Epeolus priesneri, Bogusch, 2021

Bogusch, Petr, 2021, The cuckoo bees of the genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) from the Middle East and North Africa with descriptions of two new species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 84, pp. 45-68 : 45

Epeolus priesneri sp. nov.

Figure 2

Material examined.

Holotype: ♀, Egypt: Gebel Elba, date unknown, H. Priesner leg. (KUBC).

Paratypes: Chad: Tibesti, Zouar , 11.3.1953, (1 ♂), K. M. Guichard leg. (KUBC) ; Morocco: 20 km east of Agdz , 20.4.1995, (1 ♀), M. Halada leg. (OLML); Road Nr. 110 between Er Rashida and Goulmina, 22.4.2017, (1 ♀), M. Snížek leg. (OLML) .

Differential diagnosis.

This species is probably closely related to E. flavociliatus , with which it shares the following morphological features: very small labral tubercles positioned near the apex, flat and shiny labrum (Fig. 2d ), complete apical bands on the metasomal terga and elongate axillar spines (Fig. 2a ). Both males and females of E. priesneri can be easily identified by the yellow clypeus (Fig. 2c ), which is unique among the species of Epeolus from North Africa and the Middle East. Epeolus priesneri can be separated from E. flavociliatus by the densely punctate mesoscutellum (in E. flavociliatus the mesoscutellum is sparsely punctate), from both E. subrufescens and E. aureovestitus , which are both sometimes similarly coloured (Fig. 2c ), by the position and size of labral tubercles (which are larger and more submedial in position in E. aureovestitus and E. subrufescens ), from E. subrufescens also by the shape of mesoscutellum, and from also E. aureovestitus by the uninterrupted metasomal bands (interrupted in E. aureovestitus ).

Description.

Female. Body length: 7.5 mm (Fig. 2a ).

Head. Length to width ratio = 1.3. Mandible yellow, mandibular apex and preapical tooth dark brown (Fig. 2c ). Labrum yellow, semitransparent, shiny, coarsely and sparsely punctate, subapically with pair of small teeth separated by medial shallow emargination, sides convex (Fig. 2d ). Clypeus yellow, shiny and with very fine and dense punctation in the middle, interspaces smaller or similar as puncture diameter. Lateral parts of clypeus with punctation of similar size but very sparse with large interspaces. Face with yellow base at clypeus, then to interorbital tubercle black, with dense whitish hair around antennal socket, and with well-developed frontal keel. Vertex with fine and sparse punctures, interspaces shiny and greater than puncture diameters. Gena with a prominent, lamella-like preoccipital carina. Antenna reddish, only scape, pedicel and F1 completely yellow, last two flagellomeres with brownish colour partly. Flagellomeres slightly shorter than wide (L/W ratio = 0.9), F2 a little longer than other flagellomeres (L/W ratio = 1) (Fig. 2c ).

Mesosoma. Pronotum reddish-brown and entirely obscured by yellowish tomentum. Mesoscutum black with yellowish tomentum, with dense punctation, interspaces narrower than puncture diameters. Mesoscutellum reddish, round, densely and coarsely punctate, punctures slightly larger than on the mesoscutum, axillar tooth (free portion of axilla) long and acute, slightly longer than mesoscutellum. Mesoscutellum with posterior margin extending over propodeum (Fig. 2e ). Propodeum black, very finely sculptured on the top, the rest shiny, and laterally with yellowish tomentum. Mesopleuron reddish, entirely obscured with dense yellowish tomentum, coarsely and densely punctate, with interspaces shiny and similar in size to puncture diameters (but ill visible under the tomentum) (Fig. 2f ). Wings brownish with dark brown venation. Legs light reddish or orange, tibial spurs on middle and hind legs yellow.

Metasoma. Metasoma entirely reddish. T1 finely and sparsely punctate, interspaces shiny and larger than puncture diameters. T1-T4 with entire bands of tomentum. T2-T4 densely but finely punctate with shiny interspaces and ill-developed depressions. T5 shiny with very fine and dense punctation, whitish tomentum on sides, pseudopygidial area short, with silver pubescence (Fig. 2f ). T6 reddish with slightly curved apex, bearing reddish pygidial plate, which is not very wide, with long brownish hair. S2 coarsely and densely punctate, interspaces narrower than puncture diameters or similar in width. Other sterna more finely and densely punctate. S5 wide and straight (see from side) (Fig. 2g ). Processes on sides of S6 normal, with short projections, reddish.

Male. Body length: 7 mm (Fig. 2b ).

Head. Length to width ratio = 1.27. Mandible yellow, mandibular apex and preapical tooth dark brown. Labrum similar to that of female. Clypeus yellow, shiny and with very fine and dense punctation in the middle, interspaces smaller or similar as puncture diameter. Lateral parts of clypeus with punctation of similar size but very sparse with large interspaces. Frons black, with dense whitish hair around antennal socket, and with well-developed frontal keel. Vertex with fine and sparse punctures, interspaces shiny and greater than puncture diameters. Antenna reddish, only scape, pedicel and F1 completely yellow, last four flagellomeres darker, brownish. Flagellomeres slightly shorter than wide (L/W ratio = 0.85), F2 longer than other flagellomeres (L/W ratio = 1.4).

Mesosoma. Pronotum black and entirely obscured by yellowish tomentum. Mesoscutum black with yellowish tomentum, with dense punctation, interspaces narrower than puncture diameters. Mesoscutellum reddish, round, densely and coarsely punctate, punctures slightly larger than on the mesoscutum, axillar tooth (free portion of axilla) long and acute, slightly longer than mesoscutellum. Mesoscutellum with posterior margin extending over propodeum. Propodeum black, very finely sculptured and shiny in the middle, and laterally with yellowish tomentum. Mesopleuron black with reddish macula in the middle, entirely obscured with dense yellowish tomentum, coarsely and densely punctate, with interspaces shiny and similar in size to puncture diameters. Wings brownish with dark brown venation. Legs light reddish or orange, only coxae black, tibial spurs on middle and hind legs yellow.

Metasoma. Metasoma reddish except base of T1. T1 finely and sparsely punctate, interspaces shiny and larger than puncture diameters. T1-T6 with entire bands of tomentum. T2-T4 densely but finely punctate with shiny interspaces and ill-developed depressions. T7 (pygidium) reddish with large punctures (Fig. 2i ). S2 finely and densely punctate, interspaces narrower than puncture diameters or similar in width. Other sterna more finely and densely punctate. S2-S3 with white tomentum on apex, S4-S5 with prominent thick yellowish hair on apex.

Etymology.

The species is named in dedication to Hermann Priesner (1891-1974), Austrian entomologist, specialist on Heteroptera and Thysanoptera , and the person who collected the holotype. The epithet Epeolus priesneri is masculine and declined in the genitive case.

Ecology.

Host and floral associations are unknown.

Distribution.

Only four specimens were found in collections, two from Morocco, one from Egypt and Chad (Tibesti Mts.). The species probably occurs in North Africa and in Sahara, distribution south of the Sahara and in the nearest countries in Asia and South Europe is likely but yet unconfirmed.

Figures

Figure 2. Epeolus priesneri sp. nov. a, c-h holotype, female b, i paratype, male a, b habitus, dorsal view c head, frontal view d labrum, frontal view e mesosoma, dorsal view f mesopleuron, lateral view g metasoma, dorsal view h ventral view i pygidium, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (a-c, e-h); 0.1 mm (d, i).