Braunsapis maxschwarzi Engel, 2013

Engel, Michael S., 2013, A new species of the allodapine bee genus Braunsapis from the Central African Republic (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Journal of Melittology 2013 (21), pp. 1-7 : 2-6

Braunsapis maxschwarzi Engel , new species

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DD996023-0FD8-43EA-9CC5-3601C64CECB2

( Figs. 1–7 )

DIAGNOSIS: The new species is most similar to Braunsapis paradoxa (Strand) from South Africa, both species having a distinctive bifid medioapical projection on the sixth metasomal sternum that extends beyond the apex of tergum VI in dorsal view (e.g., Figs. 6, 7 ). The much more northerly and slightly smaller B. maxschwarzi n. sp. differs by the extensively developed yellow clypeal markings ( Figs. 1, 2 ) (greatly reduced to absent in B. paradoxa ), the the yellow pronotal lobe ( Fig. 1 ) (dark brown to black in B. paradoxa ), the largely yellow median axillary sclerite (dark brown in B. paradoxa ), the clypeoantennal distance distinctly less than the diameter of the antennal torulus ( Fig. 2 ) (about equal to the diameter of the antennal torulus in B. paradoxa ), the easily visible dorsal setae of the metasomal terga (scarcely evident in B. paradoxa ), the less developed lateral shoulders of the sixth tergum ( Fig. 7 ) (strongly elevated and produced apically in B. paradoxa ), and the shorter and more blunt bifid projection of the sixth sternum ( Fig. 7 ) (bifid projections longer and more acute in B. paradoxa ).

DESCRIPTION: ♀: Total length 6.00 mm (5.25–6.25 mm); forewing length 4.06 mm (3.81–4.44 mm); head slightly broader than long, length 1.53 mm (1.45–1.63 mm), width 1.61 mm (1.53–1.69 mm); compound eyes with inner margins relatively straight, converging below ( Fig. 2 ), upper interorbital distance 1.04 mm (0.94–1.10 mm), lower interorbital distance 0.78 mm (0.71–0.78 mm). Mandible tridentate, median tooth largest; malar space much shorter than one-third basal mandibular width, anteriorly about two-thirds as long as apical scape width, posteriorly about three-quarters (or slightly more) as long as apical scape width. Clypeus flat, not protuberant, with upper border very weakly concave, nearly straight ( Fig. 2 ); lower clypeoocular distance about two-thirds scape width, upper clypeocular distance about twice scape width; clypeoantennal distance less than diameter of antennal torulus. Scape short, extending to just above level of lower margin of median ocellus, about 4–4.5 times as long as apically broad; first flagellomere very slightly broader than long, second about twice as broad as long, following flagellomeres progressively longer so that penultimate flagellomere is about as long as broad. Vertex straight and slightly above upper tangent of compound eyes in frontal view ( Fig. 2 ). Genal area medially about as wide as compound eye in lateral view. Forewing venation generally typical for genus; pterostigma shorter than costal border of marginal cell, about as long as distance from apex of cell to wing tip; marginal cell apex separated from wing margin by about vein width; second submarginal cell less than half length of first submarginal cell; 1rs-m near 1m-cu. Legs unmodified; metabasitibial plate not defined (not margined by carina), represented solely by small glabrous area. Metasoma typical for genus except sixth tergum with dorsal surface gently concave, lateral shoulders only weakly elevated and not greatly produced apically (strongly produced apically in B. paradoxa : vide figure 160 in Michener, 1975), lateral margins of sixth tergum gently convex at apicolateral corners ( Fig. 7 ), thereafter tapering gently from angle to broadly rounded medioapical margin [in this respect somewhat more similar to B. angolensis (Cockerell) , a species which also has a concave dorsal surface on the sixth tergum], medioapical margin weakly and shallowly emarginate; sterna generally unmodified except sixth sternum medioapically produced, with bifid apex that extends beyond apex of sixth tergum ( Figs. 5–7 ), bifid apices somewhat blunt ( Fig. 7 ) (more acutely pointed, with deeper emargination in B. paradoxa ).

Labrum with coarse punctures separated by much less than a puncture width, integument otherwise smooth and shining; clypeus shining, faintly and finely imbricate, with shallow, somewhat inconspicuous punctures separated by a puncture width or frequently less; remainder of face with irregular finely and faintly imbricate areas and areas of small, faint punctures often separated by less than a puncture width (e.g., near medial line of face); vertex more distinctly imbricate and largely impunctate, areas very sparsely with a few small, shallow punctures; gena as on vertex; postgena imbricate and impunctate. Mesoscutum imbricate, with small, shallow punctures very sparsely scattered ( Fig. 3 ), such punctures a bit more numerous along lateral and posterior borders; tegula finely and faintly imbricate, impunctate; mesoscutellar integument similar to that of mesoscutum, punctuation similar to that of mesoscutum although more numerous, separated by 1–2 times a puncture width except more widely spaced posteriorly; metanotum coarsely imbricate; pleural punctation similar to that of mesoscutum except punctures separated by 1.5–3 times a puncture width, punctures fainter ventrally and posteriorly on mesepisternum; propodeum very coarsely imbricate (so much so that surface could well be described as finely reticulate) ( Fig. 3 ). Legs finely imbricate except almost smooth on apical ventral surface of metafemur. Metasomal terga and sterna imbricate, with scattered shallow, coarse, and faint punctures except apical margins impunctate ( Fig. 6 ).

Integument mostly black. Mandible dark brown. Labiomaxillary complex brown. Labrum brown. Clypeus largely yellow except for dark brown apicolateral areas; yellow T-shaped marking strongly developed, occupying entire upper portion of clypeus (at and above tangent of anterior tentorial pits) and comprising wide mediolongitudinal band across lower portion of clypeus ( Figs. 1, 2 ); remainder of head black. Antenna dark brown except slightly lighter on ventral base of scape. Mesosoma black except pronotal lobe yellow ( Fig. 1 ), tegula light brown and translucent, outer margin almost colorless ( Fig. 5 ). Legs dark brown expect apical tarsomeres lighter, almost yellowish brown on apical pro- and mesotarsomeres. Wings hyaline; wing base with costal and radial sclerite brown, median sclerite largely yellow except brown proximally, remaining axillaries yellow; veins light brown except Sc+R and borders of pterostigma darker. Metasoma black except apical margins narrowly semitranslucent ( Fig. 6 ).

Pubescence sparse (as is typical across the genus), whitish translucent or tinged lightly fuscous on tarsi, not forming tergal pale bands; metatrochanter with long, simple setae ventrally; metafemur with large bare area ventrally in apical half, otherwise with scattered, short to long, largely simple setae; metatibia with numerous elongate setae, setae with a few branches or simple ( Fig. 4 ); dorsal metasomal setae sparse but prominent, with tapered apices, distinctly noticeable in profile.

♂: Unknown.

HOLOTYPE: ♀, Republique Centrafricaine, leg. Dollfuss / Kembé [Basse-Kotto Prefecture], 4.29 N, 21.53 E, 1985-07-27 [27 July 1985] ( MSCA).

PARATYPES: 1♀, Republique Centrafricaine, leg. Dollfuss / Kembé [Basse-Kotto Prefecture], 4.29 N, 21.53 E, 1985-07-12 [12 July 1985] ( SEMC) ; 2♀♀, Republique Centrafricaine, leg. Dollfuss / Kembé [Basse-Kotto Prefecture], 4.29 N, 21.53 E, 1985-07-12 [12 July 1985] ( MSCA) ; 1♀, Republique Centrafricaine, leg. Dollfuss / Kembé [Basse-Kotto Prefecture], 4.29 N, 21.53 E, 1985-08-07 [7 August 1985] ( MSCA) ; 1♀, Republique Centrafricaine, leg. Dollfuss / Kembé [Basse-Kotto Prefecture], 4.29 N, 21.53 E, 1985- 08-08 [8 August 1985] ( MSCA) ; 1♀, Republique Centrafricaine, leg. Dollfuss / Kembé [Basse-Kotto Prefecture], 4.29 N, 21.53 E, 1985-08-08 [8 August 1985] ( SEMC) ; 1♀, Republique Centrafricaine, leg. Dollfuss / Kembé [Basse-Kotto Prefecture], 4.29 N, 21.53 E, 1985-08-11 [11 August 1985] ( MSCA) ; 2♀♀, Republique Centrafricaine, leg. Dollfuss / Kembé [Basse-Kotto Prefecture], 4.29 N, 21.53 E, 1985-08-11 [11 August 1985] ( SEMC) ; 1♀, Republique Centrafricaine, leg. Dollfuss / Kembé [Basse-Kotto Prefecture], 4.29 N, 21.53 E, 1985-08-17 [17 August 1985] ( MSCA) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is a patronym honoring Dr. Maximilian Schwarz who provided the material reported herein and who has made numerous important contributions to the systematics of bees for more than 40 years.

COMMENTS: Specimens of various African Braunsapis were studied in the collection of the Division of Entomology, University of Kansas Natural History Museum. In particular, females (and males, although a male remains to be captured for B. maxschwarzi ) for B. angolensis and B. paradoxa were compared with the above type series.

In Michener’s (1975) key to females of African species of Braunsapis , the new species will run to B. paradoxa . The following modified couplets will permit inclusion of this species into those dichotomous couplets:

5(4). Sixth sternum with a bifid medioapical projection extending beyond apical tergum ....................................................................................................................... 5a

—. Sixth sternum of the usual simple form ( Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya) ...... ................................................................................................ B. angolensis (Cockerell)

5a(5). Yellow T-shaped marking on clypeus reduced to median stem, spots, weak line along base of clypeus, or absent; clypeoantennal distance about equal to diameter of antennal torulus; pronotal lobe black; median axillary sclerite brownish black; dorsal setae of metasomal terga IV–VI very short and sparse, scarcely noticeable in profile; sixth tergum with lateral shoulders strongly elevated and produced posteriorly, apical margin between prominent lateral shoulders concave or straight to margin of bifid sternal projection giving apex of metasoma a quadrate or even quadridentate appearance ( South Africa) ............ ...................................................................................................... B. paradoxa (Strand)

—. Yellow T-shaped marking on clypeus strongly developed, occupying entire upper portion of clypeus (at and above tangent of anterior tentorial pits), and comprising wide mediolongitudinal band across lower portion of clypeus ( Figs. 1, 2 ); clypeoantennal distance distinctly less than diameter of antennal torulus ( Fig. 2 ); pronotal lobe yellow ( Fig. 1 ); median axillary sclerite largely yellow, with some brown proximally; dorsal setae of metasomal terga IV–VI erect and prominent, easily visible in profile; sixth tergum with lateral shoulders only weakly elevated and not so greatly produced, tapering gently from angle of shoulders to margin of bifid sternal projection ( Figs. 6, 7 ) ( Central African Republic) ....................................................... B. maxschwarzi Engel , n. sp.

Figures

Figures 1–4. Photomicrographs of female of Braunsapis maxschwarzi, new species, from the Central African Republic. 1. Lateral habitus. 2. Facial view. 3. Dorsal detail of mesosoma. 4. Detail of metafemur and metatibia.

Figures 5–7. Photomicrographs of female of Braunsapis maxschwarzi, new species, from the Central African Republic. 5. Dorsal habitus. 6. Dorsal detail of metasomal terga. 7. Detail of apical metasomal segments (apical portion of tergum V and entirety of tergum VI, with bifid projection of sternum VI visibly projecting from beneath).