Megalopta aegis ( Vachal 1904 )

Santos, L. M. & Melo, G. A. R., 2014, Updating the taxonomy of the bee genus Megalopta (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Augochlorini) including revision of the Brazilian species, Journal of Natural History 49 (11), pp. 575-674 : 597-600

Megalopta aegis ( Vachal 1904)

( Figures 1E , 2D , 6E , 7A , 8E , 14A )

Halictus aegis Vachal, 1904: 115 . Lectotype male, Brazil: Goiás, Jataí (MNHP, not examined).

Examined material

(374♀, 49♂). See Appendix 2.

Diagnosis

The female differs from that of M. nitidicollis by the weak longitudinal rugulosities along its entire surface of the basal area of metapostnotum; from M. aeneicollis by reddish brown basal area of metapostnotum and by the imbricated rugulosities in its lateral surface ( Figure 2D ); from M. sulciventris by metanotum with dense short plumose pilosity present on its entire surface and by colour of integument of basal area of metapostnotum, entirely reddish brown or reddish brown in the centre with green tints laterally ( Figure 2D ). The male differs from that of M. sulciventris by the F6–F11 basally with glabrous area levelled to remainder of flagellomere surface ( Figure 8E ), metanotum with very dense pilosity covering entire disc, obscuring the integument in dorsal view, and by reddish brown basal area of metapostnotum; from M. aeneicollis and M. nitidicollis by basal area of metapostnotum with strongly impressed longitudinal rugulosities along its entire surface ( Figure 6E ).

Description

Female. (1) Mandible bidentate and with supplementary teeth. (2) Labral elevation with lateral surface slightly raised in relation to central portion. (3) Clypeus* with the surface between punctures on basal and central area variable, microreticulate in most specimens or smooth in a few ones. (4) Central portion of supraclypeal area with sparse punctation, punctures separated by ≥ 1 pd. (5) Antenna reddish brown. (6) Upper frons conspicuously convex, strongly declivous toward sulcus around median ocellus ( Figure 1E ). (7) Ocellocular distance smaller than the F1 length. (8) Mesoscutum adjacent to parapsidial line densely punctured, punctures contiguous, punctation becoming sparser towards mesoscutal lip (<1 pd). (9) Scutellum with posterior margin raised in relation to anterior margin of metanotum. (10) Metanotum with integument, in oblique view, hidden by dense short plumose pilosity. (11) Basal area of metapostnotum* reddish brown; its length half of that of metanotum; with longer longitudinal rugulosities medially, rugulosities shorter and weakly impressed laterally, surface between longitudinal rugulosities punctured ( Figure 2D ) or with longitudinal rugulosities weakly impressed throughout, strongly impressed rugulosities restricted to lateral areas and along apical margin. (12) Mesepisternum with contiguous punctation. (13) Metepisternum with sparse pilosity, integument visible through pilosity, posterior upper margin of modified into a conspicuously large process covered with velvety pilosity, its diameter at least 0.5× tegula length. (14) T1 with dorsal surface of disc densely punctured (<1 pd), posterior marginal zone smooth between punctures. Male. (15) Scape with diameter gradually enlarging toward the apex. (16) Flagellum reddish brown, F1–F11 not differing in diameter; F2 about as long as F3; F6–F11, in anterior view, with the anterior and posterior margins depressed, in posterior view with basal glabrous area at same level of remaining surface ( Figure 8E ). (17) Metanotum with integument, in dorsal view, hidden by dense short plumose pilosity ( Figure 6E ). (18) Basal area of metapostnotum reddish brown, sometimes with green highlights laterally; its length half of that of metanotum; with longer longitudinal rugulosities medially, rugulosities shorter and weakly impressed laterally ( Figure 6E ). (19). Metepisternum as in female. (20) 1st and 2nd tarsomeres of foreleg with longest simple setae longer than summed length of the three apical tarsomeres. (21) S3 with longitudinal sulcus, posterolateral margin notched ( Figure 7A ). (22) S4 with medial protruding process, profile of process triangular in lateral view; basal portion glabrous; posterolateral margin notched, notch not extending to basal half of sclerite ( Figure 7A ).

Measurements

Approximate body length: (10.5–15.0); maximum width of head: (2.9–4.8); intertegular distance: (3.0–4.2); forewing length with the tegula: (9.4–11.8).

Comments

Some specimens of M. aegis from eastern Brazil have smooth interspaces between punctures in the basal and central area of the clypeal disc and weakly impressed rugulosities in the basal area of the metapostnotum. This variation, however, is not consistently present in all specimens and the recognition of a separate species from eastern Brazil seems unwarranted.

Distribution

BRAZIL. Alagoas: Ibateguara. Bahia: Ituberá. Ceará: Maranguape. Distrito Federal. Espírito Santo: Conceição da Barra, Linhares. Goiás: Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Caldas Novas, Formosa, Goiás, Jataí, Planaltina. Maranhão: Balsas, Caxias, Mirador, Urbano Santos. Mato Grosso: Campo Novo dos Parecis, Canabrava do Norte, Canarana, Chapada dos Guimarães, Nova Mutum, Santa Terezinha. Mato Grosso do Sul: Corumbá, [Rio Caraguatá 21°48 ′ S, 52°27 ′ W], Rio Verde de Mato Grosso. Minas Gerais: Buritis, Caratinga, Dionísio, Ipanema, Jaboticatubas, Marliéria, Morro da Garça, São Gonçalo do Rio Abaixo, São Gonçalo do Rio Preto, Santana do Riacho, Três Marias, Unaí, Viçosa. Pará: Alenquer, Altamira, Belém, Belterra, Bragança, Bujaru, Capitão Poço, Óbidos, Ourém, Parauapebas, Santarém, Santarém Novo, São João de Pirabas, Tome Açu, Tucuruí. Paraíba: Mamanguape. Pernambuco: Igarassu, Paudalho, São Lourenço da Mata. Rio Grande do Norte: Portalegre, Natal. Rondônia: Itapuã do Oeste. São Paulo: Bauru, Cajuru, Luís Antônio, São Carlos. Tocantins: Formoso do Araguaia ( Figure 14A ).

Figures

Figure 1. Females of Megalopta. (A‒C) Lateral view of mesosoma; (A) M. aeneicollis Friese from Novo Airão, Brazil; (B) M. mura sp. n. from Manaus, Brazil; (C) Megalopta yanomami sp. n. from Parauapebas, Brazil; (D, F) posterolateral view of mesosoma; (D) M. sulciventris Friese from Manaus, Brazil; (E) lateral view of head of M. aegis Vachal from Caldas Novas, Brazil; (F) M. guimaraesi Santos & Silveira from Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm, except in part E scale bar 0.5 mm.

Figure 2. Females of Megalopta. (A) Lateral view of head of M. guimaraesi Santos & Silveira from Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Brazil; (B‒F). posterolateral view of mesosoma; (B) M. nitidicollis Friese from Rio Branco, Brazil; (C) M. aeneicollis Friese from Novo Airão, Brazil; (D) M. aegis Vachal from Caldas Novas, Brazil; (E) M. chaperi Vachal from Amajari, Brazil; (F) M. amoena Spinola from Alenquer, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 6. Males of Megalopta. (A, B) Lateral view of mesosoma; (A) M. aeneicollis Friese from Manaus, Brazil; (B) M. yanomami sp. n. from Parauapebas, Brazil; (C‒F) posterolateral view of mesosoma; (C) M. sulciventris Friese from Manaus, Brazil; (D) M. aeneicollis Friese from Manaus, Brazil; (E) M. aegis Vachal from Caldas Nova, Brazil; (F) M. nitidicollis Friese from São Paulo de Olivença, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 7. Males of Megalopta. (A) Ventral view of sternum 3‒6 of M. aegis Vachal from Caldas Novas, Brazil; (B‒E) posterolateral view of mesosoma; (B) M. chaperi Vachal from Amajari, Brazil; (C) M. amoena Spinola from Alenquer, Brazil; (D) M. guimaraesi Santos & Silveira from Formosa, Brazil; (E) Megalopta mura sp. n. from Presidente Figueiredo, Brazil; (F) lateral view of mesosoma M. mura sp. n. from Ouro Preto do Oeste, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 8. Males of Megalopta. (A‒C) Ventral view of sternum 3‒4; (A) M. chaperi Vachal Amajari, Brazil; (B) M. amoena Spinola from Alenquer, Brazil; (C) M. mura sp. n. from Parauapebas, Brazil; (D, E) Dorsal view of posterior surface of F6‒F11; (D) M. sulciventris Friese from Manaus, Brazil; (E) M. aegis Vachal from Parauapebas, Brazil; (F) dorsal view of flagellum of M. amoena from Alenquer, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 14. Distribution records of Megalopta species. (A) M. aegis Vachal (grey circles) and M. aeneicollis Friese (black squares); (B) M. nitidicollis Friese; (C) M. sulciventris Friese; (D) M. amoena Spinola.