Sphecodes kershawi Perkins, 1921

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 kershawi Perkins, 1921 Figures 70 , 72-74 , 81-85

Sphecodes kershawi Perkins, 1921: 9, ♂ (syntypes: ♂♂, China, Macao, J.C. Kershaw leg.; NHMUK, ZMHB, examined).

Sphecodes javanensis Blüthgen, 1927: 69-70, ♂ (holotype: ♂, Indonesia, Java, Buitenzorg, VIII. 1920; NHMW, examined). Syn. nov.

Diagnosis.

The male of this species is closest to Sphecodes sibuyanensis Cockerell, 1925 owing to similar short antennae with tyloids covering the entire ventral flagellar surface, a densely punctate metasoma (including marginal zone on T1) and in the shape of the gonostylus, with an elongate membranous part. From S. sibuyanensis it differs by a mostly punctate-areolate mesoscutum (versus a lot of mesoscutellar puncturesseparated by 0.5-1 puncture diameter). The female is closest to S. howardi and is also similar to S. formosanus , S. takaensis , and S. binghami owing to a similar structure, sculpture and coloration of the body, including the densely punctate disc and marginal zone of T1 (differences between females of these species are outlined in Table 2 ).

Descriptive notes.

Wings with strong brownish darkening; hind wing with the angle between basal (M) and cubital (Cu) veins ca. 70°, costal margin with six, seven or eight hamuli. Lateral preoccipital carina present. Female. Total body length 7.5-8 mm. Head transverse (Fig. 73 ), ca. 1.2 times as wide as long; vertex elevated with distance from top of head to upper margin of lateral ocellus approximately a lateral ocellar diameter as seen in frontal view; labrum semi-oval, 0.5 times as long as basal width; face and vertex areolate-punctate; paraocular areas with dense adpressed white pubescence, gena with sparser pubescence not obscuring integument. Mesoscutum (Fig. 70 ) mostly areolate-punctate (50-75 μm) medially with a few punctures separated by at most 0.5-1 puncture diameter; mesoscutellum with confluent punctures and a few interspaces of approximately a puncture diameter. Propodeal triangle (metapostnotum) reticulate-rugose. Metasoma densely punctate (Fig. 74 ); T1 on disc and marginal zone finely punctate (10-15 μm / 0.5-3), remaining terga coarsely punctate (10-25 μm) with impunctate and smooth marginal zones, sometimes finely tessellate on T4 (Fig. 72 ); pygidial plate 0.7 times as wide as metabasitarsus; T1-T3 red. Male. Total body length 7-8 mm. Head transverse (Fig. 81 ), ca. 1.2 times as wide as long; vertex elevated with distance from top of head to upper margin of lateral ocellus approximately a lateral ocellar diameter as seen in frontal view; antennae short (Fig. 82 ), not reaching mesoscutellum, F1 0.6 times as long as wide, remaining flagellomeres ca. 1.2 times as long as wide, tyloids covering entire ventral flagellar surface. Mesosomal sculpture as in female (Fig. 84 ). Metasomal T1 densely punctate including marginal zone (10-20 μm / 0.5-2), remaining terga with impunctate marginal zones (Fig. 83 ); T1-T3 red or metasoma entirely black; gonocoxite dorsally without impression; gonostylus with elongate membranous part, apically with long setae (Fig. 85 ).

Material examined.

Indonesia: 1 ♂, Ceylon, Calutara, O.S. Wickwar, 1912-189 (NHMUK 013380334); Malaysia: 1 ♀, Malaya, Titi Serong Perak, 27.VIII.1931, H.T. Pagden (NHMUK 013380436); Myanmar: 1 ♀, Mali Hka Valley, Kachin Hills, 1500 ft, 15.XII.1930, F. Kingdon Ward., BM 1936-91 (NHMUK 013380338); Thailand: 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂, Nan, MaeCharim NPEingang, 18°36'N, 100°58'E, 206 m, 10-15.V.2012, E. & J. Holzschuh (OLBL/PCMS); China: 1 ♂ (syntype), Macao, J.C. Kershawi (ZMHB); 1 ♂ (syntype), Macao, J.C. Kershawi (NHMUK 013380474); 1 ♀, Macao, R.C.L. Perkins Coll., B.M. 1942-95 (NHMUK 013380470).

Published records.

Blüthgen 1927: 69 (Indonesia, as S. javanensis ).

Distribution.

Indonesia, *Malaysia, *Myanmar, *Thailand, China (Macao).

Figures

Figures 69 - 74. Sphecodes howardi Cockerell (69, 71), S. kershawi Perkins (70, 72 - 74), females 69, 70 mesosoma, dorsal view 71, 72 T 4 - T 6, dorso-lateral 73 head, frontal view 74 metasoma, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figures 81 - 85. Sphecodes kershawi Perkins, male 81 head, frontal view 82 antennae, lateral view 83 metasoma, dorsal view 84 mesosoma, dorsal view 85 genitalia, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.