Nannotrigona gaboi Jaramillo, Ospina & Gonzalez, 2019

Jaramillo, Joanna, Ospina, Rodulfo & Gonzalez, Victor H., 2019, Stingless bees of the genus Nannotrigona Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Apidae Meliponini) in Colombia, Zootaxa 4706 (2), pp. 349-365 : 353-355

Nannotrigona gaboi Jaramillo, Ospina & Gonzalez , n. sp.

Figures 2 , 3 , 4

Diagnosis. This species resembles N. melanocera is the posterior margin of mesoscutellum with a shallow and narrow medial emargination. However, both species can be easily recognized by the length of the setae on the antennal scape. In N. gaboi the scape has appressed or short (0.5× width of scape), erect setae whereas in N. melanocera it is covered by distinctly long setae, at least 1.7–2.0× longer than the width of the scape. This new species also resembles N. perilampoides from Central America. Both species share a scape with short setae and a mesoscutellum with a shallow median emargination on its posterior margin. However, N. gaboi can be distinguished from that species by the punctuation of mesepisternum and mesoscutum, and the length of the setae on the frons. In N. perilampoides the fovea are irregular, with small and large fovea intermixed, at most 0.5× OD, thus giving a dull appearance at low magnifications. The setae on the frons and vertex are short, about 0.2× OD. In N. gaboi the fovea are more uniform in size, at least 0.5× OD, and appearing shiner at low magnifications. The setae on the frons are longer, 0.6× OD.

Description. Worker (paratypes in parentheses): Total body length 4.0 mm (3.8–4.0 mm); head width 1.9 mm (1.7–1.9 mm); intertegular distance 1.2 mm (1.2–1.3 mm); forewing length 3.9 mm (3.7–3.9 mm). Head 1.2× wider than long; malar area about 0.3× width of F3; clypeus about 1.5× broader than long; intertorular distance 1.2× torular diameter; torulorbital distance 1.6× torular diameter; interocellar distance 2.0× OD, 1.3× longer than ocellocular distance; ocelloccipital distance 1.5× OD; scape 4.9× longer than wide, 0.9× width of F3; pedicel about as long as broad, shorter than F1; remaining flagellomeres broader than long, except apical flagellomere longer than broad. Mesoscutellum 1.3× broader than long, basal fovea V–shaped, about as long as broad, posterior margin with median emargination shallow, about 3.3× broader than long, lateral teeth of the emargination acute.

Color black, except as follows: mandible reddish brown (except for the proximal part); antennae light reddish brown; lateral margin of mesoscutum, axilla, apical tooth of mesoscutellum, outer surfaces of pro- and mesotibiae basally, and outer surface of metatibia yellow; tarsi light reddish brown. Wing membrane blackish, veins and pterostigma brown.

Pubescence yellow. Antennal scape with simple, scattered, short (0.3× width of scape) setae, along its inner margin. Mesoscutum with setae as long than those on vertex (0.5× OD); apical tooth of mesoscutelum with setae about 0.6× OD; pro- and mesotibiae with minute setae (~ 0.3× OD).

Clypeus and supraclypeal area with minute punctures; frons and ocellocular area with contiguous, coarser punctures. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum foveate (0.3–0.5× OD).

Male. As described for the worker, except as follows: total body length 4.3 mm; head width 1.8 mm; intertegular distance 1.3 mm; forewing length 3.9 mm. Malar area about 0.4× width of F3; intertorular and torulorbital distances each 1.3× torular diameter; interocellar distance 1.7× OD, 2.2× longer than ocellocular distance; ocelloccipital distance 1.3× OD; scape 2.7× longer than wide. Mesoscutellum with median emargination on posterior margin large, semicircular, about 3.0× broader than long (shallower than in worker), tooth lateral to emargination obtuse (less acute than worker). Metasomal S5–8 and genital capsule as in figures 4d–h.

Antennal scape with simple, short (0.5× width of scape) setae in its inner margin. Mesoscutum with setae as long than those on vertex (0.4× OD); mesoscutellum with setae about twice as long as those on mesoscutum (0.8× OD); pro- and mesotibiae with minute setae (about 0.3–0.4× OD).

Holotype. ♀, COLOMBIA: Sucre : Colosó, Pajarito Jorro,116,5m, 24 Feb-2010, Morelo & Vanegas / LABUN24424 . Deposited in LABUN.

Paratypes. (n = 3♀, 3♂), COLOMBIA: Cundinamarca : 1♂, Paime , 02-Apr-1977, Nates-Parra / LABUN12318 ( LABUN) ; 1♂, Quipile , 07-Apr-1978, Nates-Parra / LABUN12529 ( LABUN) . Magdalena: 1♀, Ciénaga Siberia, Alto Córdoba, 1359m, 19 Sept-2010, J. Medina / LABUN 22184 ( LABUN) ; 1♀, Santa Marta, Bonda 11º 24N 74º 12’W, 16 Nov-2011, V.H. Gonzalez / SEMC1516894 KUNHM–ENT ( SEMC). Tolima: 1♂, Ataco , al vuelo, cerca al nido, 27-II-1980, Col. A. Liévano, LABUN12584 ( LABUN) ; 1♀, Ibagué, Universidad del Tolima, Entrada al nido, 04/11/2017, J. Jaramillo-Silva / LABUN28979 ( LABUN) .

Etymology. This species honors the Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter, journalist, and 1982 Nobel Prize laureate Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez (6 March 1927 – 17 April 2014), also known affectionately as Gabo.

Distribution. This is species appears to be widely distributed in the Andean and Caribbean regions of Colombia ( Fig. 2 , Table 1 ).

Comments. In some collections, specimens of this species have been identified as N. perilampoides . However, both species can be separated by the morphological features indicated in the diagnosis. Based on the examination of material standing under N. perilampoides at the SEMC, it appears that this species might be restricted to Mexico and that specimens from other locations in Central America correspond to undescribed species (V.H. Gonzalez, pers. obs.).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Collection localities of Nannotrigona Cockerell in Colombia.

FIGURE 3. Female paratype of Nannotrigona gaboi Jaramillo, Ospina & Gonzalez, n. sp. a = Dorsal habitus. B = Lateral habitus. C = Facial view (LABUN28979).

FIGURE 4. Male paratype of Nannotrigona gaboi Jaramillo, Ospina & Gonzalez, n. sp. a = Facial view. b = Lateral habitus. c = Dorsal habitus. d = Fifth sternum. e = Sixth sternum. f = Seventh sternum. g = Eighth sternum. h = genital capsule (a–c: LABUN12529; d–h: LABUN12584).