Trigona (Ktinotrofia) almeidae, Ribeiro & Nogueira & Oliveira & Oliveira, 2024

Ribeiro, Cristiano Feitosa, Nogueira, David Silva, Oliveira, Favízia Freitas De & Oliveira, Marcio Luiz De, 2024, Two new species of Trigona Jurine, 1807 with an illustrated key for the species occurring in Brazil (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini), Zootaxa 5458 (4), pp. 524-546 : 526-530

Trigona (Ktinotrofia) almeidae sp. nov. Ribeiro

( Fig. 1 A-D)

Trigona albipennis : Camargo et al. 2023: [partim, catalog, geographic distribution].

Diagnosis. This species is similar to T (Kt.) fuscipennis ( Fig. 2 ), due to the slightly smoky tone of the wing membrane, but differs by the following combination of traits: clypeus and lower paraocular areas with black and erect branched setae, these 1.6x longer than surrounding branched hairs; venation and pterostigma brown-black, microtrichia brown-black; total body length approximately 4.1 mm. In ( T. (Kt.) fuscipennis , the clypeus and lower paraocular areas have black and erect branched setae which are shorter than the surrounding branched hairs; venation and pterostigma brown, microtrichia brown; total body length approximately 6.0 mm).

Description

Coloration. Integument predominantly black; clypeus, labrum, scape, and pedicel black; mandible black with reddish apical margin and blackened teeth; radicle brown; flagellum, venation and pterostigma brown-blackened; pronotal lobes; mesoscutum, scutellum, axilla, tegula; propodeum, mesepisternum; legs, terga, and sterna black; wing membrane slightly smoky.

Pubescence. Clypeus and supraclypeal area with black and erect setae of same size (0.08 mm), approximately 0.7x scape diameter, interspersed with branched hairs of about 0.05 mm, approximately 0.4x scape diameter; scape with very fine, dense, and short black setae (0.06 mm), evenly distributed; upper frons with black, erect, and branched setae of about 0.13 mm, interspersed with feathery hairs of approximately 0.06 mm; vertex with longer branched erect setae (about 0.19 mm); lower clypeus decumbent pilosity, paraocular area denser than on the upper face towards the vertex; mesoscutum covered by ramified and erect black setae, about 0.17 mm, evenly and sparsely distributed in disc, and abundant on, anterior edge and close to, pronotal lobes and sides; mesoscutellum with longer branched erect setae (0.30); metatibia with simple erect setae on the posterior margin of about 0.32 mm, interspersed with branched setae of approximately 0.30 mm; tergum I smooth and polished; II-V with very fine, decumbent, and short setae forming a narrow apical band; III-V with setae simple black, erect, and sparse on the apical fourth, abundant and forming a wider band on the sides, (0.10, 0.15, 0.20 mm = length of TIV-VI, respectively); sterna with setae simple (0.21, 0.20, 0.20 mm = length of, SIV-VI, respectively).

Punctation. Integument smooth and polished at spaces between the piliferous punctures.

Proportions. Length of compound eye 2.3x its width, shorter than upper and maximum interorbital distance, longer than lower interorbital distance (1.12 mm: 1.35 mm: 1.40 mm: 1.07 mm = compound eye length and interorbital distances, upper and lower, respectively), inner orbits concave, slightly converging downwards; malar area with 0.08 mm, about 0.7x the of scape diameter; clypeus length slightly less than half its width (0.45 mm: 1.08 mm = clypeus length and width, respectively); slightly convex in lateral view; supraclypeal area slightly more prominent than clypeus, at the level of face; labrum simple; mandible with five well-defined teeth; interalveolar distance slightly greater than diameter of antennal alveoli and much shorter than the alveolorbital distance (0.24 mm: 0.17 mm: 0.31 mm = interalveolar distance, antennal alveoli diameter and alveolorbital distance, respectively); frons slightly depressed along the midline; vertex slightly convex, without post-ocellar carina; interocelar distance (0.12 mm) much smaller than ocellorbital distance (0.40 mm); scape length 5.9x its width (0.71mm: 0.12mm); pedicel slightly smaller than the second flagellomere (0.12 mm: 0.14 mm); scutellum paraboloid, slightly projecting backward; metatibia approximately 3x longer than wide (2 mm: 0.66 mm); metabasitarsus approximately 1.9x longer than wide (0.73mm: 0.39mm) metasoma telescoped, short, subtriangular.

Etymology. The epithet is a tribute to the researcher Maria Christina de Almeida (in memoriam), for her relevant contributions to the taxonomy of the genus Trigona .

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 3 ). Brazil (Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Roraima).

Biological Note. Life history unknown.

Type material. Holotype (worker). Label data: BRASIL, RR, Cantá, 12.vii.2009, Rede entomológica, T. Mahlmann Leg., ( INPA) .

Paratypes (45 workers): BRAZIL, Acre: RESEX Alto Jurua / Rio Tejo / 22/julho/1995, M.L. Oliveira. col / AJ0209, 1 (INPA); idem, except “AJ0096”, 1 (RPSP); Amazonas: C [areiro]. Castanho, BR–319, Km 181, Sítio São Paulo / 04°12’57”S – 60°49’13”W, 14.vii.2016, M.L. Oliveira leg., 21 (INPA); Parque Nac. do Jaú, 17–19/nov/2005 / M.L. Oliveira & E. R.F. Pereira leg. coleta avulsa, 2 (INPA); BR 174 Km 72, Data. 20/06/1985, Col. Garcia M.V.B. / Proj. DBFF. WWF, Res: 1301/II –5 / as Trigona fuscipennis Friese, 1900 , Det. Camargo, 1985, 1 (MPEG); Manaus, AM 010, km 100, Fazenda Yurican, 18°53’50.6”S e 048°20’32.0” W, 18.i.2008, Giselly–Bacelar, C. & Brito–Freire, D. (cols.) catação sobre flores do camu–camu 8:00–8:40am / 111 / as Trigona sp. grupo fuscipennis Det. Camargo, 2008 , 1 (RPSP); Manaus, FUA, Estrada principal, 26/XII/2000. 03º04’34”S; 59º57’50”W / Col.: Werley, Patrícia, Oliveira, FPM. Col. rede entomológica, 1 (INPA); Manaus, UFAM–Acariquara, Agy–3E–6–3 / A. gynacantum –Arecac., 08. x. 2003, 8:30h, Thieme Martiniano Leg. / as Trigona fuscipennis Friese, 1900 , Det. M.L. Oliveira, 2004, 1 (INPA); Roraima: Caroebe, Vicinal 35, 00°57’52” N 59º44’31”W, alt. 167m, 07.XII.2006. / Silva, S.J. R.; Grigio Jr. O. & Otaviano, A.A. Em flor / 8, with consecutive numbers: 3694, 3685, 3701, 3696, 3698, 3691, 3695 e 3689 MIRR (INPA); idem, except “MIRR–3692 e MIRR–3683”, 2 (MPEG); idem, except “MIRR–3693”, 1 (RPSP); Cantá, 12.vii.2009, Rede entomológica, T. Mahlmann Leg., 5 (INPA).

Additional Material Examined. (74 workers): BRAZIL, Amapá: Serra do Navio, Pedra Preta, Malaise, / 0º53’39.2”N, 52º00’42”W; 12.xi.2014, J Rafael & FF Xavier Fº, 3 (INPA); Amazonas: Manaus, Reserva Ducke, 2º57’46”S; 59º55’33”W, 21.viii.2019; Puça, C.F. Ribeiro Leg., 3 (INPA); Manaus, ZF–2, Km 24, 03.xii.2014, M.L. Oliveira leg., 1 (INPA); Rio Nhamundá, Ig. Areias, 01º35’11”S; 57º37’32”W / 25 m, 17–20.v.2008, J.A. Rafael e equipe, arm. luz no barco, 1 (INPA); BR: 174: Km 68–2p–3, Cidade Powell / 28–V–1985, Bert Klein, 1 (INPA); Pará: Rio Trombetas/PA, Acima do Acampamento, margem esquerda sub. 07/03/86, Col. Peralta, 9 (INPA); Roraima: P.N. Monte Roraima, Aldeia Karamambatai, c. 1000 m.a. 28 nov–08 dez–2019 / 05º07.41’N; 60º35.90’W, M.L. Oliveira, F. Xavier F. & S. Lima, Coleta manual, lavrado, 10 (INPA); Vic Jundiá, 15/IX/2019. / 0,191 996, –60,926225, Silva, S.J. R. Varredura, 1 (INPA); Rorainópolis, Vic Jundiá, 15/IX/2019. / 0,173631, –60,765167, Marciel, ES. Em flor de Fabaceae , 2 (INPA); ESEC Maracá, 12.xii.2015, M. L. Oliveira & P. R. Bartholomay leg., 4 (INPA); FLONA Roraima, 02.94135°N 61.62780°W / Rio Mucajaí, 18–21/xii/2017, ML Oliveira & FF Xavier F., legs., 5 (INPA); Tepequém, Pousada SESC, 03º45.186’N, 61º42.959’W / 637 m, 14/vii/2009, M.L. Oliveira, O. Mielke & M. Casagrande leg., 1 (INPA); Tepequém, 28.iii.2016; Puçá, F.F. XAVIER, Leg., 6 (INPA); Alto Alegre, ESEC Maracá, 03°21’59”S – 61°26’04”W, 1–15.xii.2016, R. Boldrini & J.A. Rafael, Malaise peg. Rede BIA, 1 (INPA); Ilha de Maracá, 23–V–1989, F.J.A. Pereira, 1 (INPA); idem, except “ 20–30.iii.1987, Luis S. Aquino, Arm. [adilha] Malaise”, 2 (INPA); Rio Uraricoera Ilha de Maraca / 21–30.xi.1987, J.A.Rafael e equipe, 10 (INPA); idem, except “ 24.iii.1987, F.J.A. Pereira / 5, with consecutive numbers: 32 e 40” (INPA); idem, except “ 25.iii.1987 / 1º cach. [oeira] De Maracá / 29”, 1 (INPA); idem, except “ 02–13.v.1987 / Eq. J.A. Rafael, Arm. De Malaise”, 6 (INPA); idem, except “ 1–4.iii.1988 ”, 1 (INPA).

Comparative Material Examined. Trigona (Kt.) fuscipennis : Lectotype (worker) was examined by F.F. Oliveira (in prep.). Label data: Panama / 686, 4. / LECTOTYPE, Trigona fuscipennis Friese, 1900 , Designated C. Rasmussen 2006 / Hungarian Natural History Museum Hymenoptera Coll. Budapest.

Comments and Discussion. Trigona (Kt.) fuscipennis has as type-locality “ Panamá ”, and in that sense, Camargo et al. (2023) consider Trigona fuscipennis Friese, 1900 to include only specimens from Mexico to western Ecuador, and they mention that there are also undescribed species, from other parts of South America, which were recorded in the literature as Trigona fuscipennis Friese. Trigona (Kt.) albipennis ( Fig. 4 ) has as type-locality “Tefé, Amazonas, Brazil ”, and in the original description of that species, Almeida (1992) describes in the type-material, besides the holotype, 142 paratypes, with 4 belonging to the collection of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém, Brazil (MPEG). However, when we requested the loan of this material, the curator of that collection informed us that the paratypes were not deposited in that collection.

As observed by (Santana & Oliveira in prep.), this species could easily be confused as T. (Kt.) fuscipennis , due to the slightly smoky tone of the wing membrane, however, T. (Kt.) almeidae sp. nov. differs from T. (Kt.) fuscipennis due to the pilosity of the face (clypeus and lower paraocular areas), as it has erect blackish setae that exceeds the short branched hairs and the scape presents longer black setae, different from the lectotype of T. (Kt.) fuscipennis observed by F. Oliveira.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Holotype of Trigona (Ktinotrofia) almeidae sp. nov. A—Lateral habitus. B—Head, frontal view. C—Dorsal habitus. D—Metatibia and metabasitarsus. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 2. Worker of Trigona (Ktinotrofia) fuscipennis Friese, 1900 (San Vito, Puntarenas, Costa Rica). A—Lateral habitus. B—Head, frontal view. C—Dorsal habitus. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Geographical distribution of Trigona (Ktinotrofia). Scale bar: Kilometers.

FIGURE 4. Worker of Trigona (Ktinotrofia) albipennis Almeida, 1994 (Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil). A—Lateral habitus. B— Head, frontal view. C—Dorsal habitus. D—Metatibia and metabasitarsus. Scale bars: 1 mm.