Megalopta xavante, Santos & Melo, 2014

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 : 625-627

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222933.2014.946106
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4333855
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A26E87DD-1962-2947-7676-FA02FE2DFBA6
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Megalopta xavante
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Megalopta xavante sp. n.

( Figures 3F View Figure 3 , 4F View Figure 4 , 5A View Figure 5 , 9E View Figure 9 , 11D View Figure 11 , 12A View Figure 12 , 15D View Figure 15 )

Diagnosis

Differs from M. guarani sp. n. and M. karitiana sp. n. by medial protruding process of S4 digitiform in lateral view; from M. atlantica , M. purpurata and M. mapinguari

sp. n. by integument mostly reddish brown with metallic green tints on head and mesosoma ( Figures 3F View Figure 3 , 4F View Figure 4 ).

Description

(1) Mandible simple and lacking supplementary teeth ( Figure 4F View Figure 4 ). (2) Labral elevation in central portion, with rounded elevated area in relation to the sides. (2) Clypeus with surface between punctures on basal and central area smooth, the apical macula reddish brown. (4) Central portion of supraclypeal area with sparse punctation, punctures separated by ≥ 1 pd. (5) Antenna reddish brown ( Figure 4F View Figure 4 ). (6) Upper frons flat, not strongly declivous toward sulcus around median ocellus. (7) Ocellocular distance equal to length of F1 ( Figure 4F View Figure 4 ). (8) Mesoscutum adjacent to the parapsidial line densely punctured, punctures contiguous, punctation becoming sparser towards the mesoscutal lip (<1 pd). (9) Scutellum with posterior margin raised in relation to anterior margin of metanotum. (10). Metanotum with integument, in oblique view, not hidden by short plumose pilosity. (11) Basal area of metapostnotum reddish brown, its length 0.4× that of metanotum, with smooth surface, without longitudinal rugulosities ( Figure 3F View Figure 3 ). (12) Mesepisternum with contiguous punctation. (13) Metepisternum with sparse pilosity, integument visible through pilosity, posterior upper margin unmodified, lacking a velvety process. (14) T1 with dorsal surface of disc sparsely punctured (≥ 1 pd), posterior marginal zone microreticulated between punctures. Male. (15) Scape with diameter gradually enlarging toward the apex ( Figure 9E View Figure 9 ). (16) Flagellum reddish brown, except F2 and F3 lighter than the others ( Figure 9E View Figure 9 ); F1–F11 not differing in diameter; F2 about twothirds of F 3 in length ( Figure 9E View Figure 9 ); F6–F11, in anterior view, with the anterior and posterior margins flat, in posterior view with basal glabrous area at same level of remaining surface. (17) Metanotum with integument, in dorsal view, not hidden by short plumose pilosity ( Figure 11D View Figure 11 ). (18) Basal area of metapostnotum reddish brown with metallic green tints; its length about 0.7× that of metanotum; the longitudinal rugulosities slightly impressed centrally ( Figure 11D View Figure 11 ). (19) Metepisternum as in the female. (20) 1st and 2nd tarsomeres of foreleg with longest simple setae shorter than summed length of the three apical tarsomeres. (21) S3 with longitudinal sulcus, posterolateral margin notched. (22) S4 with medial protruding process, profile of process digitiform in lateral view; basal portion glabrous; posterolateral margin notched, notched not extended to basal half of sclerite.

Measurements

Approximate body length: (10.7–10.7); intertegular distance: (3–3.4); maximum width of head: (2.9–3.3); length of forewing with tegula: (9.5).

Type material

Holotype female ( RPSP): BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: ‘Nova Xavantina MT BR \ CUNX – bacaba luz\ 14/I/99\ Canolho A .’ Paratype male: BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: ‘ Nova Xavantina \ MT BR \ CUNX – Bacaba luz\ 30/I/98 Leg\ Barreira RL’ .

Distribution

BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Nova Xavantina ( Figure 15D View Figure 15 ).

Etymology

The specific epithet honours the ‘Xavante’, the name for an ethnic group of natives, used here as a noun in apposition. The Xavantes live in nine indigenous areas which are part of the territory they traditionally occupied for at least 180 years, in eastern Mato Grosso. The region where they live has suffered the environmental impact of extensive cattle ranching since the 1960s, an impact which is almost certainly irreversible. From the 1980s the impact has been intensified by the spread of giant grain farms, especially soybeans produced for export ( Graham 2008).

The sodalis species group

Diagnosis

The sodalis species group includes: M. cuprea , M. munduruku sp. n. and M. sodalis . Members of this species group can be recognized by having the mid portion of the basal area of the metapostnotum with depressed triangular area with longitudinal rugulosities branching from central rugulosities, or with transverse depression in M. munduruku sp. n., and by having the posterior upper margin of the metepisternum unmodified, lacking a velvety process in both sexes. Furthermore, this species group exhibits a large amount of intraspecific variation in the shape of the basal elevation of the labrum and in the basal area of the metapostnotum.

M. cuprea occurs in Bolivia and northern Brazil ( Figure 16A View Figure 16 ), while M. munduruku sp. n. is found only in northern Brazil ( Figure 16B View Figure 16 ) and M. sodalis is widely distributed ( Figure 16C View Figure 16 ).