Thyreus schwarzi, Straka, Jakub & Engel, Michael S., 2012

Straka, Jakub & Engel, Michael S., 2012, The apid cuckoo bees of the Cape Verde Islands (Hymenoptera, Apidae), ZooKeys 218, pp. 77-109 : 89-93

Thyreus schwarzi sp. n. Figs 21-29

Holotype.

♂, Isl., Cabo Verde, S. Nicolau, 1.XII.80 [1 December 1980], Ribeiro Brava, Islas do Cabo Verde - 1980, H. Hölzel, W. Lobin, P. Ohm [collectors] (FISC).

Paratypes.

São Nicolau: 1♂, same data as holotype (FISC); 1♀, Ilhas do Cabo Verde, S. Nicolau, Lobin leg. (FISC); 1♀, Cabo Verde 00/31, Ilha de S. Nicolau, Ribeira Brava–W, 100-150 m, 20.12.2000 [20 December 2000], leg. Aistleitner (EAFC); 3♂♂, Cabo Verde 00/34, Ilha de S. Nicolau, Preguiça–N, 70-100 m, 21.12.2000 [21 December 2000], leg. Aistleitner (EAFC); 4♂♂, Cabo Verde 00/36, Ilha de S. Nicolau, Monte Gordo, 12-1300 m, 22.12.2000 [22 December 2000], leg. Aistleitner (EAFC); 1♂, Cape Verde Isl., Sao Nicolau W, Barril, 11.XI.2011 [11 November 2011], 16°35'24"N, 24°23'84"W, J. Straka & J. Batelka lgt. (JSPC); 1♀, Sao Nicolau, W, south of Cachao, Cha de Caldeira, 12.xi.2011, 16°36'39"N, 24°19'58"W, J. Batelka & J. Straka lgt. (SEMC).

Additional material.

Santo Antão:1♀, Cabo Verde 00/21, Ilha d, S. Antão, Cruzinha da Garça, 50 m, 7.12.2000 [7 December 2000], leg. Aistleitner (EAFC).

Diagnosis.

Males of Thyreus schwarzi can be recognized by the following combination of characters: white anterior mesoscutal patches, especially ms (median mesoscutal) and mls (mediolateral mesoscutal), strongly reduced to missing (Fig. 23); second metasomal tergum with lateral patch wider than long, without anterior secondary patch and never L-shaped (Fig. 23), but rarely with a few white setae in this area; and sixth tergum with lateral white patches greatly reduced, especially in comparison to patches on the fourth and fifth terga. Females can be characterized by the following combination of traits: white anterior mesoscutal patches, especially paired mls (mediolateral mesoscutal), greatly reduced to a few short setae (Fig. 24); mesoscutum with plsa (anterior posterolateral mesoscutal) present anterior to and along border with tegula, extending posteriorly and meeting, or less frequently almost meeting, pls (posterolateral mesoscutal) (Fig. 24); second metasomal tergum with lateral patch wider than long, without anterior secondary patch and never L-shaped (Fig. 24), but rarely with a few white setae in this area; and apical depression of fifth tergum with several distinct seta-bearing punctures. Both males and females have the apicolateral corners of the mesoscutellum prominently and sharply pointed, forming an angle of less than 40° (Figs 23, 24)

Description.

As described for Thyreus denolii (vide supra) except as follows: ♂: Total body length 12.8 mm (8.5-14.0 mm); forewing length 10.4 mm (6.7-10.5 mm). Head wider than long (length 3.1 mm, width 3.7 mm); upper interorbital distance 2.3 mm; lower interorbital distance 1.7 mm. Intertegular distance 3.4 mm (2.1-3.5 mm); mesoscutellar posterior margin faintly sinuate, with apicolateral angle projecting as slightly prominent spine, with median emargination. Apex of seventh metasomal tergum with apicolateral prominences distinct, truncate margin between straight, without medial emargination or swelling; male terminalia as in figures 25-29.

Mesoscutum with well-defined punctures separated by much less than a puncture width, punctures mediopically more spaced, separated by about 0.5-1 times a puncture width but more often less than a puncture width, integument between punctures smooth and shining; mesoscutellum, including axilla, with punctures separated by less than a puncture width, those laterally nearly contiguous to contiguous.

White patches on mesosoma as follows: deps (dorsal mesepisternal) and lpn (lateral pronotal) present; als (anterolateral mesoscutal) present but reduced, often faint; ms (median mesoscutal) faint to absent; mls (mediolateral mesoscutal) present to faint; plsa (anterior posterolateral mesoscutal) present anterior to and along border with tegula, extending posteriorly and meeting, or less frequently almost meeting, pls (posterolateral mesoscutal); t (tegular) present and prominent posteriorly on tegula; pls (posterolateral mesoscutal) present; ps (parascutellar) and s (mesoscutellar) absent; deps (dorsal mesepisternal), hypm (hypoepimeral area), and lp (lateral propodeal) present, veps (ventral mesepisternal) absent (Figs 21, 23). Metasomal terga with prominent patches of appressed, plumose white setae as follows: first metasomal tergum with large, L-shaped patches laterally; second metasomal tergum with lateral patch transverse, slightly wider than twice as long, never L-shaped and without rounded secondary anterior patch; third through fifth metasomal terga with more or less transverse to rounded lateral patches (Figs 21, 23).

♀: As described for the male except in usual gender differences and as follows: Total body length 11.8-13.1 mm; forewing length 9.4-10.2 mm. Head wider than long (length 3.0 mm, width 3.8 mm); upper interorbital distance 2.3 mm; lower interorbital distance 1.7 mm. Intertegular distance 2.8-3.3 mm; mesoscutellar posterior margin as in male but sinuate margin stronger. Apical depression of fifth tergum sparsely but distinctly punctate and setose. Pygidial plate relatively broad, margins converging apically, largely straight, apex narrowly rounded, surface imbricate, basal half with shallow, coarse punctures.

Mesoscutum with well-defined punctures separated by much less than a puncture width, punctures mediopically slightly more spaced but still separated by less than a puncture width; mesoscutellum, including axilla, with punctures separated by less than a puncture width.

Integument and pubescence as in male except dark brown on pygidial plate; second through fourth metasomal terga with more or less transverse to rounded lateral patches (Figs 22, 24).

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a patronym honoring Dr. Maximilian Schwarz, a leading authority on the systematics of cuckoo bees and a dear colleague.

Comments.

A single female collected from Santo Antão is not designated as part of the type series since the specimen may be mislabeled or a rare case of introduction to a different island.