Centris (Centris) taina Genaro and Breto, 2024

Genaro, Julio A. & Breto, Dayron, 2024, The genus Centris Fabricius in Cuba, with a new record and the description of a new species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), Insecta Mundi 2024 (41), pp. 1-26 : 6-11

Centris (Centris) taina Genaro and Breto , new species.

( Fig. 10–18 , 20–28 ).

Centris fasciata Genaro 2007: 251 . Male. Misidentified.

Centris versicolor Alayo 1976: 28 . Female. Misidentified.

Centris fasciata Alayo 1976: 28 . Male. Misidentified.

Centris versicolor Alayo 1973: 213 . Female. Misidentified.

Centris fasciata Alayo 1973: 213 . Male. Misidentified.

Centris versicolor Friese 1902: 199 . Misidentified.

Centris versicolor Gundlach 1886: 176 . Female. Misidentified.

Centris versicolor Cresson 1865: 193 . Female. Misidentified.

Diagnosis. This species exhibits sexual color dimorphism ( Fig. 10, 13 ). Females have white hairs on the gena ( Fig. 11 ); yellow pilosity on the vertex, mesosoma and outer surfaces of metafemur and metatibia (the hairs of the vertex, mesoscutum and scutellum are black-tipped, Fig. 10, 11, 12 ); black hairs on the inner surface of the metabasitarsus; an inverted “Y” yellow mark on the clypeus ( Fig. 12 ); and black terga with metallic blue reflections, except T5 and T6 are light brown and amber at the apical margin ( Fig. 10 ). Males have white pilosity on the gena, yellowish pilosity on the vertex and dorsally on the mesosoma (with paler hairs ventrally) (the hairs of the vertex, mesoscutum and scutellum are black-tipped); dark brown terga with metallic green reflections, complete, yellow transverse bands on T2 and T3, with the former broader than the latter ( Fig. 13 ); and a mostly yellow clypeus ( Fig. 15 ).

Description of the female. Body length 14.1–16.0 mm, forewing length 11.0–12.5 mm.

Coloration of tegument. Head. Black on tips of mandible, clypeus, upper part of paraocular area, frons, vertex, gena, scape, pedicel and first flagellomere. Yellow in mandibles (except tip), labrum, clypeus with transverse preapical band and con-joined median stripe which does not attain base, triangular spot at ventral area of scape ( Fig. 12 ), spot in supraclypeal area, lower paraocular area. Dark brown rest of the antenna. Mesosoma. Pronotum, mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, propodeum, mesepisternum and episternum, in part black. Mesosoma and legs ventrally with variable mixture of dark brown and reddish-brown areas. Wings clear with dark brown venation. Metasoma. T1–T4 black with metallic blue reflections, T5 and T6 mostly amber with brown on posterior half; T1 brown in some specimens ( Fig. 10 ). Sterna with variable amount of yellow on dark brown.

Surface sculpture. Head. Labrum irregularly punctate (i=0–2d) with central, triangular area on basal margin, with less punctures or impunctate; clypeus with separate punctures more concentrate on disc, carinate along midline; frons crowded with smooth areas around ocelli; gena irregularly punctate, with small punctures (i=0–3d). Mesosoma. Propodeum, mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, preepisternum and mesepisternum with irregular punctures (i=0–2.5d). Metasoma. T1–T4 minutely punctate; T5–T6 irregularly punctate punctures somewhat bigger and scattered. Sterna irregularly punctate, with fine punctures on the basal half and bigger on the apical half.

Pubescence. Head. White hairs on supraclypeal area, paraocular area and gena ( Fig. 12 ). Yellow pubescence on apical margin of labrum, outer margin of mandible, frons, vertex with yellow hairs black-tipped ( Fig. 10, 12 ). Mesosoma. Pronotum, mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum and propodeum with yellow hairs black-tipped ( Fig. 10, 11 ). Preepisternum, mesepisternum, metepisternum, mesopleuron with light yellow hairs. Pubescence of legs yellow, except mesotibia, mesotarsi and inner area of metabasitarsus, black ( Fig. 10, 11 ). Metasom a. T1 with abundant plumose yellow pubescence, fascia with yellow simple hairs ( Fig. 10 ); T4–T6 with yellow hairs; discal hairs longer, curved at sides of T5, also T5 with distinct, yellow apical fascia; T6 with long simple yellow hairs on apical margin and sides of pygidial plate ( Fig. 17 ). S2–S5 with light yellow hairs on apical margin and central area of S2.

Structure. Mandible slender, tridentate, with the innermost teeth located far from the tip. Clypeus flat ( Fig. 12, 14 ). Basitibial plate with well defined secondary plate, rounded, with sharp projecting margins ( Fig. 16 ). Pro and mesobasitarsus are highly modified for oil-collecting. Probasitarsus with four giant spatulate setae on ventral surface and blade-like setae on dorsal area. Mesobasitarsus with blade-like setae on dorsal margin and comb formed by long and robust setae on ventral margin. Pygidial plate with secondary plate; secondary pygidial plate with acute apex ( Fig. 17 ).

Description of the male. Body length 12.0–13.2 mm, forewing length 8.2–10.1 mm.

Coloration of tegument. Black integument on head, mesosoma, tip of mandible, two narrow stripes at lower paraocular area ( Fig. 15 ). Dark brown in antenna; dorsal area of scape. Yellow on labrum; clypeus; supraclypeal area; paraocular area; most of the mandible; scape ventrally ( Fig. 15 ); longitudinal stripes along protibia and mesotibia, variable, in some specimens is only small spot; small spot at base of metatibia. Brown reddish on scutellum, variable; coxa; legs, more reddish in some specimens; T1 and sterna. Wings as in the female. Metasoma. Terga dark brown with metallic green reflections, T1 and T4 each with one small yellow spot laterally, variable; T2 with broad, complete yellow band, T3 with narrower, complete yellow band (interrupted medially in some specimens), and T5 with apical yellow band; T6 entirely yellow ( Fig. 13 ).

Surface sculpture. Head. Labrum with irregular punctures (i=0–1d); clypeus with irregular sparse punctures (i=0.5–5d), smooth on central lineal area; lower paraocular area with irregular punctures (i=0.5–3d); upper paraocular area, frons and vertex with crowded punctures, smooth around ocellus; irregular on gena (i=0.5– 3d). Mesosoma. Mesoscutum dense and irregularly punctate (i=0–1d), denser on disc; scutellum with irregular punctures (i=0–4d); metanotum finely punctate-reticulate; basal area of propodeum smooth, finely and irregularly punctate (i=0.5–4d); preepisternum, mesepisternum and metepisternum with irregular punctures (i=0–4d). Metasoma. Terga finely and densely punctate, bigger on posterior margin of T5–T7; minute and sparse punctures on sterna.

Pubescence. Head. Light yellow hairs on labrum, base of mandible (appressed) and on ventral margin (long, simple), clypeus, supraclypeal area, lower paraocular area; mixed yellow/black-tipped and black hairs on upper paraocular area and vertex; white on gena ( Fig. 15 ). Mesosoma. With yellow hairs, black-tipped on mesoscutum and scutellum; light yellow on preepisternum, mesepisternum, propodeum ( Fig. 13, 14 ); white hairs on coxae, mixed white and yellow on femur; long, light yellow hairs on dorsal margin of metatibia and long black on ventral side, with black short on outer and inner whole area ( Fig. 13, 14 ); metabasitarsus with black hairs, longer and mixed with some yellow on dorsal margin. Metasoma. T1 with yellow, long, plumose pilosity ( Fig. 13 ); black, shorter and simple hairs on disc of T2–T4; yellow and plumose hairs on posterior margin of T4; T5 with longer, curved yellow, plumose hairs. S2–S4 with a band of long white hairs along posterior margin, broader at midline. Structure. Mandible tridentate, inner tooth smaller. Disc of the clypeus flat with midline weakly raised in some specimens. Pro and mesobasitarsus unmodified. T7 without pygidial plate.

Terminalia ( Fig. 20–26 ). S7 ( Fig. 24 ). Apical process slightly widened toward apex, with apical margin weakly concave; sides of distal processes divergent, gradually narrowed toward apex. S8 ( Fig. 25 and 26 ). Apical process with hairs simple, elongate, gradually widened towards the apex; lateral apodemes narrowed toward apex, ending in a lobe; distal apodeme central, elongated, narrowed. Genitalia ( Fig. 20–23 ). Ventral process of gonocoxite digitiform, elongated, with numerous simple hairs; gonostylus with long, plumose setae on inner margin; penis short with pointed apex.

Type material. Holotype: Female, CUBA , Guantánamo Bay , 19.8993N 75.1193W, 5. May.2010, colls. S. Droege and S. Brady 7011, USGS-DRO 154288 ( NMNH) . Paratypes: CUBA : Baitiquirí , Guantánamo, v.2000, coll. J.A. Genaro, barcoding 73-CU-0073, 74-CU-0074 (female, male, JAG) ; Guantánamo Bay , 19.922N 75.1343W, 4. May.2010, colls. S. Droege and S. Brady, 7003 USGS-DRO 180378 (female, NMNH) ; Guantánamo Bay , 19.9167N 75.1031W, 17-21. Jun.2010, coll. J. Montalvo, 7723, USGS-DRO 171177 (female, NMNH) ; Guantánamo Bay , 19.8993N 75.1193W, 5. May.2010, colls. S. Droege and S. Brady, 7011, USGS-DRO 154277 (female, NMNH) ; Havana, Cuba , [coll.] Baker (no more data) (male, NMNH) ; Guantánamo Bay , 19.9064N 75. 1286W, 9. May.2010, coll. S. Brady 7040, USGS-DRO170014 , Centris fasciata S. Droege , det. [20]10 (male, NMNH) ; Guantánamo Bay , 19.8993N 75.1193W, 5. May.2010, colls. S. Droege and S. Brady 7011, USGS-DRO 154294 , Centris fasciata S. Droege , det. [20]10 (male, NMNH) ; Mts [mountains] near Guantánamo, 6291 (no more data), Centris nigrofasciata Fr. (with a hand-written label by C. F. Baker) (male, NMNH) ; San Diego de Los Baños , Pinar del Río, 11.v.2014, coll. D. Breto (female, DB) ; San Diego de Los Baños , Pinar del Río, 16.iv.2015, coll. D. Breto (male, DB) ; San Diego de Los Baños , Pinar del Río, 10.v.2020, coll. D. Breto (female, MNHNCu) ; Sierra de Guane , Pinar del Río, 27.v.2022, coll. D. Breto, (male ANTBE099-23 , MNHNCu) ; San Diego de Los Baños , Pinar del Río, 2.v.2023, coll. D. Breto (beta-male, MNHNCu) .

Comparison with other species. The two species, C. fasciata and C. versicolor , with which C. taina has historically been misidentified, are not polymorphic species, meaning males and females have a similar color pattern. Both sexes of C. fasciata have yellow metasomal bands, which are absent in the female of C. taina new species, in addition to the complete transverse yellow bands in a greater number of terga ( T 2– T 5 or T 6 in some specimens) in C. fasciata . The female of C. versicolor is very similar superficially but differs in having entirely yellow hairs on the mesoscutum and scutellum and black hairs on the frons and vertex; in C. taina new species, these hairs are black-tipped. DNA barcoding of two specimens of C. versicolor from St. Vincent revealed considerable sequence divergence (8.3–8.6%) from specimens of C. taina new species. ( Fig. 64 ).

There are some males collected in the Dominican Republic that have yellow-banded metasomas, and we did not find any morphological differences with Centris taina new species from Cuba . Even their terminalia are identical; however, the sequence of one barcode individual was assigned a separate barcode index number ( BIN) ( BOLD: AAW6170). Its nearest neighbor BIN ( BOLD: AFI2035), with a pairwise distance of 5.1%, is the one to which the Cuban specimens were assigned ( Fig. 64 ). In this case, we prefer to wait until fresh specimens of the female of the Dominican haplotype are collected for DNA barcoding to confirm whether they belong to the same species. Below are the label data for these specimens: HISPANIOLA, Dominican Republic, RD-212 ~m N bridge on road Cabo Rojo-Acetillar, Pedernales, prov., 16m, 17°58.530’N 71° 39.034’W, 7.iv.204, D. Pérez, B. Hierro, R. Bastardo (d/n) (male, NMNH); Dominican Republic, RD- 225, 100 m N Playa Buen Hombre, Montecristi prov., near sea level, 19°51.797’N 71°24.181’W, 17.iv.2004, D. Pérez, B. Hierro (d), 72-DR-0072 barcoding (male, NMNH); Dominican Republic, La Descubierta, Lago Enriquillo, Sierra de Neyba, xi.2006, coll. J. A. Genaro, 59-DR-0059 barcoding (male, JAG). There is also an observation on iNaturalist (www.inaturalist.org/observations/32073815) by Lisa Johnson of a male (identified as C. fasciata ) photographed in Altamira, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, on September 3, 2019 ( Fig. 19 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet honors the native inhabitants of the Antillean islands: the now extinct Taíno indigenous people. Here it is used as an adjective, with the ending -a agreeing in gender with Centris , which is feminine.

Natural history. In Sierra de Guane, on May 27, 2022, females were observed nesting in aggregations, on the ground and in vertical banks, while males hovered over the nests and occasionally achieved copulation at the nest entrance.

This species is apparently multivoltine, more active during March to June, although uneven collection efforts may be biasing the results ( Fig. 27 ).

Floral relations. Stigmaphyllon spp. , Malpighia emarginata , Byrsonima crassifolia , B. spicata ( Malpighiaceae ); Securidaca elliptica ( Polygalaceae ); Solanum sp. ( Solanaceae ); Bonellia sp. ( Theophrastaceae ).

Distribution. Cuba ( Fig. 28 ). Perhaps the species also occurs in Hispaniola, but it is necessary to study the females associated with the known males mentioned above.

Comment. Alayo (1973, 1976) suspected that the specimens identified as C. versicolor were females of those recognized as C. fasciata . Centris fasciata only occurs in Jamaica ( Moure 1969), although Moure and Melo (2023) erroneously mention it as also being present in Cuba . Moure (1960) studied the type material of C. versicolor , suggesting that its distribution should be restricted to the Lesser Antilles. The study highlighted taxonomic inaccuracies made by previous authors and emphasized that C. versicolor closely resembles other species, leading to frequent misidentifications.

Figures

Figure 64. Neighbour-joining tree of the COI barcode sequences of some Antillean Centris species. Each sample is labeled with the following information: species name, BOLD sample ID, Sequence/process ID, Sex (M=male, F=female), country and sequence length, with the number of ambiguous bases indicated in square brackets. Scale bar represents pairwise distance.

Figures 10–15. Centris taina new species. Female.10) Dorsal habitus.11) Lateral habitus. 12) Head in frontal view. Male.13) Dorsal habitus. 14) Lateral habitus. 15) Head in frontal view.

Figures 16–19. Centris species. C. taina n. sp., female. 16) Basitibial plate. 17) Pygidial plate. 18) C. taina n. sp., male, at flowers of Bonellia sp., Primulaceae, Guantánamo, Cuba (photo courtesy of W. Fidler). 19) Centris sp. male, visiting flowers of Lippia sp., Verbenaceae, Altamira, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (photo courtesy of L. Johnson).

Figures 20–26. Centris taina new species. Terminalia. 20) Dorsal. 21) Ventral. Genital capsule. 22) Dorsal. 23) Ventral. Sterna. 24) S7 dorsal view. 25) S8 lateral view. 26) S8 dorsal view.

Figures 27–28. Centris taina new species. 27) Seasonal occurrence, according to sex. 28) Distribution.