Augochlora (Augochlora) mulleri 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 : 59-62

Augochlora (Augochlora) mulleri Cockerell 1900

( Figures 1G ; 3G ; 30 A–D; 31A–D; 50D)

Augochlora mulleri Cockerell 1900: 361 , lectotype, ♀, (CMNH 355) from Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul, Corumbá. Subsequent designation by Moure & Hurd (1987: 264). Not examined.

Augochlora belti Cockerell 1900: 370 , holotype, ³, ( CMNH 361 ) from ‘ Brazil, Pedra Branca’ (probably Puerto Suarez, in Bolivia). Not examined.

Augochlora belti perangusta Cockerell, 1900: 361 , lectotype, ³, ( CM 362 ) from Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul, Corumbá. Not examined.

Augochlora mulleri var. capitata Schrottky, 1902: 389 , holotype, ♀ (MZUSP) from Brazil, São Paulo, Botucatu. Examined.

Odontochlora nigricincta Moure, 1940: 55 , holotype, ♀ (DZUP) from Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul, Maracaju. Examined.

Diagnosis. Augochlora mulleri is a relatively large-sized species, with very coarse body punctation. Females have the mid trochanter ventral margin strongly projected ( Fig. 1G ), as A. atlantica sp. nov., but can be identified by the strongly inflexed T1 apex, forming a tubular margin and by the body color, which is usually entirely green with blue iridescence. Males can be diagnosed also by the T1 tubular border and by the T2 disc protuberant. Overall appearance of metasomal terga resembles bees of the cleptoparasitic genus Temnosoma Smith.

Comments. We did not examine the type material of A. mulleri but the original description mentions diagnostic features for the species, including coarse and contiguous punctation, along with the long spiniform projection on S1. Previous authors recognized this species and proposed those synonymies ( Moure & Hurd 1987). A nest of this species was observed in rotten wood by Sakagami & Moure (1967).

Description. ♀. Measurements. Maximum interocular distance: 1.70–2.45 (x‾ = 2.05, n = 10); head length: 2.24–3.08 (x‾ = 2.65, n = 10); clypeus width: 0.66–0.90 (x‾ = 0.81, n = 10); clypeus length: 0.54–0.82 (x‾ = 0.67, n = 10); clypeoantennal distance: 0.36–0.54 (x‾ = 0.43, n = 10); clypeus ocellar distance: 1.20–1.54 (x‾ = 1.39, n = 10); intertegular distance: 1.52–2.20 (x‾ = 1.88, n = 10); T1 width: 2.20–3.36 (x‾ = 2.78, n = 10); T2 width: 2.32–3.52 (x‾ = 2.98, n = 10); body length: 8.50–11.50 (x‾ = 10.10, n = 10).

Head. Labrum basal surface black; basal elevation transverse. Mandible mostly black, subapical region brown and with basal green spot; medial portion strongly constricted, with about half basal width; preapical tooth large and sharp, produced near mandible apex; distal part of adductor ridge strongly swollen. Clypeus mostly green, 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 green; densely punctate, imbricate in between. Lower paraocular area green; contiguously punctate; long setae (1–2 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. Antennae: scape and pedicel black, flagellum dark brown, ventrally pale. Frons with green and blue iridescences intermixed; contiguously punctate; not protuberant above antennal sockets. Preoccipital area strongly lamellate, lamella expanded near post gena. Gena with blue iridescence. Post gena darkened near hypostoma; microreticulate, some scattered weak punctures; setae length <3 OD. Hypostomal carina not projected anteriorly.

Mesosoma. Pronotum dorsolateral angle orthogonal. Fore leg: coxa ventrally green; trochanter black; femur black with green reflection; ventral surface slightly rounded; long plumose setae (<4 OD); tibia and tarsus brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Mesoscutum green; contiguously punctate, anterior border punctate, microreticulate in between; setae length <OD. Scutellum medial furrow inconspicuous; green; contiguously punctate; with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer yellowish setae (4 OD). Mesepisternum green; preepisternum densely punctate near pronotal lobe; hypoepimeral area densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, imbricate in between; below scrobe densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, imbricate in between, ventrally crowded punctate; with tiny setae becoming longer ventrally. Mid leg: coxa dark brown; trochanter dark brown; ventral margin widely projected; femur brown, flattened, mesofemoral brush yellowish; tibia and tarsus brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Tegula brown with anterior green spot. Metanotum with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer white setae (= 3 OD). Metepisternum green; densely punctate, becoming crowded punctate to rugose above superior metapleural pit. Hind leg: coxa green, anterior and posterior surfaces ventrally separated by a smoothly curved area; trochanter dark brown; setae length = 4 OD; femur dark brown; tibia and tarsus brown; outer surfaces without dark setae. Metapostnotum green; shorter than scutellum; entirely with radiating carinae, medially somewhat rugose. Propodeum green; with tiny and long (3 OD) setae intermixed; posterior surface crowded punctate to rugulose; lateral carinae ending below propodeum half; lateral surfaces imbricate among punctures.

Metasoma. T1 anterior surface punctate, imbricate in between; mostly green, base darkened; with dense coverage of tiny decumbent setae among long setae. T1 dorsal surface densely punctate on disc, punctures coarse, loosely imbricate in between, denser punctation on lateral surfaces; mostly green with blue iridescence; mostly glabrous, long setae (= OD) on lateral surfaces; apex strongly inflexed, forming a tubular border, black. T2 mostly green with blue iridescence; punctate on disc, coarser and denser punctation on lateral surfaces, mostly smooth, imbricate near base; marginal area with punctate portion shorter than apical black band on sublateral surfaces; tiny decumbent setae near base and lateral surfaces, long setae (3 OD) on lateral surfaces. T3 punctate, imbricate in between; mostly green, apical band black; tiny setae apex not reaching apical margin sublaterally. T4 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly green with blue iridescence, apical band black; mostly with tiny decumbent setae, long setae (3 OD) scattered on disc and lateral surfaces. T5 black with weak green reflection; pseudopygidial area not covered by scale-like setae, colliculate integument exposed. Pygidial plate black, apex rounded. S1 with a long and broad spiniform projection; black 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 (> 3 OD). S3–4 similar to S2, although darker. S5 apical margin widely rounded; dark brown; long setae (> 3 OD). S6 black; long dark setae on apex.

Redescription. Ƌ. Measurements. Maximum interocular distance: 1.61–2.05 (x‾ = 1.79, n = 10); head length: 2.12–2.80 (x‾ = 2.43, n = 10); clypeus width: 0.56–0.88 (x‾ = 0.70, n = 10); clypeus length: 0.52–0.80 (x‾ = 0.64, n = 10); clypeoantennal distance: 0.36–0.50 (x‾ = 0.40, n = 10); clypeus ocellar distance: 1.18–1.48 (x‾ = 1.28, n = 10); intertegular distance: 1.55–1.89 (x‾ = 1.71, n = 10); T1 width: 2.04–2.92 (x‾ = 2.44, n = 10); T2 width: 2.16–3.00 (x‾ = 2.53, n = 10); scape length: 0.66–0.78 (x‾ = 0.73, n = 10); body length: 8.00–10.50 (x‾ = 9.55, n = 10).

Head. Labrum basal surface dark brown. Mandible mostly dark brown, base with green spot. Clypeus green, apical border hidden below, dark brown; 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 green; densely punctate, loosely imbricate in between. Paraocular area green; contiguously punctate, punctures coarse; long setae (3 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. Antennae: scape black; pedicel as long as F1; mostly black, apex brownish; F1 ventrally light brown; shorter than F2; F3 longer than wide; remaining flagellomeres mostly dark brown, ventrally light brown. Frons with green and blue iridescences intermixed; contiguously to crowded punctate; setae length = 1–2 OD. Gena with blue iridescence. Post gena with golden reflection, darkened near hypostoma; loosely imbricate, some scattered weak punctures; sparse long setae up to 3 OD.

Mesosoma. Pronotum lateral angle with a projected acute tip. Fore leg: coxa ventrally green; trochanter black; femur black with green reflection; slightly swollen; tibia and tarsus light brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Mesoscutum green; densely punctate on disc, I <PD, contiguously punctate on lateral surfaces, microreticulate in between, anterior border contiguously punctate; setae length = 0.5–1 OD. Scutellum medial furrow inconspicuous; green; mostly punctate, punctures coarse, denser punctation medially; longer setae (3 OD) near apex. Mesepisternum green; preepisternum contiguously punctate near pronotal lobe; hypoepimeral area densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, imbricate in between; below scrobe densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, imbricate in between. Mid leg: coxa dark brown with weak green reflection; trochanter dark brown with weak green reflection; setae length = 4 OD; femur dark brown with green reflection; not swollen; tibia and basitarsus brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Tegula light brown with anterior green spot. Metanotum with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer white setae (= 3 OD). Metepisternum green; densely punctate, imbricate in between, crowded punctate to striate near hind wing. Hind leg: coxa and trochanter green; femur dark brown with weak green reflection; tibia brown, anterior surface without abundant tiny setae among long setae; basitarsus more than 6.5x longer than maximum width, parallel sided; brown. Metapostnotum green; as long as metanotum; plane; entirely filled with radiating carinae. Propodeum green; with tiny and long (3 OD) setae intermixed; posterior surface contiguously punctate; lateral carinae lamellate, ending below propodeum half; lateral surfaces imbricate among punctures.

Metasoma. T1 anterior surface sparsely punctate, I = 2 PD, imbricate in between; mostly green, base darkened; only with long setae, tiny decumbent setae absent. T1 dorsal surface densely punctate on disc, I <PD, punctures coarse, denser punctation on lateral surfaces, with an impunctate area near apical margin medially; mostly green with golden reflections; disc mostly glabrous, long setae (2 OD) on lateral surfaces; apex strongly inflexed, forming a tubular border, black. T2 mostly blue with green reflection; punctate, I = PD, punctures coarse, denser punctation on lateral surfaces, smooth in between; marginal area with punctate portion shorter than apical black band on sublateral surfaces; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (2 OD) near margin and lateral surfaces, pre-marginal setae ending far from apical margin on sub-lateral surfaces. T3 punctate, imbricate in between; mostly blue with green reflection, apical band black; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (2 OD) near marginal area and on lateral surfaces. T4 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly blue with green reflection, apical band black; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (2 OD) scattered on disc and lateral surfaces. T5 mostly green, apical band black; long setae (2 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. T6 mostly green, apex brown; mostly with long setae (<4 OD). T7 light brown. S1 without elevation; mostly green, apex 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 (2 OD), tiny setae on apex. S3 mostly dark brown with weak green reflection, apical band yellowish; medioapical margin slightly rounded; punctate, microreticulate in between; with long plumose setae (2 OD), tiny setae on apex. S4 mostly dark brown with weak green reflection, apical band yellowish; medioapical margin straight; punctate, microreticulate in between; with long plumose setae (2 OD), tiny setae on apex. S5 mostly black with weak blue iridescence; not depressed transversally on median surface; homogeneously pilose, without glabrous patch medially. S6 black; setae length = OD, tiny setae on apex. S7 lateral apodemes about as long as half S8 width. S8 anterior projection more than four times longer than apical width; posterior margin weakly projected.

Genitalia: gonobase 2 times wider than long; gonobase ventral arms curved on apex. Gonocoxite about 1.5 times longer than wide. Gonostylus, dorsal surface pubescent, tiny setae. Ventral process of gonostylus: inner lobe slender; with tiny setae; outer lobe with short setae with length = 0.4x inner lobe size. Gonapophysis ventral prong well produced, small; dorsal bridge margin strongly projected; ventral bridge present; apodeme narrow and hooked.

Distribution. The species occurs in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, Rondônia, and S„o Paulo. In Argentina, the species is found in Misiones. There are also records in Bolivia and 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 3. A–C) Female pronotum, dorsal view. A) Augochlora phoemonoe (Schrottky); B) Augochlora australis sp. nov.; C) Augochlora genalis sp. nov. D–E) Male T1, dorsal view. D) Augochlora morrae Strand; E) Augochlora caerulior Cockerell. F–G) Female T2, dorsal view. F) Augochlora nausicaa (Schrottky); G) Augochlora mulleri Cockerell. A–C and F–G at same scale. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 30. Female of Augochlora mulleri 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.