Sphecodes ephippius (Linné, 1767)

Astafurova, Yu. V., Proshchalykin, M. Yu. & Engel, M. S., 2018, The cuckoo bee genus Sphecodes Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) in Kazakhstan, Far Eastern Entomologist 369, pp. 1-48 : 12-14

Sphecodes ephippius (Linné, 1767)

DIAGNOSIS. This species is closest to the eastern Palaearctic S. pieli Cockerell,

1931 owing to similar structure, sculpture and coloration of the body (the female is similar in relative width of head and pygidial plate, length of scape setae, elevated vertex, impunctate metasomal T 1, red T1–T 3; the male is similar in sparsely punctate

T2, proportion of tyloids and shape of gonostylus as in Fig. 8 ), but differs from this species by the lack of a longitudinal carina on the vertex in both sexes and by T1–

T3 all or partly red in males (entirely black or dark brown in S. pieli). The female is also similar to S. pellucidus Smith, 1845, but differs from it in the short setae of the scape (shorter than width of scape), by the less transverse head, 1.20–1.25 times as wide as long, and by elevated vertex with distance from top of head to upper margin of lateral ocellus at least 0.5 lateral ocellar diameters as seen in frontal view (setae on scape distinctly longer than width of scape; head more transverse, 1.30–1.35

times as wide as long, and distance from top of head to upper margin of lateral ocellus at most 0.2 lateral ocellar diameters as seen in frontal view in S. pellucidus ).

DESCRIPTIVE NOTES. Hind wing with basal vein strongly curved; costal margin with 5–6 hamuli. Female. Total body length 7.0–9.0 mm. Head transverse,

1.20–1.25 times as wide as long; vertex weakly elevated (distance from top of head to upper margin of lateral ocellus about 0.5 a lateral ocellar diameter as seen in frontal view); clypeus densely punctate, punctures separated by less than a puncture diameter.

Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely punctate (20–30 μm / 0.5–1.0). Metasomal

T1 impunctate or with a few fine punctures; T2 distinctly punctate, denser on anterior third and sparsely on remainder of disc; marginal zones impunctate; T1–T3 red, T4

red laterally; pygidial plate dull, 1.2–1.4 times wider than metabasitarsus. Male.

Total body length 6.0–9.0 mm. Head transverse, 1.2 times as wide as long; tyloids

10 – S. geoffrellus ; 11 – S. gibbus ; 12 – S. haladai ; 13 – S. hyalinatus .

(from F4 onward) usually covering about 1/2 (rarely 3/4) ventral surface of flagellomeres. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely punctate (20–30 μm), with punctures separated by less than a puncture diameter (usually with contiguous punctures). Metasomal T1 impunctate or rarely with a few fine punctures; T2 sparsely punctate with punctures separated by 2–5 puncture diameters and impunctae along marginal zone;

T1–T3 red, T3 sometimes partly dark; gonocoxite dorsally without impression.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Kazakhstan. West Kazakhstan: near Uralsk [Oral],

10.VII 1908, 1 ♀, B. Uvarov [ZISP]; Kyshtym, 27.VIII 1922, 1 ♂, Burakova

[ ZISP]; Yanvartsevo , Ural River, 22.V–2.IX 1949, 7 ♀, 5 ♂, VR [ZISP]; Solyanka

River , 13.IX 1949, 1 ♀, 3 ♂ , L. Arnoldi [ZISP]; Kharkin , Ural River, 6-12.V 1951 ,

2 ♀, VR [ZISP]; Mergenevo, 7.VII 1951, 1 ♂, Steinberg [ZISP]; Kyzylorda:

Perovsk [Kyzylorda], 15.V 1928, 1 ♂, N. Olenev, VP [ZISP]; Akmola: Borovoye,

Kokshetau, 4–26.VII 1932, 4 ♂, VP [ZISP]; Karagandy: 2♀♀, Berchogur, 15.VI

1910, L. Androssow [ZISP]; Bayzhanzhal Mts , 11.VII 1957, 1 ♂, VR [ZISP]; 80

km S Zhana-Arka [Atasu], 8.VI 1958, 1 ♀, AP [ZISP]; Karzhal, 11.VII 1989, 1 ♂,

Yu. Chekanov [ZISP]; South Kazakhstan: 70 km E Chimkent, Vanovka , 1.V 1982 ,

1 ♀, SB [ZISP]; Zhambyl : Novo-Voskresenovka [Andas batyra], 40 km E Merke ,

4.V 1994, 1 ♀, KD [PCMS]; 60 km E Dzhambul , 1-9.V 1994, 3 ♀, P. Cechovsky

[ PCMS]; 40 km E Merke, Novovoskresenovka , 4.V 1994, 3 ♀, JH [PCMS]; Tatti ,

80 km E Merke , 5.V 1994, 4 ♀ , MH [PCMS]; 60 km E Dzambul, Monjunkum desert, 1-9.V 1994, 3 ♀ , P. Cechovsky [PCMS]; 10 km E Dzhambul , 31.V 1994 , 5

♀, MH [PCMS]; Chernaya Rechka, 30.VI 2000, 1 ♀, V. Gurko [PCMS]; Pavlodar:

Irtysh River, 13 km NW Lebyazhye, 21.VIII 1987, 1 ♂, YP [ZISP]; East Kazakhstan:

18 km SE Zaysan , Temir-Su, 15.VI 1973, 1 ♀, MK [ZISP]; Maralikha [Sarytau] ,

11.VII 1973, 1 ♂, MK [ZISP]; 10 km NW Kievka , 12.VII 1983, 1 ♂, Alekseev

[ZISP]; Kedrovka River, 10 km S Leninogorsk [Ridder], Ulba Mts, 1500 m, 18.VIII

1986, 1 ♀, YP [ZISP]; Almaty: near Almaty, 3-18.VI 1953 , 5 ♀, LZ [ZMMU];

idem, 29.V 1970, 1 ♀, TM [ZISP]; idem, 2.VI.1974, 5 ♀ ; idem, VT [ZISP]; Ili

River, Karasu River, 21.V 1970, 1 ♂, TM [ZISP]; Almaty NR, Talgar River , 1700

m, 8.VIII 1979, 2 ♀, DK [ZISP]; 30 km SSE Dzhansugurov [Zhangsügirov], 1600

m, 27.VII 1986, 1 ♂, YP [ZISP]; 20 km N Kegen , 24.IV 1994, 2 ♀, KD [PCMS];

Alma-Arasan , 15 km S Alma-Ata, 27.V 1994, 2 ♀, KD [PCMS] .

PUBLISHED RECORDS. Popov (1933: 53, as S. davisus ) recorded the species from Akmola.

DISTRIBUTION. Kazakhstan (* West Kazakhstan, *Kyzylorda, Akmola, *Karagandy, * South Kazakhstan, *Zhambyl,*Pavlodar, * East Kazakhstan, * Almaty) ,

Russia (east to Irkutsk Prov.), Mongolia, Central Asia, Caucasus, Turkey, Europe

(north to 62° latitude).

REMARK. In the southern parts of Kazakhstan this species principally occurs in the mountains.

Figures

Figs 8–13. Genitalia, males, dorsal view. 8 – Sphecodes ephippius; 9 – S. ferruginatus;