Megalopta cuprea Friese, 1911

Santos, L. M. & Melo, G. A. R., 2014, Updating the taxonomy of the bee genus Megalopta (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Augochlorini) including revision of the Brazilian species, Journal of Natural History 49 (11), pp. 575-674 : 627-629

Megalopta cuprea Friese, 1911

( Figures 4D , 13A , 16A )

Megalopta cuprea Friese, 1911: 453 . Lectotype female, Bolivia: Mapiri (ZMB, examined).

Additional examined material

(5♀, 1♂). See Appendix 2.

Diagnosis

The female differs from that of M. munduruku sp. n. by mid depression extending to posterior margin in basal area of metapostnotum ( Figure 4D ) and the male, by basal area of metapostnotum with longer and strongly impressed longitudinal rugulosities ( Figure 13A ); both sexes can be distinguished from M. sodalis by head and thorax mostly dark brown, lacking metallic reflections.

Description

Female. (1) Mandible bidentate and with supplementary teeth. (2) Labral elevation with lateral surface strongly elevated in relation to central portion. (3) Clypeus with surface between punctures on basal and central area microreticulated. (4) Central portion of supraclypeal area with dense punctation, punctures separated by <1 pd. (5) Antennae with scape brown, pedicel and flagellomeres reddish brown. (6) Upper frons flat, not strongly declivous toward sulcus around median ocellus. (7) Ocellocular distance smaller than the F1 length. (8) Mesoscutum adjacent to parapsidial line densely punctured, punctures contiguous, punctation becoming sparser towards mesoscutal lip (<1 pd). (9) Scutellum with posterior margin raised in relation to anterior margin of metanotum. (10) Metanotum with integument, in oblique view, not hidden by short plumose pilosity ( Figure 4D ). (11) Basal area of metapostnotum blackish, its length at least 0.7× that of metanotum; with longer and imbricated longitudinal rugulosities strongly impressed in the central area ( Figure 4D ). (12) Mesepisternum with contiguous punctation. (13) Metepisternum with sparse pilosity, integument visible through pilosity; posterior upper margin of metepisternum unmodified, lacking a velvety process. (14) T1 with dorsal surface of disc densely punctured (<1 pd), posterior marginal zone microreticulated between punctures. Male. (15) Scape with diameter gradually enlarging toward the apex. (16) Flagellum reddish brown; F1–F11 not differing in diameter; F2 about as long as F3; F6–F11, in anterior view, with the anterior and posterior margins depressed, in posterior view with basal glabrous area at same level of remaining surface. (17) Metanotum with integument, in dorsal view, not hidden by short plumose pilosity. (18) Basal area of metapostnotum blackish, its length at least 0.7× that metanotum, medially with longer longitudinal rugulosities, laterally with microreticulated surface ( Figure 13A ). (19). Metepisternum as in the female. (20) 1st and 2nd tarsomeres of foreleg with longest simple setae smaller than summed length of the three apical tarsomeres. (21) S3 with longitudinal sulcus, posterolateral margin notched. (22) S4 with medial protruding process, profile of process triangular in lateral view; basal portion glabrous; posterolateral margin notched, notch not extended to basal half of sclerite.

Measurements

Approximate body length: (13.2–14.5); maximum width of head: (3.6–3.8); intertegular distance: (4.0–4.3); length of forewing with tegula: (13.0–14.3).

Comments

All studied specimens were from Bolivia. The only record of this species in Brazil was published by Friese (1923:3), based on a female from ‘Manaos’. However, no additional specimens from Brazil have been found during this study and Friese (1926:124) does not include the Brazilian record in his treatment of M. cuprea .

Distribution

BOLIVIA. La Paz: Mapiri, Nigrillani, Santa Cruz: Espejo. BRAZIL. Amazonas: Manaus ( Friese 1923) ( Figure 16A ).

Figures

Figure 4. Females of Megalopta. (A‒E) Posterolateral view of mesosoma; (A) Megalopta yanomami sp. n. from Parauapebas, Brazil; (B) M. piraha sp. n. from Manaus, Brazil; (C) M. munduruku sp. n. from Belterra, Brazil; (D) M. cuprea Friese from Nigrillani, Bolivia; (E) M. sodalis Vachal from Antonina, Brazil; (F) frontal view of head of M. xavante sp. n from Nova Xavantina, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 13. Males of Megalopta. (A, B) Posterolateral view of mesosoma; (C, E) frontal view of head; (D) frontal view of flagellomeres; (A) M. cuprea Friese from Santa Cruz, Bolivia; (B) M. sodalis Vachal from Antonina, Brazil; (C, D) M. yanomami sp. n. from Parauapebas, Brazil; (E) M. piraha sp. n. from Manaus, Brazil; (F) M. cuprea Friese from Espejo, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 16. Distribution records of Megalopta species. (A) M. cuprea Friese; (B) M. munduruku sp. n; (C) M. sodalis Vachal.