Homalictus kaicolo, Dorey & Schwarz & Stevens, 2019

Dorey, James B., Schwarz, Michael P. & Stevens, Mark I., 2019, Review of the bee genus Homalictus Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) from Fiji with description of nine new species, Zootaxa 4674 (1), pp. 1-46 : 27-29

Homalictus kaicolo sp. nov.

( Figs 17–18 )

Material examined. Holotype ♂: 17FJ197 ( SAMA 32 -036168), 17/4/17, 1:25 PM, 932 m asl, -17.73810, 178.05539, SA Hammond, Monasavu Rd , roadside sweep.

Allotype ♀: 17FJ94 (SAMA 32-036169), Viti Levu, Fiji, -17.615347, 178. 017228, L, JB Dorey, JB Biddle, RK Schober, 18.04.2017, 1,289 m asl, Mt. Tomanivi ; open area along ridge between peaks, sun out, low wind, clear weather grassy open area.

Paratypes 2 ♀: 17FJ205 (SAMA 32-036170) and 17FJ199 (SAMA 32-036171), 17/4/17, 12:43 PM, 872 m asl, -17.73809, 178.05673, MOJ Bazin, caught on Sphagneticola trilobata, Monasavu Rd.

Diagnosis. Males: In combination: supraclypeal area mostly finely colliculate ( Fig 1 f–g), posterior margin of scutum about straight, scutum and scutellum mostly golden green and metallic, T1 green and scutellum to forewing length ratio 1:14. Additionally, dorsal subapical crest of gonocoxite is poorly developed and gonostylus is well developed ( Fig. 17e ).

Females: Striae on dorsal, posterior margin of propodeum forms triangular pattern ( Fig. 17f ).

Supraclypeal area completely finely colliculate, habitus mostly green, scutum and scutellum golden, green or reddish, pygidial plate has few minute sparse punctures or open fine punctures medially, posterior margin of scutum is about straight, scutum and scutellum partly iridescent orange and pink, striae on dorsal, posterior margin of propodeum forms triangular pattern.

Description. Males: Measurements: UID 0.64 mm. LID 0.54 mm. AOD 0.19 mm. IAD 0.13 mm. OAD 0.33 mm. IOD 0.17 mm. OOD 0.2 mm. GW 0.22 mm. EW 0.29 mm. ML 0.09 mm. SL 0.23 mm. FL 3.8 mm.

Colouration: Upper golden green and metallic. Supraclypeal area golden medially. Frons golden green and metallic. Paraocular area golden green and metallic. Scutum orange or golden green and metallic. Scutellum golden green and metallic. Propodeum dorsally golden green and metallic. Metasoma dark green or green, dark along posterior edges.

Sculpturing: Paraocular area some messy striae below antennal sockets or colliculate, longitudinal striae posteriorly and proximally above antennal socket. Frons mostly longitudinal striae with transverse striae under ocelli. Supraclypeal area mostly finely colliculate. Clypeus finely colliculate. Vertex punctures small, sparse, close and open. Scutum finely colliculate. Scutellum punctation close and open. Propodeum; dorsally no linear pattern and coarsely strigate-rugose; laterally fine to moderately colliculate with some striae anteriorly and dorsally; posteriorly finely colliculate and striae originating ventrally and medially almost forming circles with dorsal striae.

Morphology: Scape extends to or below anterior margin of medial ocellus. Interantennal distance greater than diameter of socket. Labrum simple. Clypeus not depressed medially.Area posterior of vertex with strong and close striae. Posterior margin of scutum shape mostly straight. Gonostylus short and rounded, dorsoapical crest of gonocoxite very weak.

Females: Measurements: UID 0.72–0.74 mm. LID 0.71–0.73 mm. AOD 0.25–0.27 mm. IAD 0.09–0.1 mm. OAD 0.43–0.47 mm. IOD 0.18– 0.18 mm. OOD 0.21–0.22 mm. GW 0.2–0.21 mm. EW 0.31–0.33 mm. BL 4.94– 5.18 mm. ML 0.11–0.13 mm. SL 0.28–0.29 mm. FL 4.09–4.13 mm.

Colouration: Clypeus anteriorly black; posteriorly golden green and metallic. Whole clypeus partly iridescent. Supraclypeal area green or golden green and metallic. Frons golden green and metallic. Paraocular area golden green and metallic. Scutum golden green and metallic, partly metallic orange, pink and gold and appears reddish. Scutellum golden green and metallic or golden and partly metallic orange and pink. Propodeum dorsally golden or golden green and metallic. Metasoma T1 black or nearly so, T2 onwards dark green or green, dark along posterior edges with some iridescent purple.

Sculpturing: Paraocular area colliculate, some messy striae below antennal sockets, longitudinal striae posteriorly and proximally above antennal socket. Frons mostly longitudinal striae, anterior striae messy and transverse striae under ocelli. Supraclypeal area mostly finely colliculate. Clypeus finely colliculate. Vertex punctures fine, close and open. Scutum anteriorly finely colliculate and lineolate; medially and posteriorly finely colliculate. Scutellum punctation close and open. Propodeum; dorsally strong striae, posterior striae form consecutive triangular pattern, weak or strong medial anterior groove and coarsely strigate-rugose; laterally finely and moderately colliculate and posteroventral and anterior striae curve towards each other and can meet; posteriorly finely colliculate with striae originating ventrally and medially almost forming circles with dorsal striae. Pygidial plate few minute sparse punctures.

Morphology: Scape extends to above vertex. Interantennal distance about equal to diameter of socket. Labrum has two medial projections parallel from one another. Clypeus not depressed medially. Area posterior of vertex strong and close striae. Posterior margin of scutum shape mostly straight.

Comments. Homalictus kaicolo appears to be a relatively uncommon species in the areas that we sampled.

Distribution. Homalictus kaicolo has been sampled from the central highlands of the largest island, Viti Levu ( Fig. 18 ). Collections of H. kaicolo have been made between 870 m asl and 1,050 m asl.

Etymology. The name H. kaicolo is a noun in apposition derived from the Fijian term “kai colo” (pronounced ky-thow-low) which means “from the hills”. H. kaicolo is named so because of its wider-distribution in the highland regions of Viti Levu, between 800 m asl and 1,100 m asl.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Propodeum dorsally showing (a) coarsely, (b) moderately and (c) finely strigate-rugose sculpturing. Fovea along anterior inner margin of eye (d) present and (h) absent. Supraclypeal area showing (e) mostly moderately, (f) mostly finely and (g) entirely finely sculpturing.

FIGURE 17. Homalictus kaicolo sp. nov. male (a) dorsal habitus, (b) lateral habitus, (c) dorso posterior, (d) anteriorly frontal face and (e) ventral genitalia. Female (f) dorsal habitus, (g) lateral habitus, (h) dorso posterior, (i) anteriorly frontal face and (j) pygidial plate.

FIGURE 18. Collection localities of Homalictus kaicolo sp. nov. from specimens with identity confirmed by mtDNA COI gene. Sample size is 6.