Leioproctus zephyr Prendergast, 2022

Prendergast, Kit S., 2022, Leioproctus zephyr Prendergast (Hymenoptera, Colletidae, Leioproctus), an oligoletic new bee species with a distinctive clypeus, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 93, pp. 167-188 : 167

Leioproctus zephyr Prendergast sp. nov.

Figs 1-6 , 7 (female), 8-15 (male)

Material examined.

Holotype female, allotype male, 60 additional male paratypes and 52 female paratypes: Australia, Western Australia.

Type-locality.

Australia, Western Australia: Western Australia, Star Swamp; 31.8575°S, 115.7602°E; alt. ca. 11 m, Banksia woodland, collected with an entomological sweepnet, foraging on Jacksonia sericea , 16 Dec 2017, K. Prendergast.

Type-specimen.

Holotype female, pinned, with the printed label: "WA: Western Australia, Star Swamp 31.8575°S, 115.7602°E 16/12/2017 Sweepnet AM 0003436 K. S. Prendergast" (WAM).

Type material.

Holotype Australia • 1 ♀, holotype; Western Australia, Western Australia, Star Swamp; 31.8575°S, 115.7602°E; alt. ca. 11 m; 16 Dec. 2017; K. S. Prendergast leg.; sweepnet; KSP code 003436. BOLD DNA barcode: BOLD:AEC1713 (WAM).

Other material.

Allotype Australia • 1 ♂; Western Australia, Star Swamp ; 31.8575°S, 115.7602°E; alt. ca. 11 m; 3 Dec. 2016; K. S. Prendergast leg.; sweepnet; KSP code 000261. BOLD DNA barcode: BOLD:AEC1713 (WAM).

Paratypes. Paratypes listed in Suppl. material 1. Paratype used in description of male S7, S8 and genital capsule: • 1 ♂ same data as for allotype .

All specimens were collected with an entomological sweep-net by K. Prendergast (Suppl. material 1).

The holotype, allotype and paratype specimens are bequeathed to the Western Australian Museum .

Diagnosis.

Leioproctus zephyr is distinguished from all other species of the genus in that both sexes are easily distinguished by the presence of a large medial ridge extending the length of the clypeus with a large, prominent protuberance on the upper half (Figs 1-6 ). Females are unique in having a pectinate inner hind tibial spur featuring a blunt apex (Fig. 14 ). Male genitalia are also unique in S7 with two broad, flat apical lobes orientated laterally, fringed with hair, with particularly long hairs on the apical edge; posterior lobes of S7 extended laterally with broad, flat flanges (Fig. 22 ); S8 with large lateral lobes extending beyond the breadth of the apical process; apical process broad, somewhat narrowed towards base, and hirsute, with apex expanded, rounded and membranous (Fig. 28 ). The glossa of both sexes are also distinctive, being more bifurcated than is typical for most Australian Leioproctus . Additionally, in L. zephyr , labial and maxillary palps are comparatively short, as they do not reach the base of the prementum or apex of paraglossa, respectively; this contrasts with most Leioproctus where the labial and maxillary palps extend just beyond apex of the glossa..

Description.

Female (Figs 7-14 ):

Dimensions : Total body length 6.2 mm, HW 2.2 mm, ITD 1.6 mm (variation: total body length 6.0-6.9 mm, HW 2.1-2.2 mm, ITD 1.5-1.6 mm (n = 5)).

Colouration: Non-metallic black; integument of head black; facial protuberance black, but sometimes with reddish tinge tip of protuberance; mesosoma black; terga and sternum black apically through to brown on posterior margin; apical impressed area of T1 brown; T6 and pygidial plate brown; legs and tarsi brown; wings dusky, semi-opaque very dark brown with wing veins very dark brown; scape and flagellum black except for F10, and part of F9, mandibles black basally, rest mostly testaceous, except apex black.

Pubescence: White pubescence on face around antennal sockets covering paraocular area and gena, sides of thorax; sparser setae on supraclypeal area, and each side medial carina along the transverse portion of the epistomal suture. Short, fine sparse pale orange hairs on vertex, mesosomal dorsum (mesoscutum, scutellum, and propodeum), thicker, longer on metanotum; thick dense cream hairs on pronotal lobe; sparse long pale brown hairs on T3 and T4 on lower half, incomplete medially; on T5 gold-brown hairs very dense; prepygidial fimbria thick, dense pale brown hairs either side of pygidial plate. Apical fringe of long gold-brown hairs towards sides of S1-S6. Shorter orange hairs on legs, longer white hairs on posterior margin of forefemur. Hairs on forelegs long and dense, especially on basitarsus; midtarsal hairs branching in a V-pattern. Pubescence never obscuring integument below.

Sculpture: Head, mesoscutum, and scutellum with large, deep, close punctures i=1d; punctures open, sparse on clypeus i=5d, except impunctate on median carina; antennal scape fine, close punctures i=1d; metanotum and propodeum with small, close punctures; propodeal triangle with deep, sparse punctures apically i=3d, lower propodeal triangle imbricated (Fig. 11 ); terga with shallow, minute, close punctures i=1d; fore-, mid- and hind- femur, tarsus and basitarsus with longitudinal, large, irregular striae i=1d.

Structure: head: face wider than long (1.6 ×); ocelloccipital area weakly concave; mouthparts distinctive: galea large and strongly bifurcate, each fork reaching just above the base of the mentum and with long, golden hairs; mentum and prementum approximately equal in length; maxillary palpus extremely short, not reaching base of prementum and labial palps short, not reaching apex of paraglossa; paraglossa large, triangular; glossa strongly bifurcate, more so than in most Australian Leioproctus , with a long, dense apical fringe; clypeus convex, broader than long, with a medial longitudinal ridge and distinct protuberance in middle of upper half, protuberance triangular in profile, apex above clypeal midlength and almost one quarter length of head, with smaller protuberance at base of median ridge; clypeus lateral to this medial ridge and below epistomal suture convex; supraclypeal area elevated, surface concave, somewhat triangular; frontal line continuous with median ridge strongest at level of antennal sockets, extending to the medial ocellus; compound eyes slightly more convergent below; malar space absent; mandibles bidentate, with the preapical tooth being approximately half length of rutellum; mandibles with acetabular and condylar grooves, outer and condylar ridge absent; facial fovea impressed, smooth, from lower tangent of lateral ocelli extending to level with lower tangent of antennal sockets, forming a triangular shape, broadest at level just below median ocellus, impression deepest adjacent to eye; gena ca. 0.4 × as wide as compound eye viewed laterally; scape not attaining median ocellus; F1 length>width, F2-F10 length<width, tip of antennae slightly pointed.

Head measurements: HW 2.14 mm; eye width in profile 0.61 mm; gena width 0.22 mm; eye length 1.25 mm; HL 1.38 mm; clypeus length 0.63 mm; LOD 1.11 mm; UOD 1.20 mm; clypeoantennal distance 0.07 mm; IAD 0.38 mm; IOD 0.38 mm; OOD 0.29 mm; AOD 0.47 mm; OAD distance 0.33 mm (variation: HW 2.08 - 2.15 mm; eye width in profile 0.52-0.62 mm; gena width 0.18-0.26 mm; eye length 1.18-1.26 mm; HL 1.37-1.55 mm; clypeus length 0.46-0.63 mm; LOD 0.45-1.11 mm; UOD 1.14-1.22 mm; clypeoantennal distance 0.15-0.18 mm; IAD 0.36-0.39 mm; IOD 0.31-0.38 mm; OOD 0.30-0.38 mm; AOD 0.47-0.66 mm; OAD distance 0.32-0.40 mm, n = 5).

Relative head measurements: UOD:LOD 1.23; OOD:IOD 0.93; clypeus:HL 0.35.

Mesosoma: overall mesosoma length 2.12 mm; pronotal collar absent; ITD 1.60 mm; mesoscutum length 1.60 mm; mesoscutum width 1.52 mm; metanotum length 0.18 mm; propodeum length 0.41 mm (variation: overall mesosoma length 1.89-2.12 ± 0.03 mm; pronotal collar absent; ITD 1.54-1.61 mm; mesoscutum length 1.00-1.57 mm; mesoscutum width 1.46-1.60 mm; metanotum length 0.14-0.20 mm; propodeum length 0.31-0.50 mm, n = 5).

Forewing with three submarginal cells, with second sub-marginal cell much shorter than the first and third. Propodeal triangle with strong carina, almost vertical.

Relative mesosomal structure measurements: mesoscutum length:breadth 0.84; scutellum:mesoscutum 0.28; metanotum:scutellum 0.53.

Legs: tarsal claws on all legs simple; basitibial plate approximately one-quarter as long as basitarsus, oval, concave, covered with dense short orange hairs (Fig. 13 ); metatibial spur long, almost straight, outer spur with small, dense serrations, inner spur pectinate with four teeth on basal half of the spur, decreasing in length from base to apex, the second tooth from the base thickest, apex of spur rounded (Fig. 14 ).

Wings: stigma approximately half the length of the marginal cell; marginal cell with apex rounded, curved away from costal wing margin by approximately two vein widths; basal vein slightly curved and at approximately 45° to costal wing margin; three submarginal cells, first longest, and second shortest; first recurrent vein slightly basal to first submarginal cross-vein; jugal lobe of hind wing approximately one-quarter as long as vannal lobe, reaches cu-a vein.

Metasoma: overall metasoma length 3.1 mm (variation: 3.15 ± 0.116 mm); metasoma longer than mesosoma (metasoma:mesosoma 1.55); T1 declivous surface concave with longitudinal medial groove just below point of concavity; anterior declivous surface longer than dorsal horizontal portion; metasoma broadest at second segment, width 1.98mm (variation 1.97 ± 0.014 mm); pygidial plate well-developed, smooth.

Male (Figs 17-23 ):

Dimensions : Total body length 5.01-5.71 mm, HW 1.07-1.97 mm, ITD 1.30-1.41 mm (n = 5).

Colouration: integument black except for foreleg basitarsus which is orange-brown; antennal scape black, flagellomeres 1 and 2 black, flagellomere 3 partly black and partly brown, and flagellomeres 4-11 brown; mandibles black with orange-brown tips; tergites black with posterior margin brown.

Pubescence: Pubescence on face much thicker than female, hairs cover entire head except for carina and protuberance on clypeus; very short, sparse hairs on basal margin of clypeus; pubescence on pronotal lobes not as thick as female; long white hairs on tarsi of fore and mid legs. Orange-brown short hairs on vertex and dorsal region of mesosoma, as in female, but much shorter and sparser, whereas white hairs on metanotum, propodeum, and metepisternum are longer, and feathery; very short brown hairs emerging along posterior region of each tergite, and longer white hairs from the anterior and laterally on each tergite; fringe of white hairs from sternites 1-5, very thick and black-tipped on T6; wings same as female.

Sculpture: similar to female, except legs only have sparse, small punctures.

Structure - head: prominent medial carina on the clypeus with a prominent protuberance on upper half of clypeus, extent of protuberance from face relatively more pronounced than in the female with length of protuberance:length of head 0.29; gena ca. 0.49 × as wide as compound eye viewed laterally; eyes converging somewhat below; UOD:LOD 1.21; mandibles similar to female; facial fovea most depressed near eye, narrower than in female oblong in shape.

Head measurements: HW 1.07-1.97 mm; eye width in profile 0.52-0.59 mm; gena width 0.26-0.33 mm; eye length 1.07-1.17 mm; HL 1.14-1.44 mm; clypeus length 0.49-0.57 mm; LOD 0.88-0.96 mm; UOD 1.07-1.15 mm; clypeoantennal distance 0.10-0.17 mm; IAD 0.30-0.33 mm; IOD 0.39-0.34 mm; OOD 0.24-0.30 mm; OAD 0.36-0.51 mm; AOD 0.27-0.29 mm (n = 5).

Relative head measurements: UOD:LOD 1.21; OOD:IOD 0.82; clypeus:HL 0.41.

Mesosoma: overall mesosoma length 1.71-1.92 mm; pronotal collar absent; ITD 1.30-1.41 mm; mesoscutum length 0.82-1.80 mm; mesoscutum width 1.24-1.41 mm; metanotum length 0.12-0.19 mm; propodeum length 0.27-0.46 mm (n = 5).

Relative mesasomal structure measurements: mesoscutum length:breadth 1.02; scutellum:mesoscutum 0.28; metanotum:scutellum 0.43.

Structure - legs: tarsal claws simple. Pair of almost straight hind tibial spurs. Inner-spur slightly longer, thicker than outer-spur.

Structure: metasoma: metasoma longer than mesosoma, less so than female (metasoma:mesosoma 1.24); broadest at second segment, S7 two broad, flat apical lobes orientated laterally, fringed with hair, with particularly long hairs on the apical edge; posterior lobes of S7 extended laterally with broad, flat flanges,>3 × length of apical lobes (Fig. 22 ); S8 with large lateral lobes extending beyond the breadth of the apical process; apical process broad, somewhat narrowed towards base, and hirsute, with apex expanded, rounded and membranous (Fig. 23 ); penis valves slightly longer than gonostylus and about half the width of the gonostylus; apex of gonostylus hirsute and rounded; gonobase about half as long as wide, with each half curved to look like a bum (Fig. 21 ).

Etymology.

The species is named after the author’s beloved Maremma dog, Zephyr. The name “zephyr” is proposed as a noun in apposition.

Distribution.

Southwest Western Australia (Fig. 24 ).

Ecology.

Months collected: Dec - Jan. Earliest collection date by the author 3-Dec 2016, latest collection date 8-Jan 2017. The latest date collected was 29-Jan 1979. Floral visitation: Most visitation records have been from Jacksonia sericea Bentham ( Fabaceae ) (Suppl. material 1). The species has previously been collected mainly from J. sericea , with three records of bees visiting J. eremodendron E. Pritz, and one record of a bee visiting J. horrida (de Candolle) (however, based on how the distribution of J. horrida does not extend north to where the bee was collected, this is likely a misattribution and this collection record was also from J. sericea ( Western Australian Herbarium 2022) (Suppl. material 1).

Conservation status.

The species has only been collected at six sites, all of which are in parks or reserves (Fig. 24 , Suppl. material 1). Recent systematic surveys across twenty-one sites over an area of ca. 300 km2 revealed the species to only occupy four of these. On the basis of all known records to date, the total area of occupancy is ca. 40 km2, and this habitat is fragmented by urban development. The species has also been collected at one other site within this region, as well as another site widely separated from the others some 200 km north. The species is presumably oligolectic on a small number of Jacksonia species, with the two main confirmed hosts also having a narrow distribution restricted to the Swan Coastal Plain ( Western Australian Herbarium 2022) As no nests have been recorded, its nesting requirements are unknown, other than that it would be a ground-nesting species (Almeida, 2008). All populations however were recorded on the well-drained and weathered sandy soils of the Swan Coastal Plain (MacArthur, 2004), and thus it may be a psammophile. As a ground-nesting bee, it is sensitive to destruction of nesting habitat due to road-building and development that leads to impervious surfaces.

Under the IUCN Red List criteria, criteria A, C and E cannot be assessed as there is no ongoing monitoring; however, based on criteria B: Geographic range in the form of either B1 (extent of occurrence) OR B2 (area of occupancy) OR both, it may be considered to be vulnerable to extinction in that: Extent of occurrence is estimated to be less than 20,000 km2, and estimates indicate habitat in which it has been recorded is severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than 10 locations (IUCN, 2012).

DNA barcoding.

DNA barcoding confirmed that that male and female specimens collected were the same species, with both the male and three specimens which were successfully sequenced receiving the BOLDBIN number BOLD:AEC1713 (http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Public_BarcodeCluster?clusteruri=BOLD:AEC1713). A tree of sequences generated from the MSAPB sequences (involving a total of 4136 specimens of 169 Australian bee species) places this species in an undefined group with four other Leioproctus species, all of which include species that do not appear to have been scientifically described.

Figures

Figure 24. Map of Australia showing sites where specimens of Leioproctus zephyr sp. nov. has been collected, with close-up of locations. Green locations: collection localities by the author in 2016 - 18; red localities: collection locations by T. F. Houston 1979, 1992, 1996, 1997. Refer to Table 1 for further information. Map produced via the online program MapCustomizer: https: // www. mapcustomizer. com /.

Figures 1 - 6. Leioproctus zephyr sp. nov., emphasising the protruberant clypeus. Frontal view 1 female 2 male; dorsal view 3 female 4 male; lateral view 5 female 6 male. Photographs by N. Tatarnic.

Figures 7 - 14. Leioproctus zephyr sp. nov., female. 7 Head, frontal view 8 Lateral habitus 9 ventral view 10 dorsal view 11 propodeal triangle 12 pygidial plate 13 basitarsal plate 14 inner hindtibial spur. Scale bars: 1 mm (1 - 5); 0.5 mm (6 - 7). Photographs by K. S. Prendergast.

Figures 15 - 23. Leioproctus zephyr sp. nov, male 15 head, frontal view 16 lateral habitus 17 dorsal view 18 ventral view 19 forewing vein structure 20 hindleg showing hindtibial spurs 21 male genital capsule (dorsal view) 22 S 7 (ventral view) 23 S 8 (ventral view). Scale bars: 1 mm. Photographs by K. S. Prendergast, diagrams by K. S. Prendergast.