Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899

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 : 16-22

Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899

Figs 3 , 10

Epicharis iheringi Friese, 1899: 40 (original description).

Epicharis cockerelli var. fulvohirta Schrottky, 1902a: 566 (original description).

Epicharis iheringi – Friese 1900: 119 (cited). — Schrottky 1902a: 559–561, 569 (key, morphology). — Fischer & Gordo 1993: 564, 566 (floral record, bionomy). — Pedro 1994: 252 (floral records). — Oliveira & Gibbs 2000: 320 (floral record). — Machado 2004: 269 (floral records). — Barônio & Torezan-Silingardi 2017: 172 (floral record, bionomy).

Centris (Epicharis) iheringi – Friese 1901: 241, 244–246, 264, (list, key, description, distribution).

Epicharis cockerelli var. fulvohirta – Moure 1945a: 312 (synonymy). — Rasmussen et al. 2009: 27 (list). — Ramos et al. 2015: (catalogue).

Epicharitides iheringi – Moure 1945a: 312 (new combination, synonymy, morphology of adult, comparative note with Epicharitides cockerelli and E. duckei ); 1945b: 399–400 (distribution, synonymy, comparative note with Epicharitides cockerelli , key).

Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi – Mateus 1998: 20, 65, 107, 119, 124–125, 139, 142 (floral records, bionomy). — Pedro & Camargo 1999: 200 (catalogue). — Gaglianone 2001: 24–26, 28, 42–44, 47, 52–53, 58–59, 63, 66–68, 123–128, 131, 137–138, 150, 187 (bionomy, floral records, morphology of adult, phylogeny, distribution); 2003: 282 (floral records, bionomy); 2005: 198 (cited). — Silveira et al. 2002: 102 (list, distribution). — Andena et al. 2005: 84 (list). — Gonçalves & Melo 2005: 566 (floral record, bionomy). — Neves et al. 2006: 99 (floral record). — Oliveira et al. 2006: 34 (floral record). — Moure et al. 2007: 139 (catalogue, distribution). — Azevedo et al. 2008: 144 (list, distribution records). — Rasmussen & Ascher 2008: 58 (list). — Alves-dos-Santos 2009: 304 (catalogue). — Carvalho & Oliveira 2010: 59 (floral record). — Vianna 2010: 92 (list). — Gaglianone et al. 2011: 659 (list, distribution). — Imperatriz-Fonseca et al. 2011: 10 (list, floral records). — Rabelo et al. 2012: 1135 (cited). — Amaral-Neto 2013: 45, 101 (floral records, phenology). — Almeida & Laroca 2013: 91–95, 112, 121, 169, 171–172 (key, catalogue, floral records). — Pinto 2013: 52 (bionomy). — Martins et al. 2014: 89–92 (terminal taxon in molecular phylogenetic analysis, biogeographical analysis). — Martins & Melo 2015: 25, 27 (terminal taxon in molecular phylogenetic analysis). — Lima & Silvestre 2016: 9 (checklist). — Sorreque 2016: 21 (bionomy). — Álvarez et al. 2019: 2 (gynandromorph).

Diagnoses

Females

The largest bee of the subgenus (14–15 mm); pubescence predominantly dark brown to black with whitish hairs on gena, propodeum and ventral surface of metasoma; distinct maculae on face; malar area reduced; metasomal terga with irregular stripes or elliptical spots on lateral sides; tegula and wing veins reddish brown; hind elaiospathe without hook-shaped hairs.

Males

Pubescence of mesosoma ferruginous to yellowish; whitish hairs on head, legs and dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and metasoma; maculae on face with same configuration than those on females but more developed, mainly on clypeus and ventral surface of scape; malar area reduced; lateral sides of T1 and T2 with maculae as irregular stripes and sub-rectangular spots respectively, the remaining terga with maculae as wide stripes throughout disc; tegula and wing veins reddish brown; hind femur slender; S2–S4 with long and simple hairs curved towards medial area. The males of this species superficially resemble that of E. cockerelli , E. duckei and E. rufescens but they can be distinguished by the shape of the malar area and the hind femur; in E. iheringi the malar area is reduced and the hind femur is slender, while in the remaining species the malar area is sub-rectangular and the hind femur robust. Furthermore, the long pubescence on S2–S4 is characteristic in the male of this species.

Type material (with the following data label)

Holotype

BRAZIL • ♂;“1578 [Rectangular label]\ St. Paul [Handwriting label]\ Epicharis iheringi ♂ [Handwriting] det. Friese 1898; ZMB (studied).

Lectotype of Epicharis cockerelli fulvohirta Schrottky, 1902 (here designated, with the following data label)

BRAZIL • 1 ♀; “ Epicharis cockerelli Fri var fulvohirta Schr. 17.874 Ypiranga . Ducke rev. 13.\ 17874\ ♀ \ 97057”; MZUSP.

Paralectotypes

BRAZIL • 1 ♀; “17.876\ 97061”; MZUSP • 1 ♂; “17.876\ 97045\ ♂”; MZUSP • 1 ♂; “17.876\ 97054\ ♂”; MZUSP .

Material examined (n = 43 ♀♀, 22 ♂♂)

BRAZIL – Bahia • 1 ♀; “ BRASIL Bahia, Chapada Diamantina , Agropolo-Bagisa-POLINFRUT ; Data: 04.04.2011; Coordenadas; Rede entomológica\ Ponto:56 PL:01; Hora: 10:08; Data: 04.04.2011; Coletor: Eduardo 1477\ EPICHARIS IHERINGI ”; MZUFBA • 1 ♀; “ Brasil, Bahia, Chapada Diamantina , Cascavel , Agropolo-Bagisa-POLINFRUT ; Data: 06.XI.2011; GPS; Rede entomológica; E.F. Moreira e Equipe leg\ Ponto:77 PL:02; Hora: 13:45; Data: 06/XI/2011; Coletor Eduardo\ Eduardo 3262”; MZUFBA • 1 ♀; “ Lençois BA BRASIL; 08/01/1997; E.A.B. Almeida ”; DZMG • 1 ♀; “ Brasil, Bahia, Lençóis; 26.iv.2003; 15:50\ 05106”; MZUFBA • 1 ♀; “ Palmeiras BA BRASIL; 24/04/2003; A.A. Azevedo \ Estrada Morro do Pai Inácio Chap. Diamantina ; 8646–26239”; DZMG. – Goiás • 1 ♀; “ Alto Paraíso de Goiás GO BRASIL; 10/04/2007; M.F. Goulart \ Abelhas Altimontanas Par Na Ch dos Veadeiros; 13002– 38482”; DZMG • 1 ♀; “ BRASIL. GO. Iporá; 20, Março. 2005; Centofante & Martins ”; DSEC • 1 ♀; “ BRASIL. GO. Iporá; 24, Outubro. 2004; Centofante & Martins ”; DSEC • 1 ♀; “ Brasil, GO, Rd. GO ; 241.24 km N Cavalcante; 13°36’17” S 47°31’34” W; 1190m; Vochysia ; 15.ii.2012; E. Almeida & A. Aguiar \ RPSP 12.1654 \ VOUCHER # 21 BRASIL–2012\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 F. Vivallo det. 2014”; RPSP • 1 ♂; “ BRASIL, GO, MINEIROS PARNA Emas ; 18°15’38”, 52°53’02”; 11.x.2014; Em flor, D.P. Campos et al.; UFMG IHY 1415182 \ Epicharis (Epicharitides) cockerelli ♂ Friese, 1900 J.E. Santos JR , det. 2014”; DZMG. – Mato Grosso • 1 ♀; “ BRASIL: Mato Grosso. Tangará da Serra. Fazenda Aparecida da Serra ; 14º18’36.64”S 57º44’47.00”W; Cerrado Sentido Restrito Malaise; 24- VIII-2017; MLS Almeida.\ 142\ Epicharis iheringi Det. T. Mahlmann, 2017 \ C2, G4, P300, Cerrado”; INPA • 1 ♀; “ Mato Grosso. Tangará da Serra. Fazenda Aparecida da Serra ; 14º18’36.64” S 57º44’47.00”W; Cerrado; Malaise; 29-IX-2017; MLS Almeida \ C4, G3, P150; Cerrado; Nº 466”; INPA • 2 ♀♀; “ Mato Grosso. Tangará da Serra. Fazenda Aparecida da Serra ; 14º18’36.64” S 57º44’47.00”W; Cerrado ; Malaise ; 27-X-2017; MLS Almeida \ C3, G3, P 150; Cerrado; Nº 257; C4, G3, P 150; Cerrado; Nº 464”; INPA • 1 ♂; “ BRASIL: Mato Grosso. Tangará da Serra. Fazenda Aparecida da Serra ; 14º18’36.64” S 57º44’47.00”W; Cerrado ; Malaise ; 29- IX-2017; MLS Almeida \ C3, G3, P150; Cerrado; Nº258”; INPA. – Minas Gerais • 1 ♀; “ Brazil Estado de Minas Ger.\ Barbacena; 14.11.1905; Ducke \ Coleção Ducke\ MPEG-HYM 11130931 ”; MPEG • 1 ♂; “ Brazil Estado de Minas Ger. \ Barbacena; 12.11.1905; Ducke \ Coleção Ducke\ MPEG-HYM 11130925 ”; MPEG • 1 ♂; “ Brazil Estado de Minas Ger. \ Barbacena; 18.12.1905; Ducke \ Coleção Ducke\ MPEG-HYM 11130928 ”; MPEG • 1 ♀; “ Bonfinópolis de Minas; 45°59’ W, 16°34’ S; Fazenda Assa Peixe \ MG-Brasil; 25.II.2001; M. Mazucato leg.\ RPSP 010529 \ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 F. Vivallo det. 2014”; RPSP • 1 ♀; “ Bonfinópolis de Minas; 45°59’ W, 16°34’ S; Fazenda Assa Peixe \ MG-Brasil; 25.II.2001; M. Mazucato leg.\ RPSP 010528 \ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 F. Vivallo det. 2014”; RPSP • 1 ♂; “ Bonfinópolis de Minas; 45°59’ W, 16°34’ S; Fazenda Assa Peixe \ MG-Brasil; 25.II.2001; M. Mazucato leg.\ RPSP 010530 \ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 F. Vivallo det. 2014”; RPSP • 1 ♂; “ Bonfinópolis de Minas; 45°59’ W, 16°34’ S; Fazenda Assa Peixe \ MG-Brasil; 25.II.2001; M. Mazucato leg.\ RPSP 010527 \ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 F. Vivallo det. 2014”; RPSP • 1 ♀; “ Fazenda Boa Esperança Bonfinópolis de Minas 30 Km NW–MG \ BRASIL; 17.IV.2008; M. Mazucato leg.\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 Det. S.Pedro 2010 \ RPSP 09.0964 ”; RPSP • 1 ♀; “ Brasilândia MG BRASIL; 01/10/1996; A.G. Damasceno \ Projeto Abelhas de Brasilândia; P. emarginatus ; 16:00–17:00\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi (FRIESE) ♀ F.A. Silveira, det. 1997”; INPA • 1 ♂; “ Brasilândia MG BRASIL; 20/09/1996; A.G. Damasceno \ Projeto Abelhas de Brasilândia; P. emarginatus ; 15:00–16:00\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi (Friese) ♂ F.A. Silveira, det. 1997”; INPA • 1 ♂; “ Brasilândia de Minas MG BRASIL; 24/05/2002; A.A. Azevedo \ Monitor V&M; Vochysia rufa Faz. ; Brejão 7889–24000”; DZMG • 1 ♀; “ Diamantina MG BRASIL; 02/10/2005; M. F. Goulart \ Abelhas Espinhaço Pq. E. Biribiri ; 10586–31006”; DZMG • 1 ♀; “ Brasil, MG, Francisco Dumont, Serra do Cabral ; 17°36’16.0” S, 44°27’05.0” W; 1053m; 20.xii.2012; Em flor, R.M. Carmo; UFMG IHY 1301751 \ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi ♀ Friese, 1899 R.B. Martines , det. 2013”; DZMG • 1 ♂; “ Itacambira MG BRASIL; 01/10/2005; A.A. Azevedo \ Abelhas Espinhaço; 10538–30694”; DZMG • 1 ♂; “ Itaúna MG BRASIL; 27/12/1997; P.E.M. Guimarães \ Morro do Bonfim ; 1973–6005\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi ♂ (Fr. 1899) F.A. Silveira , det 1999”; DZMG • 1 ♂; “ Jaboticatubas MG BRASIL; 25/03/1998; D.A. Yanega \ Serra do Cipó ; 3009–8892\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi ♂ (Fr. 1899) F.A. Silveira , det 1999”; DZMG • 1 ♂; “ Lassance MG BRASIL; 28/10/2004; A.A. Azevedo \ Abelhas Espinhaço S. do Cabral ; 10210–29872”; DZMG • 1 ♀; “ Paraopeba, MG, Brasil; Data 11/10/1987; F.A. Silveira \ 528/1413\ E. (Epicharitides) iheringi ♀ Friese, 1989 Pe. J.S. Moure det. 1988”; DZMG • 1 ♀; “ RITAPOLIS MG, BRASIL SF; - 23, 44-21d/ 19-I-1974; M. Mazucato, Velthuis J.M.F. Camargo leg.\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi (Fr.) Moure det. 86\ E. (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 Det. Moure, 1992 ”; RPSP • 1 ♀; “ S. João del Rei MG Brasil SF; 23,44-21c; 26-XII-1974; Welthuis leg\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 Det. Camargo 1989 \ E. (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 Det. Moure, 1992 ”; RPSP • 1 ♂; “ São Roque de Minas MG Brasil SF.; 25 46°25’ W, 20° 15’ S \ Cerrado; 12,13/01/1992; Alt. 850–1000m; Moure, Camargo, Serguei, Pedro Leg\ 920614”; RPSP • 1 ♀; “ São Roque de Minas MG BRASIL; 28/03/2007; M.F. Goulart \ Abelhas Altimontanas Par Na S. da Canastra ; 12928–38234”; DZMG • 1 ♀; “ Santana do Riacho MG BRASIL; 01/06/2003; M.F. Goulart \ Chamaecrista semaphore S. do Cipó; 8511–25944”; DZMG • 1 ♀; “ Serra do Cipó-MG ; 43°, 35’ W–19°, 18’ S; Brasil; 08.III.1990; Faria–Mazucato \ No 900043; Pl. 064; h. 14:00–16:00\ E. (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 Det. Camargo 1990 ”; RPSP • 1 ♂; “ Serra do Cipó-MG ; 43°35’W – 19°18’ S; Brasil; 25.II.1993; Faria, G.M. leg.\ Pl. Malpighiaceae h.\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 Det. Camargo 1993 ”; RPSP • 1 ♀; “ Serra do Cipó-MG ; 43°35’ W – 19°18’ S; Brasil; 26.II.1993; Faria, G.M. leg.\ Pl. Vochysia pygmaea h.\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 Det. Camargo 1993 ”; RPSP • 1 ♂; “ Serra do Salitre MG BRASIL; 23/10/2009; A.F. Kumagai et al.\ RPPN; Cachoeira do Campo; 22062–64966\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi R.CC Arante ”; DZMG • 1 ♀; “ Clube Caça e Pesca , Uberlândia, MG Brasil; 18.X.2007; Leg. G.D. Cordeiro \ CEPANN 39494 ”; CEPANN • 1 ♀; “ VARGINHA M. Gerais BRASIL; II-1955; F. M. Oliveira \ Epicharis iheringi ♀ Friese \ COLEÇÃO CAMPOS SEABRA”; MNRJ. – Pará • 1 ♂; “ Brasil Para; 19.4.1900; Ducke \ Coleção Ducke\ MPEG-HYM 11130935 ”; MPEG. – São Paulo • 1 ♀; “ Cassia dos Coqueiros SP. Brasil; 08/III/1997; Camargo, Pedro leg.\ 970568\ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 F. Vivallo det. 2014”; RPSP • 1 ♀; “ Estação Ecol. De Jataí Luis Antônio / SP Brasil; 25.II.1996; Leg. C. Pinheiro-Machado \ AT751\ AT751; CEPANN N° 35565 ”; CEPANN • 1 ♂; “ Estação Ecol. De Jataí Luis Antônio / SP Brasil; 17.XI.1996; Leg. C. Pinheiro-Machado \ B53\ 05; 17.11.96 \ Epicharis (E.) iheringi Friese, 1899 Moure det. 1997\ Epicharis (E.) iheringi Friese, 1899 ; F. Vivallo det. 2008\ AT3460; CEPANN N° 38539 ”; CEPANN • 1 ♂; “ Estação Ecol. De Jataí Luis Antônio / SP Brasil; 30.X.1996; Leg. C. Pinheiro-Machado \ AT668\ Epicharis (E.) iheringi Friese, 1899 ; Moure det. 1997\ Epicharis (E.) iheringi Friese, 1899 ; F. Vivallo det. 2008\ AT668; CEPANN N° 35597 ”; CEPANN • 1 ♀; “ Brasil, SP, Luis Antônio E.E. Jatai ; 28.X.1998; M.C. Gaglianone leg.\ Em Memora peregrine (Miers) Sandw. – Bignonaceae ”; RPSP • 1 ♀; “ Brasil, SP, Luis Antônio E.E. Jatai ; 16.I.1998; M.C. Gaglianone leg.\ Byrsonima intermedia Adr Juss. ”; RPSP • 1 ♀; “ Brasil Jundiahy; 20.12 1902 \ Epicharis cockerelli ♀ 1910 Friese det.\ Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Dept. Invert. Zool. No. 26407\ Epicharis iheringi ♀ Det. J. S. Moure 1951 \ Epicharis cockerelli Friese ”; AMNH • 1 ♀; “ Brasil 13.5km SW Estreito Rd Antonio Giolo ; 20°14’44” S 47° 21’01” W; 990m; 25.i.2012; E. Almeida & E. Alencar, cols\ RPSP12.1681 \ Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899 ; F. Vivallo det. 2014”; RPSP • 1 ♂; “região de Luis Antônio / SP Brasil; 1996; Leg. C. Pinheiro-Machado \ AT 3463\ M\ Epicharis (E.) iheringi Friese, 1899 ; Moure det. 1997\ Epicharis (E.) iheringi Friese, 1899 ; F. Vivallo det. 2008\ AT3463; CEPANN N° 35598 ”; CEPANN • 1 ♀; “região de Luis Antônio / SP Brasil; 1996; Leg. C. Pinheiro-Machado \ AT 3001\ AT3001; CEPANN N° 35572 ”; CEPANN • 1 ♀; “região de Luis Antônio / SP Brasil; 1996; Leg. C. Pinheiro-Machado \ AT 1217\ AT1217; CEPANN N° 35573 ”; CEPANN.

PARAGUAY – Amambay • 1 ♀; “ PARAGUAY: Amambay, Cerro Corá; 350m; 3-10.ii.1990; M. Cooper \ Epicharis ?\ Cooper coll.; BMNH-ENT-2018-128; NHMUK013621085 ”; NHMUK. – San Pedro • 1 ♀; “PARAG. – CORORO SAN PEDRO RIO YPANE ; Fritz –2.79”; AMNH .

Morphology

Female ( Fig. 3A–B )

MEASUREMENTS. Approximate body length: 15.2 (15.4–14.8). Head width: 4.6 (4.7–4.4). Mesosoma width: 5.4 (5.4–5.1). Metasoma width: 5.4 (5.5–5.2). Forewing length: 10.3 (10.3–10.1).

COLORATION. Integument dark brown to black, appendages lighter brown. Ventral surface of flagellomeres reddish brown, except F1 basally. Apical flagellomeres lighter. Yellow maculae as follows: longitudinal stripe on paraocular area close to the orbits of compound eyes, through the alveolar tangent and the lower paraocular area; on supraclypeal area; longitudinal stripe on clypeal disc; basal margin of labrum, medially emarginated; irregular spot on basal anterior margin of mandible; faint spot on anterior margin of tegula; irregular stripe on lateral sides of T1; sub-rectangular spot on lateral sides of T2 and irregular elliptical spot on lateral sides of T3–T5. Tegula, tarsi and wing veins reddish brown.

PUBESCENCE. Largely dark brown to black with whitish hairs on paraocular area, gena, lateral sides of pronotum, propodeum, metepisternum and metasoma ventrally. Ferruginous hairs on apex of labrum, mandible and on ventral surface of hind tibia and basitarsus. Long, coarse, decumbent and simple hairs on labrum, acetabular sulcus, lateral sides of clypeus and paraocular area (2–4× OD). Dense, plumose and simple hairs intermixed on paraocular area, longer and denser on vertex, occipital area near the carina and lower gena (1–3 × OD). Gena with appressed pubescence nearby the compound eyes. Disc of clypeus and basal margin of labrum glabrous. Metasoma with dense, short and plumose hairs (1–2× OD), denser on hypoepimeral lobe and scattered on pronotum. Coarse hairs of similar length on ventral surface. Short, sparse and plumose hairs on disc of T1 (1–2 × OD), denser on lateral sides; discs of T2–T5 covered with appressed, short, semi erected and simple hairs (0.5–2 × OD), longer on distal margins of apical terga. Distal margin of T5 glabrous. Distal margins of sterna with decumbent, long, dense and simple hairs, denser on lateral sides.

SCULPTURE SURFACE. Clypeus and labrum areolate, more conspicuous on lateral sides of clypeus and on lower half of labrum. Coarse and uniform punctation on vertex (1–2× puncture width), coarser on frons and paraocular area, and denser on occipital area close to the occipital carina. Mesosoma imbricate, weaker on dorsum of pronotum. Terga weakly imbricate, except distal margin of T5 smooth. Sterna with fine and sparse punctures on disc, denser towards distal margins and almost smooth on basal half.

STRUCTURES. Head broader than long (1.2: 1). Ratio of upper and lower interocular distances: 0.8–0.9: 1. Maximum interocular distance shorter than length of compound eye (0.7: 1). Clypeus broader than long (1.5–1.4: 1) with length almost equal to clypeocellar distance (1.1: 1). Labrum longer than broad (1.1–1: 1). Interalveolar distance longer than alveolorbital distance (2.3–2.1: 1). Interalveolar distance shorter than alveolocellar distance (0.5–0.7: 1). Lateral ocelli above the upper supraorbital tangent; interocellar distance longer than ocellocular distance (1.4–1.3: 1). Frontal carina extending from tip of the supraclypeal carina to median ocellus (2–1.8× OD). Length of F1 longer than the sum of F2 and F3 and slightly shorter than the sum of F2–F4 (0.8: 0.7: 1). Vertex below the upper supraorbital tangent. Clypeus with carinae and epistomal suture conspicuous. Mesoscutellum rounded in lateral view.

VARIATION. In general, the female’s features do not show relevant variation. Only a variation in the configuration of the maculae on the face of some specimens from Minas Gerais State was noticed: longitudinal macula through the clypeal disc absent or conspicuous; maculae on paraocular area shorter than level of tentorial pit; macula on labrum restricted to basal margin. Some specimens have the whitish pubescence more developed on the metepisternum and propodeum.

Male ( Fig. 3C–D )

As the female, except as follows:

MEASUREMENTS. Approximate body length: 14.7 (14.9–14.2). Head width: 4.4 (4.4–4.2). Mesosoma width: 5.3 (5.5–5.2). Metasoma width: 5.3 (5.5–5.1). Forewing length: 10.2 (10.3–9.9).

COLORATION. Preapical area of mandible and legs reddish brown.Yellow maculae as follows: at paraocular area, from the alveolar tangent and the lower paraocular area; on ventral surface of scape; irregular wide spot on clypeal disc, wider basally; at labrum; on most of malar area, mainly on anterior area; faint spot at base of mandible; irregular spot on lateral sides of T1; sub-rectangular spot on lateral sides of T2; irregular area on lateral sides of T3–T6, narrower on medial area.

PUBESCENCE. Predominantly yellowish to testaceous on occipital area and mesosoma, reddish dorsally. Whitish hairs on face, upper gena, legs and ventral surface of mesosoma and metasoma. Ferruginous on central area of S2–S6. Dense, long and plumose hairs on occipital area, mesosoma and T1 (2–4 × OD). Distal margins of S2–S4 with long, dense and plumose hairs (3–5 × OD) arranged towards medial area forming a wide patch.

SCULPTURE SURFACE. Clypeal disc with fine and scattered punctation (2–4× puncture width), except on maculae. Labrum with finer punctures than on clypeus.

STRUCTURES. Head broader than long (1.3–1.2: 1). Ratio of upper and lower interocular distances: 0.9– 0.8: 1. Maximum interocular distance shorter than length of compound eye (0.5–0.6: 1). Clypeus broader than long (1.5–1.4: 1) shorter than clypeocellar distance (0.9: 1). Labrum slightly longer than broad (1.1: 1). Interalveolar distance longer than alveolorbital distance (2.5–2.4: 1). Interalveolar distance shorter than alveolocellar distance (0.6–0.7: 1). Lateral ocelli below the upper supraorbital tangent. Interocellar distance longer than ocellocular distance (1.4–1.3: 1). Frontal carina extending from tip of supraclypeal carina (1.6–1.4× OD). Length of F1 longer than F2 (1.2–1.1: 1), F2 shorter than F3 (0.8–0.7: 1) and F3 slightly shorter than F4 (0.95: 1), (1: 0.8–0.7: 0.95: 1). Clypeal carinae and epistomal suture conspicuous. Malar area reduced. Length of apical tooth more than twice the length of preapical tooth. Middle trochanter cylindrical. Hind femur and tibia slender. Anterior and posterior margins of hind basitarsus sub-parallel.

VARIATION. There are specimens from São Paulo State with the maculae on the face more developed, mainly on the clypeus and at the base of the mandible.

Type locality

BRAZIL: São Paulo: Jundiaí.

Distribution ( Fig. 10 )

BRAZIL: Mato Grosso: Serra do Roncador*, Tangará da Serra*, Chapada dos Guimarães ( Gaglianone 2001). Bahia: Parque Nacional Chapada Diamantina ( Neves et al. 2006; Oliveira et al. 2006), Palmeiras*, Lençóis*. Goiás: Cavalcante*, Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros*, Iporá*, Parque Nacional das Emas*. Distrito Federal: Parque Nacional de Brasilia ( Alvarez et al. 2019), Brasilia ( Oliveira & Gibbs 2000). Minas Gerais: Bonfinópolis de Minas*, Brasilândia de Minas*, Itacambira ( Azevedo et al. 2008), Francisco Dumont*, Parque Estadual Serra do Cabral ( Azevedo et al. 2008), Lassance*, Corinto*, Parque Estadual do Biribiri ( Azevedo et al. 2008), Diamantina ( Azevedo et al. 2008), Uberlândia ( Carvalho & Oliveira 2010; Barônio & Torezan-Silingardi 2017), Serra do Salitre*, Santana do Riacho*, Paraopeba*, Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó ( Fischer & Gordo 1993; Gaglianone 2001; Azevedo et al. 2008), Ibiá ( Gaglianone 2001), Jaboticatubas*, Tapira ( Gaglianone 2001), Itaúna*, São Roque de Minas ( Gaglianone 2001), Lavras Novas ( Azevedo et al. 2008), Passos ( Gaglianone 2001), Ritápolis ( Gaglianone 2001), São João del-Rei ( Gaglianone 2001), Barbacena*, Varginha ( Gaglianone 2001). Mato Grosso do Sul: Dourados ( Lima & Silvestre 2016). São Paulo: Pedregulho ( Gaglianone 2001; Gaglianone et al. 2011), Rifaina ( Gaglianone 2001; Gaglianone et al. 2011), São Paulo ( Moure 1945b), Cajuru ( Pedro 1994; Gaglianone 2001; Gaglianone et al. 2011), Cássia dos Coqueiros*, Guatapará*, Luiz Antônio ( Mateus 1998; Gaglianone 2001; Gaglianone et al. 2011), Corumbataí ( Gaglianone 2001; Andena et al. 2005), Itirapina ( Vianna 2010; Gaglianone et al. 2011), Jataí ( Mateus 1998; Gaglianone 2003; Pinto 2013), Jundiaí ( Schrottky, 1902a; Ramos et al. 2015), Angatuba ( Gaglianone 2001), Ipiranga ( Schrottky 1902a; Ramos et al. 2015). Paraná: Tuneiras do Oeste ( Sorreque 2016), Arapoti*, Jaguariaíva ( Almeida & Laroca 2013), Ponta Grossa ( Amaral-Neto 2013), Parque Estadual de Vila Velha ( Gonçalves & Melo 2005). PARAGUAY: Amambay: Parque Nacional Cerro Corá*. San Pedro: Cororo*.

Comments

Epicharis iheringi is commonly confused with E. cockerelli because of its similar distribution range and the resemblance of their morphology. In fact, when we studied the type series of E. cockerelli fulvohirta at MZUSP, we realized that it was composed of specimens of both species. Like E. obscura , this species has the southernmost records of the subgenus, occurring in the Brazilian state of Paraná and in the Paraguayan Parque Nacional de Cerro Corá (Parana and Chacoan biogeographic domains sensu Morrone 2014).

Figures

Fig. 3. Epicharis (Epicharitides) iheringi Friese, 1899. A–B. Female (Brazil: Cássia dos Coqueiros; RPSP). A. Head, frontal view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C–D. Male (Brazil: Varginha; MNRJ). 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.