Triepeolus alvarengai Moure, 1955

Onuferko, Thomas M. & Rightmyer, Molly G., 2024, A revision of the simplex species group of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Triepeolus Robertson, 1901 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 950 (1), pp. 1-106 : 19-20

Triepeolus alvarengai Moure, 1955

Fig. 13A

Triepeolus alvarengai Moure, 1955: 126 (♀).

Triepeolus alvarengai – Onuferko et al. 2024: 7 , figs 1a, 2, 3a (redescription of female, description of male).

Proposed common name

Alvarenga’s triepeolus.

Diagnosis

The following morphological features in combination tell T. alvarengai apart from all other Triepeolus in the simplex species group: the mesoscutum has well-defined paramedian bands ( Fig. 13A ); the T1 basal band is arched, continuous with (and indistinguishable from) the lateral longitudinal bands, and mesally concave on each side, such that the discal patch is semicircular ( Fig. 13A ); the T1 apical transverse band (if present) is not more narrowly interrupted medially than the basal band ( Fig. 13A ); and T2–T4 have complete apical transverse bands of yellow tomentum that are about as broad as (if not broader than) the bands on T1 and do not have basomedially convergent anterolateral extensions ( Fig. 13A ). Specimens in which T1 has only a basal band or pair of anterolateral patches of pale tomentum (as opposed to both basal and apical transverse bands) may be confused with T. mexicanus or T. nemoralis , but in T. mexicanus pale tomentum on the mesoscutum is restricted to the lateral and posterior margins and in T. nemoralis the mesoscutum has a large anteromedial ovate patch of yellow tomentum, which may be sparser medially such that the patch is suggestive of ill-defined paramedian bands. Specimens in which T1 has an apical transverse band may be confused with T. eumeniformis sp. nov., but in T. eumeniformis the T1 basal band (if present) is more widely interrupted medially than the apical transverse band. Additionally, T. alvarengai can easily be separated from T. eumeniformis and T. mexicanus by geography; the former is known only from Brazil whereas the latter two species are known only from North and Central America.

Etymology

See Onuferko et al. (2024).

Material examined

See Onuferko et al. (2024).

DNA barcoded material

Unavailable.

Redescription

This species was recently redescribed ( Onuferko et al. 2024).

Distribution

Eastern Brazil ( Onuferko et al. 2024: fig. 1a).

Ecology

Host records

Unknown.

Floral records

Unknown.

Remarks

Detailed morphological and taxonomic remarks about this species are given in Onuferko et al. (2024).

Figures

Fig. 13. Mesosoma and metasoma of male, dorsal view. A. Triepeolus alvarengai Moure, 1955 (ZMB ed1bbe/M.G.R. Database No. 11694) (image is copyright of the Museum für Naturkunde and reproduced here with permission). B. T. nemoralis (Holmberg, 1886) (CNC 1801912).