Sphecodes montanus Smith, 1879

Astafurova, Yulia V., Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu. & Schwarz, Maximilian, 2020, New and little-known species of the genus Sphecodes Latreille (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) from Southeast Asia, ZooKeys 937, pp. 31-88 : 31

Sphecodes montanus Smith, 1879 Figures 94-97 , 98-102

Sphecodes montanus Smith, 1879: 27, ♀, ♂ (syntype: ♀, Northern India, Masuri [Uttaranchal: Mussoorie], 7000 ft, B.M. Type HYM.17a549; NHMUK 013380316; examined).

Diagnosis.

This species is closest to Sphecodes kozlovi Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2015 and S. simillimus Smith, 1873, both displaying a similar form to the male genitalia with a large membranous section of the gonostylus (Fig. 101 ), a similar size of antennal tyloids and a flat vertex with longitudinal carina (in the last feature, the species is also similar to S. pieli Cockerell, 1931). S. montanus differs from these three speciesby the possession of a weakly developed lateral preoccipital carina (absent in S. kozlovi , S. simillimus and S. pieli ) and a narrower female pygidial plate which is 1.1-1.2 times as wide as metabasitarsus (versus 1.2-1.5).

Descriptive notes.

Wings hyaline to weak brownish darkening; hind wing with the angle between basal (M) and cubital (Cu) veins ca. 90°, costal margin with five or six hamuli. Vertex with longitudinal carina; lateral preoccipital carina weakly developed (Fig. 100 ). Female. Total body length 7-8 mm. Head strongly transverse (Fig. 94 ), ca. 1.3 times as wide as long; vertex not elevated as seen in frontal view; labrum semi-oval, 0.5 times as long as basal width; face and ocello-ocular area areolate-punctate; paraocular areas and gena with sparse pubescence. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum (Fig. 96 ) densely punctate with punctures separated by at most one or two puncture diameters, becoming denser (confluent) peripherally. Propodeal triangle (metapostnotum), mesepisternum and hypoepimeral area reticulate-rugose. Metasomal T1 impunctate, T2-T4 basally with sparse minute (5-10 μm) punctures (Fig. 95 ); marginal zones impunctate. Pygidial plate dull, 1.1-1.2 times as wide as metabasitarsus (Fig. 97 ); T1-T3 red. Male. Total body length 7-7.5 mm. Head transverse, ca. 1.2 times as wide as long; vertex not elevated as seen in frontal view; tyloids weakly developed, semi-oval, covering (at least from F4 onward) approximately basal 1/5-1/3 of flagellomeres (Fig. 102 ); F2 ca. 1.8 times as long as wide. Face and ocello-ocular area areolate-punctate. Mesosomal sculpture as in female (Fig. 98 ). Metasoma dark (Fig. 99 ); T1 impunctate; remaining terga basally finely and densely punctate. Gonocoxite dorsally without impression; gonostylus large, rectangular, apically with long setae (Fig. 101 ).

Material examined.

Laos: 1 ♂, Prov. Hua Phan, Phou Pan, Umg. Ort Ban Saleui, 20°13'N, 103°59'E, 1350-1900 m, 10-14.V.2012, C. Holzschuh & locals (OLBL/PCMS).

Distribution.

*Laos, India (Uttaranchal Rajasthan).

Figures

Figures 94 - 97. Sphecodes montanus Smith, female 94 head, frontal view 95 metasoma, dorsal view 96 mesosoma, dorsal view 97 T 5 - T 6, pygidial plate, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (94 - 96), 0.5 mm (97).

Figures 98 - 102. Sphecodes montanus Smith, male 98 head and mesosoma, dorsal view 99 metasoma, dorsal view 100 genal area and lateral preoccipital carina, lateral view 101 genitalia, dorsal view 102 antennae, lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.