Hoplitis (Anthocopa) nicolaei, Müller, Andreas, 2012

Müller, Andreas, 2012, New European bee species of the tribe Osmiini (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae), Zootaxa 3355, pp. 29-50 : 42-43

Hoplitis (Anthocopa) nicolaei spec. nov.

Holotype: Greece, Peloponnese, Parnonas mountains: Mt. Parnonas, Aghriani, 1000m, 27.5.2006, ɗ (leg. C. Praz & C. Sedivy), [ ETHZ].

Paratypes: Greece, Peloponnese: Kalamata, 15.5.1964, 2 ɗ (leg. M. Schwarz); Midea (Argolis), 23.4.1995, 1 Ψ, 1 ɗ (leg. W. Arens); Voidokilia (near Pylos), 10.5.1995, 1 ɗ (leg. W. Arens); Midea (Argolis), 10.5.1996, 1 ɗ (leg. W. Arens); Stymphalos lake, Kefalari, 1.6.1996, 3 ɗ (leg. W. Arens); Amyklai near Sparta, 2.5.2000, 3 ɗ (leg. W. Arens); antikes Samikon, 12.5.2000, 1 ɗ (leg. W. Arens); 5km NE of Kalamata, 24.4.2005, 3 ɗ (leg. J. Halada); 5km NE of Kalvrita, 5.5.2005, 1 ɗ (leg. J. Halada); 10km S of Patras, Pavlokastro - Thea, 250m, 24.5.2006, 1 ɗ (leg. C. Praz & C. Sedivy). Erymanthos mountains: Michas, 1300–1900m, 1.6.1995, 1 ɗ (leg. W. Arens); Michas, 900–1300m, 12.6.1997, 1 ɗ (leg. W. Arens); Michas, 1300–1700m, 24.6.1998, 1 ɗ (leg. W. Arens). Likeos mountains: Ano Karnes, 17.6.1995, 1 ɗ (leg. W. Arens); Kotili, 21.6.1997, 2 Ψ, 3 ɗ (leg. W. Arens); Kotili, 1000–1400m, 22.6.1997, 3 ɗ (leg. P. Hartmann); Kotili, Gipfelregion über 1000m, 17.6.1998, 1 ɗ (leg. W. Arens). Parnonas mountains: Mt. Parnonas, Aghriani, 1000m, 27.5.2006, 1 Ψ, 1 ɗ (leg. C. Praz & C. Sedivy). Turkey, Mardin: 20km SE of Midyat, 900m, 18.5.1989, 1 ɗ (leg. K. Warncke). Siirt: 15km W of Siirt, 6.6.1980, 650m, 7 Ψ, 2 ɗ (leg. M. Schwarz). Hakkari: 10km W of Uludere, 4.6.1980, 1 ɗ (leg. M. Schwarz). Jordan: North Shuna, 30.4.1996, 1 ɗ (leg. M. Halada).

Diagnosis. The female of H. nicolaei possesses a median projection at the apical margin of the clypeus, which is narrowly trapeziform in shape, impressed medioapically and distinctly polished, a character that is shared amongst the southeastern European species of the subgenus Anthocopa only with H. papaveris (LATREILLE), H. perezi (FER- TON), H. serainae spec. nov. and H. yermasoyiae (MAVROMOUSTAKIS). Compared to H. papaveris and H. perezi , female body length of H. nicolaei is smaller and does not exceed 8mm. In contrast to H. yermasoyiae corcyraea (TKALC Ù), the European subspecies of H. yermasoyiae , the scopa of H. nicolaei is whitish instead of orange. To date, no morphological characters are known to differentiate between the females of H. nicolaei and H. serainae . The description of the female of H. nicolaei below is based on specimens from localities, where only males of H. nicolaei but no males of H. serainae were collected. The male of H. nicolaei is easily recognizable amongst the southeastern European Anthocopa species except for H. yermasoyiae and the species of the villosa group by the rectangular shape of tergum 7 ( Fig. 17 ). In contrast to H. yermasoyiae , tergum 7 is distinctly shorter than wide (as long as wide in H. yermasoyiae ), the apical margin of tergum 7 is rounded (truncated in H. yermasoyiae ) and the transversal swelling on sternum 2 is poorly developed (conspicuous in H. yermasoyiae ). From the species of the villosa group the male of H. nicolaei additionally differs by its distinctly smaller size and the unmodified antenna.

Description. Female: Body length: 6–7.5mm. Head: Second segment of the labial palpus about 2.25x as long as the first segment. Clypeus slightly convex with a medioapical projection, which is narrowly trapeziform in shape, distinctly polished, impressed medioapically and more or less bent downwards in its apical half. Pilosity of face and vertex yellowish-red. Clypeus, supraclypeal area and frons very densely punctate with interspaces of usually less than the diameter of half a puncture. Punctation of vertex slightly less dense with interspaces of the diameter of one half to one puncture. Head about 0.9x as long as broad. Vertex seen in front view evenly rounded. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge 2.9–3.3x as long as the ocellar diameter. Thorax: Scutum and scutellum very densely punctate with interspaces of less than the diameter of half a puncture except medially and laterally, where the punctation is slightly less dense. Basal zone of the propodeum polished except for its upper third, which is shagreened. Hind tibial spurs yellowish, long and slender, straight and tapering towards the acute tip. Pilosity of scutum and scutellum yellowish-red, of the other parts of the thorax whitish. Pilosity on the inside of the hind leg basitarsus yellowish red. Metasoma: Terga 1–5 with narrow whitish hair bands, which are broadly interrupted on terga 1–2 or 1–3. Disc of tergum 1 covered laterally with moderately long whitish hairs. Disc of terga 2–5 beset with rather short, erect and mostly brownish hairs. Base of terga 2 and 3 very weakly impressed. Punctation of disc of terga 1–5 moderately scattered with interspaces varying between the diameter of one half and three punctures. Punctation of tergum 6 distinctly denser than on the preceding terga. Scopa whitish.

Male: Body length: 6–8mm. Head: Second segment of the labial palpus about 2.1x as long as the first segment. Antenna blackish and parallel-sided along its whole length. Antennal segments 4–11 slightly shorter than wide, segment 12 as long as wide and segments 3 and 13 longer than wide. Pilosity of face and vertex light yellowish-brown. Head about 0.85x as long as broad. Vertex seen in front view evenly rounded. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge 2.7–3.5x as long as the ocellar diameter. Thorax: Punctation of scutum and scutellum, basal zone of the propodeum and colour and form of the hind tibial spurs as in the female. Pilosity of scutum and scutellum light yellowish-brown, of the other parts of the thorax whitish. Pilosity on the inner side of the hind leg basitarsus yellowish-white. Metasoma: Apical margin of terga 1–7 more or less light reddish-brown. Terga 1–5 with narrow yellowish-white hair bands, which are interrupted on tergum 1 and only inconspicuously developed medially on terga 2–3. Disc of tergum 1 covered laterally with long whitish hairs. Disc of terga 2–5 beset with rather short, erect and mostly brownish hairs. Base of terga 2 and 3 weakly impressed. Punctation of tergal discs slightly denser than in the female with interspaces varying between the diameter of one half and two punctures. Apical margin of tergum 6 evenly rounded and with a lateral tooth, which is slightly shorter than wide. Tergum 7 basally with an oval impression, which is usually hidden by the overlapping tergum 6, its subapical zone distinctly swollen and its apical zone narrow and flat ( Fig. 17 ). Visible part of tergum 7 shorter than wide. Apical margin of tergum 7 rounded and laterobasally with a more or less rounded edge. Apical margin of sternum 2 evenly rounded and loosely ciliated with moderately long and straight whitish hairs. Apical margin of sternum 3 very weakly emarginated medially and beset with long and slightly incurved yellowish-white hairs, which are longer than the apical hairs on sternum 2. Apical margin of sternum 4 broadly but shallowly emarginated and beset with long and slightly incurved yellowish-white hairs, which are slightly longer than those on sternum 3. Apical margin of sternum 5 broadly and even more shallowly emarginated than apical margin of sternum 4 and beset with distinctly incurved yellowish-white hairs, which are of about the same length as those on sternum 3. Sternum 6 rather densely punctate and distinctly haired except for a triangular to roundish apical zone, which is slightly impressed, impunctate and unhaired. Apical margin of sternum 6 evenly rounded. Gonoforceps slender and in its apical half sparsely haired and nearly flat in cross-section ( Fig. 18 ).

Distribution. From Greece eastwards to eastern Turkey and southwards to Jordan. H. nicolaei was found to occur syntopically with H. serainae at several localities in Greece and Turkey.

Host plants. H. nicolaei is polylectic: three pollen samples from two different localities, where only males of H. nicolaei but no males of H. serainae were collected, consist of pollen of Convolvulaceae , Caryophyllaceae , Asteraceae ( Carduoideae , Cichorioideae ), Linaceae and Lamiaceae .

Etymology. nicolaei = dedicated to my son Nicolas.

Figures

FIGURE 17 – 24. 17: Hoplitis nicolaei spec. nov., terga 5 – 7 of ɗ. 18: Hoplitis nicolaei spec. nov., genitalia of ɗ. 19: Hoplitis peniculifera spec. nov., apical margin of clypeus of Ψ. 20: Hoplitis peniculifera spec. nov., sterna 2 – 6 of ɗ. 21: Hoplitis serainae spec. nov., terga 5 – 7 of ɗ. 22: Hoplitis serainae spec. nov., genitalia of ɗ. 23: Hoplitis hilbera spec. nov., antenna of ɗ. 24: Hoplitis hilbera spec. nov., appendage of sternum 6 and tergum 7 of ɗ.