Epeolus Latreille, 1802

Onuferko, Thomas M., 2019, A review of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico, European Journal of Taxonomy 563, pp. 1-69 : 6

Genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802

Diagnosis for the ‘ Trophocleptria group’ within Epeolus

Members of the presumably monophyletic ‘ Trophocleptria group’ within Epeolus share the following diagnostic features: 1) the penis lacks the pair of divergent, fleshy lateral lobes present in at least all other New World male Epeolus ( Fig. 1 ) (such lobes are also absent in all other Epeolini genera); 2) in both sexes, the pronotal collar is relatively straight (as opposed to convex) along its anterior margin, and is in most species distinctly elongate (medial length ~1 MOD) ( Fig. 2 ); 3) the mesoscutellum (except in E. pulchellus ) is depressed along its posterior margin beneath a distinct overhanging ridge, which in several species is produced to two posteriorly directed teeth ( Fig. 3 ); and 4) there is a pair of sparsely punctate to impunctate protrusions on the frontal area, each of which is located near the upper mesal margin of the compound eye ( Fig. 4A ), although these are greatly reduced/inconspicuous in several species ( Fig. 4B ) (such protrusions are absent in other Epeolus ). Furthermore, each mesopleuron (except in E. fumipennis ) has a carina delineating its anterior and lateral surfaces, whereas in other New World Epeolus spp. the anterior and lateral surfaces of each mesopleuron are not clearly differentiated from one another ( Fig. 5 ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Male genitalia of Epeolus spp. A. E. boliviensis Friese, 1908, in which the penis lacks lobes. B. E. claripennis Friese, 1908, in which the penis lacks lobes. C. E. fulvopilosus Cameron, 1902, in which the penis lacks lobes. D. E. fumipennis Say, 1837, in which the penis lacks lobes. E. E. hanusiae sp. nov., paratype (CNC 754086), showing the penis with a short, fleshy lateral lobe (blue arrow) on each side. F. E. luteipennis Friese, 1916, showing the penis with a long, fleshy lateral lobe (blue arrow) on each side. G. E. niger (Michener, 1954), in which the penis lacks lobes. H. E. obscuripes Cockerell, 1917 stat. nov., in which the penis lacks lobes. I. E. pulchellus Cresson, 1865, in which the penis lacks lobes. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 2. Pronotal collar of female, dorsal view. A. E. boliviensis Friese, 1908, which is straight along its anterior margin. B. E. fumipennis Say, 1837, which is relatively straight along its anterior margin. C. E. hanusiae sp. nov., paratype (UCBME), which is convex along its anterior margin. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 3. Mesosoma of female, posterior view. A. E. fulvopilosus Cameron, 1902, showing mesoscutellum with a distinct ridge (blue arrow) overhanging its depressed posterior margin. B. E. fumipennis Say, 1837, showing mesoscutellum with a faint ridge (blue arrow) overhanging its depressed posterior margin. C. E. pulchellus Cresson, 1865, showing mesoscutellum without a distinct ridge delineating its dorsal and posterior portions. D. E. odyneroides sp. nov., paratype (KUNHM SEMC1248301), showing mesoscutellum without a distinct ridge delineating its dorsal and posterior portions. E. E. axillaris Onuferko, 2018, paratype, showing metanotum with a distinct posteromedial depression (blue arrow). F. E. rufulus Cockerell, 1941, holotype, showing flat metanotum. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 4. Head of female. A. E. bifasciatus Cresson, 1864 showing frontal area with impunctate, granulose protrusion (blue arrow) on each side. B. E. obscuripes Cockerell, 1917 stat. nov. showing frontal area with very weak/inconspicuous protrusion (blue arrow) on each side. C. E. scutellaris Say, 1824 showing dorsal protrusion (blue arrow) on each side where upper genal area meets vertexal area. D. E. pusillus Cresson, 1864 showing frontal and vertexal areas without protrusions. E. E. chamaesarachae Onuferko, 2018, paratype, showing vertexal area with two shiny, impunctate protrusions (blue arrows) on each side. F. E. flavofasciatus Smith, 1879 showing single (closely punctate) dorsal protrusion (blue arrow) on each side where upper genal area meets vertexal area. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 5. Mesopleuron of female, lateral view. A. E. claripennis Friese, 1908, holotype (ZMB), blue arrow indicates carina delineating the anterior and lateral surfaces of the mesopleuron. B. E. niger (Michener, 1954). C. E. luteipennis Friese, 1916. D. E. odyneroides sp. nov., paratype (KUNHM SEMC1248301). E. E. chamaesarachae Onuferko, 2018, paratype. F. E. diadematus Onuferko, 2018, paratype. G. E. hanusiae sp. nov., paratype (UCBME). H. E. interruptus Robertson, 1900. I. E. tessieris Onuferko, 2018, paratype. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.