Augochlora (Augochlora) helena, Lepeco & Gonçalves, 2020

Lepeco, Anderson & Gonçalves, Rodrigo Barbosa, 2020, A revision of the bee genus Augochlora Smith (Hymenoptera; Apoidea) in Southern South America, Zootaxa 4897 (1), pp. 1-97 : 46-48

Augochlora (Augochlora) helena sp. nov.

( Figure 23 A–D)

Diagnosis. This is the only species in the studied area with characteristics typical of the repandirostris species group: epistomal angle weakly protruding over clypeus, clypeus apex prolonged over apical border, frons slightly protuberant above antennal sockets, and overall body and appendages with swollen appearance. Besides this, A. helena sp. nov. is the only Augochlora s. str. in the study area with smooth medioapical margin of metapostnotum.

Comments. Species of the repandirostris species group are known from Amazon forest and from Panamanian forest, with no species described for the southern region so far. Although a single specimen was found, it does not correspond to any described species.

Description. ♀. Measurements. Maximum interocular distance: 1.49; head length: 1.88; clypeus width: 0.60; clypeus length: 0.42; clypeoantennal distance: 0.40; clypeus ocellar distance: 1.12; intertegular distance: 1.55; T1 width: 2.36; T2 width: 2.56; body length: 7.00.

Head. Labrum basal surface black; basal elevation transverse. Mandible mostly dark brown, apex black; medial portion not strongly constricted, minimum width between 0.7x and 0.9x basal width; preapical tooth large and sharp, produced near mandible apex; distal part of adductor ridge weakly swollen. Clypeus mostly green with golden reflection, apical black band = OD; punctate, punctures large and weak, smooth in between; apex prolonged over apical border. Epistomal angle acute, weakly protruding over clypeus. Supraclypeal area green with golden reflection; densely punctate, loosely imbricate in between. Lower paraocular area with golden reflection; contiguously punctate; long setae (1–2 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. Antennae: scape black, pedicel dark brown, flagellum dark brown, ventrally pale. Frons with golden and green reflections intermixed; contiguously punctate; slightly protuberant above antennal sockets. Preoccipital area strongly lamellate, lamella expanded near post gena. Gena with golden reflection. Post gena with copper reflection; microreticulate, some scattered weak punctures; setae length <2 OD. Hypostomal carina not projected anteriorly.

Mesosoma. Pronotum dorsolateral angle orthogonal. Fore leg: coxa dark brown, weak green reflection; trochanter dark brown; femur dark brown with weak green reflection; ventral surface strongly rounded; long plumose setae (<3 OD); tibia brown; tarsus light brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Mesoscutum green with golden reflection; densely punctate on disc, I <PD, sparser posterior to median line, smooth in between, contiguously punctate anteriorly and on lateral surfaces; setae length <OD. Scutellum medial furrow inconspicuous; green with golden reflection; punctate, I = PD, with larger punctures in between; with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer white setae (3 OD). Mesepisternum green; preepisternum densely punctate near pronotal lobe; hypoepimeral area densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, smooth in between; below scrobe densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, smooth in between, ventrally crowded punctate; with long setae (2 OD). Mid leg: coxa dark brown with weak green reflection; trochanter dark brown; ventral margin not swollen, almost straight; femur dark brown, flattened, mesofemoral brush yellowish; tibia brown; tarsus light brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Tegula dark brown with anterior green spot. Metanotum with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer white setae (= 3 OD). Metepisternum green with golden reflection; densely to crowded punctate, punctures weak. Hind leg: coxa green, anterior and posterior surfaces ventrally separated by a smoothly curved area; trochanter dark brown; setae length = 2 OD; femur dark brown; tibia brown; tarsus brown; outer surfaces without dark setae. Metapostnotum green with golden reflection; shorter than scutellum; basal area with radiating carinae, medioapical area microreticulate to smooth. Propodeum green with golden reflection; with tiny and long (3 OD) setae intermixed; posterior surface with tiny and larger punctures intermixed, smooth in between; lateral carinae ending below propodeum half; lateral surfaces imbricate among punctures.

Metasoma. T1 anterior surface densely punctate, punctures weak, smooth in between; mostly dark brown with weak green reflection; with few tiny decumbent setae among long setae. T1 dorsal surface weakly puncticulate on disc, smooth in between, coarser punctation on lateral surfaces; mostly brown, lateral surfaces green; mostly glabrous, bristles up to 2 OD on lateral surfaces; apex inflexed, black. T2 mostly green with golden reflection, dorsally brown; minutely punctate on disc, punctures weak, coarser and denser punctation on lateral surfaces, mostly imbricate in between, smooth on lateral surfaces; marginal area with punctate portion shorter than apical black band on sublateral surfaces; tiny decumbent setae near base and on lateral surfaces, long setae (2 OD) on lateral surfaces. T3 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly green, base and apical band brown; tiny setae apex not reaching apical margin sublaterally. T4 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly green, apical band brown; mostly with tiny decumbent setae, long setae (2 OD) scattered on disc and lateral surfaces. T5 black; pseudopygidial area not covered by scale-like setae, colliculate integument exposed. Pygidial plate black, apex slightly rounded. S1 without elevation; brown with weak green reflection; long setae (> 2 OD) medially, margin tiny decumbent setae. S2 mostly dark brown, apical band yellowish; medioapical margin sharp; punctate, microreticulate in between; long setae (> 1 OD). S3–4 as S2. S5 apical margin widely rounded; dark brown; long setae (> 1 OD). S6 dark brown; long dark setae on apex.

Distribution. The only specimen found is from Balsa Nova, Paraná.

Etymology. Helena is a Latinate form of the name Hélène, who was cast away from her homeland by Paris in the Greek mythology. This is a reference to the fact that this is the first species in the repandirostris species group found away from tropical forests, where other species of the group occur. Noun in apposition.

Type material. Holotype, DZUP, ♀ “ DZUP \565271” “ Brasil, Paraná, Balsa Nova \ Campos próximos ao Rio \ Papagaios , 24.ii. 2007, 943m\ 25°28′11′′S e 49°46′11′′W, A.\Aguiar, A. Martins, J. Gillung ”.

Figures

FIGURE 23. Holotype female of Augochlora helena sp. nov. A) habitus, B) frontal view of head, C) dorsal view of mesosoma, D) dorsal view of metasoma. Scale bar: 1.0 mm, all at same scale.