Eremaphanta (Eremaphanta) convolvuli Popov, 1940

Michez, Denis & Patiny, Sébastien, 2006, Review of the bee genus Eremaphanta Popov 1940 (Hymenoptera: Melittidae), with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 1148 (1), pp. 47-68 : 50-52

Eremaphanta (Eremaphanta) convolvuli Popov

Eremaphanta convolvuli Popov 1940: 57–58 , ♀ / ♂ .

Type material. ♂ holotype, 1♀ / 4♂ paratypes, Turkmenistan, Dzhebel [39°38’N 54°14’E], 07. VI.1934, leg. Popov, ZISP ; 1♂ paratype, idem, 07. VI.1957, leg. Popov, SEMK ; 1♀ / 1♂ paratypes, idem, 05. VI.1934, leg. Popov, ZISP ; 2♀ / 2♂ paratypes, idem, 03. VI.1934, leg. Popov, ZISP. Original designation of the locus typicus: " railway station Djebel and Molla­ Kara, Turkmenia "

Additional material. 1♀, Turkmenistan, Mollakara [39°39’N 54°10’E], 09. VI .1934, leg. Popov, ZISP. 1♂, idem, 09. VI .1934, leg. Popov, SEMK; 1♂, Turkmenistan, Repetek [38°35’N 63°11’E], leg. Golibek, SEMK .

Differential diagnosis. ♀ and ♂. Close to E. fasciata . Body widely yellow. Head about as long as wide. Terga without apical hair bands. Labial palpus longer than maxillary palpus.

Diagnosis ( Figs. 1–2 ). ♀ and ♂. Length = 5–6mm. Head nearly as long as wide, with sparse white appressed hairs. Labial palpus as long as glossa; longer than maxillary palpus. Galea shiny, with narrowly rounded apex. Maxillary palpus shorter than galea (Lpalpus/Lgalea = 0,5). Labrum yellow and smooth; semicircular, nearly four times as wide as long. Clypeus, face and vertex weakly punctate, smooth and shiny. Flagellum dorsally brownish; ventrally yellowish. Genal area black, covered with white short appressed hairs. Mesoscutum entirely black, weakly punctate, smooth and shiny, with short white appressed hairs. Propodeal triangle minutely rugose; median part elevated and more rugose. Posterior half of propodeum smooth and shiny. Legs 1–3 entirely yellow. Terga glabrous. S1­S2 with emarginate premarginal line. S3­S5 with straight apical margin. ♀. Clypeus entirely yellow, with scarce white hairs. A3­A12 broader than long. Flagellum twice as long as scape. Pronotum, scutellum and axilla yellow. Mesepisternum dorsally yellow, ventrally black. Propodeum and propodeal triangle yellow. Terga yellowish to brown. ♂. Clypeus with yellowish apex, covered with short white appressed hairs. A3­A4 broader than long. Pronotum medially brown; margins yellow. Scutellum black with yellow apical margin (entirely yellow in some specimens). Metanotum yellow. Mesepisternum, propodeum and propodeal triangle black. External face of Tb3 and Bt3 with small reddish spots at the base of the hairs; with scopa­like hairs. Bt3 shorter than other tarsomeres. T 1 brownish. T 2­ T 6 yellowish to brown. Gonostylus as long as penis valve ( Fig. 1 ). S7­S8 and genitalia as figured in Popov (1940) ( Fig. 1 ).

Distribution ( Fig. 11c ). Turkmenistan.

Floral choices. Convolvulaceae : Convolvulus ericaneus Led. (7♀, 11♂; see Popov 1940)

First ­ last observations. 03. VI –09. VI

Figures

FIGURE 1. Eremaphanta convolvuli, male (scale=300µm); a. Sternum 7; b. Sternum 8; c. Dorsal view of genitalia; from Popov (1940).

FIGURE 2. Eremaphanta convolvuli, a–b: female (scale=1mm); c–d: male (scale=1mm); a. Lateral view of the general habitus of the female; b. Dorsal view of the general habitus of the female; c. Lateral view of the general habitus of the male; d. Dorsal view of the general habitus of the male.

FIGURE 11. Specific distribution; a. Distribution of Eremaphanta dispar and E. zhelochovtsevi; b. Distribution of E. fasciata, E. iranica and E. vitellina; c. Distribution of E. convolvuli, E. minuta and E. popovi.