Euglossa pepei, Nemesio, Andre & Engel, Michael S., 2012

Nemesio, Andre & Engel, Michael S., 2012, Three new cryptic species of Euglossa from Brazil (Hymenoptera, Apidae), ZooKeys 222, pp. 47-68 : 55-58

Euglossa pepei sp. n. Figures 2636

Holotype.

♂, with the following data: "Euglossina da Hileia Baiana, PN Pau Brasil, 19679-56729" and "Porto Seguro, BA, Brasil, 19/04/2009, A. Nemésio” (UFMG). Details of the type locality are: Parque Nacional do Pau Brasil (16°31'S, 39°17'W; 90 m a.s.l.), in the municipality of Porto Seguro, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil.

Paratypes.

4♂♂, with the following label data: "Euglossina da Hileia Baiana, PN Pau Brasil, 19641-56644" and "Porto Seguro, BA, Brasil, 17/04/2009, A. Nemésio” (UFMG); "idem, 19659-56671" and "idem, 18/04/2009" (UFMG); "idem, 19706-56790" and "idem, 20/04/2009" (UFMG), and "Euglossina da Hileia Baiana, PN Descobrimento, 20601-58992" and "Prado, BA, Brasil, 18/12/2008, A. Nemésio” (SEMC).

Diagnosis.

Euglossa pepei is the most distinctive of the species of crassipunctata group. The shape and size of the anterior mesotibial tuft and the presence of a minute posterior tuft (Figs 29, 30) is most similar to that observed in Euglossa parvula Dressler. However, both species can be separated by the larger size of the oval anterior tuft and the smaller glandular scar of the metatibia in Euglossa pepei . In regards to the terminalia, S8 in Euglossa pepei is distinctly more slender (cf. figures 33 and 37), and the gonostylus is more pronounced (cf. figures 34-36 versus 38-40). In addition, the bluish coloration is practically restricted to the head and discal base of the mesoscutum, and the sterna are golden green, the latter feature contrasting with other species in the group for which there are at least present some bluish hues.

Description.

♂: Body length ca. 9.5 mm; forewing length ca. 7.7 mm; head width 3.7 mm; interorbital distance at level of antennal socket 2.1 mm; maximum interorbital distance 2.6 mm; labiomaxillary complex in repose reaching apex of body; scape length 0.7 mm; compound eye length 2.7 mm; mesoscutellum width 2.3 mm, length 1.1 mm; abdominal width 3.8 mm.

Coloration and vestiture: Clypeus and upper frons dark blue, remainder of head greenish (Fig. 28); ivory paraocular markings well developed, reaching malar area but not particularly wide below; anterior surface of antennal scape black; discal base of mesoscutum blue, remainder of mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, and metasoma green (Figs 26, 27). Wing membranes lightly infumate. Pubescence very sparse, predominantly fulvous setae on metasoma and around antennal sockets, black and fulvous setae on mesosoma, black setae especially prominent on mesoscutum (compared to predominantly fulvous setae in Euglossa parvula ). Protibia and probasitarsus fringed with dense, fulvous setae; velvet area occupying all ventral surface of mesotibia, posterior mesotibial tuft very small, less than 1/30 of area of anterior tuft; anterior mesotibial tuft oval, very large, occupying approximately one quarter of velvet area length (Figs 29, 30); metatibia oblong-rhomboid, inflated (Fig. 31).

Punctation: Mesoscutum with circular punctures of two different sizes separated by less than a puncture width, those anterolaterally nearly contiguous; punctures on mesoscutellum more widely spaced than those of mesoscutal disc, with larger circular punctures separated by a puncture width or slightly less in medial third otherwise separated by less than a puncture width. Punctation on discal base of T1 with large circular punctures, punctures weak and separated by less than a puncture width; on distal part of T1 and T2-T6 dense, consisting of minute circular punctures; on T7 dense, with large circular punctures; S2 with very small, almost inconspicuous, widely-separated tufts.

Terminalia: Male terminalia as in figures 32-36. Posterior margin of S7 deeply invaginated mesally, lateral sections almost straight; apical setae only on two apexes of invaginated section; notospiculum weak, slightly divided apically, posterolateral projects distinct (in this regard more similar to Euglossa clausi , Euglossa moratoi , and Euglossa parvula ); posterior section triangular, elongate, pointed apically, with basolateral projections not as prominent as in Euglossa clausi and Euglossa moratoi ; anteriormost section of gonobase curved ventrally, forming angle of ~110° with remainder of ventral edge; gonostylus simple ('type V’ of Ospina-Torres et al. 2006), lateral lobe long, pointed and almost straight; gonostylar setae short throughout; dorsal process of gonocoxa well developed, apical process evenly rounded laterally (less regularly rounded in Euglossa parvula ).

♀: Unknown.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a patronym honoring Leandro Mattos Santos, nicknamed “Pepê”, in recognition of his accomplishments in melittology.

Baits.

All four of the known males were collected at baits of vanillin.

Geographic distribution.

Euglossa pepei is known only from the small type series, all collected at Parque Nacional do Pau Brasil, municipality of Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil.