:1. Proportion of clypeocellar distance to distance between median ocellus and posterior margin of head (1.2–1.5:1). Frontal carina absent replaced by a linear frontal line. Clypeus broader than long (proportion 1.6–1.8:1). Proportion of length of scape, pedicel and first four flagellomeres 2.5–3.1:0.2–0.4:1:0.3–0.4:0.4–0.5:0.4–0.5. Labrum broader than long with median basal triangular process well defined. Genitalia as in figures 36, 42, 48 and 54.

Comments. In some females the ferruginous bands on T1–4 vary from light to dark in coloration. We have not seen in Argentina darker specimens (metasomal terga without ferruginous bands) as recorded for other countries (some synonyms of this species have not bands ferruginous on the metasomal terga)

Distribution ( Fig. 58 ): ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Misiones, and Santa Fe. Its distribution comprises part of Pampeana and Paranaense biogeographic provinces and the southernmost record is the cost of Río de La Plata in the Buenos Aires province, approximately parallel 36°. Moure (2008) recorded this species from México, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guayana Francesa; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Trinidad y Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Additional examined material. A total of 168 specimens (140♀ 28♂) from ARGENTINA. 4♀, Argentina, H.Fruhstofer ( MNCN); BUENOS AIRES. 1♀, La Plata (Bosque), 10-X-2009, M.Lucia ( MLP); 5♀, Zelaya, - XI- 1939, H.Hepper ( MACN); 1♀, La Balandra, 12-XII-1986, A.H.Abrahamovich ( MLP); 1♀, La Plata, A.R.Bezzi ( MLP); 4♀ 2♂, La Plata ( MLP); 1♀, P.Iraola, - II-1964, Carpintero ( IFML); 1♀, La Plata, Oscar de Fonnanis ( MLP); 1♀, La Plata, - XII-1971, A.Cicchino ( MLP); 1♀, Pacheco, 9-II-1928, Bridarolli ( MLP); 3♀, Punta Lara, 6- II-2007, M.Lucia ( MLP); 1♀ 2♂, Berisso (Los Talas), - IX-2008, L.Álvarez ( MLP); 1♂, Berisso, 15-XI-2009, M.Lucia ( MLP); 1♂, Loreto, 24-X-2008, M.Lucia-L.Álvarez ( MLP); 1♀, Capital Federal, 31-X-2002, M.Chamer ( FAUBA); 1♀, Capital Federal, 16-I- 2005, M.Chamer ( FAUBA); 1♀, Capital Federal, 17-I-2006, M.Chamer ( FAUBA); 2♀, Capital Federal, 18-IX-2006, J.P.Torretta ( FAUBA); 1♀, Luján, H.H.Maristas, 1♀, San Isidro, H.H.Marista; 8♂, Arroyo Correa (Delta) , M.Jurado- J.B. Daguerre ( MLP); 3♀, San Fernando, 18-XI-1928, Doello- Jurado ( MACN); 1♀, Islas del Delta, J.Brèthes ( MACN); 1♀, San Isidro, 20-XI-1921, J.B ( MACN); 1♀, Parque Sarmiento, 19-XI-1928, Doello-Jurado ( MACN); 1♀, Punta Lara, - XI-1925, ( MACN); 1♀, Delta del Paraná (Río Sarmiento), – IV-1976, A.Oliva ( MACN); 1♀, San Isidro, 17-I-2004, González V.-Rodríguez ( MACN); 10♀, San Fernando, 18-XI-1928, Doello-Jurado ( MACN); 1♀, Buenos Aires, - II-1932, Doello-Jurado ( MACN); 2♀ 1♂, Buenos Aires (Delta), - XII-1941, Obroki ( MACN); 3♀, Río Las Conchas, 6-XII-1919, Frers ( MACN); 1♀, Buenos Aires, 15-II-1932, Doello-Jurado ( MACN); 1♀, Tigre, 29-I-1929, Fincheira ( MACN); 1♀, Martínez, 28-I-1926, Bridarolli ( MACN); 1♀, Delta Río Sarmiento (La ursulina), 19-XI-2001 ( MACN); 3♀, Tigre, -1939, ( MACN). CORRIENTES. 1♀, Ituzaingó, - IX-1982, Fritz ( MLP); 1♀, Mocoretá, 24-III-2010, M.Lucia-L.Álvarez ( MLP); 2♀, Yapeyú, 25-III-2010, M.Lucia-L.Álvarez ( MLP); 2♀, Santo Tomé, - I-1928, ( MACN). ENTRE RÍOS. 3♀, Arroyo El Brasilero, (33°47'S, 58°33'W, 6 m. a.s.l) 14-IX-2009, M.Lucia ( MLP); 10♀, Palmar (Colón), - XII-1978, Fritz ( MLP); 3♀, Dto. Colón, Zelich ( MLP); 2♀ 1♂, Pronunciamiento, Zelich ( MLP); 1♀, Salto Grande, - IV-1978, Fritz ( MLP); 1♀, Villa Elisa, 11-II-1974, L.Gontero ( MLP); 1♀, Primero de Mayo, 20-XII-1963, ( IFML); 2♂, Dto. Colón, Fritz ( MLP); 2♂, Dto. Colón, Fritz ( MLP); 2♀, Liebig, 13-IV-2001, Zelich (Col. Zelich); 1♀, Liebig, 21- XII-2002, Zelich (Col.Zelich); 1♀, Liebig, 12-IV-2001, Zelich (Col.Zelich); 3♂, Liebig, 12-XII-2002, Zelich (Col.Zelich); 1♂, Liebig, 17-XI-2003, Zelich (Col.Zelich); 1♂, Liebig, 28-XI-2001, Zelich (Col.Zelich); 2♀, Paranacito, - I-1933, Daguerre, ( MACN); 3♀, Río Ceibo (Delta), 10-XI-1950, R. Ronderos ( MLP); 1♀, Paranacito, - III-1940, Castillo ( MLP); 3♀, Ibicuycito, 13-II-1938, Castillo ( MLP); 1♀, Colón, - XII-1988, ( MACN); 2♀, La Paz (Los Algarrobos), - I-1952, R.L.Orfila ( MACN). MISIONES. 2♀, San Ignacio, 20-X-2008, M.Lucia-L.Álvarez ( MLP); 1♀, El Soberbio, (26°16'39"S, 54°11'34"W, 139 m. a.s.l), 19-22-XI-2007, M.Lucia-L.Álvarez ( MLP); 1♀, Bompland, 19-22-XI-2007, (27°29'S, 55°28'W, 174 m. a.s.l), M.Lucia-L.Álvarez ( MLP); 1♂, Loreto, 24-X-2008, M.Lucia-L.Álvarez ( MLP); 1♀ 1♂, Puerto Iguazú, - X-1982, Carpintero ( MLP); 1♀, Puerto Esperanza, - X-1978, Fritz ( MLP); 2♀, Puerto Esperanza, - XII-1976, Fritz ( MLP); 1♀, Loreto, A.Ogloblin ( MLP); 1♀, Loreto, -1946, J.T ( MLP); 1♀, P. Iguazú, 10-IV-1985, A.H.Abrahamovich ( MLP); 1♀, Misiones, 4-I-1910, Jörgensen ( MLP); 1♀, Misiones, 28-X-1910, Jörgensen ( MLP); 1♀, Misiones, 16-III-1910, Jörgensen ( MLP); 1♀, Misiones, 28-II-1910, Jörgensen ( MLP); 1♀, Misiones, 24-II-1910, Jörgensen ( MLP); 1♀, Misiones, 14-III-1910, Jörgensen ( MLP); 1♀, Misiones, 19-I-1910, Jörgensen ( MLP); 1♂, Posadas, 10-XI-1970, C.Porter-L.Stange ( IFML); 1♀, Apóstoles (entre Azara y Tres Capones), 20-IV-2007, J.P. Torretta ( FAUBA); 1♀, Cabure-I, 18-VIII-1980, J.L.Farina- L.N.Farina (MMP); 1♀, Parque Nac. Iguazú, - XII-1979, Carpintero-Sjuberg ( MACN); 3♀, Misiones, 14-II-1934, ( MACN); 3♀, Posadas, 17-XI-1942, Rodríguez ( MACN); 1♀, Colonia Santa María, - XI-1943, M.Viana ( MACN); 1♀, Puerto Londera (Dpto. San Javier) – IX-1947, M.Viana ( MACN); 1♀, Arroyo Biguá, 14-IV-1983, ( MACN). SANTA FE. 6♀, Isla Los Laureles (label says Entre Ríos) 7-II-1940, C.A.Alberti ( MACN); 1♀, Rosario, Stevenin ( MACN).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Head of female, frontal view. 1, Xylocopa atamisquensis; 2, Xylocopa augusti; 3, Xylocopa eximia; 4, Xylocopa frontalis. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 9 – 14. Metasoma of female, dorsal view. 9, Xylocopa augusti; 10, Xylocopa eximia; 11, Xylocopa frontalis; 12, Xylocopa nigrocincta; 13, Xylocopa tacanensis; 14, Xylocopa mendozana. Scale bars: 2 mm.

FIGURES 15 – 20. Head of male, frontal view. 15, Xylocopa atamisquensis; 16, Xylocopa augusti; 17, Xylocopa eximia; 18, Xylocopa frontalis; 19, Xylocopa mendozana; 20, Xylocopa nigrocincta. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 21 – 26. Metasoma of male, dorsal view. 21, Xylocopa atamisquensis; 22, Xylocopa augusti; 23, Xylocopa eximia; 24, Xylocopa frontalis; 25, Xylocopa mendozana; 26, Xylocopa nigrocinta.

FIGURES 27 – 32. Hind tibia of male, posterior view. 27, Xylocopa atamisquensis; 28, Xylocopa augusti; 29, Xylocopa eximia; 30, Xylocopa frontalis; 31, Xylocopa mendozana; 32, Xylocopa nigrocincta.

FIGURES 33 – 38. Genitalia male, dorsal view. 33, Xylocopa atamisquensis; 34, Xylocopa augusti; 35, Xylocopa eximia; 36, Xylocopa frontalis; 37, Xylocopa mendozana; 38, Xylocopa nigrocincta.

FIGURES 39 – 44. Genitalia male, ventral view. 39, Xylocopa atamisquensis; 40, Xylocopa augusti; 41, Xylocopa eximia; 42, Xylocopa frontalis; 43, Xylocopa mendozana; 44, Xylocopa nigrocincta.

FIGURES 45 – 56. Gonostyle and pennis valve, ventral view. 45, Xylocopa atamisquensis; 46, Xylocopa augusti; 47, Xylocopa eximia; 48, Xylocopa frontalis; 49, Xylocopa mendozana; 50, Xylocopa nigrocincta. Gonostyle and pennis valve, dorsal view. 51, Xylocopa atamisquensis; 52, Xylocopa augusti; 53, Xylocopa eximia; 54, Xylocopa frontalis; 55, Xylocopa mendozana; 56, Xylocopa nigrocincta.

FIGURES 57 – 60. Occurrence maps.? = Province cited in bibliography, but not confirmed in this study.