Chelostoma (Foveosmia) incognitum, Müller, Andreas, 2012

Müller, Andreas, 2012, New European bee species of the tribe Osmiini (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae), Zootaxa 3355, pp. 29-50 : 32-34

Chelostoma (Foveosmia) incognitum spec. nov.

Holotype: Greece, Rhodes: Afandou, 150m, 10.5.2005, ɗ (leg. A. Müller), [ ETHZ].

Paratypes: Greece, Lesvos: Prophitis Ilias, 4.52km SE of Vatousa, 1 ɗ (leg. O. Messinger); 0.85km NE of Eressos, 100m, 28.5.2004, 2 ɗ (leg. O. Messinger). Rhodes: Stegna, 0–20m, 4.– 13.5.2005, 7 Ψ (leg. A. Müller); Lindos, 100m, 6.5.2005, 3 Ψ (leg. A. Müller); Afandou, 150m, 10.5.2005, 3 Ψ (leg. A. Müller). Turkey, Antalya: Aspendos, 25.4.1984, 3 ɗ (leg. K. Warncke); Taurus mountains, near Gundogmus, 1000m, 13.5.1990, 1 ɗ (leg. S. Risch); 5km S of Finike, 12.5.1993, 1 Ψ (leg. A. Koch); Lycia, Patara, 13.4.1998, 1 Ψ (leg. W. Arens); Termessos, 25km NW of Antalya, 350m, 1.5.2000, 1 ɗ (leg. B. Merz); 7km S of Kargin, 24.5.2009, 1 Ψ, 1 ɗ (leg. J. Ascher). Cankiri: Sacakbeli pass, 1473m, 18.6.2006, 1 ɗ (leg. E. Scheuchl). Konya: Sille, 17.6.1968, 1 ɗ (leg. K. Kusdas); Aksehir, 2.8.1991, 2100m, 2 ɗ (leg. K. Warncke); 30km S Aksehir, 24.6.1998, 2 ɗ (leg. J. Halada). Mersin: around Gülnar, 1140m, 24.5.2005, 1 ɗ (leg. E. Scheuchl). Mugla: Baffa-See, 19.4.1996, 1 Ψ, 2 ɗ (leg. P. Hartmann).

Diagnosis. C. incognitum belongs to the laticaudum group of the subgenus Foveosmia ( Müller, 2012). Warncke (1991) mixed C. incognitum with C. schlettereri (FRIESE) and, in fact, the characters given in his male key under the name C. schlettereri refer to C. incognitum . The female of C. incognitum can be differentiated from all other species of the laticaudum group except C. schlettereri by the following combination of characters: apical part of the labrum laterally distinctly edged, its declivous sides rectangular rather than triangular in shape, about as wide as high to a little wider ( Fig. 5 ); basal zone of the propodeum not longer than the metanotum; coxa of the fore leg densely punctate. All these character are shared with C. schlettereri , which, however, is known so far only from eastern Turkey southwards to Israel. The male of C. incognitum can be separated from the other species of the laticaudum group by the following combination of characters: tergum 7 with a narrow incision, which is longer than broad ( Fig. 6 ); apical margin of sternum 5 medially with a narrow hair tuft composed of S-shaped bristles; whitish pilosity on sternum 5 only weakly developed and laterally distinctly shorter than on the lateral sides of sternum 4; whitish pilosity on lateral sides of sternum 3 well developed, about two thirds as long as the pilosity on the lateral sides of sternum 4.

Description. Female: Body length 4–5mm. Head: Mandible with three teeth. Labrum slender, extending slightly beyond the closed mandibles and weakly converging towards the apex. Apical part of the labrum strongly elevated, distinctly edged laterally and emarginated apically by a broadly triangular incision, its declivous sides rectangular in shape and about as wide as high to a little wider ( Fig. 5 ). Second segment of the labial palpus almost 3x as long as the first segment. Clypeus slightly bulging, its apical margin truncated medially and distinctly projecting laterally. Punctation of clypeus rather dense with interspaces varying between the diameter of one half and two punctures, on the apical zone up to three punctures. Punctation of supraclypeal area very dense with interspaces of less than half a puncture. Punctation of frons dense with interspaces not exceeding the diameter of one puncture. Punctures on frons slightly larger than on clypeus and supraclypeal area. Head about 0.9x as long as broad. Thorax: Punctation of scutum dense with interspaces of the diameter of one half to rarely one puncture. Punctation of scutellum slightly less dense with interspaces varying between the diameter of one half and one puncture. Basal zone of the propodeum about as long as the metanotum and with rather weak longitudinal carinae, slightly declivous and not ridged along its posterior margin. Metasoma: Apical margin of terga 1–3 laterally with whitish hair bands. Punctation of terga rather dense with interspaces usually of the diameter of one puncture.

Male: Body length 4,5– 6mm. Head: Second segment of the labial palpus about 2.5x as long as the first segment. Punctation of clypeus very dense with interspaces rarely exceeding the diameter of half a puncture. Punctation of frons less dense with interspaces varying between the diameter of less than one half and one puncture. Head roughly 0.9x as as long as broad. Thorax: Punctation of scutum and scutellum rather dense with interspaces varying between the diameter of one half and two punctures. Basal zone of the propodeum as in the female. Metasoma: Apical margin of terga 1–3 laterally with whitish hair bands. Punctation of terga rather dense with interspaces varying between the diameter of one and two punctures. Tergum 7 more or less rectangular in shape, with a roundish pit basally and a narrow incision apically, which is longer than broad ( Fig. 6 ). Sternum 2 with a distinct median elevation of semioval shape. Sternum 3 laterally with a moderately well developed whitish pilosity, which is about two thirds as long as the pilosity on the lateral sides of sternum 4. Sternum 4 laterally with a conspicuous and long whitish pilosity, its apical margin medially with a membraneous appendage, which is about as long as the diameter of the antenna. Whitish pilosity on sternum 5 only weakly developed and laterally distinctly shorter than on the lateral sides of sternum 4. Apical margin of sternum 5 medially with a narrow hair tuft composed of S-shaped bristles. Sternum 6 with a longitudinal and distinctly polished depression, its basal half densely punctate and covered with long whitish hairs, its apical half impunctate, conspicuously polished and without long hairs.

Distribution. Known so far from Lesvos, Rhodes and the western half of Turkey.

Host plants. Oligolectic on Campanula and possibly related genera of the Campanulaceae (A. Müller, personal observation).

Etymology. incognitus = not recognized, referring to the mixing of C. incognitum with C. schlettereri by Warncke (1991).

Figures

FIGURE 1 – 8. 1: Chelostoma comosum spec. nov., metanotum and propodeum of Ψ. 2: Chelostoma comosum spec. nov., median elevation on sternum 2 of ɗ. 3: Chelostoma siciliae spec. nov., clypeus of Ψ. 4: Chelostoma siciliae spec. nov., metanotum and propodeum of Ψ. 5: Chelostoma incognitum spec. nov., apical part of labrum of Ψ. 6: Chelostoma incognitum spec. nov., terga 6 – 7 of ɗ. 7: Chelostoma longifacies spec. nov., head of Ψ. 8: Chelostoma longifacies spec. nov., apical hair comb on sternum 5 of ɗ.