Megalopta sodalis ( 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 : 631-633

Megalopta sodalis ( Vachal 1904)

( Figures 4E , 13C , 16C )

Halictus sodalis Vachal, 1904:114 . Holotype female, Brazil: Santa Catarina, Joinville (MNHP, not examined).

Halictus fornix Vachal, 1904:114 . Holotype female, Peru: Huallaga , Rio Mixiollo 1200 m (MNHP, not examined). New synonymy.

Halictus aethautis Vachal, 1904:115 . Holotype male, Peru: Lima, Callanga. (MNHP, not examined).

Examined material

(525♀, 111♂). See Appendix 2.

Diagnosis

This species differs from M. cuprea only by the metallic green integument; from females of M. munduruku sp. n. by basal area of metapostnotum with mid depression extending to posterior margin ( Figure 4E ), and from males, by longer and strongly impressed longitudinal rugulosities in the basal area of metapostnotum ( Figure 13C ).

Description

Female. (1) Mandible bidentate and with supplementary teeth. (2) Labral elevation* with flattened, slightly depressed or with lateral surface strongly raised in relation to central portion. (3) Clypeus with surface between punctures on basal and central area variable, often microreticulated and sometimes smooth. (4) Central portion of supraclypeal area with sparse punctation, the punctures are separated by ≥ 1 pd. (5) Antennae reddish brown. (6) Upper frons flat, not strongly declivous toward sulcus around median ocellus. (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, not hidden by short pilosity ( Figure 4E ). (11) Basal area of metapostnotum metallic green, its length 0.55 to 0.8× that of metanotum, with longer and strongly impressed longitudinal rugulosities in mid portion ( Figure 4E ). (12) Mesepisternum with contiguous punctation. (13) Metepisternum with sparse pilosity, integument visible through pilosity; posterior upper margin of metepisternum unmodified, lacking a velvety process. (14) T1 with dorsal surface of disc densely punctured (<1 pd), posterior marginal zone microreticulated 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. (17) Metanotum with integument, in oblique view, not hidden by short plumose pilosity ( Figure 13C ). (18) Basal area of metapostnotum metallic green, its length at least 0.8× that of metanotum, medially with longer longitudinal rugulosities, laterally with smooth surface ( Figure 13C ). (19). Metepisternum as in the female. (20) 1st and 2nd tarsomeres of foreleg with longest simple setae shorter than the summed length of the three apical tarsomeres. (21) S3 with longitudinal sulcus, posterolateral margin notched. (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.

Measurements

Approximate body length: (11.4–20.7); maximum width of head: (3.4–4.5); intertegular distance: (3.5–5.4); length of forewing with tegula: (10.8–16.1).

Comments

One specimen from Itu, São Paulo, and another from Nova Lima, Minas Gerais ( Santos and Silveira 2009), exhibit a dark body coloration. The specimens from Mucugê, Bahia and another from Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, were collected respectively in Cambessedesia wurdackii (Melastomataceae) and Bauhinia forficata (Fabaceae) . This is the largest species of Megalopta , with some females reaching almost 20 cm in body length, but many specimens exhibit smaller body size. These smaller specimens may be the result of parasitism by Fiebrigella spp. ( Diptera : Chloropidae ), whose larvae consume pollen of brood cells and are known to reduce the body size of adult Megalopta bees ( Smith et al. 2008). Information on nests of this species was published by Sakagami and Moure (1967). Furthermore, specimens have been attracted by eugenol and methyl salicilate.

The present synonymy is based on the morphology of both sexes; many characters exhibit intraspecific variation, such as the shape of the labral elevation, length of metapostnotum, tergal punctation and body size. Some individuals show purple tints in the basal area of metapostnotum adjacent to the rugulosities.

Distribution

BOLIVIA. Cochabamba: Villa Tunari. La Paz: Mapiri. BRAZIL. Acre: Acrelândia, Cruzeiro do Sul, Porto Acre, Rio Branco. Amapá: Pedra Branca do Amapari. Amazonas: Barcelos, Beruri, Fonte Boa, Humaitá, Itacoatiara, Japurá, Lábrea, Manaus, Novo Airão, Novo Aripuanã, Presidente Figueiredo, Tabatinga. Bahia: Camacan, Encruzilhada, Lençois, Mucugê, Salvador, Santa Terezinha. Espiríto Santo: Conçeição da Barra, Guarapari, Linhares, Santa Leopoldina. Goiás: Caldas Novas, Colinas do Sul, Jataí. Maranhão: Buriticupu. Mato Grosso: Aripuanã, Chapada dos Guimarães, Nova Lacerda, Nova Mutum, Nova Xavantina, Campo Novo do Parecis. Minas Gerais: Belo Horizonte, Bom Jesus do Amparo, Caratinga, Ipanema, Nova Lima, Santana do Riacho, Três Marias, Uberlândia, Viçosa. Pará: Alenquer, Belém, Belterra, Benevides, Bujaru, Capitão Poço, Itaituba, Melgaço, Ourém, Parauapebas, Peixe Boi, São Miguel do Guama, Tome-Açu, Tucuruí. Paraíba: Mamanguape. Paraná: Antonina, Morretes , São José dos Pinhais. Pernambuco: Caruaru, Jaqueira. Rio de Janeiro: Angra dos Reis, Arraial do Cabo, Cachoeiras de Macacu, Itatiaia, Macaé, Maricá, Teresopólis. Rondônia: Ariquemes, Guajará-Mirim, Itapuã do Oeste, Ouro Preto do Oeste, Porto Velho, Vilhena. Roraima: Amajari, Pacaraima. Santa Catarina: Brusque, Joinville. São Paulo: Caraguatatuba, Juquiá, Itu, Macaubal, Miracatu, Ribeirão Grande, Sete Barras. ECUADOR. Sucumbios: Limoncocha. PERU. Cuzco: Espinar, La Convención, Quincemil, Urabamba. Junin: Chanchamayo. Huánuco: Leoncio Prado, Puerto Inca. Lima: Cañete. Loreto: Mariscal Ramón Castilla, Maynas. Madre de Dios: Mazuko, Santa Rosa, Tambopata. Pasco: Oxapampa. Puno: Carabaya. San Martin: San Martin. SURINAME. Brokopondo: Brokopondo. Nickerie: Wageningen. Paramaribo: Paramaribo. Saramacca: Calcutta. Sipaliwini: Kabalebo. VENEZUELA. Amazonas: Puerto Ayacucho ( Figure 16C ).

Figures

Figure 4. Females of Megalopta. (A‒E) Posterolateral view of mesosoma; (A) Megalopta yanomami sp. n. from Parauapebas, Brazil; (B) M. piraha sp. n. from Manaus, Brazil; (C) M. munduruku sp. n. from Belterra, Brazil; (D) M. cuprea Friese from Nigrillani, Bolivia; (E) M. sodalis Vachal from Antonina, Brazil; (F) frontal view of head of M. xavante sp. n from Nova Xavantina, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 13. Males of Megalopta. (A, B) Posterolateral view of mesosoma; (C, E) frontal view of head; (D) frontal view of flagellomeres; (A) M. cuprea Friese from Santa Cruz, Bolivia; (B) M. sodalis Vachal from Antonina, Brazil; (C, D) M. yanomami sp. n. from Parauapebas, Brazil; (E) M. piraha sp. n. from Manaus, Brazil; (F) M. cuprea Friese from Espejo, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 16. Distribution records of Megalopta species. (A) M. cuprea Friese; (B) M. munduruku sp. n; (C) M. sodalis Vachal.