Epeolus asiaticus Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2022

Astafurova, Yulia V. & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2022, Review of the Epeolus cruciger species group (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Epeolus Latreille, 1802) of Asia, with the description of two new species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 92, pp. 305-328 : 305

Epeolus asiaticus Astafurova & Proshchalykin sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 2 , 7 , 8 , 9B, F

Material examined.

Holotype: ♀, Mongolia, Terkhin-Gol , Chulut and Khoit Rivers, 30.VI.1975, E. Narchuk [ZISP] . Paratypes: 1 ♀, 2 ♂, the same label as in the holotype [ZISP]; 1 ♀, Russia, Altay Republic, 8 km SW of Kurai , 11.VII.2007, S. Belokobylskij [ZISP] ; 2 ♂, 24 km NWW of Aktash, Chuya River , 30.VI.2016, M. Proshchalykin, V. Loktionov [FSCB/ ZISP] ; 1 ♀, 15 km SE of Kurai, Chuya River , 5-6.VII.2016, M. Proshchalykin, V. Loktionov [FSCB/ ZISP] .

Additional material.

Russia, Tuva Rep., 25 km SE Erzin, Tes-Khem River, 14-15.VII.2014, (1 ♀), AL, MP, VL [ZISP]; 5 km E Khandagayta, 30.VII.2018, (1 ♀), DS, SL [ZISP]; Zabaikalskiy Terr., Nerchinsk env., (1 ♀), VII.1910, V. Podgorbinskiy [ZISP]; Sotkul, 17.VI.1925, (1 ♂), Vinogradov [ZISP]; Burun-Torey Lake, Ulza River , 29.VI.1925, (1 ♂), Vinogradov [ZISP]; Balyra, 23.VII.1975, (1 ♂), D. Kasparyan [ZISP] ; Mongolia, Arkhangai, Sumiyn and Chultun Gol Rivers, 29.VI.1975, (2 ♀, 2 ♂), MK [ZISP]; 17 km SW Ulyasutai, Gantsyn-Daba Pass , 16.VII.1980, (1 ♂), MK [ZISP]; 15 km S Tosan-Tsengela , 18.VII.1980, (1 ♀), MK [ZISP]; Chuluut Gol River , 1940 m, 23.VII.2005, (1 ♀), JH [OLBL] ; Bayankhongor, 56 km NW of Bayankhongor, 2200 m, 12.VII.2004, (1 ♀, 4 ♂), JH [OLBL]; Bayan-Ölgii, 15 km SW Delun, Dzhangyz-Agach-Gol River , 21.VII.1978, (1 ♀), MK [ZISP] ; Dornod, Dorsargalant, Ider River, 20.VII.1975, (2 ♀), E. Narchuk, E. Sugonyaev [ZISP]; 17 km N Shine-Edera, 21.VII.1975, (1 ♀, 1 ♂), E. Sugonyaev [ZISP]; 25 km SSW Murene, 23.VII.1975, (2 ♀), MK [ZISP]; western part of Khukh-Nur Lake , 25-26.VI.1976, (1 ♂), MK [ZISP] ; Dornogovi, Atayn Mts, Gichigniv Nuruu , 10 km SW Sain-Shand, 12.VII.2005, (1 ♀), JH [OLBL] ; Govi-Altai, 35 km E Altai, 15.VI.1980, (1 ♀), MK [ZISP]; 70 km E of Altay Sity, Guulin, 14.VII.2005, (2 ♀), P. Tymer [OLBL]; Khuvsgul, Dzhargalant, Ider River , 19.VII.1975, (1 ♀), E. Sugonyaev [ZISP]; 17 km N of Shine-Eder, 21.VII.1975, (2 ♀), E. Sugonyaev [ZISP]; Terkhiyn-Tsaggan Lake , 2100 m, 22.VII.2005, (3 ♀), JH [OLBL] ; Omnogovi, Khuchin, Khalka, 20.V.1909, (1 ♀), PK [ZISP]; Buchuk-Gol, Khalka , 25.VII.1909, (1 ♀), PK [ZISP] ; Selenge, 90 km N of Ulaanbaatar, Segnez River, 1450 m, 6-8.VII.2003, (3 ♀, 1 ♂), JH [OLBL]; Atayn Mts., Gichigniy Nuruu , 10 km SW Talshand , 12.VII.2005, (51 ♀, 3 ♂), Kadlecova [FSCV] ; Sukhbaatar, 100 km SSW of Baruun-Urt , 1100 m, 30.VII.2007, (1 ♀), M. Halada [OLBL] ; Tuv, 100 km E of Ulaanbaatar, 20 km NE of Tereltz, Tuul River, 15-21.VII.2003, (1 ♀, 11 ♂), JH [OLBL]; Khangaun Mts, 5 km N of Khunt , 20.VII.2005, (4 ♀, 1 ♂), JH [OLBL] ; Ulaanbaatar, Tola River , Urga [= Ulaanbaatar], 30.VI-8.VII.1905, (28 ♀, 2 ♂), PK [ZISP] ; Urga env. [= Ulaanbaatar], 30.VI, (4 ♀, 1 ♂), PK [ZISP]; Sangin , Urga [= Ulaanbaatar], 25.VII.1905, (1 ♀), PK [ZISP]; “Tzorgol-Khayrkhan” [SW Ulaanbaatar], 23.VII.1909, (1 ♂), PK [ZISP]; Ulanbaatar, Tuul River valley , 12.VII.2003, (1 ♂), JH [ZISP] ; Uvs, 20 km S Under-Khangai, Chigzhiin-Gol River, 2.VII.1978, (5 ♀, 1 ♂), MK [ZISP]; Ureg-Nur Lake, Kargy River, 6.VII.1978, (1 ♀), MK [ZISP]; Uvurkhangai , Soldzhin Col River , 29.VII.1899, (1 ♀), V. Soldatov [ZISP]; Kholt [375 km SW Ulaanbaatar], Northern Gobi , 15-19.VII.1926, (3 ♀, 4 ♂), PK [ZISP]; Lamyn-gegen , SE Khangai, 19.VII.1926, (8 ♀), Kirichenko [ZISP]; 20 km W Nariyn-Tel, 9.VII.1970, (1 ♂), MK [ZISP]; 90 km WWS Arbat-Khere, 22.VI.1985, (1 ♀), A. Gorokhov [ZISP]; 12 km E of Arvaykheer, 1770 m, 3.VII.2004, (3 ♀), JH [OLBL] ; Zavkhan, Eastern part of Telmen Lake , 30.VI.1978, (1 ♂), MK [ZISP]; 40 km SW of Uliastay, dunes, 18.VII.2005, (9 ♀, 2 ♂), JH [OLBL] .

Diagnosis.

Structurally and in sharing long setae on the upper half of frons the new species is closest to Epeolus alpinus , E. laevifrons , E. gorodkovi sp. nov. and E. mongolicus . The new species differs from Epeolus alpinus , E. laevifrons and E. gorodkovi in having yellow-reddish (amber) pattern on metasomal terga (vs entirely black) and from E. mongolicus in having sparser pubescence on tergal discs (vs dense, as well as tomentum on marginal zones in E. mongolicus ). Differences between the new species and other species of the Epeolus cruciger group are outlined in Table 1 and the key.

Description.

Female (holotype). Total body length 8.0 mm (Fig. 1A, B ); forewing length (without tegula) 6.0 mm.

Structure and sculpture: Head (Fig. 2A ) transverse, 1.26 times as wide as long. Labrum (Fig. 2E ) 1.6 times as wide as long, rounded basally and laterally, apical margin slightly curved with small distinct medial tooth; sub-apically with two well-visible teeth; integument shiny, coarsely and densely punctate (15-30 μm / confluent-0.5). Clypeus densely and finely punctate (10-15 μm / confluent-0.5), narrowly impunctate along apical margin. Frons with developed frontal keel. Upper half of frons and ocellocular area with shiny interspaces between punctures (15-30 μm / confluent-1.5). Flagellomeres ca 1.1 times as long as wide. Mesoscutum coarsely punctate (25-40 μm / confluent-1.5), interspaces between punctures shiny and smooth; mesoscutellum areolate-punctate. Axilla short and flat, pointed apically, but without distinct tooth. Mesoscutellum with shallow medial longitudinal impression; posterior margin scarcely extending over propodeum. Mesepisternum mostly areolate-punctate, with few interspaces ca one puncture diameter. Propodeal triangle shagreened; posterior vertical surface of propodeum shiny and smooth. Metasomal terga densely and finely punctate (10-15 μm / 0.5-1), interspaces shiny and smooth. Pseudopygidial area short, triangular. Pygidial plate trapezoidal, apically truncate. Processes on sides of S6 normal, with short projections. Sterna densely punctured like terga (Fig. 2D ). S5 wide, straight as seen in lateral view.

Integument coloration: Head mostly black, but mandibles (excluding dark apex), labrum, clypeus along apical margin, and F1 (partly) yellow-red (amber). Mesosoma mostly black; pronotal lobe, tegulae, axillae, mesoscutellum, metanotum medially and legs (including spurs) yellow-red (amber); wings with brownish darkening, stigma and veins brown. Metasomal terga mostly black, but yellow-red on posterior half of T1, along marginal zones of T2-T4 (narrow strip), and posterior half of T5; marginal zones amber, transparent. Pygidial plate yellow-red with brownish edging. Sterna brownish, yellow-red laterally and along marginal zones; marginal zones pale yellow.

Pubescence: Pale tomentum yellow to white. Labrum with sparse thin golden setae. Paraocular and supraclypeal areas with dense tomentum obscuring integument, clypeus with sparse pubescence. Upper half of frons with long simple setae (Fig. 2C ). Vertex with sparse thick (plumose) setae. Genal integument almost obscured by tomentum. Pronotum dorsally with tomentum obscuring integument. Mesoscutum with thick plumose setae, dense on anterior third and peripherally; with a few erect simple setae. Metanotal integument almost entirely obscured by tomentum. Mesepisternum with tomentum denser on upper half and laterally. Ventral parts of mesosoma with dense white tomentum. Legs with white setae. T1 with wide basal band of pale tomentum connected with apical band laterally; marginal zones on T1-T4 with uninterrupted bands of pale tomentum, but medially tomentum sparser and not obscuring integument. Setae on tergal discs brownish; sparser and shorter than on apical bands. Pseudopygidial area with silvery pubescence. Sterna with golden short and sparser setae; marginal zones of T2-T4 with white tomentum.

Male. Structure, sculpture, coloration and pubescence are similar to those of the female (Fig. 1C ). Head (Fig. 2B ) transverse, ca 1.2 times as wide as long. F1 1.2-1.4 times as wide as long, remaining flagellomeres about as long as wide or little longer. Pygidial plate (T7) shiny, coarsely and densely punctate, 1.1-1.2 times as long as basal width narrowed toward apex, with shallow punctures; apical margin slightly curved. Clypeus with dense tomentum obscuring integument. Marginal zones of S2 and S3 with dense uninterrupted white tomentum bands; S4 and S5 normal, with golden long setae. Gonostylus as on Fig. 9B, F .

Variability.

Female. Total body length is 4.5-9.0 mm. The mesoscutellum is usually flattened with a weak medial longitudinal impression, but in large specimens this impression can sometimes be deep. The labrum, mandible, pronotal lobe, tegulae, legs, axillae and mesoscutellum are always yellow-reddish (amber); the clypeus is usually yellow-reddish apically as well as scape and partly F1. The females of this new species exhibit considerable intraspecific variation in the metasomal coloration and degree of development of the tergal tomentum bands. This variability is expressed in a huge variety of combinations of these features (Fig. 7A-G ). Among all the specimens examined, there is not one where such a combination was more or less the same. The coloration of terga on discs ranges from mostly black (but never wholly) to a well-developed yellowish pattern; the proportion of yellow differs, but yellowish coloration is common on posterior half T1 and T5 and as a narrow strip along marginal zones of T2-T4. The sterna are yellow-reddish on marginal zones and can be reddish, brownish or black on discs.

Apical bands on T1-T4 typically uninterrupted (Fig. 7E ), but tomentum medially can be sparser and darker (Fig. 7C, D, F, G ); or bands are distinctly interrupted (Fig. 7B ). The tomentum coloration is yellowish, but varies from pale yellow to bright golden. The coloration of pubescence on tergal discs ranges from yellowish to brownish (i. e. can be contrasting or not with coloration of tomentum bands).

In nine (5%) female specimens, the second submarginal crossvein is incomplete or lacking completely (Fig. 8A ). A single teratological specimen has an additional submarginal cell (Fig. 8B ).

Male. Total body length 5.0-7.0 mm. The apical margin of the pygidial plate is sometimes straight or rarely slightly bilobed. The coloration of pedicel, scape and F1 varies from partly yellow-red to brownish. Variation in metasomal integument coloration is similar to that of the female with different proportions of black and yellow-red (Fig. 7H, I ). Apical tomentum bands are typically uninterrupted (Fig. 7I ), but sometimes tomentum setae medially are sparser and darker (Fig. 7H ). Tergal discs setae are white, yellowish, golden or rarely brownish. The sterna can be brownish or black on discs, but typically it is with yellow-reddish pattern laterally and along marginal zones; marginal zones pale-yellow or yellow.

Etymology.

The specific name " Epeolus asiaticus " is an adjective in the nominative singular that means “Asian” in Latin and refers to the occurrence of this species in Asia.

Distribution.

Russia (Tyva Rep., Zabaikalskiy Terr.), Mongolia (Arkhangai, Bayankhongor, Bayan-Ölgii, Dornod, Dornogovi, Govi-Altai, Khuvsgul, Omnogovi, Selenge, Sukhbaatar, Tuv, Ulaanbaatar, Uvs, Uvurkhangai, Zavkhan).

Figures

Figure 1. Epeolus asiaticus Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., holotype, female (A, B), paratype, male (C) A-C habitus, lateral view (A), dorsal view (B, C). Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 2. Epeolus asiaticus Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., holotype, female (A, C-E), paratype, male (B) A, B head, frontal view; dorsal view C frons and vertex, frontal view D metasoma, ventral view E labrum, frontal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-D); 0.3 mm (E).

Figure 7. Epeolus asiaticus Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., females (A-G), males (H, I) A-I metasoma, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 8. Epeolus asiaticus Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., females (A, B) A, B part of the forewing, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 9. Male, gonostylus, ventral view (A-D), lateral view (E-H) A, E Epeolus gorodkovi Astafurova, sp. nov. B, F E. asiaticus Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov. C, G E. alpinus Friese, 1893 D, H E. cruciger (Panzer, 1799). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.