Sphecodes shillongensis Blüthgen, 1927

Astafurova, Yulia & Proshchalykin, Maxim, 2020, New and little-known bees of the genus Sphecodes Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae) from the Himalayas, European Journal of Taxonomy 729, pp. 74-120 : 106-108

Sphecodes shillongensis Blüthgen, 1927

Fig. 17 A–D

Sphecodes shillongensis Blüthgen, 1927: 95 , fig. 29a–b.

Sphecodes shillongensis – Saini & Rathor 2012: 163. — Ascher & Pickering 2020: map.

Diagnosis

This species is similar to S. chaprensis and S. simlaensis , sharing similar shape and sculpture of the body, including weakly developed antennal tyloids, a densely punctate mesoscutum and scarcely punctate metasomal terga, but differs from these species by having longer antennae with flagellomeres (from F3 onward) ca 1.3 times as long as wide (vs 1.1–1.2) and the shape of the gonostylus without a membranous part.

Material examined

Holotype INDIA • ♂; “Type // Shillong, 4.03 // Assam, R. Turner. 1905-125. // Sphecodes shillongensis n.sp., ♂, P. Blüthgen det. // B.M.Type HYM.17a.563”; NHMUK 013380326 .

Descriptive notes

Wings hyaline; hind wing with the angle between basal (M) and cubital (Cu) veins almost 90°, costal margin with five hamuli. Preoccipital carina absent.

Male

Total body length 5.0 mm. Head transverse, ca 1.15 times as wide as long ( Fig. 17A ); vertex not elevated as seen in frontal view; antennae attaining posterior margin of mesoscutellum, F1 0.75 times as long as wide, remaining flagellomeres ca 1.3 times as long as wide; tyloids weakly developed, covering at most basal 1/5–¼ of ventral surface of last flagellomeres ( Fig. 17A ); ocello-ocular area with dense punctures (10–15 μm) separated by at most a half puncture diameter; face with dense plumose white pubescence, obscuring integument below antennal sockets. Gena with sparser pubescence. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum finely punctate, sparser medially (15–20 μm / 0.5–3), becoming denser peripherally; mesepisternum and hypoepimeral area rugose; propodeal triangle (metapostnotum) shining, with coarse longitudinal wrinkles; remaining surfaces of propodeum reticulate-rugose ( Fig. 17C ); legs red. Metasoma red; terga scarcely punctate ( Fig. 17D ); T1 almost impunctate, with a few microscopic punctures (3–5 μm); remaining terga basally with tiny setal pores; marginal zones impunctate; gonocoxite dorsally with impression; gonostylus small, without a membranous part.

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

Himalayas: India (Meghalaya).

Figures

Fig. 17. Sphecodes shillongensis Blüthgen, 1927. Holotype, ♂ (NHMUK 013380326). A. Head in frontal view. B. Labels. C. Mesosoma in dorsal view. D. Metasoma in dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.