Epeolus leleji, Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2021

Astafurova, Yulia V. & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2021, New and little-known bees of the genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Nomadinae) from Mongolia, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 84, pp. 11-28 : 11

Epeolus leleji sp. nov.

Figures 2 , 3 , 4

Material examined.

Holotype: ♂, SE Mongolia, Sukhbaatar, 100 km SSW of Baruun-Urt , 1100 m, 30.VII.2007, leg. M. Halada [OLBL/PCMS] . Paratypes: 1 ♀, 1 ♂, the same label [ZISP]; 1 ♀, 200 km SSE of Baruun-Urt, Moltsoy Els , 1250 m, 27.VII.2007, leg. M. Kadlecová [OLBL/PCMS] ; 5 ♀, Dornogovi, 28 km SE of Chatan-Bulag , steppe, 3.VIII.2007, M. Halada leg. [OLBL/PCMS]; Umnugovi , 1 ♀, 70 km S of Saynshand , 1100 m, 5.VIII.2007, leg. M. Kadlecová [OLBL/PCMS] .

Diagnosis.

This species differs from other Palaearctic species of the genus by having forewings with two submarginal cells (versus three cells in other species, except E. bischoffi Mavromoustakis, 1954) (Fig. 2A, B ). The new species are clearly distinguished from E. bischoffi by lack of long black dense hair on the whole body, position of labral teeth closer to apical margin, the reddish female mesosoma (black in E. bischoffi ) and many other characters.

Description.

Male (Figs 2 , 3 ). Total body length 6.0 mm; forewing length (without tegula) 3.5 mm. Structure and sculpture. Head (Fig. 3B ) transverse, ca 1.35 times as wide as long. Labrum (Fig. 3C ) 1.6 times as wide as long; rounded basally and laterally, with two small sub-apical teeth, medially (between teeth) slightly depressed, apical margin straight; integument shiny, coarsely and densely punctate (15-30 μm / confluent-1). Frons with developed frontal keel. Upper part of frons and vertex shiny, smooth between punctures (15-25 μm / confluent-1.5). Antennae short, F1 ca 1.0 times as long as wide, F2 and F3 0.8 times as long as wide. Mesoscutum shiny and smooth between coarse punctures (20-40 μm / confluent-1). Axilla with short acute tooth not attaining posterior margin of mesoscutellum. Mesoscutellum with medial longitudinal impression; posterior margin scarcely extending over propodeum. Metanotum medially with small prominence, extending over propodeum (slightly visible under tomentum). Mesepisternum with confluent punctures (15-20 μm). Propodeal triangle finely rugulose; rest vertical part of propodeum smooth. Metasomal tergal discs shiny and smooth between tiny punctures (ca 15 μm / 0.5-1.5); marginal zones semi-transparent, smooth, with tiny and dense punctures. Pygidial plate (T7) shiny, 1.2 times as long as basal width, narrowed toward apex, with shallow punctures; apical margin slightly curved. Sterna shiny, with dense punctures. Coloration: Head black, but mandibles yellow-red with dark apex; labrum and clypeus (apically) yellow; antennae reddish with brown scape and pedicel. Mesosoma mostly black; pronotal lobe and axilla reddish; mesoscutellum with two reddish spots on the sides of medial impression; legs reddish, spurs pale (ivory); wings hyaline, stigma light brown, veins brown. Tergal discs dark brown, reddish brown laterally and along marginal zone; marginal zones yellowish. Pygidial plate (T7) reddish (Fig. 3D ). Visible sterna brownish with yellow marginal zones. Pubescence: Labrum with white plumose pubescence, on apical margin with thin simple setae. Face and genae with dense (obscuring integument) whitish tomentum (sparser on frons). Vertex with relatively sparse short pubescence. Pronotum and metanotum with white tomentum obscuring integument. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with creamy tomentum denser and lighter (whitish) peripherally. Lateral and ventral parts of mesosoma entirely covered with white tomentum. Legs with dense white pubescence. Tergal marginal zones with uninterrupted white tomentum bands; T1 with wide basal band connected with apical (marginal) band laterally, T2 only with lateral white tomentum spots connected with apical (marginal) band; tergal discs with light brownish adpressed pubescence not obscuring integument. Visible sterna with white tomentum (Fig. 3A ).

Female (Fig. 4 ). Total body length 6 mm; forewing length (without tegula) 3.5-4.0 mm. Structure and sculpture similar to those of the male. F1 1.6-1.8 times as long as wide, F2 and F3 ca 1.2 times as long as wide. Mesoscutum shiny and smooth between coarse punctures (20-30 μm / confluent-0.5). T6 mostly hidden under T5, pygidial plate truncate on apex. S5 wide, straight as seen in lateral view. Processes on sides of S6 normal, with short projections. Coloration of head and mesosoma similar to those of the male, but antennae entirely reddish-brown and mesoscutellum entirely reddish. Mesosoma reddish; pygidial plate yellow with brownish edging. Pubescence similar to that of the male, T5 with white tomentum, pseudopygidial area short with silver-like pubescence.

Etymology.

The new species is named in honor of Prof. Arkady Lelej (Vladivostok, Russia), an outstanding hymenopterist and our friend.

Distribution.

Mongolia (Dornogovi, Sukhbaatar, Umnugovi).

Remarks.

It is noteworthy that two other cleptoparasitic genera, Nomada Scopoli, 1770 ( Apidae ) and Sphecodes ( Halictidae ), also have a small group of species with two submarginal cells ( Proshchalykin and Lelej 2010; Astafurova et al. 2020).

Figures

Figure 2. Epeolus leleji sp. nov., holotype, male A, B habitus, lateral view (A); dorsal view (B). Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 3. Epeolus leleji sp. nov., holotype, male A habitus, ventral view B head, frontal view C labrum, frontal view D T 4 - T 7, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A); 0.5 mm (B-D).

Figure 4. Epeolus leleji sp. nov., paratype, female A, B habitus, lateral view (A); dorsal view (B) C head, frontal view D apex of metasoma, ventral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A, B); 0.5 mm (C, D).