Sphecodes schwarzi Astafurova & Proshchalykin

Astafurova, Yulia V. & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2015, Bees of the genus Sphecodes Latreille 1804 of Siberia, with a key to species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae), Zootaxa 4052 (1), pp. 65-95 : 83-86

Sphecodes schwarzi Astafurova & Proshchalykin , sp. nov.

(Figs 21, 22, 58, 59, 63, 75, 116)

Diagnosis. The male of the new species is similar to that of the south-westpalaearctic S. pinguiculus Pérez and S. intermedius Blüthgen by the face with apressed white pubescence below as well as above the antennal sockets and the metasomal terga (including T1) densely punctate ( S. pinguiculus group). It differs from this species by the short, triangular gonostylus ( Figs 58, 59 ) (in S. pinguiculus and S. intermedius the gonostylus is long and almost rectangular).

Description. Male. Structure. Body length 5.0 mm (Paratypes 5.0−5.5 mm). Head weakly transverse, 1.1 times wider than long ( Fig. 63 ). Vertex short, distance from top of head to upper margin of lateral ocellus about 1.5 lateral ocellar diameters. Genal area slightly narrower than eye in lateral view. Antenna attaining middle of scutum; F1 short, strongly transverse, 0.5 times as long as wide; F2 longest, 1.3 times longer than wide; other flagellomeres 1.1−1.2 times longer than wide. Undersides of F3−F11 with felt-like areas (depression with very short hairs). Feltlike area on F3 covers about 1/2 underside, on F4 and F5 about 1/2−2/3 and on about 4/5 on remaining flagellomeres (Figs 21, 22). S7 slender, arrow-shaped. S8 trapezoidal. Gonocoxite with dorsal depression. Gonostylus small, triangular ( Figs 58, 59 ). Sculpture. Face densely punctate, with confluent punctures, area between ocelli and eye with punctutes separated by a puncture diameter. Vertex and genal areas rugose. Scutum with deep, round punctures (15−25 µm / 1−4), becoming denser peripherally. Scutellum with coarse and dense punctures (punctures separated by less than a puncture diameter). Mesepisternum reticulate-rugose. Basal part of propodeum (propodeal triangle) with coarse, longitudinal-curved wrinkles or reticulate-wrinkles, rest of propodeum reticulate-rugose. Metasomal terga densely punctate with punctures separeted by at most a puncture diameter; marginal zones impunctate ( Fig. 75 ); T7 densely and coarsely punctate. Coloration. Body black except as follows: mandible yellow medially, red-brown apically; flagellomeres brown ventrally; tibia yellow proximally and distally; tarsi yellow; stigma and veins yellowish-brown, marginal zones (at least on T1 and T2) yellowish-brown. Vestiture. Face with apressed white pubescence bellow, as well as above antennal sockets ( Fig. 63 ).

Female. Unknown.

Type material (5 specimens). Holotype, ♂, Russia, Tyva Republic: 32 km SW Kyzyl, Elegest River, 22.VII.2014, A. Lelej, M. Proshchalykin, V. Loktionov [ ZISP]. Paratypes. Russia. Tyva Republic: ♂, 31 km NEE Erzin, Erzin River, 16.VII.2014, A. Lelej, M. Proshchalykin, V. Loktionov [ IBSS]. Mongolia, Dornod Aimag: ♂, Derhin-Tsagan-Obo Mts., 60 km ENE Bayan-Burda, 3.VIII.1976, MK; ♂, Khalkhyn Gol [Khalkh River], 70 km E Bayan-Nur Lake, 1.VIII.1976, M. Kozlov; ♂, Numergin-Gol River, 32 km SE Salhit Mts., 8.VIII.1976, M. Kozlov [ ZISP].

Etymology. This species is dedicated to the Austrian hymenopterist Maximilian Schwarz in recognition of his outstanding contributions to bee systematics. We appreciate very much his help and encouragement during many years of collaboration.

Distribution. Russia: Tyva Republic; Mongolia: Dornod Aimag.

Hosts. Unknown.

FIGURES 95–99. Females, metasoma; 95— Sphecodes crassus Thomson, T 1; 96— S. pinguiculus Pérez, T 1; 97— S. monilicornis (Kirby) , T1; 98— S. reticulatus Thomson, T 3–T4; 99— S. alternatus Smith, T 3–T4.

Figures

FIGURES 46 – 61. Males, gonostylus, dorsal and lateral views: 46, 47 — Sphecodes nippon; 48, 49 — S. pinguiculus Pérez; 50, 51 — S. puncticeps Thomson; 52, 53 — S. reticulatus Thomson; 54, 55 — S. rufiventris (Panzer); 56, 57 — S. scabricollis Wesmael; 58, 59 — S. schwarzi, sp. nov.; 60, 61 — S. spinulosus Hagens. Dark indicate thickened areas. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 62 – 68. Males, head: 62 – 64 — frontal view; 65 – 68 — dorsal view; 62 — Sphecodes pinguiculus Pérez; 63 — S. schwarzi, sp. nov.; 64 — S. geoffrellus (Kirby); 65 — S. cristatus Hagens; 66 — S. nippon Meyer; 67 — S. reticulatus Thomson; 68 — S. longulus Hagens.

FIGURES 72 – 76. Males: 72 – 75 — metasoma; 76 — hind tibia; 72 — Sphecodes alternatus Smith, T 4; 73 — S. reticulatus Thomson, T 4; 74 — S. kozlovi Astafurova & Proshchalykin; 75 — S. schwarzi sp. nov., T 1 – T 3; 76 — S. spinulosus Hagens.