Aenarete roigi Engel & Gonzalez, 2022

Engel, Michael S. & Gonzalez, Victor H., 2022, A new bee genus from the pampas of eastern Argentina, with appended notes on the classification of “ paracolletines ” (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), Journal of Melittology 2022 (109), pp. 1-39 : 4-7

Aenarete roigi Engel & Gonzalez , new species

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F9507866-F476-409E-AC8E-151101481675

( Figs. 1–7 )

DIAGNOSIS: As for the genus (vide supra).

DESCRIPTION: As for genus with following additions: ♀: Total body length 8.20 mm; forewing length 5.40 mm. Head broader than long, width 2.10 mm, length 1.83 mm; upper interocular distance 1.33 mm, lower interocular distance 1.30 mm; gena narrower than compound eye in profile. Scape long, reaching to upper tangent of median ocellus. Intertegular distance 1.58 mm.

Integument largely with coarse but comparatively shallow punctures, with integument between smooth and shining; clypeus with punctures separated by less than a puncture width, albeit more spaced medially and apically; supraclypeal area with similar punctures except smaller; punctures of lower face nearly contiguous; similar punctation on frons although slightly more spaced on upper part of frons; ocellocular area similar to frons except with small impunctate area near lateral ocellus; vertex and gena as on frons. Mesoscutum with punctures nearly contiguous anteriorly, becoming more spaced by disc, with punctures separated by a puncture width or slightly less, along posterior border again becoming closer, separated by less than a puncture width; mesoscutellum with punctures separated by less than a puncture width along anterior, lateral, and posterior margins as well as in weak mediolongitudinal depression, otherwise punctures sparse in large paramedian areas; metanotum with small punctures nearly contiguous. Mesepisternum with punctures separated by 0.5–2× a puncture width, integument between punctures faintly coriaceous, punctures of hypoepimeral area smaller and denser, separated by less than a puncture width to nearly contiguous; metepisternum with small, nearly contiguous punctures similar to hypoepimeral area; lateral surface of propodeum with contiguous, ill-defined, coarse punctures, integument noticeably granulose-coriaceous; basal area of propodeum granulose-coriaceous, with weak transverse ridges at extreme base, marginal line comparatively broad, strongly areolate. Metasomal terga with small punctures separated by less than a puncture width, including in marginal zones, integument between punctures faintly coriaceous or imbricate except tergum I with punctures of anterior-facing surface more widely spaced and integument between smooth. Sterna largely imbricate, with dense small punctures in apical halves to two thirds.

Integument dark metallic blue except mandible dark brown with reddish apex; labiomaxillary complex and antenna dark brown; labrum black; clypeus with blue faint; teguyla orange; legs largely dark brown, with areas of reddish brown and tarsi lighter; metasoma with apical margins more reddish dark brown on more apical terga; pygidial plate dark brown to black; sterna dark reddish brown, with prominent metallic blue highlights. Wing membranes hyaline clear; veins orange.

Pubescence generally white (except as noted); setae of face largely long and with minute branches, nearly obscuring integument of lower face and lower frons, such setae sparser and somewhat shorter on clypeus, upper frons, vertex, and gena; setae on apical margin of clypeus dirty yellowish; such setae becoming progressively longer on lower gena and greatly elongate on postgena. Mesosoma with similar setae as those of vertex except tomentose on pronotal lobe and upper mesepisternum immediately posterior to pronotal lobe; mesoscutum with such setae more numerous along margins, more sparsely distributed on disc, similar setation on mesoscutellum, albeit longer posteriorly; metanotum with setae similar to those on posterior of mesoscutellum except abundant and nearly obscuring integument; pleura with setae progressively longer ventrally and more numerous on lateral surfaces of propodeum. Setation of legs as described for genus (supra). Metasoma with scatered short erect to suberect white setae, with thin apical vibrissae on terga I– IV; prepydigial and pygidial fimbria dark fuscous to black. Sternal setae as described for genus (supra).

♂: Latet.

HOLOTYPE: ♀, Tandil, 250 m, Prov. Bs. Aires [Buenos Aires Province], Arg. [ Argentina], XI.1954, F.H. Walz ( SEMC = Snow Entomological Collection, Division of Entomlogy, University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence, Kansas, USA).

PARATYPE: ♀, Tandil, 250 m, Prov. Bs. Aires [Buenos Aires Province], Arg. [ Argentina], XI.1954, F.H. Walz ( SEMC) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet honors Arturo Roig-Alsina, magisterial melitologist whose contributions have not only elevated the study of South American Apoidea , but have had a global reach and impact.

Figures

Figures 1–2. Holotype female of Aenarete roigi, new genus and species. 1. Lateral habitus. 2. Dorsal habitus.

Figures 3–5. Details of female of Aenarete roigi, new genus and species. 3. Facial view. 4. Pygidial plate. 5. Mesoscutellum, metanotum, and basal area of propodeum.

Figures 6–7. Details of female of Aenarete roigi, new genus and species. 6. Metabasitibial plate and metatibial setae. 7. Dorsal view of head and mesosoma.