Sphecodes uttaricus, Astafurova, Yulia & Proshchalykin, Maxim, 2020

Astafurova, Yulia & Proshchalykin, Maxim, 2020, New and little-known bees of the genus Sphecodes Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae) from the Himalayas, European Journal of Taxonomy 729, pp. 74-120 : 112-114

Sphecodes uttaricus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A059C88D-0961-420A-9C97-FC19D1D2248D

Figs 21 , 22 A–E

Diagnosis

This species is closest to S. sikkimensis and S. formosanus Cockerell, 1911 by a combination of large body size (more than 9 mm), costal margin with at least nine hamuli and the presence of a lateral

preocipital carina. The new species differs from S. sikkimensis by having fewer hamuli (9–10 vs 12–15) and a smaller body size (10.5 mm vs 12–15 mm) and from S. formosanus it differs by having sparse and mixed punctation of T1 with coarse (15–25 μm / 0.5–3) and microscopical punctures (5 μm) (vs dense and coarse punctures separated by 0.5–1 puncture diameter).

Etymology

The specific epithet is named after the Indian state Uttar Pradesh, the type locality of this species.

Type material

Holotype INDIA • ♀; Uttar Pradesh bor., Karnaprayag env. ; [30°27′ N, 79°25′ E]; 770 m a.s.l.; 19–21 Jul. 1994; M. Valenta leg.; PCMS / OLBL.

Description

Female (holotype, Fig. 21 )

MEASUREMENTS. Total body length 10.5 mm.

HEAD ( Fig. 22 B–C). Black; transverse, ca 1.25 times as wide as long; lateral preoccipital carina present, well-developed; vertex elevated, distance from top of head to upper margin of lateral ocellus ca 1.5 ocellar diameter as seen in frontal view and ca two diameters as seen in dorsal view; mandibles bi-dentate; F1 0.5 times as long as wide; F2 0.7 times as long as wide; F3 1.1 times as long as wide; supraclypeal area bulging; frons and paraocular area mostly with confluent punctures; ocello-ocular area densely punctate with confluent punctures and punctures separated by at most a half puncture diameter (30–50 μm); clypeus sparser punctate with shiny, smooth interspaces equal to at most a puncture diameter; paraocular area and gena with dense plumose setae, obscuring integument.

MESOSOMA. Mesosoma (including legs) black; wings with strong brownish darkening and metallic violet luster; stigma and veins dark brown; hind wing with the angle between basal (M) and cubital (Cu) veins ca 70°, costal margin with nine hamuli; mesoscutum and mesoscutellum ( Fig. 22A ) densely and coarsely punctate (50–100 μm), with confluent punctures peripherally and medially with punctures separated by at most a puncture diameter; hypoepimeral area and mesepisternum coarsely reticulaterugose; propodeal triangle (metapostnotum) roughly reticulate-rugose (sculpture forming 2–3 rows of large deep cells).

METASOMA. Metasomal T1 on disc with coarse punctures (15–25 μm) separated by 0.5–3 puncture diameters and laterally with numerous tiny punctures (ca 5 μm) between them, marginal zone sparsely and finely punctate, impunctate along posterior margin ( Fig. 22E ); remainder of terga similarly punctate, but denser and with impunctate marginal zones ( Fig. 22D ); pygidial plate dull, as wide as metabasitarsus; T1–T4 red; sterna finely tessellate to smooth with coarse shallow setal pores.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Only known from the holotype.

Figures

Fig. 21. Sphecodes uttaricus sp. nov. Holotype, ♀ (PCMS/OLBL). Habitus in lateral view and labels. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 22. Sphecodes uttaricus sp. nov. Holotype, ♀ (PCMS/OLBL). A. Mesosoma, dorsal view. B–C. Head in frontal (B) and lateral view (C). D. Metasoma in dorso-lateral view. E. T1 in dorso-lateral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.