Hoplitis (Stenosmia) gobiensis Müller, 2014

Müller, Andreas, 2014, Palaearctic Hoplitis bees of the subgenus Stenosmia (Megachilidae, Osmiini): biology, taxonomy and key to species, Zootaxa 3765 (4), pp. 301-316 : 310-312

Hoplitis (Stenosmia) gobiensis Müller , spec. nov.

Holotype: MONGOLIA: Dornogov region, steppe, 28km SE Chatan-Bulag, 3.8.2007, ♂ (leg. M. Halada). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich.

Paratypes: MONGOLIA: 100km W Choibalsan, 820m, 23.7.2007, 9♀, 3♂ (leg. J. Halada, M. Kadlecova); 15km W Choibalsan, Kherlen river , 770m, 24.7.2007, 4♀, 2♂ (leg. M. Halada); 210km SSE Baruun-Urt, steppe, 29.7.2007, ♀ (leg. M. Kadlecova); Dornogov region, 65km SE Chatan-Bulag, 1020m, 2.8.2007, 5♀, 3♂ (leg. M. Halada, M. Kadlecova); Dornogov region, steppe, 28km SE Chatan-Bulag, 3.8 .2007, ♀, 10♂ (leg. M. Halada); Dornogov region, 2km SE Khuvsgol, 5.8.2007, 4♀, ♂ (leg. J. Halada); 70km S Saynshand, 1100m, 6.8.2007, 6♀ (leg. J. Halada, M. Kadlecova). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich, the Oberösterreichische Landesmuseum Linz and the private collection of M. Schwarz (Ansfelden).

Diagnosis. Both sexes of H. gobiensis have a short second segment of the labial palpus, which is only slightly longer than the first segment ( Fig. 12 ). This character is shared only with H. crassipunctata and H. minima , which, however, have different distribution areas. In addition, H. gobiensis differs from H. crassipunctata by the smaller size, the finer punctation of the body, the less impressed apical zones of terga 2–4 and the lack of a distinct apical spine on the female fore coxa, and from H. minima by the pilosity of female tergum 5, which does not cover the whole tergal surface, and the presence of a longitudinal keel on male sternum 6 ( Fig. 14 ).

Description. FEMALE: Body length 4.5-5mm. Head: Second segment of labial palpus 1.1–1.2x as long as first segment ( Fig. 13 ). Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge 1.5–1.7x as long as ocellar diameter. Antennal segment 5 about 0.7x as long as broad. Antennal segments (4)5–12 orange, posterior side of antenna slightly darkened. Mandible yellowish to orange except for base and apex, which are reddish-brown to black. Clypeus, supraclypeal area, paraocular area, frons and genal area densely covered with white pilosity. Mesosoma: Punctation of scutum rather dense with interspaces usually not exceeding the diameter of one to two punctures, of scutellum slightly more scattered with interspaces reaching the diameter of up to three punctures. Basal zone of propodeum chagreened in its upper and polished in its lower half. Inner margin of fore leg coxa apically rounded. Hind coxa with indistinct longitudinal keel. Spurs of hind leg acute and straight except for apicalmost part, which is slightly curved. Mesosoma densely covered with white hairs except for central parts of scutum and scutellum and basal zone of propodeum, which are almost hairless. Anterior, lateral and posterior margins of scutum and scutellum densely covered with white hairs. Tegula yellowish, translucent. Central part of stigma yellowish-brown. Metasoma: Punctation of tergal discs 1–5 moderately dense with interspaces varying in size from the diameter of one puncture to the diameter of three, rarely more punctures. Marginal zones of terga 1–5 reddish-brown, distinctly impressed laterally and densely punctured with punctures that are about half as large as punctures on tergal discs. Laterobasal part of disc of tergum 1 sparsely covered with appressed white hairs. Marginal zones of terga 1–5 with dense white hair bands, which cover less than half of tergal length, consist of rather short, scale-like hairs and are interrupted on terga 1–3 in older specimens. Disc of tergum 5 with scattered plumose white hairs that partly hide the cuticula. Tergum 6 densely covered with white plumose hairs. Scopa white.

MALE: Body length 4.5-5mm. Head: Second segment of labial palpus 1.1–1.2x as long as first segment. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge about 1.5–1.6x as long as ocellar diameter. Antennal segment 3 distinctly shorter than antennal segment 4. Anterior side of antennal segments (3)4–13 orange, posterior side of antenna slightly darkened. Mandible yellowish to orange except for base and apex, which are reddishbrown to black. Clypeus, supraclypeal area, paraocular area, frons and genal area densely covered with white pilosity. Mesosoma: Punctation of scutum and scutellum dense with interspaces varying in size between the diameter of half a puncture to the diameter of two punctures. Basal zone of propodeum chagreened in its upper and polished in its lower half. Hind coxa with distinct longitudinal keel. Mesosoma densely covered with white hairs except for central parts of scutum and scutellum and basal zone of propodeum, which are almost hairless. Anterior, lateral and posterior margins of scutum and scutellum covered with whitish pilosity. Tegula yellowish, translucent. Metasoma: Punctation of tergal discs 1–5 moderately dense with interspaces varying in size from the diameter of one puncture to the diameter of three punctures. Marginal zones of terga 1–5 reddish-brown, distinctly impressed laterally and densely punctured with punctures that are slightly smaller than punctures on tergal discs. Lateral and basal part of disc of tergum 1 sparsely covered with appressed white hairs. Marginal zones of terga 1–5 with dense white hair bands, which consist of rather short scale-like hairs. Tergum 6 sparsely covered with white hairs, its apical margin yellowish and translucent. Apex of tergum 7 small and quadrate, densely haired, yellowish and translucent, its apical margin truncated to very slightly emarginated. Sternum 2 planar, without longitudinal keel. Punctation of disc of sternum 2 scattered, interspaces reaching the diameter of up to three or more punctures. Marginal zones of sterna 2–4 with white hair bands, which are dense laterally and loose medially. Sternum 6 medially with low longitudinal keel, which does not extend beyond the apical sternal margin, is about twice as long as wide, of equal width along its whole length and densely covered with short hairs ( Fig. 14 ).

Distribution. Gobi desert.

Pollen hosts. Probably oligolectic on Peganum (Nitrariaceae) : all 19 pollen samples (6 localities, 1 country) analyzed so far consisted of Peganum pollen (probably P. nigellastrum ).

Nesting biology. Unknown.

Etymology. gobiensis = living in the Gobi desert, referring to the species’ distribution area.

Figures

FIGURE 11 – 14. 11: Hoplitis dispersipunctata, scutum and scutellum of female. 12: Hoplitis dispersipunctata, sterna 3 - 6 of male. 13: Hoplitis gobiensis, proboscis of female. 14: Hoplitis gobiensis, sterna 2 – 6 of male.