Megalopta karitiana, Santos & Melo, 2014

Santos, L. M. & Melo, G. A. R., 2014, Updating the taxonomy of the bee genus Megalopta (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Augochlorini) including revision of the Brazilian species, Journal of Natural History 49 (11), pp. 575-674 : 622-623

Megalopta karitiana sp. n.

( Figures 11A , 15D )

Diagnosis

The male differs from those of M. atlantica , M. purpurata , M. xavante sp. n., and M. mapinguari sp. n. by the minute medial protruding process of S4, with a triangular profile in lateral view; from M. guarani sp. n. by the dark brown integument with metallic green reflections, and the dark brown metasoma with purple tints.

Description

Male. (15) Scape with diameter gradually enlarging toward the apex. (16) Flagellum blackish; F1–F11 not differing in diameter; F2 about two-thirds of F 3 in length. (17) Metanotum with integument, in dorsal view, not hidden by short plumose pillosity. (18) Basal area of metapostnotum blackish, its length 0.6× that of metanotum; smooth and without longitudinal rugulosities along its surface ( Figure 11A ). (19) Metepisternum with sparse pilosity, integument visible through pilosity; posterior upper margin of metepisternum unmodified, lacking a velvety process. (20) 1st and 2nd tarsomeres of foreleg with longest simple setae shorter than the summed length of the three apical tarsomeres. (21) S3 with longitudinal sulcus, posterolateral margin notched. (22) S4 with medial protruding process present, minute, its profile triangular in lateral view, basal portion glabrous; posterolateral margin notched, notch not extending to basal half of sclerite.

Measurements

Approximate body length: (14.8); intertegular distance: (3.8); maximum width of head: (3.7); length of forewing with tegula: (12.7).

Female. Unknown.

Type material

Holotype male ( DZUP): BRAZIL. Rondônia: ‘ Brasil, RO, Itapuã \ do Oeste, Flona \ do Jamari , 110m \ 9.260° S 62.913° W,\ 4.ix.2012, Cavichioli,\ Melo, Rosa & Santos’ ‘ Armadilha \ Luminosa’.

Distribution

BRAZIL. Rondônia: Itapuã do Oeste ( Figure 15D ).

Etymology

The specific epithet honours the ‘Karitiana’, the name for an ethnic group of natives, used here as a noun in apposition. The ‘Karitiana’ experienced a brutal demographic decline after contact with the whites. Indeed, the anthropologist Darcy Ribeiro considered them extinct in 1957, however the current population numbers around 320 individuals ( Storto and Velden 2005).

Figures

Figure 11. Males of Megalopta. (A, C, D). Posterolateral view of mesosoma; (A) M. karitiana sp. n. from Ouro Preto do Oeste, Brazil; (B) ventral view of sternum 3‒4 of M. mapinguari sp. n. from Rio Branco, Brazil; (C) M. mapinguari sp. n. from Rio Branco, Brazil; (D) M. xavante sp. n. from Nova Xavantina, Brazil; (E) dorsal view of mesosoma of M. atlantica Santos & Silveira from Ipanema, Brazil; (F) posterior view of mesosoma of M. purpurata Smith (holotype) from Tefé, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 15. Distribution records of Megalopta species. (A) M. chaperi Vachal; (B) M. guimaraesi Santos & Silveira (black circles) and M. mura sp. n. (grey squares); (C) M. piraha sp. n (grey squares) and M. yanomami sp. n. (black circles); (D) M. atlantica Santos & Silveira (grey square), M. guarani sp. n (triangle), M. xavante sp. n (hexagon), M. karitiana sp. n (black circle), M. mapinguari sp. n (black square) and M. purpurata Smith (grey circle).