Epeolus pesenkoi Astafurova, 2023

Astafurova, Yulia V. & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2023, The genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in Central Asia, ZooKeys 1181, pp. 241-263 : 241

Epeolus pesenkoi Astafurova sp. nov.

Figs 5 , 6

Material examined.

Holotype: ♀, Kazakhstan: 25 km SSW of Dzhansurov [Zhansugirov], Aksu River , Zhungarskiy Alatau, 1600 m, 26.VII.1986, Yu. Pesenko [ZISP] . Paratypes: 16 ♀, 8 ♂, the same label as in the holotype (ZISP).

Additional material.

Kyrgyzstan, 2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, Kungei-Alatau , 2200 m, 6-10.VII.1999, 8-9.VII. 2001, leg. Z. Klyuchko [ZISP] ; 4 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, E Terskei Mts , Arashan, 2000 m, 24.VIII.1999, leg. S. Zonstein, Makogonova [ZISP] ; 2 ♀♀, Issyk-Kul Lake , Teplokljuchenka, 1800 m, VIII.2002, leg. VG [ZISP] ; 3 ♀♀, Kirgizskiy Ridge , Malinovka, 1650 m, 10.V.2000, leg. VG [ZISP] ; 3 ♀♀, Bayduluu Range , Dolon Pass, 18.VII.1997, leg. Ovtshinnikov [ZISP]; Kasakhstan , 1 ♀, near Alma-Ata , Kasha-Suu, 1650 m, VII.2002, leg. VG [ZISP] ; 1 ♀, Talas Mts , 3 km W of Dzhabagly, 5.VIII.2000, leg. Makogonova [ZISP] ; 1 ♀, Aksay , 35 km W of Alma-Aty, 16.VII.1981, leg. Kocourek [OLBL] ; 1 ♀, 10 km E of Osinovka , 800 m, 19.VII.2002, leg. M. Kuhlmann [OLBL] ; 1 ♀, Alma-Ata env., hills, 30.VI.1977, leg. Pulawskij [OLBL] ; 1 ♂, Dzhungarskiy Alatau , 10 km NE of Tekeli Kora-Tal, 1000 m, 23.VII.2002, M. Kuhlmann [OLBL] ; 1 ♂, near Alma-Ata , 12.VII.1982, leg. Marikovskaya [ZISP] ; 1 ♂, Bugaz River , 35 km N of Ashat, 31.V.1972, leg. I. Kerzhner [ZISP] ; Uzbekistan, 2 ♂♂, Charki , leg. Glasunov, coll. F. Morawitz [ E. transitorius Morawitz det.] [ZISP] .

Diagnosis.

This species belongs to the E. variegatus species group [ E. compar Alfken, 1938, E. eriwanensis Bischoff, 1930, E. intermedius Pérez, 1884, E. turcicus Bogusch, 2018, E. productulus Bischoff, 1930, E. productuloides Bogusch, 2018, and E. variegatus (Linnaeus, 1758)] in sharing the presence of labral tubercles positioned close to the middle of labrum (as opposed to apically or subapically) and the curved (as opposed to straight) S5 of the female. From other species of the group, the new species can be distinguished by the uninterrupted albeit medially narrowed apical bands of the metasomal terga and usually bright yellow tomentum on the body of the female.

Description.

Female (holotype). Total body length 7.0 mm; forewing length (without tegula) 5.5 mm. Structure and sculpture: head (Fig. 5C ) transverse, 1.3 times as wide as long. Labrum (Fig. 5D ) similar to those of E. variegatus ; 1.6 times as wide as long, rounded basally and laterally, apical margin curved and with distinct medial tooth between two angulated lobes; submedially with two prominent teeth; integument shiny, coarsely and densely punctate (15-40 μm / confluent-0.5). Clypeus densely and finely punctate (10-15 μm / confluent-0.5). Frons with developed frontal keel. Frons and vertex coarsely and densely punctate, interspaces shiny (20-45 μm / confluent-1.0). F1 and F2 ca 1.3 times as long as wide; remaining flagellomeres ca as long as wide. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum areolate-punctate (30-45 μm / confluent-1.5). Axilla short and flat, pointed apically, but without distinct tooth. Mesoscutellum with moderate deep longitudinal impression; posterior margin extending over propodeum. Mesepisternum finely areolate-punctate on upper half, lower part coarsely punctate with interspaces ca one puncture diameter. Propodeal triangle shagreened; rest posterior vertical surface of propodeum shiny and smooth. Metasomal terga finely punctate (10-15 μm / 0.5-2), interspaces shiny and smooth. Pseudopygidial area short (Fig. 5F ). Pygidial plate trapezoidal, apically truncate. Processes on sides of S6 normal, with short projections. Sterna finely punctate with distinct interspaces (Fig. 5B ). S5 curved as seen in lateral view.

Integument coloration: head mostly black, but mandibles (excluding dark apex), labrum, clypeus on lower half, scape and F1 amber (yellow-reddish). Mesosoma mostly black; pronotal lobe, tegulae, axillae, mesoscutellum, and legs (with dark spurs) amber; wings infuscate, stigma, and veins brown. Metasomal terga mostly black, but amber on posterior half of T5; marginal zones apically yellowish and transparent. Pygidial plate amber. Sterna (including marginal zones) amber.

Pubescence: pale tomentum mostly golden-yellow (Fig. 5A, E ). Labrum with long simple setae near median teeth. Paraocular and supraclypeal areas with dense tomentum obscuring integument, clypeus with sparse pubescence. Upper half of frons with relatively long erect simple setae mixed with sparse appressed plumose setae. Vertex with sparse short and plumose setae. Gena with thick plumose setae on upper half (almost obscured integument) and with thin setae below. Pronotum dorsally with tomentum obscuring integument. Mesoscutum with paramedian strips of tomentum connected with lateral spots along pronotal lobe, pair small spots of tomentum posterolaterally and narrow strip along posterior margin (Fig. 5A ). Mesepisternum with dense tomentum obscuring underlying integument on upper half, otherwise glabrous or with sparse setae. T1 with wide basal band of tomentum interrupted medially and connected with apical band laterally; marginal zones on T1-T4 with uninterrupted bands of tomentum. Setae on tergal discs dark brown; sparser than those comprising apical bands. Pseudopygidial area with silvery pubescence. Sterna with weak pubescence; S2 with simple short setae, S3-S5 with plumose short setae; marginal zones of T3-T4 with white tomentum laterally.

Male. Structure, sculpture, coloration, and pubescence are similar to those of female (Fig. 6A-C ). Flagellomeres about as long as wide. Pygidial plate (T7) reddish, shiny, coarsely and densely punctate, 1.1-1.2 times as long as basal width, slightly narrowed toward apex; apical margin curved (Fig. 6E ). Clypeus, axillae, and mesoscutellum entirely black. Clypeus with dense tomentum obscuring integument. T1 basal band of tomentum uninterrupted. Marginal zones of S2 and S3 with dense uninterrupted white tomentum bands; S4 and S5 normal, with long, golden setae. Genitalia as in Fig. 6D .

Variability.

Female. Total body length 5.5-7.5 mm. Coloration of clypeus varies from entirely amber to dark brown/black along upper margin. The supraclypeal area is sometimes reddish on lower frontal keel. The metasomal terga are usually black (except amber on posterior half of T5) but may be reddish or brownish laterally along the marginal zones and on the posterior part of T1. The pubescence of the mesoscutum is usually as described in the holotype but sometimes has dense tomentum obscuring much of the anterior part instead of the usual distinct paramedian strips. Two specimens from the type locality have narrowly interrupted apical bands of tomentum. Male. Total body length 5.0-7.0 mm. The labrum varies from black to reddish. The basal band of tomentum on T1 is usually uninterrupted and is often almost merged with the apical band (except a small central area), rarely interrupted medially. Coloration of pale tomentum is usually less bright than in the female, from yellow to whitish.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is dedicated to Yuri Andreevich Pesenko (1944-2007), a renowned melittologist and, during his lifetime, one of the leading experts on the systematics of halictid bees.

Distribution.

Mountains of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Figures

Figure 5. Epeolus pesenkoi Astafurova, sp. nov., female, holotype A, B, E habitus, dorsal (A), ventral (B) and lateral (E) views C head, frontal view D labrum, frontal view F T 5, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A, B, E); 0.5 mm (C, F); 0.25 mm (D).

Figure 6. Epeolus pesenkoi Astafurova, sp. nov., male, paratype A, B habitus, lateral (A) and dorsal (B) views C head, frontal view D genitalia, dorsal view E pygydial plate. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A-C); 0.25 mm (D, E).