Epiclopus ecphorus, Vivallo, Felipe, 2014

Vivallo, Felipe, 2014, Taxonomic revision of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Epiclopus Spinola, 1851 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Ericrocidini), Zootaxa 3857 (1), pp. 41-70 : 44-47

Epiclopus ecphorus new species

( Figures 1−9 , 37 , 41 and 49 )

Diagnosis. Due the metallic reflections of the metasoma, absent in Epiclopus gayi and E. wagenknechti , this new species is closely related to E. lendlianus , differing from it (both sexes) by the dorsal surface of the labrum (with tooth-like projections oriented diagonally downwards on the distal half in E. ecphorus new species ( Fig. 41 ); with a semicircular slightly raised carina curved upward on the lower half in E. lendlianus ) ( Fig. 43 ). The females differ in the shape of the labrum (relatively elliptical with irregular convex distal edge in E. ecphorus new species; relatively rectangular with irregular and widely convex distal edge in E. lendlianus ), by the shape of the pygidial plate (with the sides converging basally in E. ecphorus new species; parallel-sided in E. lendlianus ; and by the apex of the preapical tooth of the fore leg of females (acute in E. ecphorus new species; truncate in E. lendlianus ).

Description. Holotype male ( Figs. 3–8 and 41 ). Measurements: Approximate body length: 12.5; head width: 4.0; thorax width: 5.0; forewing length: 9.7. Coloration: Integument dark brown to black. Legs brown. Flagellum grayish brown. Wing membranes yellowish, veins brown ( Figs. 3 and 4 ). Metasoma brown with intense metallic blue reflections ( Fig. 4 ). Surface sculpture: Integument with fine and very dense punctation on clypeus, slightly sparser towards the lower margin which is broadly smooth. Paraocular area with similar punctation, slightly coarser and denser towards the vertex. Supraclypeal area and frons with coarser punctation. Labrum areolate with very irregular surface, with coarse and scattered punctation and with an impunctate area on the upper half above the tooth-like projections. Mesoscutum areolate-rugose towards the posterior edge, with coarse and not very dense punctation intermixed. Mesoscutellum areolate-rugose on the dorsal surface, with coarse punctation. Mesepisternum areolate-rugose on the lateral surface. T1 with fine and sparse punctation. T2 with fine punctures, slightly denser on the anterior half. T3-T5 with similar punctation, but much denser. Pubescence: Dark brown, without bluish metallic reflections on legs. Vertex, mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, area below the wings of the mesepisternum, tegula and dorsal surface of T1 with whitish, long, dense and branched pilosity ( Figs. 3 and 4 ). T2- T7 and sterna with short pubescence intermixed with longer hairs. Structures: Mandible slightly curved apically with a preapical tooth near the apex of the apical tooth ( Figs. 3 and 41 ). Smooth lower margin of the clypeus strongly angled posteriorly at sides. Epistomal suture slightly concave between anterior tentorial pits. Labrum rectangular with irregular straight distal edge. Surface with two tooth-like projections directed diagonally downward ( Figs. 3 and 41 ). Area between the lateral ocellus and compound eye slightly concave (frontal view) ( Fig. 3 ). Mid tibial spur rectangular and bifurcate, with the posterior apex directed upward. Mesoscutum with a longitudinal median depression on the posteror half. Mesoscutellum with two spine-like projections oriented upward on the posterior dorsal surface. Axilla strongly raised. Claws with preapical tooth of apex acute. T7 bilobed apically.

Female ( Figs. 1, 2 and 37 ). Measurements: Approximate body length: 10.5; head width: 4.0; thorax width: 5.1; forewing length: 9.1. Coloration: Integument dark brown to black. Central portion of the mandible mahogany. Legs and flabellum brown. Wing membranes yellowish with brown veins ( Figs. 1 and 2 ). Metasoma with intense metallic blue reflection ( Figs. 2 and 37 ). Surface sculpture: Integument with fine and dense punctation on clypeus and paraocular area. Lower edge of clypeus smooth, slightly more narrowly medially. Supraclypeal area and frons with slightly coarse and scattered punctures. Labrum finely areolate with the upper half smooth and shiny, with few coarse scattered punctures; lower half with fine and dense punctation, except on the smooth distal margin. Mesoscutum areolate-rugose towards the posterior edge, with coarse and not very dense punctation elsewhere. Mesoscutellum areolate-rugose with coarse punctures. Mesepisternum areolate-rugose on the lateral surface. T1 and T2 with fine, dense and uniform punctation. T3-T6 with similar punctation, but denser. Pubescence: Dark brown, except on vertex, mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, area below the wings of the mesepisternum, tegula and T1 with whitish, long, dense and branched hairs ( Figs. 1 and 2 ). Metasoma with short and branched pilosity, mixed with some long and simple hairs. Structures: Flabellum elliptical. Mandible slightly curved apically with a preapical tooth near apex of the apical tooth ( Fig. 1 ). Epistomal suture relatively straight between anterior tentorial pits. Labrum relatively elliptical with irregularly convex distal edge; surface with a tooth-like projection oriented downward separating the relatively smooth upper half and the normally punctate lower half. Area between lateral ocellus and compound eye concave (frontal view) ( Fig. 1 ). Mid tibial spur with bifurcate apex. Mesoscutum with a longitudinal median depression. Mesoscutellum with two spine-like projections oriented obliquely upward on the dorsal surface. Axilla strongly raised. Posterior distal edge of middle basitarsus with a spine-like projection of approximately equal length to the following tarsomere. Claws with preapical tooth, acute on foreleg, slightly truncate on mid- and hind legs (less than in E. lendlianus ). Pygidial plate with broadly rounded apex, lateral margins not delimited by carinae and converging towards the base of the tergum.

Male genitalia. See figures 5–8.

Type material. Holotype male: IV R. El Pangue 20-9-01 F. Vivallo, col. [white label]\ Holotype Epiclopus ecphorus new species F. Vivallo, 2014 [red label] ( MHNS). Paratypes: III ATACAMA: 1 male: Q. del Medio 5- VIII-40 ( DZUP). 1 male: Q. del Medio 5-VIII-40 ( MHNS). 2 males: Chile Region III E of Vallenar -28.77163, - 70.44857 830m, 1.x.2013, L. Packer ( PCYU). 1 male: Chile Region III Copiapó -27.6161, -70.42785 678m, 1.x.2013, L. Packer ( PCYU). IV COQUIMBO: 1 male: Baños del Toro 7-I-50 ( MHNS). 1 female: El Pangue 11- IX-37 ( MHNS). 1 female: HYMNRJ 000001\ IV R. El Pangue 20-9-01 F. Vivallo, col\ Adesmia pegajosa ( MNRJ). 1 female: Guanaco Tofo 23-X-49 ( DZUP). 1 male: Coquimbo Incahuasi Sept-1968 \ col. H. Toro Chile. 1 male: La Arena 16-VIII-38 ( MHNS). 1 male: La Arena 16-VIII-38 \ Mesonychium friesei ♀ ( MHNS). 1 female: Coquimbo Las Breas 26-IX-80. 1 female: Pajonales 16-X-47 ( MHNS). 1 female: Cuesta de Pajonales 24-X-47 ( MHNS). 1 female: Cuesta de Pajonales 27-X-47 \ Mesonychium friesei -H ♀ ( MHNS).

Type locality. Chile: IV Coquimbo Region: El Pangue.

Etymology. From Latin ecphora (projection), due to the tooth-like projection on the labrum.

Floral record. See table 1.

Host. Unknown.

Distribution ( Fig. 9 ). III ATACAMA: Copiapó, Quebrada del Medio, Vallenar. IV COQUIMBO: Baños del Toro, Cuesta Pajonales, El Pangue, Guanaco, Incahuasi, La Arena, Las Breas, Pajonales.

Comment. The data published by Wagenknecht (1969) and Chiappa et al. (2000) for Mesonychium friseanum [sic] and M. landlianum [sic], respectively could belong to this new species.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Distribution records of Epiclopus ecphorus new species.

FIGURES 1 – 4. Epiclopus ecphorus new species. Fig. 1. Paratype female (Chile: El Pangue): Head, frontal view (scale bar 1 mm). Fig. 2. Paratype female: Habitus, lateral view (scale bar 5 mm). Fig. 3. Holotype male (Chile: El Pangue): Head, frontal view (scale bar 1 mm). Fig. 4. Holotype male: Habitus, lateral view (scale bar 5 mm).

FIGURES 5 – 8. Epiclopus ecphorus new species, male genitalia (holotype, Chile: El Pangue). Fig. 5. Genital capsule: dorsal view. Fig. 6. Genital capsule: ventral view. Fig. 7. S 7: dorsal view. Fig. 8. S 8: dorsal view (scale bars 0.5 mm).

FIGURES 37 – 40. Females (dorsal view). Fig. 37. Epiclopus ecphorus new species (Chile: El Pangue). Fig. 38. Epiclopus gayi (Chile: Viña del Mar). Fig. 39. Epiclopus lendlianus (Chile: Peñalolén). Fig. 40. Epiclopus wagenknechti (Chile: El Tofo) (scale bars 2 mm).

FIGURES 41 – 44. Labrum of males of Epiclopus. Fig. 41. E. ecphorus new species (Holotype, Chile: El Pangue). Fig. 42. E. gayi (Chile: Cajón del Maipo). Fig. 43. E. lendlianus (Chile: Viña del Mar). Fig. 44. E. wagenknechti (Neotype, Chile: Castilla) (scale bars 0.5 mm).

FIGURES 45 – 50. Species of Epiclopus in nature. Fig. 45. Female of E. gayi. Fig. 46. Female of E. gayi on Fabiana imbricata (Solanaceae). Fig. 47. Male of E. gayi on Silybum marianum (Asteraceae). Fig. 48. Female of E. lendlianus on Lathyrus subandinus (Leguminosae). Fig. 49. E. ecphorus new species flying near Adesmia sp. (Fabaceae). Fig. 50. E. lendlianus on L. subandinus.