Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1836)

Rasmussen, Claus & Gonzalez, Victor H., 2017, The neotropical stingless bee genus Nannotrigona Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini): An illustrated key, notes on the types, and designation of lectotypes, Zootaxa 4299 (2), pp. 191-220 : 215-216

Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1836)

Figures 3 D,E, 5G, 6I, 7I, 10E,F, 11I

Melipona testaceicornis Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1836: 429 [lectotype: MHNP; worker, Brazil] Camargo & Pedro (2007): 407 (lectotype designation)

Diagnosis. The worker of this species can be recognized by the combination of the following features: mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely and coarsely foveate; antennal scape with short erect setae, at most 0.3 times diameter of scape; ocellocular area, between lateral ocellus and inner margin of compound eye, with scattered and larger punctures than on frons ( Fig. 3 D); and clypeus duller, with minute, coarse punctures ( Fig. 3 E). It can be separated from N. punctata primarily by the punctation of the clypeus, which is duller, with minute, coarse punctures. Also, the antennal flagellum is light reddish brown and the maculations on the mesoscutum and mesoscutellum are often less extensive than in N. punctata .

Redescription. Lectotype worker: Total body length 4.90 mm; head width 1.90 mm; maximum width of mesoscutum 1.43 mm; forewing length (including tegula) 4.3 mm. Head 1.1 times wider than long; malar area about 0.8 times width of F3; clypeus about 1.7 times broader than long; intertorular distance 1.1 times torular diameter; torulorbital distance 1.5 times torular diameter; interocellar distance 2.6 times OD, 1.1 times longer than ocellocular distance; ocelloccipital distance 2.4 long as OD; scape 4.9 times longer than wide, 0.9 times width of F3; flagellomeres as broad as long, except apical flagellomere longer than broad. Mesoscutellum 1.5 times broader than long, basal fovea V-shaped, about as long as broad, posterior margin with median emargination large, semicircular, about 2.8 times broader than long, tooth lateral to emargination acute. Measurements of other structures in Table 2.

[Covered in mold but noticeable] Color black, except as follows: reddish brown on apical two-thirds of mandible; brown on antennal scape and flagellum; sparsely yellow on lateral tooth of posterior margin of mesoscutellum, outer surfaces of mesotibiae basally, posterior margin of metatibia, except apical half; dark brown on distitarsi and anterior and posterior margins of metabasitarsus. Wing membrane, veins and pterostigma brown.

Pubescence light yellow, except minutely branched, appressed setae on head and mesosoma whitish; orange on metatibia. Antennal scape with simple, short (<0.6x diameter of scape) setae along its inner margin.

Clypeus and supraclypeal area with minute, shallow punctures; frons with contiguous, coarse punctures as on ocellocular area. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely and coarsely foveate.

Provenance. Lepeletier in the description of this species only referred to specimen(s) from southern Goiás, Brazil. Two of the examined and labeled “ paralectotype ” specimens are from elsewhere (“ Quest de Capitainerie des Mines ” and “Du nord de la Capitainerie de Saint Paul), but with similar label designs as the lectotype, including identical handwritting and typewritting suggesting that the collector was the same person. Although likely obtained from the same collector, these two specimens are not considered paralectotypes . The lectotype was designated by Camargo and Pedro (2007). No indication of the collector is given on the specimen, but Augustin François César Prouvençal de Saint-Hilaire (1779–1853) visited and collected insects for MNHP in “ Sud de la Capitainerie de Goyaz ” [fourth expedition, in 1819], “ Quest de Capitainerie des Mines ” [fourth expedition, in 1819], as well as “ Du nord de la Capitainerie de Saint Paul ” [fifth expedition, in 1819] ( Saint-Hilaire , 1823, 1847 – 1848; Papavero , 1971). He could therefore have provided similar labeled material from these three localities. In addition, Lepeletier (1836) dedicated a species to Saint Hilaire ( Melipona santhilarii ), which was presumably collected by Saint Hilaire and which has a similar label design and also came from “ Du nord de la Capitainerie de Saint Paul ”. Based on this information, the label, the places visited, and other known collectors from the time period, the type specimen of N. testaceicornis was likely collected by Saint-Hilarie. Saint-Hilarie entered the state of Goiás through Cristalina reaching Corumbá de Goiás and finally the capital Vila Boa de Goiás (now simply Goiás). He left Goiás travelling through Piracanjube and Caldas Novas , after first exploring the surrounding of Goiás, including [ São José de] Mossâmedes and adjacent fields ( Saint-Hilaire, 1823, 1847 -1848; Papavero, 1971). The exact type locality cannot be inferred, but it is south of the city of Goiás [15.92° S, 50.14° W].

Type material examined. 1 lectotype worker from Brazil, “ Muséum Paris / EY8872”, “ MUSEUM PARIS / SUD DE LA / CAPIT E DE GOYAZ ”, “partiemér / de la Capite / De goyaz” (circular), “ Type ”, “ testaceicornis ”, “ LECTOTYPE ” (red label) ( MHNP) ; 2 workers, “ Muséum Paris / EY8873”, “ MUSEUM PARIS / QUEST CAPIT E / DES MINES ”, “Ouest / Capite Des / mines” (circular), “ Type ”, “ PARALECTOTYPE ” (red label) ( MHNP), and “Muséum Paris / EY8874”, “ MUSEUM PARIS / NORD DE LA / CAPIT DE St PAUL ”, “ Du Nord / De la Capite / De St. Paul ” (circular), “ Type ”, “ PARALECTOTYPE ” (red label) ( MHNP) . The lectotype designation was made by Camargo & Pedro (2007).

Distribution. Argentina (Misiones); Brazil (Bahia, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, São Paulo); Paraguay.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Key couplet features of Nannotrigona species: A. N. mellaria, posterior margin of mesoscutellum with deep and semicircular emargination. B. N. melanocera (KU 1381940, Bolivia, El Beni), posterior margin of mesoscutellum with shallower emargination. C. N. perilampoides (KU 1382363, Mexico, Oaxaca), ocellocular area, between the lateral ocellus and the eye, with punctures almost similar to those on the frons. D. N. testaceicornis (KU 1381957, Brazil, São Paulo), ocellocular area, between the lateral ocellus and the eye, with scattered and larger punctures separated by glabrous interspaces. E. N. testaceicornis (KU 1381957, Brazil, São Paulo), clypeus duller, with minute, coarse punctures. F. N. punctata (KU 1382096, French Guiana, Kourou), clypeus shiny, with minute shallow punctures.