incana species group

Description: This group is morphologically distinct in the 5–6-toothed mandible of the females (Figs 7, 8), and in a number of conspicuous characteristics of the male such as the absence of the front coxal spine and the presence of a large, acute lateral tooth on T6 (Figs 123, 129). The group shares a number of common morphological traits with the cyanipennis and rhodoleucura species groups: in the female sex, these traits include the short robust mandible, with surface reticulate and shiny (Figs 7, 8); the short and broad, weakly convex clypeus with small preapical medial protuberance (Figs 7, 8); and the smooth, simple (non-denticulate) apical margin of the clypeus with apical tufts of stiff golden hairs (Figs 7, 8). Traits shared by males are the multidentate, medially emarginate preapical carina of T6 (Figs 123, 129); and the erect apicomedial spine of T7 (Fig. 129). As indicated below, the rhodoleucura species group appears to build a morphological transition between the incana and the cyanipennis groups. Two species are described here as new and added to the single species hitherto known in the group, M. incana . One of these new species, M. blepharis sp. nov., also shares a facial comb of modified apically curved hairs (Figs 116, 117) and an apicomedial protuberance on the clypeus (Fig. 8) with the rhodoleucura species group and with some members of the cyanipennis species group.