Centris (Xanthemisia) caymanensis, Vivallo, Felipe, 2014

Vivallo, Felipe, 2014, Revision of the species of Centris (Xanthemisia) Moure, 1945 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Centridini) from the Caribbean islands, Zootaxa 3821 (1) : -

Centris (Xanthemisia) caymanensis new species

( Figures 5–8 and 13 )

Centris sp, Askew, 1994: 352 (Probable identity).

Diagnosis. Morphologically, Centris caymanensis new species is similar to C. aethiops . The females of both species differ by the coloration of the pilosity of the anterior surface of the mesoscutum (dark brown with orange hairs in C. caymanensis new species; completely dark brown in C. aethiops ) and by the punctation of the clypeus (with denser punctation towards the lower edge and with an irregular longitudinal impunctate area on the upper half of the disc in C. caymanensis new species; with uniform punctation in C. aethiops ). Males of both species can be distinguished by the coloration of the pubescence of the mesoscutum (orange or yellowish brown in C. caymanensis new species; with yellow pilosity on the anterior margin in C. aethiops ), by the punctation of the clypeus (with sparse punctures on disc, at least in the upper half in C. caymanensis new species; with punctures uniformly distributed in C. aethiops ), by the shape of the clypeal disc (in lateral view) (concave in the upper and convex in the lower half in C. caymanensis new species; convex in C. aethiops ) and by the distance between the lateral ocellus and the eye relative to the diameter of the median ocellus (longer in C. caymanensis new species; shorter in C. aethiops ).

Description. Female ( Figs. 5 and 6 ): Measurements: Approximate body length: 15.0; head width: 4.8; forewing length: 11.0; F1 length: 0.9; F2 length: 0.2; F3 length: 0.3; mandible length: 2.3; mandible basal width: 1.1; thorax width: 6.2. Coloration: Dark brown ( Figs. 5 and 6 ), lighter in legs. Wing membranes light brown with dark brown veins ( Fig. 6 ) and bluish iridescence. Integument and sculpture surface: Very shiny, mainly on the metasoma. Clypeus with coarse and dense punctation, denser towards the lower edge ( Fig. 5 ) and with an irregular unpunctated longitudinal area on the disc. Labrum with fine, dense and uniform punctation ( Fig. 5 ). Terga with very fine and dense punctation, dispersed on the distal half of each tergite and with smooth distal edges. T2 with denser and finer punctation than that of the other terga. Pubescence: Dark brown with yellowish brown hairs on the lateroanterior surface of the mesoscutum and light brown on the lower edge of the pronotal lobe ( Figs. 5 and 6 ). Clypeal disc with short and mostly simple hairs. Labrum with branched and dense pilosity, with long, simple and curved downward hairs intermixed. Terga with short and simple pilosity mixed with some long and branched hairs on T1 and on the lateral sides of the distal tergites. Prepygidial fimbria slightly semicircular with coarse and mostly simple hairs. Structures: Flabellum elliptic with the anterior edge projected forward. Maxillary palpus with four palpomeres (2nd>3rd>1st>4th). Mandible with five teeth with acute apices (except third with apex slightly truncate) ( Fig. 5 ). Trimmal angle acute, poorly developed. Acetabular carina reaching the base of the third tooth ( Fig. 5 ). Clypeus strongly convex (lateral view). Labrum semicircular ( Fig. 5 ) with flat disc and truncated distal edge. Vertex above the upper ocular tangent ( Fig. 5 ). Inner orbits of compound eyes converging below ( Fig. 5 ). Distance between the lateral ocellus and the eye more than three times the diameter of the median ocellus ( Fig. 5 ). Fore elaiospathe with the secondary anterior comb formed by three giant hairs. Hind elaiospathe with the hairs of the primary anterior comb forming a continuous structure. Primary basitibial plate elliptical, smooth and shiny, with secondary plate lanceolate. Claws with preapical tooth poorly developed, mainly in the hind leg.

Male ( Figs. 7 and 8 ): Measurements: Approximate body length: 14.1; head width: 4.9; forewing length: 11.8; F1 length: 0.9; F2 length: 0.2; F3 length: 0.3; mandible length: 1.7; mandible basal width: 0.9; thorax width: 5.8. Coloration: Dark brown ( Figs. 7 and 8 ), lighter on legs and sterna. Flagellum (except F1) light brown, darker on the posterior surface and lighter on F2. Wing membranes and veins light brown, without iridescence ( Fig. 8 ). Integument and sculpture surface: Very shiny, mainly on the metasoma. Clypeus finely areolate on the center of the disc, with coarse punctation, slightly dispersed on the upper margin ( Fig. 7 ). Labrum with fine and dense punctation, denser than of the clypeus ( Fig. 7 ). Terga with dense and very fine punctation, slightly more dispersed towards the distal margin of each tergite. T2 with finer and denser punctures than that of the other terga. Terga with smooth distal margin. Pubescence: Dark brown, except mesoscutum, lateroposterior margin of the mesoscutellum and anterior margin of the tegula with brown yellowish pilosity ( Fig. 8 ). Lateral edge of the pronotal lobe with yellowish hairs. Disc of the mesoscutellum with dark brown hairs, slightly darker than the pubescence present in other parts of the body. Terga with short and simple hairs, with some long and branched hairs mixed on T1 and on the sides of the distal terga. Trochanter of fore leg and ventral surface of the mesosoma with yellowish brown hairs. Distal tarsus of middle leg with a tuft of plumose hairs at the base of the posterior claw. Hind leg with a tuft of plumose hairs at the base of both claws. Structures: Mandible with three teeth with acute apices ( Fig. 7 ). Apical tooth larger than the other two which are subequal in size ( Fig. 7 ). Second tooth closer to the third than to the apical tooth ( Fig. 7 ). Acetabular carina reaching the base of the third tooth ( Fig. 7 ). Trimmal angle obtuse, poorly developed. Upper half of the clypeal disc convex and lower half concave (lateral view). Labrum semicircular ( Fig. 7 ) with slightly truncated distal margin and slightly concave longitudinally disc. Vertex below the ocular tangent ( Fig. 7 ). Inner orbits of compound eyes converging above ( Fig. 7 ). Distance between the lateral ocellus and the eye shorter than the diameter of the median ocellus ( Fig. 7 ). Hind femur widened. Claws with preapical tooth.

Type material. Holotype female: 17.iv–26.viii, 1938 Oxf. Un. Cayman Is. Biol. Exped. coll. by C.B. Lewis, G.H. Thomson.\ 10.vii.1938. (13) Grand Cayman, N. coast of North Side, Hut Road.\ Pres. Hope Dept., Oxford B.M. 1967-147 ( BMNH). Paratypes: 1 male: 17.iv–26.viii, 1938 Oxf. Un. Cayman Is. Biol. Exped. coll. by C.B. Lewis, G.H. Thomson.\ 10.vii.1938. (13) Grand Cayman, N. coast of North Side, Hut Road.\ Pres. Hope Dept., Oxford B.M. 1967-147 ( BMNH). 3 males: 17.iv–26.viii, 1938 Oxf. Un. Cayman Is. Biol. Exped. coll. by C.B. Lewis, G.H. Thomson.\ 13.vii.1938. (14) Grand Cayman, N. coast of North Side, Cedar Cliff Road.\ Pres. Hope Dept., Oxford B.M. 1967-147 ( BMNH). 2 males: 17.iv–26.viii, 1938 Oxf. Un. Cayman Is. Biol. Exped. coll. by C.B. Lewis, G.H. Thomson.\ 14.vii.1938. (8) Grand Cayman, N. coast of North Side, Hut Road.\ Pres. Hope Dept., Oxford B.M. 1967-147 ( BMNH). 1 female and 5 males: 17.iv–26.viii, 1938 Oxf. Un. Cayman Is. Biol. Exped. coll. by C.B. Lewis, G.H. Thomson.\ 15.vii.1938. (8) Grand Cayman, N. coast of North Side, Hut Road.\ Pres. Hope Dept., Oxford B.M. 1967-147 ( BMNH). All type specimens are deposited at BMNH.

Distribution ( Fig. 13 ). CAYMAN ISLANDS: GRAND CAYMAN: North Side.

Figures

FIGURE 13. Distribution records for the species of Centris (Xanthemisia) inhabiting the Caribbean islands.

FIGURES 5 – 8. Centris caymanensis new species. Fig. 5. Holotype female (Cayman Islands: Grand Cayman: North Side): Head, frontal view (scale bar 1 mm). Fig. 6. Holotype female: Habitus, lateral view (scale bar 5 mm). Fig. 7. Male (Cayman Islands: Grand Cayman: North Side): Head, frontal view (scale bar 1 mm). Fig. 8. Male: Habitus, lateral view (Scale bar 5 mm).