Microsphecodes, Eickwort and Stage, Eickwort and Stage

Graham, Liam & Packer, Laurence, 2024, Three New Species of Microsphecodes s. str. (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) with an updated key to species of the subgenus, Zootaxa 5404 (1), pp. 189-205 : 200-203

Identification key (modified from Engel (2013) to include the species described above)

1. Mesosoma entirely dark brown to black ( Fig. 26 ) except sometimes pronotal lobe paler ( Panama and Colombia)......... 2

Mesosoma with large areas of pale colouration ( Figs. 24–25 ).................................................. 3

2(1) Setae of compound eyes minute to absent (as in Fig. 27 )................................ M. truncaticaudus Michener

Setae of compound eye distinct, at least 2 ommatidial diameters in length ( Fig. 28 )............. M. trichommus Michener

3(1) Mesosoma entirely dark yellow-brown to orange or red-brown except sometimes sutures between sclerites and/or extreme margins of, and carinae on, metapostnotum darker ( Fig. 24 , see also Figs. 14–15 , 19–21 )............................ 4

Mesosoma more extensively dark brown or black ( Fig. 25 ).................................................... 6

4(3) Almost entire body orange except head black (other than clypeus and appendages) and more apical terga marked with brown ( Figs. 1–4 in Mahlmann and Engel, 2023).................................. M. amazonophilus Mahlmann & Engel

Body with more extensive dark colouration ( Figs. 25 , 35–36 ).................................................. 5

5(4) Metasoma from T2 (except base) to apex dark brown, clearly darker than both T1 and mesosomal dorsum ( Figs. 24 & 29 ); metapostnotum with marginal carina complete ( Fig. 31 ) ( French Guiana).......... M. fernandoi Graham & Packer n. sp.

Metasoma entirely orange-brown albeit somewhat darker on more apical terga but not clearly darker than mesosomal dorsum ( Figs. 21–22 & 30 ) metapostnotum with marginal carina incomplete posteriorly ( Fig. 32 ) ( Guatemala)................................................................................... M. septentrionalis Graham & Packer n. sp.

6(3) Dorsal area of metapostnotum with areolae on either side of midline distinctly enlarged relative to those of neighbouring alveolae ( Fig. 33 ); clypeus at least 3.5X as wide as medial length ( Fig. 34 )........................................ 7

Dorsal area of metapostnotum with areolae on either side of midline relatively narrower, more similar in size to neighbouring alveolae ( Fig. 3 in Engel, 2013); clypeus slightly less than 3X wider than medial length ( Fig. 2 in Engel, 2013) ( Peru)........................................................................................ M. stenochorus Engel

7(6) Mesoscutellum yellow-orange to orange-red, clearly contrasted to mostly much darker mesoscutum, metapostnotum and propodeum ( Fig. 35 ); clypeus 3.5–4X as wide as medial length ( Fig. 34 ) ( Costa Rica to Venezuela).................... 8

Mesoscutellum brown, not contrasting with mesoscutum, metapostnotum and propodeum (as in Fig. 36 ); clypeus 4.5X as wide as medial length (as in Sakagami and Moure, 1962, Fig. 1 ) ( Brazil)............. M. russeiclypeatus (Sakagami & Moure)

8(7) AOD more than 1.5X IAD ( Fig. 37 ); metasoma with sparser, shorter (<1.5MOD) pubescence ( Fig. 39 ) ( Venezuela)............................................................................ M. peckorum n. sp. Graham and Packer

AOD and IAD subequal ( Fig. 38 ); metasoma with denser, longer (~2MOD) pubescence ( Fig. 40 ) ( Costa Rica and Colombia................................................................................ M. kathleenae (Eickwort)

Figures

FIGURE 1. Part of forewing holotype of M. fernandoi Graham and Packer sp. n. to show the stigmal perpendicular (red line) and how to measure the length (yellow line) and breadth (blue line) of the stigma. Scale bar 0.5mm.

FIGURE 2. Head of holotype of M. peckorum Graham and Packer, sp. n. facial view, to show landmarks used or measurement of various features. Purple line—head length, yellow line—UOD, white line—LOD, green line—IAD, pink line—ASD, orange line—AOD, black line—MOD, red line—IOD, blue line—OOD. See Materials and Methods, second paragraph, for definitions of acronyms.

FIGURES 3–7. Holotype of M. peckorum Graham and Packer, sp. n. Fig. 3—lateral habitus; Fig. 4 –posterior half of mesosoma to show metapostnotal sculpture; Fig. 5.—dorsal view of mesosoma; Fig. 6—dorsal view of metasoma; Fig. 7—forewing.

FIGURES 24–26. Mesosomal dorsum of each of: Fig. 24.—M. fernandoi Graham and Packer, sp. n.; Fig. 25.—M. peckorum Graham and Packer, sp. n. and—Fig. 26. M. trichommus Michener

FIGURES 27–28. Partial head, frontal view to show relative lengths of hairs on compound eyes of: Fig.27.—M.truncaticaudus Michener and Fig. 28. M. trichommus Michener.

FIGURES 14–18. Holotype of M. fernandoi Graham and Packer, sp. n. Fig. 14—lateral habitus; Fig. 15—posterior half of mesosoma to show metapostnotal sculpture; Fig. 16.—dorsal view of mesosoma; Fig. 17—dorsal view of metasoma; Fig. 18—forewing.

FIGURES 19–23. Holotype of M. septentrionalis Graham and Packer, sp. n. Fig. 19.—lateral habitus; Fig. 20 –posterior half of mesosoma to show metapostnotal sculpture; Fig. 21.—dorsal view of mesosoma; Fig. 22—dorsal view of metasoma; Fig. 23—forewing.

FIGURES 35–36. Microsphecodes mesosomal dorsum: Fig. 35. M. peckorum Graham and Packer n. sp.; Fig. 36. M. fernandoi Graham and Packer, n. sp.

FIGURES 29–32. Metasomal dorsum (Figs. 29&30) and metapostnotum (Figs. 31&32) of:Figs.29&39—M.fernandoi Graham and Packer, n. sp. and Figs. 30&32—M. septentrionalis Graham and Packer, n. sp.

FIGURES 33–34. Microsphecodes peckorum Graham and Packer n. sp.: Fig. 33—Metapostnotum to show enlarged medialareolae; Fig. 34. Lower face to show relative width (blue line) and length (red line) of clypeus, with width at least 3.5X medial length.

FIGURES 37–40. Head facial view of M. peckorum Graham and Packer n. sp.; (Fig. 37) and M. kathleenae (Eickwort) (Fig. 38) to show relative dimensions of IAD (blue lines) and AOD (red lines). Metasomal dorsum to show less dense and shorter pubescence of M. peckorum Graham and Packer n. sp.; (Fig. 39) compared to that of M. kathleenae (Eickwort) (Fig. 40).