Megalopta guarani, 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 : 621-622

Megalopta guarani sp. n.

( Figures 9C , 10E, F , 15D )

Diagnosis

The male differs from those of M. atlantica , M. purpurata , M. xavante sp. n., and M. mapinguari sp. n. by the shape of the medial protruding process of S4, being short and having a triangular profile in lateral view ( Figure 10E ); from M. karitiana sp. n. by the colour of the integument, metallic green in the head and mesosoma with coppery tints ( Figures 9C , 10F ) and reddish brown on metasoma.

Description

Male. (15) Scape with diameter gradually enlarging toward the apex. (16) Flagellum brown, except F2 reddish brown ( Figure 9C ), F1–F11 not differing in diameter; F2 about two-thirds of F 3 in length ( Figure 9C ); 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 pillosity ( Figure 10F ). (18) Basal area of metapostnotum green metallic; its length 0.75× that of metanotum; smooth without longitudinal rugulosities ( Figure 10F ). (19) Metepisternum with sparse pilosity, integument visible through pilosity; posterior upper margin of metepisternum unmodified, lacking a velvety process (20) 1st and 2nd tarsomere 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 minute triangular in lateral view ( Figure 10E ); basal portion glabrous; posterolateral margin notched, notched not extending to basal half of sclerite.

Measurements

Approximate body length: (10.7); intertegular distance: (2.9); maximum width of head: (2.6); length of forewing with tegula: (9.0); length of forewing: (8.3).

Female. Unknown.

Type material

Holotype male ( MPEG): BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: ‘ Brasil MT \ Chap. dos Guimarães \ Colégio Agr. Buriti\ 8 a 13-II-1986 \ Col. I.S. Gorayeb’ ‘ Armadilha \ Malayse’.

Distribution

BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Chapada dos Guimarães ( Figure 15D ).

Etymology

The specific epithet honours the ‘Guarani’, the name for an ethnic group of natives used here as a noun in apposition. Since the mid-1920s, for the Guarani subgroup Kaiowa, there has been a continuous process of expropriation of Guarani lands, which are constantly threatened by farmers ( Almeida and Mura 2003).

Figures

Figure 9. Males of Megalopta. (A) Dorsal view of flagellum of M. guimaraesi from Formosa, Brazil; (B) ventral view of sternum 3‒4 of M. amoena from Alenquer, Brazil; (C, E) dorsal view of head; (D, F) Frontal view of head; (C) M. guarani sp. n. from Chapada dos Guimarães, Brazil; (D) M. mapinguari sp. n. from Rio Branco, Brazil; (E) M. xavante sp. n. from Nova Xavantina, Brazil; (F) M. atlantica Santos & Silveira from Ipanema, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 10. Males of Megalopta. (A, C) Frontal view of head; (B, D) frontal view of flagellomeres; (A) M. purpurata Smith (holotype) from Tefé, Brazil; (B) M. atlantica Santos & Silveira from Ipanema, Brazil; (C) M. yanomami sp. n. from Parauapebas, Brazil; (D) M. piraha sp. n. from Manaus, Brazil; (E) lateral view of sternum 4 of M. guarani sp. n. from Chapada dos Guimarães, Brazil; (F) posterolateral view of basal area of mesosoma M. guarani sp. n. from Chapada dos Guimarães, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm, except in E, scale bar 0.1 mm.

Figure 15. Distribution records of Megalopta species. (A) M. chaperi Vachal; (B) M. guimaraesi Santos & Silveira (black circles) and M. mura sp. n. (grey squares); (C) M. piraha sp. n (grey squares) and M. yanomami sp. n. (black circles); (D) M. atlantica Santos & Silveira (grey square), M. guarani sp. n (triangle), M. xavante sp. n (hexagon), M. karitiana sp. n (black circle), M. mapinguari sp. n (black square) and M. purpurata Smith (grey circle).