Dasypoda (Megadasypoda) vulpecula Lebedev, 1929

Radchenko, Vladimir G., Ghisbain, Guillaume & Michez, Denis, 2019, Redescription of three rare species of Dasypoda bees with first description of D. iberica and D. tibialis females (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Melittidae), Zootaxa 4700 (3), pp. 326-344 : 338-342

Dasypoda (Megadasypoda) vulpecula Lebedev, 1929

This species was described by Lebedev based on material including about 30 specimens of males and females collected from Kazakhstan: [coast of river] Usek near Jarkent [44.186, 79.974], former prov. Semirechye [or Jetysu; now Panfilov District of Almaty Region] ( Lebedev 1929: 269–271). This type material was deposited in Kiev (Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine), but probably was lost during World War II. Besides this first description, D. vulpecula has been listed by Popov (1957), who referred to a single female collected from Shohimardon [39.984, 71.799]—an exclave of Uzbekistan, surrounded by Kyrgyzstan, in a valley in the Alai mountains, but this specimen was probably also lost. Finally, the species has been mentioned without any reference in the Red Book of Kyrgyz Republic ( Davletkeldiev 2006: p. 293) as a species that required special attention for its conservation.

We found two females and one male of D. vulpecula among undetermined material stored in different collections that allowed us to make a redescription of both sexes and to clarify the subgeneric assignment of the species. One of the females was collected relatively close to the locus typicus (300 km from the same Almaty region) but this specimen was significantly damaged by a Dermestes larva. The second female was collected 230 km from the locus typicus, but this point is located in another country (in Kyrgyzstan). The male was also collected from Kazakhstan, however at a distance of about 2,000 km from the type locality. It shows a very clear, unique diagnostic feature, namely a large beak-shaped protrusion on the distal part of hind tibia ( Figs 88, 91 ). This trait was shown on the figure along with the original description of this species ( Lebedev, 1929: 270, Fig. 1 ) that excludes possible misidentification, in contrast with original description of females, which do not have such unique features. Moreover, Dasypoda vulpecula shows the characteristic structure of the genitalia of the subgenus Megadasypoda . According to the structure of S6–S8 and genitals, D. vulpecula is most similar to D. (Megadasypoda) friesana Schletterer, 1890 but this species does not show the particular structure on the hind tibia.

Description. Male ( Figs 80, 81 ). Length: 14 mm. Head: W = 3.4 mm; L = 3.7 mm; black elongated and narrowed downwards ( Fig. 82 ). Clypeus (W = 1.9 mm, L = 1.3 mm) strongly convex, with hidden punctures under pubescence; its central part with shape of slightly protruding vertical keel, smooth, not punctured and hairless. Face, vertex and gena covered with long light-ginger hair intermixed with short brown on vertex. Frons and paraocular areas densely punctured; area around ocelli smoothed, shiny and not punctured. Malar area relatively long (L = 0.2 mm), almost one-half of mandible width at base (W = 0.47 mm); cuticle overall black, smooth and shining, but lighter and semitranslucent at its middle apical part ( Fig. 83 ). Mandible black, narrower than for female, with lighter yellow-red ring in middle and red at apex part. Galea brown, densely covered with flattened oblong and circular tubercles ( Fig. 84 ). Flagellum black on inner side, light brown on external side ( Fig. 85 ). 1 st flagellomere 1.6 times longer than 2 nd. 2 nd– 10 th flagellomeres cylindrical, almost of same length (difference between separate segments less than 7 %), ratio of their width to length about 1: 1.6.

Mesosoma. W (between tegulae) = 2.8 mm. Dorsal side covered by long blond yellow-gray hair; lateral, posterior and ventral sides with more light gray-white ones. Scutum smoothed, shiny, densely punctured, punctures more scattered in middle (distance between points equal to 1.5–2 point diameters) ( Fig. 86 ). Propodeum with thin little ribs forming dense mesh ( Fig. 87 ). Tegulae yellow, translucent. Legs black except 2–5 tarsomeres, which yellowbrown. Legs with long blond yellow-ginger hair, longer on rear, lighter yellow-gray on forelegs. Inner distal part of hind tibia with large beak-shaped protrusion ( Figs 88, 91 ). Wings slightly darkened, light brown.

Metasoma ( Figs 89, 90 ) black, oblong. L = 7 mm, W (in widest part) = 3.8 mm. All terga with yellow-ginger long hair erected or semi-erected on T1–T2 and more appressed on other ones except on their sides. Each hair rising from oblique backward-directed puncture. Distance between two punctures about 2–4 times as long as diameter of punctures. Marginal parts of each tergum semi-translucent, not punctured, hairless and lighter than apical parts. Sterna hairy, with short yellow-ginger hair only on sides of basal part and longer at margin, rest of sterna with very short sparse setae. Central apical part of S6 widely concave ( Fig. 92 ). Distal part of S7 with long latero-apical processes ( Figs 93, 96 ). S8 with long spike-like outgrowths at each side ( Fig. 93 ); its apical part with two separated long teeth on dorsal side ( Fig. 94 ). Gonostylus 3-lobed ( Figs 96–98 ), distal half part of external lobe widened; its ventral part extended into rounded tooth on apex ( Figs 95–97 ); inner ventral and dorsal lobes of gonostyles widened and with long hair on apex ( Fig. 98 ).

Female ( Figs 99, 100 ). Length: 15–16.5 mm. Head ( Fig. 101 ): W = 4.26 mm; L = 4.07 mm. Clypeus (W = 2 mm, L = 1.5 mm) black and densely punctured with deep oblique dots, except on relatively wide median line impunctate, smooth and shiny, which not reach margin. In front of central ocellus and on outer sides of lateral ones, presence of shiny impunctate surface. Oculo-ocellar space shiny, but still with very shallow punctures. Surface behind central ocella with tuft of shaggy brown and ginger hair. Vertex (behind ocelli), frons and paraocular areas (near compound eyes) with brown hair; central part of face covered with lighter ginger intermixed with very few brown ones. Malar area long (L = 0.27 mm), length at center equal to one-third width of mandible at base (W = 0.8 mm); cuticle dark brown, smooth and shiny, but orange on surface above condyles ( Fig. 102 ). Scape with relatively scarce long ginger hair. Basal half of mandible with sparse long light-yellow hair on external part. Occiput near vertex and genae with dense long brown pilosity intermixed with ginger hairs. Proximal part of mandible black, shiny and finely (but densely) punctured; medial part black with red ring in middle, shiny, with strong but scarce punctation; distal part lighter, reddish, mat and very finely punctured, carrying very short ginger-gold branched hair; proximal and medial parts with ginger hair on their lower and upper edges. Dorso-distal part of labrum with fringe of goldish ginger hair; basal part with fringe of thick and slightly darker orange-brown hair, shorter than ones of distal part. Galea dark brown, lighter in its apical part, completely covered with small flat circular and oblong tubercles, with apical fringe of yellow hair, most distal piles longest ( Fig. 103 ). Maxillary palpae brown, with proximal segments (including first one carrying few erect hair) darker than distal ones. Glossa with shaggy yellow hair and presenting lighter coloration than rest of mouth parts ( Fig. 105 ). 1 st flagellomere long (only 15 % shorter than three next ones taken together) ( Fig. 104 ). 3 rd– 9 th flagellomeres almost same length, 2 nd— 10 % shorter and 10 th— 30 % longer.

Mesosoma W (between tegulae) = 4 mm. Scutum shiny and evenly punctured by small fine points. Full mesosoma with ginger hair, which darker auburn on center of scutum. Tegulae orange and transparent. Ventral part of mesosoma monochrome, with long shaggy ginger hair. Front leg with monochrome ginger hair; profemur, protibia and probasitarsus with longer hair on their posterior part than on their anterior part, posterior fringes longer than largest part of articles. Distal articles of legs with lighter cuticle than proximal ones. Hind legs with long monochrome ginger hair, slightly darker than ones of other legs; metafemur with orange hair; metatibia covered by orange scopa, posterior hairs slightly longer and denser than anterior ones; distal part of metatibia extended posteriorly ( Fig. 106 ). Wings slightly dark, light brown.

Metasoma ( Fig. 107 ). Cuticle of terga black, with more or less dense very small punctures on basal part. Basal parts of T1–T2 with sparse long semi-erect ginger hair, intermixed with brown ones on T2, marginal part of T1 very wide and hairless. Marginal parts of T1–T3 not punctured (this character not visible through pubescence on other terga), very thinly transversely striated. T2–T4 covered from above with very thick tight white hair, forming entire wide bands. T5 with dark brown band. Basal parts of T3–T4 with long sparse brown hair, and T5–T6 with dense dark brown pilosity intermixed with ginger and blond hairs on sides. Pygidial plate elongated at apex, with uplifted margins, dark brown to black (turning lighter red-brown to orange in middle), mat, glabrous and more densely and roughly punctuated in centre than discs of terga ( Fig. 109 ). 3 th– 5 th sterna with long hair at their apical margins which forms wide entire red-orange bands ( Fig. 107 ), and basal part of these sterna covered with short brown hairs ( Fig. 108 ). 1 st– 2 nd and 6 th sterna with scarcer erected ginger pilosity.

Flight period. From May ( Lebedev, 1929) to end of June.

Distribution ( Fig. 110 ). Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, rising to 2660 m in the mountains. Published data. Kazakhstan, river Usek near Jarkent [44.186, 79.974] ( Lebedev 1929); Uzbekistan, Shohimardon [39.984, 71.799], 1♀ collected.

Additional material. Kazakhstan, 20 km SEAksay env.[West Kazakhstan Region][51.06, 53.25], 16.–19.vi.1992, 1♂, leg. J.Halada [ OLL] ; Kazakhstan mer., Fabritchny 40 km E. [W?] Alma Ata [43.147, 76.428], 23.vi. [19]92, 1♀, leg. M. Halada [ OLL] ; Kyrgyzstan, Naryn, S. slope, Moldo-Too ridge, E. Kara-Go Pass , 41°30’22”N, 74°44’11”E [41.5061, 74.7364], 2660 m, 30.vi.1999, 1♀, leg. J. G. Rozen, J. K. Bouseman, #74 [ AMNH] .

Figures

FIGURE 110. Distribution map of Dasypoda iberica, D. tibialis and D. vulpecula: l—D. iberica; ▲—D. vulpecula;¾—D. tibialis.

FIGURE 80–91. Male of Dasypoda vulpecula: 80—Male in dorsal view; 81—Male in lateral view; 82—Head in frontal view; 83—Malar area; 84—Galea; 85—Antenna; 86—Scutum; 87—Metanotum and propodeum; 88, 91—Hind tibia (88—from Lebedev 1929: 270, fig. 1); 89—Metasoma in ventral view; 90—Metasoma in dorsal view.

FIGURE 1–12. Male of Dasypoda iberica: 1—Male in dorsal view; 2—Male in lateral view; 3—Head in frontal view; 4—Vertex; 5—Malar area; 6—Apex of galea; 7—Flagellum; 8—Scutum; 9—Propodeum; 10—Hind tibia and basitarsus; 11—Metasoma in dorsal view; 12—Metasoma in ventral view.

FIGURE 92–98. Sterna and genitalia of Dasypoda vulpecula male: 92—Sternum 6; 93—Sternum 7 on the base of sternum 8 with two basal hooks on the sides; 94—Apex of sternum 8; 95—Genitalia in dorsal view; 96—Genitalia in ventral view; 97—Gonostylus in dorsal view; 98—Two inner lobes of gonostylus.

FIGURE 99–109. Female of Dasypoda vulpecula: 99—Female in dorsal view; 100—Female in lateral view; 101—Head in frontal view; 102—Malar area; 103—Galea; 104—Flagellum; 105—Glossa and labial palpus; 106—Apex of hind tibia; 107—Metasoma, ventral view; 108—Marginal band on sternum 4; 109—Pygidial plate.