Augochlorodes rostratus, Gonçalves & Melo, 2008

Gonçalves, Rodrigo B. & Melo, Gabriel A. R., 2008, New species of the bee genus Augochlorodes Moure (Hymenoptera, Apidae s. l., Halictinae), Journal of Natural History 42 (19 - 20), pp. 1385-1403 : 1396-1397

Augochlorodes rostratus new species

( Figure 1D )

Augochlorodes sp1. Alves-dos-Santos (1999: 215).

Diagnosis and comments

This species can be recognized by its elongate head, about as long as it is wide, by its transverse rectangular labrum, and by its relatively large body length. An interesting feature of this species is the darkened stripe on the lower parocular area, a feature absent or very reduced in the other species. Only two specimens from Osório (Rio Grande do Sul) are known; they were collected in flowers of Oxalis floribunda and O. linarantha (Oxalidaceae) ( Alves-dos-Santos 1999).

Description of female holotype

Measurements. Mhw: 1.77; mhl: 1.89; den: 1.36; iem: 091; cl: 0.45; c–a: 0.41; c–o: 1.16; ml: 1.42; abl: 7.20.

Head. Basal elevation of labrum transversely rectangular; clypeus punctation irregularly spaced; supraclypeal area with few punctures and microreticulation very fine; parocular area with a well-defined darkened stripe, lower portion covered with punctures of irregular diameter; frons punctation deep and coarse.

Mesoscutum. Longitudinal sulcus strong; anterior border acute and shortly projected; decumbent pubescence inconspicuous, punctures strong and of variable diameter; microreticulation conspicuous.

Scutellum . Erect setae with few branches.

Mesepisternum. Entirely covered with erect pubescence.

Metanotum. Plumose pubescence short and with short branches.

Metapostnotum. Dorsal surface less than twice as long as metanotum; longitudinal carinae extending over the anterior one-third of its dorsal length.

Propodeum. Lateral surface entirely microreticulated; lateral erect pubescence simple.

Metasoma. Posterior margin of S2–S3 with fine and recurved setae, posterior margin of S4–S5 with thick and simple setae.

Body colour. Dark metallic green, especially the terga, with brown legs.

Type material

Holotype female ( DZUP): BRAZIL, Rio Grande do Sul, ‘ DZUP \025501’ ‘ Osório RS \ Brasil 22.10.1991 \ Santos, I. A. leg’ ‘5522 H; 431\F. 80 12 00 ’. Paratype. One female with same data as holotype except ( DZUP), ‘ DZUP \025501’ ‘5593 H:354\F:80 12 00 13 00 ’.

Etymology

Named after its relatively long face.

Figures

Figure 1. Female head, frontal view. (A) Augochlorodes clementis (holotype). (B) A. incomitatus (holotype). (C) A. politus (paratype, DZUP 025497). (D) A. rostratus (holotype). (E) A. turrifaciens (DZUP 025489); (F) A. vachali (holotype). Scale bar: 0.5 mm; all figures at same scale.