Apatosigynes Engel, 2021

Engel, Michael S., 2021, Two new genera of South American Eulonchopriini (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), Journal of Melittology 2021 (107), pp. 1-24 : 4-10

Apatosigynes Engel , new genus

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B6EA975D-CFBE-415E-974D-60680237A9FE

TYPE SPECIES: Apatosigynes meloi Engel , new species.

DIAGNOSIS: The new genus is similar to Eulonchopria in the coarsely punctured, nonmetallic integument, as well as the presence of enamel-like bands apically on terga I–IV, albeit they are exceptionally narrow in Apatosigynes . Unlike Eulonchopria , the new genus has the inner orbits of the compound eyes roughly parallel ( Fig. 3 ) (converging in Eulonchopria : Fig. 32 ), the preoccipital area rounded ( Figs. 4, 5 ) (carinate to lamellate in Eulonchopria : Figs. 30–32 , 36, 37 ), the facial foveae absent ( Fig. 3 ) (present in Eulonchopria s.str.), has a rounded pronotal dorsal ridge ( Figs. 1 , 6 , 11 ) (carinate onto pronotal lobe in Eulonchopria : Figs. 33 , 36 ); lacks an omaular carina (present in Eulonchopria s.str.), wings not plaited (plaited in Eulonchopria ), the border of the pterostigma within the marginal cell convex ( Figs. 17, 18 ) (concave to straight in Eulonchopria : Fig. 30 ), the longer body setae ( Figs. 1, 2 , 11, 12 , 22, 23 ) (minute, plumose, and largely embedded within punctures in Eulonchopria : Figs. 30, 31 , 33 , 36 ), a rugose basal area to the propodeum ( Fig. 8 , 14, 16 , 28 ) (areolate in Eulonchopria : Figs. 35 , 46 ), metafemoral scopa composed of elongate branched setae (composed of short, apically branched setae in Eulonchopria s.str.), metabasitibial plate of female only carinate posteriorly ( Fig. 9 ) (completely carinate in Eulonchopria : Fig. 39 ), enamel-like bands of terga I–IV exceptionally narrow and flat ( Figs. 1, 2 , 11, 12 , 14 , 22, 23 , 25 ) (bands broader, more noticeable, and with apical margin slightly upcurved in Eulonchopria : Figs. 30, 31 , 38 , 41, 42 , 46 ), and the pygidial plate of the female not continued basolaterally ( Fig. 10 ) (continued basolaterally in Eulonchopria : Fig. 40 ).

DESCRIPTION: Moderate-sized bees, ca. 8–11 mm in length; integument nonmetallic, coarsely punctate and coarsely sculptured; pubescence short and typically fine, not minute, broadly plumose, and embedded within punctures as in Eulonchopria s.str.

Face convex, supraclypeal area more protuberant than clypeus; inner orbits of compound eyes roughly parallel (distinctly converging below in Eulonchopria ); malar space linear; facial fovea absent (similar to Ethalonchopria Michener ); vertex convex and elevated above upper ocular tangent in facial view; anterior margin of median ocellus above midpoint between antennal toruli and posterior margin of vertex; preoccipital ridge rounded (ecarinate and not lamellate); mandible of female and male with preapical tooth on upper margin; labrum much broader than long with apical margin convex; flagellomere I of male about as long as broad, flagellomere II about 1.3× as long as broad, middle flagellomeres over 1.5× as long as broad.

Pronotum dorsolaterally rounded, without carina or lamella extending onto pronotal lobe (carina present in Eulonchopria ); omaular carina absent; metepisternal area moderately impressed; axillae simple (angulate in Eulonchopria s.str.). Basal area of propodeum mate with raised rugae, without deep areolae, otherwise finely imbricate between rugae (deep areolae present in Eulonchopria ), subequal to metanotum; lateral surface of propodeum with abundant scopal setae.

Probasitarsus of female with comb on outer edge extending length of probasitarsus, without outer apical process (process present in Eulonchopria ) from which comb extends apically; metafemoral scopa of female composed of elongate, curved setae with minute branches along their entire rachis (short curved setae in Eulonchopria ), such setae wrapping ventrally to enclose a defined fiscina (sensu Engel, 2001; Engel et al., 2021) over glabrous ventral surface of metafemur; metatibia with setae of outer surface of moderate length, branched although becoming simpler apically, especially on apical half of metatibia, setae of inner surface of moderate length, apically branched and forming a distinct, uniform field (but without keitrotrichiate field); metabasitibial plate of female only indicate by posterior carina (well defined and acutely rounded apically, about one third as long as metatibia in Eulonchopria ); metabasitibial plate of male well defined, carina delimited on all sides, acutely pointed apically, carina extending to apex of metatibia; inner metatibial spur of female coarsely pectinate (3–4 branches), of male ciliate (coarsely pectinate or ciliate in South American Eulonchopria , or absent in North American Eulonchopria s.str.); metabasitarsus of female elongate, tapering apically, apex more than half as wide as maximum proximal width, outer surface flat, setae subequal to those of inner surface, similar to those of apical outer surface of metatibia, not obscuring surface.

Forewing not plaited (commonly plaited longitudinally, as in Vespidae , in Eulonchopria ); 1M (basal vein) distad 1cu-a; pterostigma nearly parallel sided, r-rs arising just apicad midlength (near apex in Eulonchopria ), margin within marginal cell convex; apex of marginal cell obliquely truncate; three submarginal cells.

Metasoma without setal bands, terga I–IV of female and terga I–V of male with exceptionally narrow marginal integumental pale yellow bands, those of male broader than bands of female; prepygidial fimbria of female strongest medially, fading away laterally; pygidial plate of female with margin not continued basolaterally (continued nearly to lateral margin of tergum VI in Eulonchopria ); pygidial plate of male absent, surface of tergum VII coarsely and closely punctate like preceding terga; metasomal sterna densely punctate, those of female with field of abundant minute, translucent white setae, of male without such translucent setae. Metasomal sternum V of male with apical margin broadly concave and dense fringe of long, yellow setae; sternum VI of male with broad, shallow medial concavity in apical margin; sternum VII of male narrow medially, with two primary pairs of broad lobes distally, lobes with setae on ventral surfaces; sternum VIII of male rather large and broad, with broad basal spiculum with concave margins arching to sternal body, and broad flat apical process, with bluntly rounded apex (not beveled like a pygidial plate), process gently downcurved. Gonostylus broad, with abundant setae, gently arching ventroapically from apex of gonocoxa; volsella large, with broadly triangular medioapical process, without distinct denticles but with long medioapical setae; penis valve strongly downcurved apically (not strongly downcurved in Eulonchopria ), with inner margin simple (with preapical lobes or processes on inner margin in Eulonchopria ).

ETYMOLOGY: The new genus-group name is a combination of the Greek words apátē (ᾰπᾰ́τη, meaning, “fraud”) and sigynê (σίγυνη or σίγυνος, meaning, “spear”). The gender of the name is masculine.

INCLUDED SPECIES: The genus currently includes the type species (described below from Brazil, vide infra), and Apatosigynes simplicicrus (Michener) , new combination, from Peru (holotype ♂, visum SEMC, Loreto Province, Pucallpa, 200 m, 20–30 June 1965, J. Schunke). The two species occupy somewhat different climatic regions and appear to live in different habitats, the type species found in the tropical wet-dry climate of southeastern Brazil, and A. simplicicrus occurring in the tropical wet monsoon climate of northern Amazonian Peru.

REMARKS: Recognition of Apatosigynes leaves Eulonchopria circumbscribed by those features outlined by Michener (1989, 2007), many of which are distinctive apomorphies (e.g., the body setation, carinate and lamellate carinae on preoccipital ridge, pronotsal dorsal ridge, angulate axillae, broad enamel-like bands with upcurved margins, &c.). What remains to be discovered is whether Ethalonchopria should remain in Eulonchopria . Certainly for the moment, it seems best placed therein and appears to share more derived features with Eulonchopria s.str., particularly in features that generally characterize the genus in such a broad sense.

Key to species of Apatosigynes

(males only, female of A. simplicicrus unknown)

1. Dorsal surface of metasomal tergum I elongate, 0.55× as long as broad; rugae of basal area of propodeum prominent (Figs., 14, 16); legs largely dark reddish brown ( Figs. 11, 12 ); tergum VII without mediolongitudinal strip of imbricate integument, instead uniformly punctured; sternum V with apical margin concave; sternum VII with lateral lobe about as wide as proximal lobe ( Fig. 19 ); sternum VII with spiculum narrowing to rounded apex ( Fig. 20 ), shape as in figure 20; larger species, ca. 9.4 in length, forewing ca. 7.6 mm [ Brazil (Bahia, Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, São Paulo)] ............. A. meloi , n. sp.

—. Dorsal surface of metasomal tergum I shorter, 0.47× as long as broad; rugae of basal area of propodeum weak ( Fig. 28 ); legs wholly testaceous ( Figs. 22, 23 ); tergum VII with thin mediolongitudinal strip of impunctate and imbricate integument contrasting with punctures of remainder of tergum; sternum V with apical margin relatively straight; sternum V with apical margin concave; sternum VII with lateral lobe broader than proximal lobe ( Michener, 1989: fig. 18); sternum VII with spiculum blunt ( Michener, 1989: fig. 18), shape as in figure 18 of Michener (1989); smaller species, ca. 8 mm in length, forewing ca. 6.8 mm [ Peru (Loreto)] .................................................................. A. simplicicrus (Michener)

Figures

Figures 1–3. Holotype female of Apatosigynes meloi, new genus and species. 1. Lateral habitus. 2. Dorsal habitus. 3. Facial view.

Figures 30–32. Paratype female of Eulonchopria (Eulonchopria) punctatissima Michener. 30. Lateral habitus. 31. Dorsal habitus. 32. Facial view.

Figures 4–5. Holotype female of Apatosigynes meloi, new genus and species. 4. Dorsal oblique view of vertex. 5. Head in profile.

Figures 36–37. Head of paratype female of Eulonchopria (Eulonchopria) punctatissima Michener (arrows indicate lamellate preoccipital ridge). 36. Oblique dorsal view of vertex. 37. Head in profile.

Figures 6–8. Holotype female of Apatosigynes meloi, new genus and species. 6. Mesosomal dorsum. 7. Detail of axilla. 8. Basal area of propodeum.

Figures 11–13. Paratype male of Apatosigynes meloi, new genus and species. 11. Lateral habitus. 12. Dorsal habitus. 13. Facial view.

Figures 33–35. Paratype female of Eulonchopria (Eulonchopria) punctatissima Michener. 33. Dorsal view of head and mesosoma. 34. Detail of axilla (arrow indicates projected angle). 35. Basal area of propodeum.

Figures 17–18. Wing venation of male of species of Apatosigynes, new genus. 17. Forewing and hind wing of Apatosigynes simplicicrus (Michener), new combination. 18. Forewing of A. meloi, new species.

Figures 22–24. Holotype male of Apatosigynes simplicicrus (Michener), new combination. 22. Dorsal habitus. 23. Lateral habitus. 24. Facial view.

Figures 14–16. Paratype male of Apatosigynes meloi, new genus and species. 14. Dorsal view of mesoscutellum through propodeum and metasoma. 15. Metabasitibial plate. 16. Basal area of propodeum and metasomal tergum I.

Figures 25–29. Holotype male of Apatosigynes simplicicrus (Michener), new combination. 25. Dorsal view of metasoma. 26. Retrolateral view of metatibia (note lengthwise dorsal carina). 27. Metabasitibial plate. 28. Basal area of propodeum. 29. Metasomal tergum I.

Figures 44–46. Paratype male of Eulonchopria (Eulonchopria) punctatissima Michener. 44. Dorsal ridge of metatibia showing carina extending length. 45. Metabasitibial plate and dorsal metatibial carina. 46. Dorsal view of mesosomal apex and metasoma.

Figures 9–10. Holotype female of Apatosigynes meloi, new genus and species. 9. Metabasitibial plate. 10. Prepygidial fimbria and pygidial plate.

Figures 38–40. Paratype female of Eulonchopria (Eulonchopria) punctatissima Michener. 38. Dorsal view of metasoma. 39. Metabasitibial plate. 40. Metasomal apex, particularly pygidial plate (note basolateral continuation of plate).

Figures 41–43. Paratype male of Eulonchopria (Eulonchopria) punctatissima Michener. 41. Lateral habitus. 42. Dorsal habitus. 43. Facial view.

Figures 19–21. Male terminalia of Apatosigynes meloi, new genus and species; left halves are ventral views, right halves dorsal views. 19. Metasomal sternum VII. 20. Sternum VIII. 21. Genital capsule.