Anthophorula (Anthophorula) persephone Engel, 2012

Engel, Michael S., Grimaldi, David A., Gonzalez, Victor H., Hinojosa-Díaz, Ismael A. & Michener, Charles D., 2012, An Exomalopsine Bee in Early Miocene Amber from the Dominican Republic (Hymenoptera: Apidae), American Museum Novitates 2012 (3758), pp. 1-16 : 5-7

Anthophorula (Anthophorula) persephone Engel , new species

Figures 1–4

DIAGNOSIS: The new species can be most readily distinguished from other Anthophorula proper by the broader pterostigma in which its inner breadth is greater than that of its marginal veins (fig. 4). In addition, the species can be characterized by the combination of a uniformly punctate mesoscutum and mesoscutellum, similarly punctate pleura, absence of distinct setal bands on the metanotum, and the pygidial fimbria composed of dense fuscous setae with a reddish tint.

DESCRIPTION: Female. Total body length (as preserved) 6.1 mm; forewing length 4.6 mm; integument dark (fig. 1), apparently black throughout except legs dark brown, with spurs and pretarsal claws lighter brown, maculations absent; wing membranes hyaline, veins dark brown. Head broader than long (width as preserved 2.08 mm, length 1.30 mm) (fig. 2), with inner orbits of compound eyes only slightly diverging above; clypeus weakly convex; gena rounded, narrower than compound eye; lateral ocellus separated from occipital margin by approximately 1.5 times its diameter and from compound eye margin by about three times its diameter (values approximate as the ocelli are slightly distorted, making it difficult to determine their proper diameter in life); toruli situated well below midlength of face. Intertegular distance 1.46 mm; mesoscutellum more than twice length metanotum; metabasitibial plate short, broadly rounded, with planar surface, without carinate rim or covering of fine setae (fig. 3); scopa on metatibia and metabasitarsus composed of dense, plumose setae (fig. 3); metabasitarsus with apical process and penicillus. Forewing marginal cell obliquely truncate and bent away from costal margin (fig. 4); marginal cell apex somewhat pointed (fig. 4), length of cell slightly greater than distance from its apex to wing tip; pterostigma three times as long as prestigma, its inner breadth greater than that of bordering marginal veins; second medial cell shorter than second cubital cell; other venational details in figure 4. Anteriorfacing surface of first metasomal tergum depressed and apparently only slightly shorter than length of dorsal-facing surface; first metasomal tergum with distinct, transverse carina demarcating anterior- and dorsal-facing surfaces; pygidial plate black, apparently broad basally with relatively straight, apically tapering lateral margins to narrowly rounded apex (very difficult to discern).

Face with small, well-defined punctures separated by a puncture width or less, integument between smooth and shining; frontal line weakly impressed, disappearing approximately two ocellar diameters before median ocellus. Mesoscutum uniformly with punctures separated by a puncture width or less, often only slightly less, integument between punctures smooth and shining; mesoscutellum sculptured as on mesoscutum; pleura sculptured as on mesoscutum. Metasomal terga with ill-defined, coarse, shallow punctures separated by less than a puncture width (except anterior-facing surface of first tergum apparently impunctate), such punctures slightly more defined along lateral margins, integument between finely imbricate and shining.

Pubescence appearing largely fuscous or lightly fuscous with reddish tint except those setae of face whitish; setae of mesosoma branched and numerous, not dense or obscuring integument. Scopal setae elongate, fuscous, plumose throughout and along entire rachis. Metasomal terga without dense transverse bands of setae, setae most prominent laterally on terga; pygidial fimbria dense, composed of fuscous branched setae with reddish tint.

Male. Unknown.

HOLOTYPE: Female (fig. 1), DR-KL1; Dominican Republic; Early Miocene amber (Burdigalian?), specific mine unknown ( AMNH).

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Fragmentary female, same amber piece as holotype ( AMNH DR-KL1 ). This individual is largely represented by the metasoma, fragments of the hind and midlegs, a very few fragments of one foreleg, and the wings which are folded over the metasoma and somewhat fractured (fig. 4) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is from Greek mythology. Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter, was abducted by Hades, who was later forced to return her. Before she left, Hades tricked her into eating four pomegranate arils thereby dooming her eternally to the underworld. Persephone was therefore bound to spend four months of each year with Hades as his consort.

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Photomicrographs of holotype female of Anthophorula (Anthophorula) persephone Engel, new species (AMNH DR-KL1). 1. Dorsal oblique view of holotype female as preserved. 2. Facial view. 3. Detail of metabasitibial plate and branched scopal setae.

FIGURE 4. Apical forewing venation of fragmentary female of Anthophorula (Anthophorula) persephone Engel, new species (AMNH DR-KL1); note that fracturing in wing as preserved distorts some proportions (holotype is preserved completely [fig. 1], but detailed images of the venation appear dark and without contrast against the darkened metasoma immediately beneath it).