Stenoheriades levantica Müller, 2014

Müller, Andreas & Trunz, Vincent, 2014, Palaearctic osmiine bees of the genera Hofferia and Stenoheriades (Megachilidae, Osmiini): biology, taxonomy and key to species, Zootaxa 3765 (2), pp. 175-186 : 183

Stenoheriades levantica Müller , spec. nov.

Holotype: ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: Mt. Carmel, Mitla , 300m, 32o44’11N 34o59’91E, 17.4.2000, ♀ (leg. S.P.M. Roberts). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich.

Paratypes: ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: Banyas, 26.5.1991, 2♀ (leg. K. Warncke); Tel Dan, 26.5.1991, ♀ (leg. K. Warncke); Mt. Meron, 30.5.1991, ♂ (leg. K. Warncke); Mt. Tabor, 580m, 28.5.1991, 8♀, ♂ (leg. K. Warncke); Mt. Carmel, Mitla , 17.4.2000, ♂ (leg. S.P.M. Roberts); Judean Foothills , Park Britannia , 24.4.2011, ♀ (leg. T. Koznichki); Ramat haNadiv, 24.4.2012, ♀ (leg. T. Shapira); Nahal Ar’ar, 4.5.2012, ♂ (leg. G. Pisanty). JORDAN: North Shuna env., 29.– 30.4.1996, 7♀ (leg. M. Halada); NW of Ailun , 850m, 20.5.2007, ♀ (leg. Z. Kejval). SYRIA: Ganawat , 16.5.1995, 3♀, 7♂ (leg. K. Denes). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich , the Oberösterreichische Landesmuseum Linz and the private collection of M. Schwarz ( Ansfelden ).

Additional records. ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: Park Britannia, 12.3.2013, ♀ (leg. Y. Berner); Ya’ar Adulam, 3.4.2013, ♀ (leg. Y. Berner).

Literature records. LEBANON: Djezzine, 2.6.1953 ( Mavromoustakis, 1955, as S. coelostoma ).

Diagnosis. The female of S. levantica is characterized by a median impression at the clypeal margin as are the females of the closely related S. asiatica and S. coelostoma . It differs from S. coelostoma by the two-teethed mandible with a straight upper margin ( Fig. 12 ), and from both S. asiatica and S. coelostoma by the deep, well limited and regularly semicircular clypeal impression ( Fig. 14 ) and the lack of a distinct triangular tubercle at the labral base ( Fig. 14 ). The male of S. levantica is morphologically identical with the males of S. asiatica and S. coelostoma .

Description: Second segment of labial palpus about three times as long as first segment. Preoccipital ridge carinate. Parapsidal line distinctly longer than half length of tegula. Basal zone of propodeum very short, medially about half as long as metanotum, longitudinally ridged and with distinct transverse carina along its posterior margin. Posterior surface of propodeum polished, without punctures except for lateral parts, which are rather densely punctured. Tibial spurs of hind leg yellowish to yellowish-white, nearly straight and regularly tapering towards acute apex. Declivous part of tergum 1 polished and almost devoid of punctures, distinctly separated from horizontal part by sharp and raised carina.

FEMALE: Body length 5–7mm. Mandible with two apical teeth and straight, uninterrupted upper margin ( Fig. 12 ); its base with roundish to oval impression, well developed tubercle at its lower and weakly developed tubercle at its upper margin; basal half of mandibular inside without projections below cutting edge. Labrum extending beyond closed mandibles, basally flat or rarely with minute roundish tubercle ( Fig. 14 ). Clypeus with medioapical impression, which is rather deep, well limited and of regular semicircular shape ( Fig. 14 ); clypeal impression medially with longitudinal carina, which is continuous to developed only basally. Maximal width of genal area about as wide as compound eye. Apical margin of terga 1–4 with uninterrupted whitish hair bands; apical hair band on tergum 5 only weakly developed. Scopa yellowish-white.

MALE: Body length 5–7mm. Antennal segments 3–4 shorter than wide. Base of mandible with roundish impression. Labrum basally with distinct tubercle of oval to triangular shape. Clypeus medioapically slightly emarginated. Maximal width of genal area about 0.6x as wide as compound eye. Hypostomal area covered with dense whitish pilosity, which increases in length towards the occiput. Apical margins of terga 1–5 each with sparse whitish hair band. Tergum 6 with distinct lateral flaps; its transverse preapical ridge with two median teeth separated from each other by roundish incision ( Fig. 15 ). Tergum 7 bifid ( Fig. 15 ). Sternum 1 strongly bulged. Hair fringe at apical margin of sternum 4 more than half as long as hair fringe at apical margin of sternum 3. Sternum 5 with triangular incision; its lateral lobes apically with fringe of short bristles at inner edge. Sternum 6 medially with deep depression of oval shape, which bears two short rows of minute and stiff bristles at its posterior end. Apex of gonoforceps slightly bent inwards.

Distribution. Levant (southern Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Palestine).

Pollen hosts. Oligolectic on Asteroideae (Asteraceae) (based on 24 pollen loads from 12 different localities); all pollen loads examined consisted exclusively of pollen grains of the Anthemis type except for one load that contained pollen of the Aster type. Flower records: yellow Asteraceae flowers ( Mavromoustakis, 1955).

Nesting biology. Unknown.

Etymology. levanticus = referring to the Levant, the geographic area encompassing the eastern Mediterranean region that ranges from southernmost Turkey to the Sinai peninsula.

Figures

FIGURE 10 – 15. 10: Stenoheriades maroccana, head of female. 11: Stenoheriades coelostoma, mandibles of female. 12: Stenoheriades levantica, mandibles of female. 13: Stenoheriades asiatica, clypeus and labral base of female. 14: Stenoheriades levantica, clypeus and labral base of female. Figure 15: Stenoheriades levantica, terga 5 – 7 of male.