Augochlora (Augochlora) australis, 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 : 16-17

Augochlora (Augochlora) australis sp. nov.

( Figures 3B ; 6 A–D)

Diagnosis. Augochlora australis sp. nov. is the smallest Augochlora s. str. found in the study area (6.5 mm). The species has an inflexed T1 apex and a spiniform projection on S1 and from other species with these combination of features, it can be separated by the pronotum dorsolateral angle with a projected acute tip ( Fig. 3B ) and by the coarse punctures on T1.

Comments. This is one of the two species found only in the province of Neuquén, Argentina, the southernmost record for Augochlora so far. Is noteworthy the similarity of A. australis sp. nov. with more northern undetermined species, such as in Peru, from which this species seems to be more related than to other species occurring in southern South America. Even though a single specimen was found, the small size and the coarse punctation on T1 not found in other species plus the distribution data are clear indications that this is a new species.

Description. ♀. measurements. Maximum interocular distance: 1.33; head length: 1.72; clypeus width: 0.54; clypeus length: 0.42; clypeoantennal distance: 0.30; clypeus ocellar distance: 1.06; intertegular distance: 1.11; T1 width: 1.60; T2 width: 1.84; body length: 6.50.

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 weakly swollen. Clypeus mostly green with golden reflection, apical black band <OD; punctate, punctures large and weak, smooth in between; apex not prolonged over apical border. Epistomal angle acute, strongly protruding over clypeus. Supraclypeal area green with golden reflection; sparsely punctate, imbricate in between. Lower paraocular area with golden reflection; contiguously punctate; long setae (= OD) intermixed with tiny setae. Antennae: mostly dark brown, flagellum ventrally brown. Frons with green and blue iridescences intermixed; crowded punctate; not protuberant above antennal sockets. Preoccipital area strongly lamellate, lamella expanded near post gena. Gena with golden reflection. Post gena with golden 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 brown with weak green reflection; trochanter brown; femur brown with weak green reflection; ventral surface slightly rounded; long plumose setae (<3 OD); tibia and tarsus dark brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Mesoscutum green with golden reflection; sparsely 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; densely punctate, I <PD; with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer white setae (4 OD). 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, ventrally crowded punctate; with long setae (2 OD). Mid leg: coxa dark brown; trochanter dark brown; ventral margin swollen near base; femur dark brown, flattened, mesofemoral brush yellowish; tibia and tarsus dark brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Tegula dark brown with anterior green spot. Metanotum with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer dark setae (= 2 OD). Metepisternum green; contiguously 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 = 2 OD; femur dark brown; tibia and tarsus dark brown; outer surfaces without dark setae. Metapostnotum green, with golden reflection; shorter than scutellum; entirely with radiating carinae, medially somewhat rugose. Propodeum green with golden reflection; with tiny and long (3 OD) setae intermixed; posterior surface punctate, smooth in between; lateral carinae ending below propodeum half; lateral surfaces imbricate among punctures.

Metasoma. T1 anterior surface sparsely punctate, smooth in between; mostly green, base darkened; only with long setae, tiny decumbent setae absent. T1 dorsal surface densely punctate anteriorly, sparsely punctate on sublat-eral surfaces, dense and coarse punctures preceding marginal area and on lateral surfaces; mostly green with golden reflection, dorsally brown; tiny setae dorsally, long setae (2 OD) on lateral surfaces; apex inflexed, brown; T2 mostly green with golden reflection, dorsally with brown spot; sparsely punctate on disc, coarser and denser punctation on lateral surfaces, mostly imbricate in between, smooth on lateral surfaces; marginal area with punctate portion as long as 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 with golden reflection, apical band brown; tiny setae apex not reaching apical margin sublaterally. T4 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly green with golden reflection, apical band brown; mostly with tiny decumbent setae, long setae (2 OD) scattered on disc and lateral surfaces. T5 dark brown; pseudopygidial area not covered by scale-like setae, colliculate integument exposed. Pygidial plate black, apex rounded. S1 with a long and broad spiniform projection; 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; brown; long setae (> 3 OD). S6 dark brown; long dark setae on apex.

Distribution. The single female was collected in San Martin de Los Andes, in the Neuquén province, Argentina.

Etymology. The Latin word ‘australis’ means belonging to the south, being a reference to the occurrence data for the species.

Type material. Holotype, DZUP, ♀ DZUP \568315 S. M. D. l. Andes \ RA Neuquen XI 54\F. H. WALZ.

Figures

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 6. Holotype female of Augochlora australis 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.