Augochlora (Augochlora) perimelas Cockerell, 1900

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 : 64-68

Augochlora (Augochlora) perimelas Cockerell, 1900

( Figures 34 A–D; 35A–D; 51B)

Augochlora foxiana perimelas Cockerell, 1900: 265 , lectotype, ♀ (CM 560) from Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul, Corumbá. Sub-sequent designation by Moure & Hurd (1987: 265). Not examined.

Oxystoglossa juno Schrottky, 1909: 139 , syntypes, ♀ ³ (whereabouts unknown) from Paraguay, Alto Paraná, Puerto Bertoni .

Diagnosis. Besides having a tuberculate elevation on S1 ( Fig. 1I ) and the T1 apex inflexed ( Fig. 2B ), this species is remarkable in having foveate punctures mesosoma and the lateral carinae on propodeum ending above propodeum half, as A. foxiana . From the latter, females can be separated by the punctate preepisternum and mesofemoral brush with dark setae. Males can be diagnosed also by the fore femur posterior surface regularly rounded (in A. foxiana the femur is so swollen that it makes an angulation on the surface) and by the relatively fewer setae on post gena. In addition, A. perimelas usually have more dark and blue on mesosoma and the head with stronger copper reflections.

Comments. Cockerell (1900) originally described this species as a variety of Augochlora foxiana , based on body size, punctures diameter and color patterns. Moure (1942) elevated Augochlora perimelas to species level. Based on the original description and on new characteristics we agree with Father J. S. Moure’s decision (see comments on A. foxiana ).

Redescription. ♀. Measurements. Maximum interocular distance: 1.67–2.08 (x‾ = 1.84, n = 10); head length: 2.24–2.68 (x‾ = 2.40, n = 10); clypeus width: 0.66–0.84 (x‾ = 0.74, n = 10); clypeus length: 0.54–0.70 (x‾ = 0.62, n = 10); clypeoantennal distance: 0.38–0.50 (x‾ = 0.44, n = 10); clypeus ocellar distance: 1.28–1.54 (x‾ = 1.40, n = 10); intertegular distance: 1.58–2.17 (x‾ = 1.79, n = 10); T1 width: 2.32–3.00 (x‾ = 2.62, n = 10); T2 width: 2.52–3.24 (x‾ = 2.81, n = 10); body length: 9.00–10.50 (x‾ = 9.55, n = 10).

Head. Labrum basal surface black; basal elevation transverse. Mandible mostly black, subapical region brown; 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 copper, apical black band = OD; punctate, punctures large and weak, mostly smooth in between, imbricate on basal margin; apex not prolonged over apical border. Epistomal angle acute, strongly protruding over clypeus. Supraclypeal area copper with purplish iridescence; densely punctate, imbricate in between. Lower paraocular area copper with golden reflection; contiguously punctate; long setae (1–2 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. Antennae: mostly black, flagellum ventrally pale. Frons with copper with purplish iridescences intermixed; contiguously punctate; not protuberant above antennal sockets. Preoccipital area strongly lamellate, lamella expanded near post gena. Gena with green and purplish iridescences. Post gena mostly darkened with weak green reflection; microreticulate, some scattered weak punctures; setae length <2 OD. Hypostomal carina not projected anteriorly.

Mesosoma. Pronotum dorsolateral angle with a projected acute tip. Fore leg: coxa black; trochanter black; femur black; ventral surface strongly rounded; long plumose setae (<3 OD); tibia and tarsus dark brown; brownish to dark setae on both. Mesoscutum mostly black, lateral margins green; densely punctate on disc, I <PD, sparser on disc posterior to median line, punctures foveate, microreticulate in between, crowded punctate on lateral surfaces, anterior border punctate, microreticulate in between; setae length <OD. Scutellum with longitudinal furrow; black; densely punctate, with larger punctures in between; with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer dark setae (4 OD). Mesepisternum black; preepisternum densely punctate near pronotal lobe; hypoepimeral area contiguously punctate; below scrobe punctate, punctures foveate, I <PD, imbricate in between, ventrally crowded punctate; with tiny setae becoming longer ventrally. Mid leg: coxa black; trochanter black; ventral margin not swollen, almost straight; femur dark brown, flattened, mesofemoral brush dark; tibia and tarsus dark brown; brownish to dark setae on both. Tegula dark brown. Metanotum with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer dark setae (= 3 OD). Metepisternum black with blue iridescence; densely punctate, becoming crowded punctate to rugose above superior metapleural pit. Hind leg: coxa black, anterior and posterior surfaces ventrally separated by a smoothly curved area; trochanter black; setae length = 4 OD; femur dark brown; tibia and tarsus dark brown; outer surfaces without dark setae. Metapostnotum black with blue iridescence; shorter than scutellum; entirely filled with radiating carinae. Propodeum black with blue iridescence; with tiny and long (2 OD) setae intermixed; posterior surface foveate punctate to rugose; lateral carinae ending above propodeum half, mixing with foveate punctures; lateral surfaces imbricate among punctures.

Metasoma. T1 anterior surface punctate, smooth in between; black with green reflection; with few tiny decumbent setae among long setae. T1 dorsal surface sparsely punctate on disc, I> 2 PD, imbricate in between, coarser and denser punctation on lateral surfaces; mostly black, lateral surfaces green; mostly glabrous, long setae (= OD) on lateral surfaces; apex inflexed, black. T2 black with blue iridescence; sparsely punctate on disc, punctures weak, denser punctation on lateral surfaces, imbricate in between; 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; black; tiny setae apex not reaching apical margin sublaterally. T4 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; black; mostly with tiny decumbent setae, long setae (3 OD) scattered on disc and lateral surfaces. T5 black; pseudopygidial area not covered by scale-like setae, colliculate integument exposed. Pygidial plate black, apex rounded. S1 without elevation; dark brown; long setae (> 3 OD) medially, margin tiny decumbent setae. S2 mostly dark brown, apical band yellowish; medioapical margin sharp; punctate, microreticulate in between; long setae (> 3 OD). S3–4 as S2. S5 apical margin widely rounded; dark brown; long setae (> 3 OD). S6 dark brown; long dark setae on apex.

Description. Ƌ. Measurements. Maximum interocular distance: 1.39–1.70 (x‾ = 1.54, n = 10); head length: 1.92–2.36 (x‾ = 2.14, n = 10); clypeus width: 0.56–0.66 (x‾ = 0.60, n = 10); clypeus length: 0.54–0.66 (x‾ = 0.60, n = 10); clypeoantennal distance: 0.36–0.42 (x‾ = 0.38, n = 10); clypeus ocellar distance: 1.16–1.40 (x‾ = 1.26, n = 10); intertegular distance: 1.33–1.83 (x‾ = 1.53, n = 10); T1 width: 1.68–2.48 (x‾ = 2.01, n = 10); T2 width: 1.80–2.56 (x‾ = 2.12, n = 10); scape length: 0.52–0.66 (x‾ = 0.58, n = 10); body length: 8.00–9.50 (x‾ = 8.70, n = 10).

Head. Labrum basal surface yellowish. Mandible mostly yellowish, apex brown. Clypeus mostly golden with copper reflection, apex yellowish, apical border exposed, yellowish; densely punctate, I = 0.5 PD, punctures large, mostly smooth in between, imbricate on basal margin; setae length = 2 OD. Epistomal angle acute, protruding over clypeus. Supraclypeal area copper with golden reflection; densely punctate, imbricate in between. Paraocular area golden with green reflection; densely punctate, punctures coarse, smooth in between; long setae (2 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. Antennae: scape black; pedicel longer than F1; mostly black, apex brownish; F1 ventrally light brown; shorter than F2; F3 as long as wide; remaining flagellomeres mostly dark brown, ventrally light brown. Frons with copper and green reflections intermixed; contiguously to crowded punctate; setae length = 1–2 OD. Gena with copper and golden reflections. Post gena with golden reflection, darkened near hypostoma; loosely imbricate, some scattered weak punctures; abundant long setae up to 4 OD.

Mesosoma. Pronotum lateral angle with a projected acute tip. Fore leg: coxa dark, weak green reflection; trochanter dark brown; femur dark brown with weak green reflection; strongly swollen, posterior margin regularly rounded; tibia light brown; tarsus yellow; white to yellowish setae on both. Mesoscutum mostly dark, marginally green; mostly crowded punctate, densely punctate on disc, I <PD, punctures foveate, microreticulate in between, anterior border contiguously punctate; setae length = 1–1.5 OD. Scutellum medial furrow inconspicuous; mostly black, marginally blue; mostly punctate, punctures coarse, denser punctation medially; longer setae (4 OD) near apex. Mesepisternum blue; preepisternum contiguously punctate near pronotal lobe; hypoepimeral area contiguously punctate; below scrobe densely punctate, I = 0.5 PD, punctures foveate, imbricate in between. Mid leg: coxa black; trochanter black; setae length 3 OD; femur dark brown with weak green reflection; swollen; tibia and basitarsus brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Tegula light brown. Metanotum with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer dark setae (= 3 OD). Metepisternum darkened with blue iridescence; punctate, smooth in between, crowded punctate to striate near hind wing. Hind leg: coxa black with weak blue iridescence; trochanter dark brown; femur dark brown; tibia dark brown, anterior surface without abundant tiny setae among long setae; basitarsus more than 6.5x longer than maximum width, parallel sided; dark brown. Metapostnotum blue; as long as metanotum; slightly concave; entirely filled with radiating carinae. Propodeum green with blue iridescence; with tiny and long (3 OD) setae intermixed; posterior surface foveate punctate to rugose; lateral carinae ending above propodeum half, mixing with foveate punctures; lateral surfaces imbricate among punctures.

Metasoma. T1 anterior surface sparsely punctate, I = 3 PD, smooth in between; mostly dark, blue iridescence; only with long setae, tiny decumbent setae absent. T1 dorsal surface sparsely punctate, I> PD, coarser and denser punctation on lateral surfaces, with an impunctate area near apical margin medially; mostly black, lateral surfaces blue; tiny setae on disc, lateral surfaces with longer setae (2 OD); apex inflexed, black. T2 mostly dark brown, lateral surfaces blue; sparsely punctate on disc, I = 2 PD, denser punctation on lateral surfaces, mostly smooth in between, imbricate on lateral surfaces; marginal area with punctate portion shorter than apical black band on sublateral surfaces; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (= OD) near margin and lateral surfaces, pre-marginal setae ending far from apical margin on sub-lateral surfaces. T3 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly dark brown with weak blue iridescence, apical band dark brown; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (2 OD) near margin and lateral surfaces. T4 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; dark brown with weak blue iridescence; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (3 OD) scattered on disc and lateral surfaces. T5 dark brown; long setae (3 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. T6 brown; mostly with long setae (<3 OD). T7 dark brown. S1 without elevation; dark brown; with long plumose setae (2 OD) medially, margin with tiny decumbent setae. S2 mostly dark brown, apical band yellowish; medioapical margin sharp; punctate, microreticulate in between; with long plumose setae (3 OD), tiny setae on apex. S3 mostly dark brown with weak blue iridescence, apical band yellowish; medioapical margin slightly rounded; punctate, microreticulate in between; with long plumose setae (3 OD), tiny setae on apex. S4 mostly dark brown, apical band yellowish; medioapical margin almost straight; punctate, microreticulate in between; with long plumose setae (3 OD), tiny setae on apex. S5 dark brown; not depressed transversally on median surface; homogeneously pilose, without glabrous patch medially. S6 dark brown; setae length = OD, tiny setae on apex. S7 lateral apodemes shorter than half S8 width. S8 anterior projection more than four times longer than apical width; posterior margin acuminate.

Genitalia: gonobase 3 times wider than long; gonobase ventral arms slightly curved on apex. Gonocoxite 2 times longer than wide. Gonostylus, dorsal surface glabrous. Ventral process of gonostylus: inner lobe spatulate, slightly expanded; with tiny setae and bristles intermixed; outer lobe with short setae with length = 0.4x inner lobe size. Gonapophysis ventral prong poorly produced; dorsal bridge margin almost straight; ventral bridge absent; apodeme narrow and weakly hooked.

Distribution. This species is found in the Brazilian states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and S„o Paulo. In Argentina, the species is found in the provinces of Misiones and Salta. There are also records from Paraguay.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–C) Female mandible, anterior view. A) Augochlora aurinasis (Vachal); B) Augochlora daphnis Smith; C) Augochlora genalis sp. nov. Scale bar: 0.2 mm. D–G) Female mid trochanter, anterior view. D) Augochlora nausicaa (Schrottky); E) Augochlora francisca (Schrottky); F) Augochlora phoemonoe (Schrottky); G) Augochlora mulleri Cockerell. H–L) Female metasoma, anterior portion (T1 and S1), lateral view. H) Augochlora thusnelda (Schrottky); I) Augochlora nausicaa (Schrottky); J) Augochlora braziliensis (Vachal); K) Augochlora francisca Schrottky; L) Augochlora phoemonoe (Schrottky). D–L not in scale.

FIGURE 2. Male T1. A) Augochlora braziliensis Vachal; B) Augochlora thusnelda (Schrottky). Scale bar: 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 34. Female of Augochlora perimelas Cockerell. 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.