Epeolus alpinus Friese, 1893

Astafurova, Yulia V. & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2022, Review of the Epeolus cruciger species group (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Epeolus Latreille, 1802) of Asia, with the description of two new species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 92, pp. 305-328 : 305

Epeolus alpinus Friese, 1893

Figs 5A, B , 9C, G

Epeolus alpinus Friese, 1893: 34, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Goeschenen, Switzerland), Natural History Museum, Berlin.

Epeolus variegatus Thomson, 1872 (nom. praeocc., nec Linnaeus, 1758): 212, ♀ (type locality: unknown), Zoological Museum, University of Lund, Sweden.

Epeolus glacialis Alfken, 1913: 36, nomen novum for E. variegatus Thomson, 1872.

Epeolus montanus Bischoff, 1930: 9, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Warnemünde, Germany), Natural History Museum, Berlin.

Epeolus pilosus Bischoff, 1930: 9-10, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Rositten [=Rybachij], Kaliningrad Prov., Russia), Natural History Museum, Berlin.

Epeolus alpinus Bischoff, 1930 (nom. praeocc., nec Friese, 1893): 9-10, ♀ (type locality: Saas, Switzerland), Natural History Museum, Berlin.

Material examined.

Russia, Sverdlovsk Prov. , Sysertskiy distr. , Dvurechensk, 18.VII.2009, (1 ♀), K. Fadeev [ZISP]; Kemerovo Prov. , Belkovo, 9.VII.2003, (1 ♀), DS [ZISP]; Tashtagol distr. , Podkatun’ rocks, 7.VII.2005, (1 ♂), A. Korneeva [ZISP]; Altai Rep., Onguday, 16.VI.1909, (1 ♂), W. Steinfeld [ZISP]; Tuva Rep., Nikolskoye [Bay-Khaak], 18-30.VI.1916, (1 ♂), Miklashevskaya [ZISP]; 15 km W Turan, 2.VIII.2009, (2 ♀), SB [ZISP]; 90 km S Kyzyl, Chagytay Lake , 21.VII.2010, (1 ♀), SB [ZISP]; Kara Sug Lake , 1254 m, 19.VII.2013, 1 ♀, M. Sherbakov [ZISP]; 12 km SW Samagaltay, Dyttyg-Khem River , 17.VII.2014, (1 ♀), AS, MP [FSCV]; 5 km E of Khandagayta, 29.VII.2018, (1 ♀, 1 ♂), SL, DS [ZISP]; 11 km SW of Teeli, 1.VIII.2018, (1 ♀), SL, DS [ZISP]; Khakassia Rep., Bely Yar, Abakan River , 11-12.VII.2012, (1 ♀), MP, VL [FSCV]; 10 km E Shira, Itkul' Lake , 28-29.VII.2014, (1 ♂), AL, MP, VL [FSCV]; Irkutsk Prov. , Utulik, Baikal Lake , 12.VII.2019, (1 ♀), Yu. Astafurova [ZISP]; Angarsk, Ketoy River , 8.VIII.1994, (5 ♀), AL [FSCV/ ZISP]; 15 km E Ust’ - Ordynskiy, 31.VII-5.VIII.1994, (23 ♀, 2 ♂), AL [FSCV/ ZISP]; Irkutsk, (8 ♀, 11 ♂), V. Yakovlev [ZISP]; Bratsk, Sosnovy Isl. , 1.VIII.1996, (1 ♀, 2 ♂), P. Klimov [FSCV/ ZISP]; Buryatia Rep., Kurumkanskiy distr. , Mayskiy, 23.VII.1995, (2 ♀), S. Rudykh [ZISP]; Zabaikalskiy Terr., Khilo, 30.VII.1911, (1 ♀), D. Rudskaya [ZISP]; Uida, Nerechinsk, VI.1912, (1 ♂), Pisarvvskikh [ZISP]; Bolvzino, 14.VII.1925, (1 ♀), B. Vinogradov [ZISP]; Nizhniy Tsasuchey, 2.VII.1996, (1 ♀, 1 ♂), V. Dubatolov [ZISP]; Yakutia, Oy-Bes’, 28.VI.1925, (3 ♂), L. Bianki [N. Davydova det. 2000 2 ♂ as E. cruciger and 1 ♂ as E. variegatus ] [ZISP]; Yakutsk , 27.VI.1927, (3 ♂), Moskvin [N. Davydova det. 2000 2 ♂ as E. cruciger and 1 ♂ as E. variegatus ] [ZISP]; Zhemkon-2, Lena River , 75 km N Yakutsk, (1 ♂), 11.VII. 1999, N. Davydova [N. Davydova det. 2000 as E. cruciger ] [ZISP]; Khabarovsk Terr., Komsomolsk-on-Amur, 18.VII.2002, (1 ♀), Mutin [ZISP]; Sakhalin, Astokh Bay, E Piltun, 18.VII.2001, (1 ♀), AS [FSVC]; Sakhalin Bay , Lyugi, 12.VIII.2001, (4 ♀, 4 ♂), AL [FSVC/ ZISP]; Moskalvo, 13.VIII.2001, (8 ♀, 12 ♂), AL [FSVC/ ZISP]; Bolshoye Vavayskoye Lake , 18.VII.2002, (1 ♀, 1 ♂), AL [FSVC/ ZISP]; Krasnogorsk, Aynskoye Lake, 20.VII.2003, (3 ♀, 1 ♂), AL [FSVC/ ZISP]; 5 km N Tymovskiy, 31.VII.2003, (1 ♀), AL [FSVC]; KAZAKHSTAN, Kokchetav distr., Borovoye, 15-26.VII.1932, (2 ♀, 2 ♂), V. Popov [ZISP]; MONGOLIA, see Astafurova and Proshchalykin (2021b: 14) .

Variability.

Asian specimens examined are on average bigger than European ones (6.0-8.0 mm vs 5.0-6.0 mm). Female. Unlike E. cruciger and E. asiaticus sp. nov., this species does not have individuals with a red pattern on integunent of the metasomal terga. The pronotal lobe, mesoscutellum and axillae are red in most of studied Asian specimens; these structures are mostly black in specimens from the European range; only 6% of all examined females have a red labrum. Pubescence of the head and mesosoma, tergal bands or spots of tomentum are white or pale yellow. The mesoscutum is without tomentum in most specimens, rarely with weak tomentum anteriorly. Most examined specimens have widely interrupted apical bands of pale tomentum on T1 and T2 and two pairs of spots of pale tomentum on T3 and T4 (Fig. 5A ), but sometimes the lateral spots on T3 and T4 are reduced and only a medial pair is present. Specimens examined from isolated populations of Sakhalin Isl. (Russia) differ from typical forms in having well-developed tomentum on the marginal zones of the terga, which are present as narrowly interrupted bands or even uninterrupted bands on T3 and T4 (Fig. 5B ); the mesoscutum is denser punctate than in continental specimens. Male. The males do not show significant variability in coloration. Yellow-red coloration is absent, except on the mouth parts, legs (partly), tegulae and rarely the pygidial plate. Tergal bands of white tomentum are widely or narrow interrupted medially by regular brownish tomentum, sometimes reduced to two pairs of spots on T3 and T4; T1 apical bands can be rarely uninterrupted. Specimens from Sakhalin Isl. as well as females differ in having well-development apical bands of tomentum, which are present as uninterrupted bands on all terga or at least on T3 and T4. Further molecular studies might help to determine whether the forms from Sakhalin merit separate subspecies or species status.

Distribution.

Europe, Turkey, Iran, Russia, *Kazakhstan (Kokchetau Province), Mongolia ( Bogusch and Hadrava 2018; Astafurova and Proshchalykin 2021b). Bogusch (2018) mentioned records from North Africa.

Figures

Figure 5. Epeolus alpinus Friese, 1893, females, typical form (A), " Sakhalin " form (B) A, B metasoma, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 9. Male, gonostylus, ventral view (A-D), lateral view (E-H) A, E Epeolus gorodkovi Astafurova, sp. nov. B, F E. asiaticus Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov. C, G E. alpinus Friese, 1893 D, H E. cruciger (Panzer, 1799). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.