Paratetrapedia flavescens, Aguiar & Melo, 2011

Aguiar, Antonio J. C. & Melo, Gabriel A. R., 2011, Revision and phylogeny of the bee genus Paratetrapedia Moure, with description of a new genus from the Andean Cordillera (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Tapinotaspidini), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 162 (2), pp. 351-442 : 427-428

PARATETRAPEDIA FLAVESCENS SP. NOV.

( FIGS 42, 71 , 113, 129 , 156 )

Comments and diagnosis: Paratetrapedia flavescens is remarkable for its predominantly bright yellow integument. It is the only species of Paratetrapedia with yellow integument found in Mexico. Its male has a unique combination of characters that does not fit in any of the species groups here recognized. The male possesses the margin of S2 with row of setae continuous, S3 with wide concave area on posterior margin covered by dense short plumose pubescence, and hind basitarsus without tooth on anterior margin. The female is characterized by a yellow integument, mostly smooth and convex supraclypeal area, acute lamella of pronotal collar, and metapostnotum with minute punctures intermingled amongst coarser punctures.

Description

Holotype male: Body length: 8.6; maximum head width: 3.1; fore wing length (including tegula): 9.3. Colour. Integument mostly yellow; upper paraocular area, lateral portion of frons and vertex black; scape yellow, pedicel and flagellomeres orange yellow ( Fig. 42). Pronotum with small dark brown mark on mid portion of anterior surface; mesoscutum black with two yellow stripes on disc and lateral margins; axilla black laterally. Terga yellow with marginal zone black; S2 with mid portion black. Wing membrane yellow infumate, with yellow microtrichia; apical portion of fore wing with brown microtrichia; veins yellow and pterostigma orange yellow; tibial spurs pale yellow. Pubescence. Mostly golden yellow, except margins of T3–T6 with dark brown hairs. Scape with pale yellow long hairs on inner surface, about 0.14 mm in length. Mesoscutum and scutellum with short plumose golden yellow pubescence; metapostnotum with short plumose yellow hairs, about 0.1 mm in length. T4–T6 with marginal bands of dark brown plumose hairs throughout its margins; T6 with slightly pale brown hairs. S2 with row of setae continuous; S3 deeply concave in ‘U’ shape, covered by dense short plumose pubescence; S4 and S5 typical of the genus; S6 with two small rows of plumose hairs on margins laterally and short plumose hairs on margin of apex. Integument sculpture. Clypeus with shallow coarse punctures (0.5–2 pd), intermingled amongst sparse minute punctures (5 pd); supraclypeal area with sparse coarse punctures (0.5–3 pd); frons with coarse punctures, mostly sparse (1–4 pd); mid line of frons weakly sulcated. Mesoscutum with dense fine punctures (<0.5 pd), intermingled amongst sparse coarse punctures (> 2 pd); scutellum with dense fine punctures (1 pd), intermingled amongst sparse coarse punctures (> 2 pd); metapostnotum with sparse fine punctures (> 2 pd); mesepisternum with sparse fine punctures (3 pd). Structure. Disc of frons slightly biconvex; lamella of pronotal collar acute throughout its length. Scutellum disc weakly convex, almost flat, mid line slightly sulcate. Head about 1.3¥ broader than long (3.1: 2.4); ratio of lower to upper interocular distance: 0.8 (1.3: 1.6); clypeus about 1.6¥ broader than long (1.25: 0.75); scape: length 0.8, maximum width 0.22; length of F1–F3: 0.22: 0.16: 0.2; diameter of F2: 0.2.

Paratype female: Body length: 10.1; maximum head width: 3.3; fore wing length (including tegula): 9.7; head about 1.3¥ broader than long; ratio of lower to upper interocular distance: 1.16; clypeus about 2.1¥ broader than long; scape: length 0.95, maximum width: 0.25; length of F1–F3: 0.28; 0.1; 0.2; diameter of F2: 0.24. Colour. Similar to male, except for hind leg weakly dark brown. Pubescence. Similar to male; mesoscutum and scutellum with sparse simple erect setae, about 0.06 and 0.2 mm in length, respectively. Terga pubescence similar to male, except for marginal band on T4–T6 with simple hairs. Integument sculpture. Similar to male, except for clypeus with only coarse punctures; supraclypeal area with disc smooth, with sparse punctures on lateral portions; antennal scrobe with dense minute punctures (1 pd); metapostnotum with sparse fine and coarse punctures intermingled (> 2 pd); mesepisternum with coarse punctures, mostly sparse (2 pd). Structure. Similar to male. Disc of scutellum weakly convex, almost flat. Head about 1.3¥ broader than long (3.3: 2.5); ratio of lower to upper interocular distance: 1.16 (1.55: 1.8); clypeus about 2.1¥ broader than long (1.4: 0.65); scape: length 0.95; maximum width 0.25; length of F1–F3: 0.28: 0.1: 0.2; diameter of F2: 0.24.

Variation: There is some variation in the extension of the black maculae, mainly on frons and tergal margins. The female from Costa Rica differs from those from Mexico in having a mostly orange yellow integument, frons with thin yellow stripe on mid line, and tergal margins darker. It might represent a separate, closely related species.

Etymology: The species name refers to its yellow integument.

Distribution: Costa Rica; Mexico ( Fig. 71 ).

Type material: Holotype male ( AMNH), ‘ MEXICO: State of San \ Luis, Potosi , Hotel \ Covadonga c. Valles \ 6-VI-1974, C. Porter \ & C. Calmbacher’; paratypes: COSTA RICA: 1 female ( SEMC), ‘ COSTA RICA San José Prov.\ Rio Damitas , 14.5 km.\ N. Puerto Quepos \ 200 m., August 1962 \ (A. Wille & C.D. Michener)’; MEXICO: 2 males ( SEMC), ‘ MEXICO: San Luis\ Potosi, Xilitla, 1km E\ Xilitla, at river, 600 m \ 7 July 1990, I. Yarom’; 3 males ( SEMC), ‘ MEXICO: San\ Luis Potosi, Xilitla\ 400 m, 7 July 1990 \ R. L. Minckley \ ex., on Malvaceae’; 1 male ( SEMC), ‘ MEXICO: Hidalgo, 700 m \ 25 km S Tamazunchale \ 22-V-1989. Yanega’ ‘ Paratetrapedia \ det. Douglas Yanega’; 1 female ( SEMC), ‘ MEXICO:\ Xilitla, Tlamaya\ Falls, 1000 m \ 15August 1987 \ D. Yanega’ ‘San Luis Potosí’; 1 female ( SEMC), ‘ MEXICO: Tamps, 80 km \ S. CD. Victoria, Ruta\ 85, CA. La Gloria \ 23,25-VI-81. B.Miller \ C. Porter, L. Stange’; 1 female ( DZUP), ‘ MEXICO: Tam\ El Ensino, 250 m \ 4-13.viii.1988 \ V. O. Beker col.’; 1 female ( SEMC), ‘ 25-Ago-1990 \ Xicotepec \ Puebla \ R. Paz R.’.

Figures

Figure 71. Geographical distribution of Paratetrapedia bifrons sp. nov., Paratetrapedia flavescens sp. nov., and Paratetrapedia mexicana sp. nov.

Figures 129–137. Sternum 8 (S8), male; 129: Paratetrapedia flavescens sp. nov. (Mexico, San Luis Potosi, Xilitla); 130: Paratetrapedia mexicana sp. nov. (Mexico, Jalisco, San Patricio); 131: Paratetrapedia fervida (Brazil, Espírito Santo, Santa Teresa); 132: Paratetrapedia punctata sp. nov. (Brazil, Minas Gerais, Pratinha); 133: Paratetrapedia flavifrons sp. nov. (Brazil, Rondônia, Vilhena); 134: Paratetrapedia romani (Brazil, Amazonas, Manaus); 135: Paratetrapedia tocantinensis sp. nov. (Brazil, Goiás, Campos Belos); 136: Paratetrapedia flaveola sp. nov. (Brazil, Minas Gerais, Três Marias); 137: Paratetrapedia lineata (Brazil, Pará, Óbidos); scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Figures 147–158. Male genital capsule, ventral and dorsal views; 147–148: Paratetrapedia lugubris (Brazil, Rondônia, Vilhena); 149–150: Paratetrapedia connexa (Guatemala); 151–152: Paratetrapedia hyalinata sp. nov. (Brazil, Pará); 153–154: Paratetrapedia volatilis (Brazil, Paraná, Piraquara); 155–156: Paratetrapedia flavescens sp. nov. (Mexico, San Luis Potosi, Xilitla); 157–158: Paratetrapedia moesta (Mexico, Jalisco, San Patricio); scale bars = 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: beg, expansion on basal portion of gonostylus; ea, expansion of apodeme of gonapophyses; lbg, lamellate inner lobe of gonapophyses; lg, inner lamella of gonapophyses.