Microsphecodes peckorum Graham & Packer, 2024

Graham, Liam & Packer, Laurence, 2024, Three New Species of Microsphecodes s. str. (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) with an updated key to species of the subgenus, Zootaxa 5404 (1), pp. 189-205 : 191-195

Microsphecodes peckorum Graham & Packer

Figs. 2–10 , 13 , 25 , 33–35 , 37 & 39

Diagnosis: The combination of mesosoma varied in colour with extensive pale markings but the mesoscutum largely dark brown ( Figs. 3–6 ), clypeus <4X as wide as long ( Figs. 2 & 10 ), mesoscutum entirely lacking microsculpture except across anterior margin ( Figs. 5 & 8 ) and T1 entirely and T2 partly orange brown to entirely yellow brown ( Figs. 6 & 9 ) separates this species from all others except M. kathleenae . The two differ in a range of minor characteristics, but most readily in the relatively smaller ratio of IAD to AOD ( Fig. 2 also compare figures 36 and 37) and the degree of setation, which differs most notably on the metasoma (compare figures 39 and 40).

Description: Holotype female:

Dimensions: Approximate body length 4.44 mm; forewing length 3.76 mm; head broader than long, width 1.34 mm, length 1.18 mm; intertegular distance 0.86 mm.

Colouration: Black-brown except as follows: Mandibles yellow, apical 1/3 red-brown; labrum light brown apically; torulus and extreme base of scape yellow; pedicel orange, flagellum brown; pronotal lobe and tegula yellow; scutellum and metanotum orange-yellow; wing veins dark brown; wing membrane translucent. Legs orange-yellow except metacoxa dark brown, and metafemur brown except yellow at base and apex. T1 orange-yellow; T2 disc brown, the rest orange-yellow; T3–T4 brown with irregular apicolateral orange-yellow patch; T1–T4 apical impressed areas translucent yellow-brown; T5 brown, apical impressed area opaque brown; pygidial plate dark red-brown; S1 brown basally, orange-yellow apically, margins dark brown; S2–S4 yellow, apical impressed areas translucent yellow-brown; S5–S6 brown.

Pubescence: pale yellowish, relatively sparse fine simple sub-erect to erect except when stated otherwise; hairs of face dense, somewhat plumose, on clypeus mostly longer than on rest of face; sparser and longer on vertexal area than on face, but shorter than longest hairs of clypeus; anterior surface of flagellum hairs dense and short with underlying placodea. Pronotal collar with sparse yellow hair dorsally, lateral surface with short hairs, pronotal lobe hairs plumose; side of mesosoma with dense somewhat plumose short white subappressed hairs with sparse long white hairs intermixed; metatibia hairs simple, longest apicoventrally, shorter than or equal to the apical width of tibia; dorsal surface of metatibia with fine pale bristles bearing few short branches on dorsal side of rachis. T1–T2 glabrous except for scattered hairs especially laterally and basally; T3–T5 hairs denser, of medium length on disc, longer laterally, short and white basally. S1 hairs long, sparse along midline, absent elsewhere; S2–S6 with scattered long hairs, S3–S5 with a transverse row of simple, posteriorly oriented hairs apically.

Surface Sculpture: Integument shiny lacking microsculpture unless stated otherwise. Face densely punctate i<0.5d except sparser towards apex of supraclypeal area and towards ocelli mostly i~1d; impunctate around ocelli; vertexal area behind ocelli minutely roughened; genal area punctures small i~1d; hypostomal area very weakly imbricate, obscurely and sparsely punctate. Mesoscutum imbricate along anterior margin between notauli, punctures distinct, irregularly spaced mostly i=0.25–3d around margins, sparser on disc; mesoscutellum disc sparsely punctate, punctures smaller and denser i<d around margins; metanotum punctures obscure, irregularly spaced. Metapostnotum dorsal surface margined by strong carina; areolate, median pair of areolae on either side of a complete median carina take up most of the dorsal surface with smaller elongate areolae laterally. Preepisternum weakly rugose, more distinct anteriorly and below hypoepimeral area; both areas finely punctate i~1d except sparser dorsally on hypoepimeral area; mesepisternum punctures small and somewhat ovoid, i<d; metepisternum with coarse longitudinal striae; areolae on posterior surface of propodeum variable in size, irregular in shape. Tegula impunctate, weakly imbricate anteriorly. T1–T2 punctures very sparse and weak, T3–T5 punctures small, hair-bearing. Sterna weakly imbricate, punctures scattered and mostly hair-bearing.

Structure: Mandible shorter than compound eye (0.7: 0.76 mm). Clypeus more than 3.5X broader than long (0.86 mm: 0.24 mm). Supraclypeal area convex, somewhat protuberant in profile. Frontal line carinate from below lower tangent of antennal socket to 1 MOD below median ocellus (MOD = 0.14 mm). Inner margin of compound eye convergent below: UOD:LOD 0.88 mm: 0.82 mm; ASD 0.1 mm, IAD 0.18 mm; supraclypeal area almost as wide as long, width 0.28 mm, length 0.3 mm; IOD:OOD 0.2 mm: 0.3 mm; vertex strongly convex in frontal view, upper tangent of compound eyes 0.5 MOD below lower tangent of median ocellus; genal area narrower than compound eye in profile (0.28 mm: 0.38 mm). F1 and F2 of similar length. Mesoscutum shorter than ITW (0.78 mm: 0.86 mm). Stigma large, 0.66 mm long, 0.24 mm broad, L:W <3:1; marginal cell 1.14 mm long, 0.35mm wide, free portion less than 3X as long as that subtending submarginal cells (0.92 mm: 0.32 mm); 1m-cu meets second submarginal cell slightly beyond middle, stigmal perpendicular just beyond 2r-m; hind wing with five hamuli. Pygidial plate apically rounded, surface concave.

Variation: The two known specimens vary in details of colouration as indicated by comparing figures 5 & 6 with 8 & 9.

Material Studied. Holotype female: VENEZUELA, Merida, Tabay LaMucuy , 1900 m, 18.VI–2.VIII. 1989, [8.62 -71.057] S.&J. Peck, M[alaise] T[rap] streamside meadow . Paratype female: VENEZUELA, Aragua, Parque Nac [ional]. H[enri]. Pittier, Rancho Grande , env[irons] [10 -67.6], 1100 m, 9.IV.1994, L. Masner, s[creen].s[weep]. Both specimens will be returned to the CNC pending completion of ongoing studies .

Etymology: We are happy to name this new species after the collectors of the holotype, well-known Canadian entomologists Stewart Peck and Jarmilla Kukalova-Peck.

Comments: This species is known from two localities separated by less than 450km ( Fig. 13 ). The paratype was caught with a sweep net with an additional 1/ 4inch mesh to screen out large pieces of debris (Masner, personal communication).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Head of holotype of M. peckorum Graham and Packer, sp. n. facial view, to show landmarks used or measurement of various features. Purple line—head length, yellow line—UOD, white line—LOD, green line—IAD, pink line—ASD, orange line—AOD, black line—MOD, red line—IOD, blue line—OOD. See Materials and Methods, second paragraph, for definitions of acronyms.

FIGURES 3–7. Holotype of M. peckorum Graham and Packer, sp. n. Fig. 3—lateral habitus; Fig. 4 –posterior half of mesosoma to show metapostnotal sculpture; Fig. 5.—dorsal view of mesosoma; Fig. 6—dorsal view of metasoma; Fig. 7—forewing.

FIGURES 8–9. Paratype of M. peckorum Graham and Packer, sp. n. to show differences in coloration to the holotype. Fig. 8—Mesosoma dorsum; Fig. 9—Metasomal dorsum.

FIGURES 10–12. Head, frontal view of the three new species of Microsphecodes being described herein. Fig. 10—Holotype of M. peckorum Graham and Packer, sp. n.; Fig. 11—Holotype of M. fernandoi Graham and Packer, sp. n. Fig. 12—Holotype of M. septentrionalis Graham and Packer, sp. n.

FIGURE 13. Map showing locations of captures of Microsphecodes (Microsphecodes) species. Note that the black symbol indicates an area where three species have been found.

FIGURES 24–26. Mesosomal dorsum of each of: Fig. 24.—M. fernandoi Graham and Packer, sp. n.; Fig. 25.—M. peckorum Graham and Packer, sp. n. and—Fig. 26. M. trichommus Michener

FIGURES 33–34. Microsphecodes peckorum Graham and Packer n. sp.: Fig. 33—Metapostnotum to show enlarged medialareolae; Fig. 34. Lower face to show relative width (blue line) and length (red line) of clypeus, with width at least 3.5X medial length.

FIGURES 35–36. Microsphecodes mesosomal dorsum: Fig. 35. M. peckorum Graham and Packer n. sp.; Fig. 36. M. fernandoi Graham and Packer, n. sp.

FIGURES 37–40. Head facial view of M. peckorum Graham and Packer n. sp.; (Fig. 37) and M. kathleenae (Eickwort) (Fig. 38) to show relative dimensions of IAD (blue lines) and AOD (red lines). Metasomal dorsum to show less dense and shorter pubescence of M. peckorum Graham and Packer n. sp.; (Fig. 39) compared to that of M. kathleenae (Eickwort) (Fig. 40).