Protosiris gigas Melo, 2006

ROZEN, JEROME G., MELO, GABRIEL A. R., AGUIAR, ANTÔNIO JOSÉ CAMILLO & ALVES-DOS-SANTOS, ISABEL, 2006, Nesting Biologies and Immature Stages of the Tapinotaspidine Bee Genera Monoeca and Lanthanomelissa and of Their Osirine Cleptoparasites Protosiris and Parepeolus (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apinae), American Museum Novitates 3501 (1), pp. 1-60 : 57-60

Protosiris gigas Melo , new species

Figures A9–A 21

COMMENTS AND DIAGNOSIS: The genus Protosiris contains four described and a few additional undescribed species (Roig­Alsina, 1989; Shanks, 1986; Melo, unpubl.). The new species proposed here, Protosiris gigas , is most similar, both in size and structure, to P. caligneus (Shanks) (comparisons based on male and female paratypes from the type locality deposited at AMNH and MZSP). Protosiris gigas can be separated from P. caligneus by its abundant yellow marks (uniformly reddish to dark brown in P. caligneus ), lower paraocular area covered by plumose pubescence (mostly simple in P. caligneus ), slightly longer decumbent hairs on middle portion of upper frons, mesoscutum strongly protruding on its midanterior portion (more pronounced in the female), and with a corresponding deep sulcus along the midline (fig. A18), posterior portion of male scutellum more evenly convex, medial sulcus only weakly indicated (scutellum more bulging in P. caligneus , medial sulcus more deeply marked), basal depression of metaposnotum smooth and without rugulae (fig. A12) (finely microreticulate and with lateral rugulae in P. caligneus ), tergal setal punctures relatively sparse (very dense in P. caligneus , punctures about 1–2 puncture diameters apart) and lateral portions of terga 2–4 with only erect setae (in P. caligneus , with abundant short, decumbent hairs, similar to those of tergum disc).

DESCRIPTION: Holotype male. Body length: 14 mm; maximum head width: 3.1 mm; forewing length: 11.5 mm. Color: head and thorax mostly pale yellow, with many reddish to dark brown areas, as shown in figures A9 and A10; scape, pedicel, and 1st flagellomere dark brown, remaining flagellomeres dark reddish brown. Wing membrane brownish yellow infuscated, veins brown, pterostigma reddish brown. Metasomal terga 1–5 pale yellow at base and broadly brown apically; T6–T7 entirely dark brown. Sternum 1 dark brown at base and apically, its middle portion pale yellow; S2–S4 largely pale yellow basally and with triangular­shaped, apical brown band (in middle, band occupying about half of sclerite’s length); S5–S6 mostly dark brown. Pubescence: lower paraocular area covered with plumose pubescence. Longest erect setae on lateral portion of mesepisternum about as long as width of 2nd flagellomere (0.3–0.32:0.31). Lateral ventral portions of metasomal terga with only erect setae; S5 with a distinct apical band of plumose pubescence, setae directed to the middle portion of sclerite. Integumental surface: integument very smooth and polished. Setal punctures fine and inconspicuous, except for a few relatively strong punctures laterally on the clypeus and posteriorly on lateral portion of mesepisternum (weaker than those on clypeus). Metapostnotum mostly smooth, microreticulation almost imperceptible, basal depression well developed, its surface without longitudinal rugulae and only with a few transverse, inconspicuous rugulae laterally at the base (fig. A12). Setal punctures on posterior halves of discs of terga 1–4 about 3–4 puncture diameters apart transversely and 5–10 diameters apart longitudinally, slightly denser on basal halves of sclerites. Structure (measurements in mm): head about 1.33 wider than long (3.10:2.40); inner orbits nearly straight and parallel (upper to lower interorbital distance, 1.69:1.70); eye 1.83 as long as width at eye’s midlength (1.85:1.02); mandible bidentate apically, about 2.93 longer than its outer basal width (1.58:0.55); clypeus about 2.43 wider than long (1.69:0.71), distinctly protuberant, midapical portion of disc with relatively flat, triangular­shaped area; supraclypeal area about as protuberant as clypeus, its middle portion relatively flat. First flagellomere conical, about 0.83 as long as its maximum width (0.24:0.31), and about 0.613 as long as 2nd flagellomere (0.24:0.39). Labial palpus 4­segmented, apical segment about as long as third. Hindtibia, in posterior view, about 4.33 longer than wide (2.56:0.59). Forewing M and Cu diverging distinctly distal to cu­a; proportion of lengths of submarginal cells on posterior margin 1.7:1:1.7 (1.18:0.71:1.18). Midanterior portion of mesoscutum distinctly protruding (as in fig. A18), median line forming deep sulcus; mesoscutum as long as wide (1.97:1.97). Pygidial plate narrowly truncate apically.

Female. Body length: 14–16 mm; maximum head width: 3.35–3.62 mm; forewing length: 11– 12 mm. Agreeing with male in color, pubescence, sculpturing and structure, except as follows (measurements taken on two females, somewhat representative of size variation): head about 1.27– 1.293 wider than long (3.35:2.60/3.62:2.84); upper to lower interorbital distance, 1.89:1.97/2.05: 2.13; eye about 1.9–23 as long as width at eye’s midlength (2.01:1.04/2.21:1.10); mandible simple apically, about 2.8–2.93 longer than its outer basal width (1.69:0.59/1.77:0.63); clypeus about 2.6– 2.73 wider than long (1.93:0.71/2.09:0.79). Pygidial plate well developed, about as long as its basal width (1.14:0.98/1.22:1.10).

VARIATION: Some specimens have more extensive darker areas, especially on the thorax and propodeum (fig. A11).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype male, ‘‘ Brasil, Parana´, Piraquara, / Mananciais da Serra, / 258289400S 488589040W, / 1140m, 20.xi.2002, / Melo , Aguiar & Rozen’ ’. Paratypes: several males and females, from the same locality as the holotype, but specific dates and collectors varying (20 November–13 December 2002, and 3–11 December 2003) ; 1 female, ‘‘UCAD / Florianópolis , SC, Brasil / 23.XI.2002 / A. Zillikens leg. ’’ and ‘‘ Neoregelia laevis / (Mez) L. B. Smith. / Bromeliaceae / flor’ ’; 1 female, ‘‘ Praia Lagoinha do Leste / Florianópolis, SC, Brazil / 27.XII.2002, A. Zillikens leg. ’’ and ‘‘ In nest aggregation of / Monoeca sp. ’’. Holotype in DZUP and paratypes in DZUP and AMNH .

ETYMOLOGY: This species is named for its relatively large body size, compared to other Protosiris , from the Latin gigas , giant.

Figures

Figs. 7–10. Cells of Monoeca haemorrhoidalis, diagrammatically represented. 7. Fully provisioned with Monoeca egg on provisions, and egg of Protosiris gigas attached to cell wall. 8. In early stages of being provisioned. 9. Depicting partially eaten provisions. 10. Containing cocoon of Monoeca haemorrhoidalis, with empty space between top of provisions and cell closure. Scale line 5 5.0 mm.