Trachusoides simplex Michener and Griswold, 1994

Belavadi, Vasuki V., 2017, The Resin and Carder bees of south India (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae: Anthidiini), Zootaxa 4317 (3), pp. 436-468 : 465

Trachusoides simplex Michener and Griswold, 1994

( Fig. 21 )

Trachusoides simplex Michener and Griswold, 1994: 324 .

Description. Female. Body length 13.08± 1.04 mm. Head: Black; 2nd and 3rd flagellar segments yellowish red; sparse yellow pubescence; first labial segment longer than second; maxillary palpus 3 segmented; inter-ocular distance shorter than inter-antennal distance; mandible long, 4 dentate with distal teeth broadly rounded; clypeus with fine punctation, convex, without median longitudinal impunctate line, apical margin slightly incurved with eight denticles; anterior tentorial pit on epistomal sulcus below intersection with subantennal sulcus; F1 about as long as pedicel.

Mesosoma: Black; pronotal lobe in part, legs, tegula yellowish red; mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with pale yellow markings along lateral and posterior margins; sparse yellow pubescence; pronotal carina present; omalus rounded; mesoscutellum posterior margin rounded with medial margin emarginate, overhanging metanotum; fore and mid tibiae with mid apical spine, largely hidden by short pale hairs; tarsal claws simple, without cleft; middle tibia narrower than hind tibia, its anterior and posterior margin equal and symmetrically convex as seen laterally; arolia absent; wings dusky brown, darker near costal margin.

Metasoma: Yellowish red; pubescence sparse, yellow; punctation fine; T1–T3 widest; T6 apical zone slightly depressed; T1–T5 yellow basally, orange apically; scopa orange on S2–S3, black towards apical segments; white fasciae of short plumose hairs beneath scopa absent.

Flight period: Recorded from March, June, and September.

Distribution. Endemic to south India.

Material examined. INDIA: Karnataka: Koorg , 1♀, 1.vi.1978, sweep net, O.P. Dubey ; 1♀, 4.iii.2007, sweep net, Girish; 1♀, 17.ix.2008, sweep net, Changappa.

Comments. T. simplex was described by Michener and Griswold (1994) from Appangala in Kodagu district of Karnataka. This genus and species was described from a single specimen. Here the description is based on additional females deposited at Department of Entomology, Bangalore. The male remains unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 21. Female Trachusoides simplex Michener and Griswold A) Face B) Mandible C) Thorax D) Scopa E) Dorsal view F) Ventral view.