Megachile (Chalepochile) tacanensis Moure

Gonzalez, Victor H., Griswold, Terry & Engel, Michael S., 2018, South American Leaf-Cutter Bees (Genus Megachile) Of The Subgenera Rhyssomegachile And Zonomegachile, With Two New Subgenera (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2018 (425), pp. 1-73 : 1-73

Megachile (Chalepochile) tacanensis Moure

Figures 5I , 13

Megachile ardua tacanensis Moure, 1948: 322 (holotype ♂, DZUP: Tacanas, Tucumán, Argentina). Moure et al., 2007: 991 (species rank, placement in Rhyssomegachile Mitchell ).

DIAGNOSIS: This species is known only from the male sex. Based on the original description as well as the material examined here, this species can be easily separated from M. ardua by the following combination of features: T1–T4 sparsely covered with semierect, mostly simple or poorly branched, dark brownish-gray setae, and T5 and T6 sparsely covered (integument largely visible) with short, appressed, minutely branched whitish setae.

Female: Unknown.

MATERIAL EXAMINED (n = 108♂♂): Argentina: 1♂, El Cadillal Prov., Tucumán, Arg. [Argentina], X-1951, Foester / Megachile ardua tacanensis, Det. J.S. Moure 1957 / M. (Ptilosarus) ardua Mitchell as det. 1982 in T.B. Mitchell collection/QR barcode NCSU 0003998 ( NCSU) ; 1♂, ut supra, SEMC 1184303 ( SEMC) ; 1♂, San Pedro de Colalao, Trancas, Tucumán, Arg. [Argentina], II-1948, Arnan J. Foerster / Megachile ardua tacanensis, Det. J.S. Moure 19?/ SEMC 1184302 ( SEMC) ; 1♂, Rosario de la Frontera, Salta, Argentina , XI-1950, A.F. Prosen / ardua / SEMC 1184291 ( SEMC) ; 2♂♂, ARG [ Argentina ], Tucuman, X-19-[19]72, G.E. Bohart, Argemon fusciformis [ Papaveraceae ] ( BBSL) ; 2♂♂, ARG [Argentina], S.D. Estero [Santiago del Estero], Las Termas, X-11-[19]72, G.E. Bohart, Prosopis alba [ Fabaceae ] ( BBSL). Bolivia: 1♂, Tarija, Villa Montes , IX-20-[19]67, J.C. Ballard ( BBSL) ; 2♂♂, Argentina, Catamarca, La Merced , 16 km N, 23–25 Oct 2003, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker ( BBSL) ; 1♂, Argentina, Catamarca, La Merced , 9 km N, 24 Oct–14 Nov 2003, F.D. Parker, M.E. Irwin ( BBSL) ; 59♂♂, Argentina, Catamarca, La Merced , 9 km N, 25 Oct 2003, F.D. Parker, M.E. Irwin ( BBSL) ; 2♂♂, Argentina, Catamarca, Trampasacha , 8 km W Chumbicha, 24 Oct 2003, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker ( BBSL) ; 2♂♂, Argentina, Catamarca, Trampasacha , 8 km W Chumbicha, 24 Oct–12 Nov 2003, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker ( BBSL) ; 20♂♂, Argentina, Catamarca, Trampasacha , 8 km W Chumbicha, 25 Oct 2003, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker ( BBSL) ; 8♂♂, Argentina, Jujuy, Arroyo Las Lanzas , 36 km S Jujuy, 22–27 Oct 2003, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker ( BBSL) ; 5♂♂, Argentina , Jujuy, 27 km N, 27 Oct– 14 Nov 2003, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker ( BBSL) .

DISTRIBUTION: Argentina (Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán), Boliva (Tarija) (fig. 10).

COMMENTS: The holotype of this species was not available for examination, but the original description provided pertinent details and material determined by the late Padre Moure was available (above).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Some morphological features used in the phylogenetic analysis.A, B. Pubescence of apex of female sixth sternum. C, D. Pubescence of male clypeus. E–G. Modifications of the male mandible and hypostomal area. H. Modifications of male protarsus.I. Pubescence of posterosuperior surface of male metafemur.A. Megachile (Creightonella) cognata Smith (Uganda, Tororo, SEMC 1177151).B, E, G. M. (Acentron) albitarsis Cresson (♀, Costa Rica, San José, SEMC 1177780; ♂, Costa Rica, Guanacaste, SEMC 1177784). C. M. (Chalepochile) ardua Mitchell (male holotype). D. M. (Aporiochile) tricosa Cockerell (male holotype). F, H. M. (Zonomegachile) gigas Schrottky (Brazil, Mato Grosso, ANSP 4133). I. M. (Chalepochile) tacanensis Moure (Argentina, Tucumán, SEMC 1184302).

FIGURE 13. Male of Megachile (Chalepochile) tacanensis Moure (Argentina, Salta, SEMC 1184291). A. Facial view. B. Lateral habitus. C. Dorsal habitus. D. Posterior view of T5 and T6.