Actenosigynes fulvoniger ( Michener, 1989 )

Silveira, Fernando A., 2009, A synopsis of Actenosigynes Moure, Graf & Urban, 1999 (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) — new species, possible oligolecty and biogeographic comments, Zootaxa 2292, pp. 15-24 : 17

Actenosigynes fulvoniger ( Michener, 1989)

( Figs. 1 a–d, 3)

Leioproctus (Leioproctus) fulvoniger Michener, 1989: 691 .

Actenosigynes fulvoniger ; Moure et al. 1999: 3; Silveira et al. 2002: 163; Moure et al. 2007: 723. Leioproctus (Actenosigynes) fulvoniger ; Michener 2007: 150.

Diagnosis. Interocellar distance nearly two ocellar diameters; ocellocular distance about two ocellar diameters; pubescence on dorsum of mesosoma, bright fulvous to ferruginous, plainly black on metasoma; wings, including veins and pterostigma, dark brown; integument on S3–S6 dull, microreticulate.

Examined specimen. A female labeled “ Brasil, Paraná.; Tunas do Paraná. Parque; Estadual de Campinhos; 25º02’S 49º05’W, Alt.; 860m. 27.x.2007. L; Zanette, & J. Almeida” (deposited at UFMG).

Distribution. BRAZIL (Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina).

Flight-activity. According to data in the literature and in the labels of specimens in MCP, UFMG and UKANS, A. fulvoniger is active during the rainy season, between October and December.

Comments. Actenosigynes fulvoniger is only known from the southernmost, temperate Brazilian states ( Moure et al. 1999, 2008). References to the biology of A. fulvoniger in the literature are meager. Wittmann and Schlindwein (1995) recorded its females collecting pollen and nectar from the flowers of Blumenbachia eichleri Urb. (Loasaceae) (referred to in their paper as Cajophora eichleri ), and observed that these flowers were patrolled and used as sleeping shelters by its males. Although most of the specimens for which information is available were collected on flowers of this plant, which is considered its only pollen source, one female, collected in Porto Alegre, state of Rio Grande do Sul, was caught on flowers of Desmodium icanum (Gmel.) Schinz et Thell (Leguminosae, Papilionoidea) (information made available by B. Blochtein, based on a specimen label data in MCP).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Female of Actenosigynes fulvoniger (Michener, 1989) — a) habitus, dorsal view; b) head, frontal view; c) metasoma, ventral view (notice the dull integument of sternal discs); d) habitus, lateral view.