Epicharis (Epicharitides) duckei Friese, 1901

Villamizar, Germán & Vivallo, Felipe, 2024, Taxonomic revision of the oil-collecting bee subgenus Epicharis (Epicharitides) Moure, 1945 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), with the description of two new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 928 (1), pp. 1-61 : 12-16

Epicharis (Epicharitides) duckei Friese, 1901

Figs 2 , 10

Centris (Epicharis) duckei Friese, 1901: 345–346 (original description, floral record).

Centris (Epicharis) duckei – Ducke 1901a: 30 (floral record); 1901b: 49, 56 (floral record, distribution); 1902a: 324 (floral record); 1902b: 363 (catalogue). — Rasmussen & Ascher 2008: 45 (list).

Epicharis duckei – Cockerell 1922: 549 (descriptive note). — Pereira et al. 2014: 34 (floral record, capture method).

Epicharitides duckei – Moure 1945a: 312 (new combination, comparative note with Epicharitides cockerelli (= Epicharis cockerelli )); 1945b: 399–400 (key).

Epicharis (Epicharitides) duckei – Moure & Seabra 1959: 125 (comparative note with E. rufescens ). — Gaglianone 2001: 186 (distribution, floral records). — Silveira et al. 2002: 102 (list, distribution). — Moure et al. 2007: 138–139 (catalogue, distribution).

Diagnoses

Females

Pubescence predominantly whitish on gena, mesepisternum and propodeum; black and whitish hairs intermixed giving a grayish aspect on vertex and dorsal surface of mesosoma; maculae on face, pronotum, tegula, mesoscutellum and metasomal terga well-developed; macula on posterior margin of mesoscutellum as a longitudinal irregular stripe; metasomal terga with maculae as longitudinal stripes throughout disc, on T2 restricted to lateral sides and interrupted medially; malar area sub-rectangular; tegula and wing veins reddish brown.

Males

Vertex and mesosoma mostly yellowish, dorsal surface of mesosoma and metasoma with whitish hairs; black hairs almost absent; maculae with similar configuration than those on female but more developed, especially on face and metasoma; hind femur robust and covered by whitish hairs. The female of this species shares with E. lia sp. nov. and E. rufescens the yellow macula on the posterior margin of mesoscutellum. However, it can be identified by the whitish pubescence on mesosoma and by the maculae on discs of T3–T5 as longitudinal stripes (grayish appearance on mesosoma and maculae on metasoma restricted to lateral sides in E. lia and pubescence predominantly orange-testaceous on mesosoma and without maculae on metasoma in E. rufescens ).

Type material

The original description of this species was based on a series collected in the Brazilian State of Pará during different months of the year 1900. Here is designated the lectotype.

Lectotype (with the following data label)

BRAZIL • ♀; “Brasil Para 22.3. [Handwritten] 1900 Ducke\ Epicharis duckei ♀ [Handwritten] 1900 Friese det.\ Coll. Friese ”; ZMB .

Paralectotypes

BRAZIL • 1 ♀; “ Pará, 3.10.99, Ducke [Handwritten]\ 31619\ Centris (Epicharis) duckei Friese ♀, det. A. Duckei 1907 [Handwritten];” ZMB • 1 ♂; “ Brasil Para 13.4. [Handwritten] 1900 Ducke\ Coll. Friese \ Epicharis duckei ♂? [Handwritten] 1900 Friese det.”; ZMB .

Material examined (n = 7 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂)

BRAZIL – Amazonas • 1 ♀; “BRASIL AM QUERARI São Gabriel da Cachoeira 2ª Pel. Esp. De Fronteira 01º05’N / 69º51’W 05-04/ 27/05 /1993 Vidal, J. Ferreira, RLM col.\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) sp.? Det. T. Mahlmann, 2016\ Malaise”; INPA • 1 ♀; “ Brazil Estado do Amazonas \ Coleção Ducke\ Teffé 27.9.1904 Ducke \ MPEG-HYM 11130936 ”; MPEG. – Mato Grosso • 1 ♀; “ BRASIL: Mato Grosso. Nova Maringá; Faz. J.A; 13º08’43”S. 57º04’46”W; Floresta. Malaise; 22-XII-2017; Ferreira, JVA.\ Epicharis cockerelli \ G16NAT Ferreira_2282 ”; INPA • 1 ♀; “ BRASIL Mato Grosso, Nova Mutum, Fazenda Buriti ; 13°49’ S, 56°04’ W; Estrada da Roda D’agua ; 7/XII/1997; H. Mendes leg.\ Epicharis duckei Friese, 1900 det. Gaglianone, 2000\ 980016”; CEPANN. – Minas Gerais • 1 ♂; “ Lagoa santa.\ Epicharis duckei Fr. ♂ 1909 Friese det.\ Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Dept. Invert. Zool. No. 28251\ AMNH_ ENT AMNH_BEE 00014614 ”; AMNH. – Pará • 1 ♀; “ Brasil Para; 28.2.1902; Ducke \ Coleção Ducke\ MPEG-HYM 11130939 ”; MPEG • 1 ♀; “ Brasil Para; 28.2.1902; Ducke \ Coleção Ducke\ MPEG-HYM 11130934 ”; MPEG • 1 ♀; “ Brasil Para; 2. 1902; Ducke \ Epicharis duckei ♀ 1909 Friese det.\ Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Dept. Invert. Zool. No. 26409\ Epicharitides duckei (Friese) \ AMNH_ENT AMNH_BEE 00014613 ”; AMNH • 1 ♀; “ Pará; 3.10.99; Ducke \ 31619\ Centris (Epicharis) duckei det. A. Ducke 1907”; ZMB • 1 ♂; “ Belém Utinga ; 27.I.1979 \ Brasil PA A F Ramos \ MPEG-HYM 11130938 ”; MPEG • 1 ♂; “Nord-Brasilien Para Soure Marajo ; O. Bertram S. V.\ Epicharis duckei Friese ♂”; ZMB • 1 ♂; “ Brasil Para; 13. 4. 1900; Ducke\ Epicharis duckei ? ♂ 1900 Friese det. F.\ Coll. Friese ”; ZMB .

COLOMBIA – Meta • “ Meta Dep Sierra la Macarena ; 7.X.1986; col. BONILLA \ Epicharis D. Guevara Ene 2018 \ 2994\ LABUN 007973 ”; LABUN .

Morphology

Female ( Fig. 2A–B )

MEASUREMENTS. Approximate body length: 14.5 (14.3–14.7). Head width: 4.4 (4.3–4.4). Mesosoma width: 5.3 (5.1–5.3). Metasoma width: 5.1 (5–5.3). Forewing length: 10.1 (9.9–10.2).

COLORATION. Integument mostly dark brown to black, lighter on legs, lateral sides of T1 and S1. Ventral surface of flagellomeres except basal half of F1 reddish brown. Maculation as follows: longitudinal stripe on paraocular area close to the margin of the compound eyes, from alveolar tangent to lower paraocular area, wider on lower area; irregular spot at the apex of the ventral surface of scape and on supraclypeal area; weak on basal margin and lateral sides of clypeus; at basal half of labrum, emarginated on medial area; most of malar area; dorsal surface of mandible except apex; an irregular stripe close to dorsolateral angles of pronotum; concave shape on anterior margin of tegula; a small spot at the base of the dorsal surface of fore tibia; a transversal curved stripe restricted to posterior margin of mesoscutellum; an irregular stripe throughout T1 and T3–T5, narrower medially; a sub-rectangular shape on lateral sides of T2, extending finely towards disc. Tegula reddish brown. Wings translucent with veins dark brown. Tarsi brown.

PUBESCENCE. Predominantly whitish. Black and whitish hairs intermixed giving a grayish appearance on vertex, near to occipital carina, dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and on fore and middle tibiae. Ferruginous to dark brown hairs on ventral surface of hind tibia and basitarsus, and on distal segments of metasoma. Basal half of labrum, lower margin of mandible and lateral sides of clypeus with long, decumbent, sparse and simple hairs (2‒5× OD), denser and shorter on apex. Dense and plumose hairs on paraocular area, longer on vertex, occipital area and lower gena (2‒4 × OD). Appressed pubescence on lower gena near to compound eyes. Mesosoma with dense, uniform and plumose hairs (2‒4 × OD), shorter and scattered (almost absent) on dorsum of pronotum, denser on hypoepimeral lobe and longer hairs on mesepisternum and metepisternum. Ventral surface of mesepisternum with long, dense, coarse and simple hairs. Anterior surface and disc of T1 with plumose hairs similar to those on dorsum of mesosoma. Short and appressed pubescence on discs of T2‒T5, glabrous on distal margins of T2 and T3, and distal halves of T4 and T5. Long, decumbent, sparse and simple hairs on lateral sides of T3 and T4, and on preapical margin of T5 (3‒5× OD), being longer progressively towards apical segments. Distal margin of T5 with short, tomentose and plumose hairs. Distal margins of S2‒S5 with long, dense and simple hairs (2‒5× OD), longer medially and towards apex.

SURFACE SCULPTURE. Labrum and clypeal disc weakly areolate, more conspicuous on apical area of labrum and lateral sides of clypeus. Fine and scattered punctation on paraocular area, vertex and upper gena (2‒4× puncture width), denser on occipital area close to occipital carina and lower gena. Mesosoma with fine and uniform punctation (2‒4 × puncture width), denser on metepisternum and sparser, almost absent on dorsum of pronotum. Metasoma weakly imbricate with large impunctate areas on distal margins of T2‒T4 and distal half of T5. Punctation on sterna barely noticeable.

STRUCTURES. Head broader than long (1.2: 1). Ratio of upper and lower interocular distances: 0.8: 1. Maximum interocular distance shorter than length of compound eye (0.7: 1). Clypeus broader than long (1.4: 1) with length almost equal to clypeocellar distance (1.1: 1). Labrum slightly longer than broad (1.1: 1). Interalveolar distance longer than alveolorbital distance (2.2: 1). Interalveolar distance shorter than alveolocellar distance (0.5: 1). Lateral ocelli above the upper supraorbital tangent. Interocellar distance longer than ocellocular distance (1.1: 1). Frontal carina extending from alveolar tangent to near median ocellus (1.8 × OD). Length of F1 longer than the sum of F2 and F3, and slightly shorter than the length of F2–F4 (0.8: 0.6: 1). Vertex at the same level of the upper supraorbital tangent. Carinae of clypeal disc well-defined. Epistomal suture inconspicuous. Mesoscutellum rounded in lateral view.

VARIATION. The integument of legs varies from dark to light brown. A variation in the yellow macula on the posterior margin of the mesoscutellum was also observed. In some specimens from Amazonas State, the macula extends to the middle of the disc, while in others it is much narrower. An unusual Colombian specimen of this species has the maculae of the face obscured and the macula of the mesoscutellum orange. We consider that this is due to its state of preservation.

Male ( Fig. 2C–2D )

As the female, except as follows:

MEASUREMENTS. Approximate body length: 14.3. Head width: 4.2. Mesosoma width: 5.3. Metasoma width: 5.0. Forewing length: 10.5.

COLORATION. Legs and metasoma light reddish brown. Yellow maculae as follows: paraocular area, from alveolar tangent to lower paraocular area; ventral surface of scape, pedicel, and basal half of F1; irregular triangle on lower margin of the clypeal disc, finely prolonged towards upper margin and on corner of lateral sides; supraclypeal area and labrum; at malar area; on most of mandible except apex; a faint spot on basal margin of fore tibia; a transversal curved stripe restricted to posterior margin of mesoscutellum; an irregular stripe throughout T1; wide stripe basally on T2–T6, narrower on medial area of disc; an irregular spot on lateral sides of S2–S6.

PUBESCENCE. Largely yellowish on occipital area, lower gena and dorsum of mesosoma and metasoma. Whitish hairs on upper gena, legs, propodeum and on ventral surfaces of mesosoma and metasoma. Occipital area and mesosoma with denser and longer pubescence (2–5× OD). Distal margins of T3–T6 with dense, short and simple hairs (1–3 × OD), being progressively longer towards distal segments. Simple hairs on lateral margins of S2–S6 shorter and sparser (1–3× OD).

SURFACE SCULPTURE. Punctation on upper paraocular area, frons and vertex coarser and denser (0.5– 2× punctation width).

STRUCTURES. Head slightly broader than long (1.1: 1). Ratio of upper and lower interocular distances: 0.7: 1. Maximum interocular distance shorter than length of the compound eye (0.6: 1). Clypeus broader than long (1.5: 1) with length equal to clypeocellar distance (1: 1). Labrum as long as wide (1: 1). Interalveolar distance longer than alveolorbital distance (2.3: 1). Interalveolar distance shorter than alveolocellar distance (0.6: 1). Lateral ocelli below the upper supraorbital tangent. Interocellar distance longer than ocellocular distance (1.1: 1). Frontal carina extending from tip of supraclypeal carina (1.9× OD). Length of F1 shorter than F2 (0.9: 1), F2 shorter than F3 (0.8: 1) and F3 shorter than F4 (0.9: 1), (0.7: 0.8: 0.9: 1). Clypeal carinae conspicuous. Epistomal suture barely evident. Malar area sub-rectangular. Apical tooth about twice as long as preapical tooth. Middle trochanter conical. Hind femur and tibia robust. Anterior and posterior surfaces of hind basitarsus biconcave.

Type locality

BRAZIL: Pará State.

Distribution ( Fig. 10 )

COLOMBIA: Meta: La Macarena*. BRAZIL: Amazonas: São Gabriel da Cachoeira*, Tefé*. Pará: Soure*, Ilha de Marajó ( Gaglianone 2001), Belém ( Gaglianone 2001), Tomé Açu ( Pereira et al. 2014). Mato Grosso: Nova Maringá*, Nova Mutum ( Gaglianone 2001), Chapada dos Guimarães ( Gaglianone 2001). Minas Gerais: Lagoa Santa*, Jacuí ( Gaglianone 2001).

Comments

Epicharis duckei has been known as a predominantly Amazonian species. Most of the material that we studied, including the lectotype here designated, corresponds to specimens collected by botanist Adolpho Ducke (1876–1959) in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Pará. In addition to that, new records were compiled in this research, extending northwards to the Colombian Department of Meta and southwards to Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

This study provides the description of the male of this species for the very first time.Although we studied male specimens collected by Ducke and doubtfully identified by Friese as E. duckei , their identity was not confirmed with certainty. This may be due to the great similarity between the males of this species and those of E. cockerelli , E. iheringi and E. rufescens .

Figures

Fig. 2. Epicharis (Epicharitides) duckei Friese, 1901. A–B. Female (Brazil: Nova Mutum; INPA). A. Head, frontal view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C–D. Male (Brazil: Belém; MPEG). C. Head, frontal view. D. Habitus, lateral view. Scale bars: A, C = 1 mm; B, D = 5 mm.

Fig. 10. Distribution records for Epicharis cockerelli Friese, 1900, E. duckei Friese, 1901 and E. iheringi Friese, 1899. Symbols with a cross represent records from literature.