Plebeia (Plebeia) silveirai Engel, 2022

Engel, Michael S., 2022, New species of the stingless bee genus Plebeia (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Journal of Melittology 2022 (114), pp. 1-28 : 24

Plebeia (Plebeia) silveirai Engel , new species

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CC12986B-0671-4CE2-8DC5-680986848F67

( Figs. 45–47 )

DIAGNOSIS: Like others represented in this work, P. silveirai is among a group of species with poorly developed facial markings ( Fig. 47 ). However, unlike the others reported herein the mesosomal markings are more clearly delineated and of a brighter yellow, with the maculation of the mesoscutellum particularly thin along the margin but extending its full length. It also has a slightly more developed malar space, which ranges up to 0.4× the flagellar diameter, although many individuals have it as short as 0.25× the flagellar diameter.

DESCRIPTION: As described for P. amydra (vide supra), with the following modifications: ⚲: Total body length approximately 3.75–4.75 mm, forewing length (to base of humeral sclerite) 4.25–4.67 mm. Head wider than long, width 1.80–1.83 mm, length 1.43–1.47 mm; compound eye length 1.20 mm; upper interorbital distance 1.10–1.17 mm, lower interorbital distance 0.90–0.97 mm. Scape length 0.62–0.63 mm. Malar area 0.25–0.4× flagellar diameter; clypeus broad, width 1.8–2.1× length. Preoccipital ridge carinate. Intertegular distance 1.23–1.27 mm. Hind wing with 5 distal hamuli.

Clypeus dark brown to black; supraclypeal area black; scape dark brown to black, pedicel and flagellum dark brown; paraocular borders brown to dark brown, but always lighter than remainder of face and extending to concavity in ocular margin. Mesosoma dark brown to black except as noted: pronotal lobe yellow, sometimes with spot of brown; mesoscutum with thin stripes of pale yellow to yellow along lateral borders; axilla pale yellow to yellow; mesoscutellum with pale yellow to yellow apical margin; legs largely dark brown to black; wing membranes hyaline and faintly infumate, veins brown to dark brown.

Clypeus with minute punctures separated by 0.5–2× a puncture width, integument between faintly and weakly imbricate such that overall surface appears at lower magnifications more rough; supraclypeal area sculptured as on clypeus; lower and upper face with minute punctures separated by 1–4× a puncture width below, blending to 3–5× a puncture width above, integument between punctures smooth and shining; vertex and posterior of head with punctures similar to those of clypeus but integument a bit irregular; gena with punctures separated by 1–2× a puncture width. Mesoscutum smooth, shining, with minute punctures separated by 1–2× a puncture width, punctures more spaced posteriorly and outside of parapsidal lines and denser and fainter anteriorly; punctures of mesoscutellum similar but sparser, integument otherwise smooth and shining between punctures.

♀: Latet.

♂: Latet.

HOLOTYPE: ⚲, Peru: Pasco Dept., Yanachaga-Chemillen National Park , 1550 m, 10°16’24’’S, 75°36’48’’W, 20 Oct 1999, R. Brooks, ex: atracted to wet sand ( SEMC).

PARATYPES (14⚲⚲): 14⚲⚲, Peru: Pasco Dept., Yanachaga-Chemillen National Park , 1550 m, 10°16’24’’S, 75°36’48’’W, 20 Oct 1999, R . Brooks , ex: atracted to wet sand ( SEMC) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet honors the late Fernando A. Silveira (1960–2022), one of the most affable melitologists, an influential teacher and researcher, and an excellent colleague of the last 29 years.

Figures

Figures 45–47. Worker of Plebeia (Plebeia) silveirai, new species. 45. Lateral habitus. 46. Dorsal view of head and mesosoma. 47. Facial view.