Stilbochlora wedmanorum Engel, 2019

Engel, Michael S., 2019, New species of the augochlorine bee genus Stilbochlora, with a preliminary key (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), Journal of Melittology 2019 (89), pp. 1-15 : 8-14

Stilbochlora wedmanorum Engel , new species

( Figs. 5–7 , 14 , 18 )

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1C4305F5-1F24-42D0-AEB3-E037B7AA6C34

DIAGNOSIS: As in all of the new species reported herein, this species has a more densely striate propodeum relative to the type species of the genus. Unlike S. graceae and S. kateae , however, the striae only extend to about midlength and the striate area is roughly crescent shape ( Figs. 14 , 18 ). Like S. kateae , this species is predominantly blue, with dark brown legs and clypeal apex ( Figs. 5–7 ).

DESCRIPTION: ♀: Total body length 6.74 mm; forewing length 4.68 mm. Head slightly wider than long (length 1.60 mm, width 1.73 mm); distal half of clypeus projecting below lower tangent of compound eyes; frontal line carinate from approximately lower tangent of toruli to about one torular diameter above upper tangent of toruli; upper interorbital distance 0.93 mm; lower interorbital distance 0.67 mm; ocellocular distance approximately 1.75× ocellar diameter. Scape long, extending to level of lateral ocelli; pedicel longer than first flagellomere; first and second flagellomeres subequal in length. Gena narrower than compound eye in profile. Mesoscutum with median and parapsidal lines moderately impressed, parapsidal line approximately 0.75× length of median line; intertegular distance 1.33 mm; mesoscutellum nearly twice as long as metanotum, approximately subequal to basal area of propodeum. Forewing with basal vein distad 1cu-a by 4× vein width; 1rs-m straight, confluent to slightly basad 1m-cu, roughly parallel to 2Rs; 3Rs subequal to r-rs, and subequal to 4Rs; 5Rs comparatively straight, thus marginal cell tapering uniformly to acutely rounded apex; 2M subequal to 3Rs; 3M more than 2× length 2M; 2rs-m nearly straight, distad 2m-cu by 5× vein width; hind wing with distal hamuli arranged 2-1-2. Inner metatibial spur with five branches, not including apical portion of rachis.

Clypeus with coarse punctures separated by less than a puncture width centrally, puncture smaller and a bit more spaced near borders, integument between punctures faintly and finely coriarious to nearly smooth, coriarious integument more prominent in metallic areas; supraclypeal area with punctures smaller than on clypeus, separated by 2–5× a puncture width except denser above near intertorular area, integument between punctures weakly and finely coriarious; face below tangent of antennal toruli with minute punctures separated by a puncture width or less, integument between punctures smooth; face above tangent of antennal toruli with minute punctures nearly contiguous, integument between punctures smooth; punctures becoming more spaced toward ocellar area and in ocellocular area, in ocellocular area separated by 3–7× a puncture width, integument between punctures smooth; vertex with integument as described for ocellocular area; gena with punctures separated by 2–3× a puncture width, blending ventrally to coriarious integument of postgena; postgena prominently coriarious and impunctate. Pronotum smooth, with sparsely scatered punctures; mesoscutum with minute punctures separated by 2–5× a puncture width, not noticeably more closely spaced around parapsidal line, integument between punctures smooth; tegula smooth and impunctate except a few, sparsely scatered, weak punctures; mesoscutellum with integument as on central disc of mesoscutum except punctures more widely spaced, punctures along posterior border larger and weaker; metanotum minutely nodulose, integument otherwise finely coriarious; preëpisternum with coarse, shallow punctures nearly contiguous, integument between punctures smooth, hypoepimeral area with sparse, small punctures, otherwise smooth; mesepisternum with small, shallow punctures separated by 3–5× a puncture width; metepisternum smooth with sparsely scatered minute punctures; basal area of propodeum smooth, glabrous, shining, with prominent striae radiating from basal margin, striae short, extending to about midlength of basal area, striae not longer medially, striae closely spaced; lateral and posterior surfaces of propodeum smooth with scatered minute punctures, punctures of posterior surface sparser than those of lateral surface. Metasomal tergum I largely smooth, with scatered minute punctures, apical margin finely, weakly, transversely coriarious and impunctate; terga II–IV as on tergum I except minute punctures of disc more numerous, separated by 2–4× a puncture width, becoming weaker toward apical margin, apical margin as on tergum I; tergum V as on preceding terga except punctures more prominent and more closely spaced; sterna with basal areas smooth and impunctate, central discs finely coriarious and nodulose at setal bases.

Mandible brown with reddish apex and lighter center; labrum brown; clypeus brown except metallic blue bordering epistomal sulcus; supraclypeal area and remainder of face brilliant metallic blue with greenish highlights in parocular area; gena as on face; postgena metallic blue-green; antenna dark brown except flagellomeres ventrally lighter, particularly apex and venter of distalmost flagellomere brownish yellow. Pronotum and propleuron dark brown with strong metallic blue highlights and weaker greenish highlights; mesoscutum brilliant metallic blue with greenish highlights; tegula brown, semi-translucent; mesoscutellum and metanotum as on mesoscutum; mes- and metepisternum as on mesoscutum; propodeum as on mesoscutum except greenish highlights lacking; legs largely brown except lighter on tarsi. Wing membranes hyaline and clear; veins dark brown to brown. Metasoma largely dark brown; terga with strong metallic blue highlights and areas of purplish highlights, highlights absent in marginal areas giving metasomal dorsum superficial banded appearance.

Pubescence largely white to off white; face with scatered, fine, simple, suberect to erect setae, such setae intermingled with shorter, highly branched to plumose setae on lower face and along ocular borders, such setae not obscuring integument, on upper face fine, short, erect setae, setae becoming longer again on vertex and between ocelli; gena with setae as on vertex except long, erect to suberect setae, with a few apical branches, intermingled with shorter, plumose setae medially; postgena with sparse, elongate, erect setae, some setae with a few apical branches. Mesoscutum with scattered, short, fine, erect, simple setae, some with a few, minute branches, intermixed with shorter erect setae; mesoscutellum as on mesoscutum except intermixed with elongate setae with short branches, such setae most abundant posteriorly, laterally with scatered mid-sized, feathery setae; metanotum as on mesoscutum except elongate setae more numerous; pleura with long, erect to suberect, simple setae, such setae becoming slightly longer ventrally; basal area of propodeum glabrous; lateral and posterior surfaces with setae as on pleura except more numerous on lateral surface and sparser and more erect on posterior surface. Setae of legs largely white, except more yellowish on tarsomeres. Metasomal tergum I with long, erect, simple setae on anterior-facing surface, such setae becoming sparse, short, and more inclined medioapically, dorsal-facing surface with sparse, short, suberect setae, narrow apical margin glabrous; terga II–IV with fine, short, suberect to subappressed, simple setae, intermingled with longer, suberect, simple setae, such longer setae progressively more numerous on succeeding terga; tergum V with setae more numerous than on preceding terga and short setae of disc more fuscous; central discs of sterna with abundant, elongate, erect, simple setae, a few with short branches.

♂: Latet.

HOLOTYPE: ♀, Peru: Madre de Dios, Cocha Salvador, Reserved Zone, Manu National Park , 310 m, 12°0’13’’S, 71°31’36’’W, 20–21 Oct 2000, R. Brooks, ex: flight intercept trap ( SEMC).

PARATYPES: 3♀♀, same data as holotype ( SEMC) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet honors Scot D. and L. Kim Wedman, inspiring and supportive friends to the author and his spouse, Kellie.

Figures

Figures 5–6. Holotype female of Stilbochlora wedmanorum, new species. 5. Lateral habitus. 6. Dorsal habitus.

Figures 7–10. Facial views of species of Stilbochlora Engel et al. 7. Stilbochlora wedmanorum, new species. 8. S. kateae, new species. 9. S. graceae, new species. 10. S. eickworti (Engel et al.).

Figures 11–14. Mesosomal dorsa of species of Stilbochlora Engel et al. 11. Stilbochlora eickworti (Engel et al.). 12. S. graceae, new species. 13. S. kateae, new species. 14. S. wedmanorum, new species.

Figures 15–18. Mesoscutella, metanota, and propodea of species of Stilbochlora Engel et al. 15. Stilbochlora eickworti (Engel et al.). 16. S. graceae, new species. 17. S. kateae, new species. 18. S. wedmanorum, new species.