Eufriesea simillima (Moure & Michener, 1965) Gonzalez & Griswold & Simões, 2017

Gonzalez, Victor H., Griswold, Terry & Simoes, Marianna, 2017, On the identity of the adventive species of Eufriesea Cockerell in the USA: systematics and potential distribution of the coerulescens species group (Hymenoptera, Apidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 55, pp. 55-102 : 62

Eufriesea simillima (Moure & Michener, 1965) stat. n.

Male, Figs 3 , 12 , 13 , 67-72 , 73-78 ; Female, Figs 64 , 79-83

Euplusia simillima Moure & Michener in Moure, 1965: 275 (Holotype: SEMC; ♂, Mexico: Chihuahua, Maguarichi)

Diagnosis.

Both sexes of this species can be easily recognized by their body color, which is predominantly dark purple, thus resembling E. micheneri . However, they can be easily separated from that species by the shorter glossa (not surpassing metatrochanter in E. simillima and reaching S1 in E. micheneri ), shape of the subapical projection on the anterior surface of the male metatibia, male gonostylus, and metasoma with dark brown to black pubescence (apical terga and sterna with white setae at least laterally in E. micheneri ). (See comparative diagnosis for E. micheneri )

Redescription.

Holotype, ♂: As described for E. coerulescens except as follows: Head width 6.0 mm; intertegular distance 4.9 mm; body length 15.4 mm; forewing length 14.3 mm. Glossa in repose reaching metatrochanter. Anterior margin of metatibia in inner view, above tibial spurs, not bordered laterally by an elevated ridge and thus not forming a distinct pocket, subapical projection above inner spur acute in profile; metabasitarsus about 2.2 times longer than broad. Hidden sterna and genitalia as in Figs 73-78 .

Mandible black on apical two-thirds, basally purple as on labrum; face largely green, remainder of body purple with weak bluish-green hues on tegula and mesoscutum.

Gena with gray to black setae as on vertex. Mesosoma with black setae except whitish setae on outer surface of mesobasitarsus and off-white on anterior half of mesoscutum. Mesotibia with area between medial margin of posterior patch and anterior margin of tibia setose on apical third; posterior patch 4.5 times longer than broad, subapically about as broad as distance between its medial margin and anterior margin of tibia.

♀: Head width 6.2 mm; intertegular distance 5.2 mm; body length 14.6 mm; forewing length 13.5 mm. Metatibia with emargination on distal margin about half width of posterodistal angle; metabasitarsus 2.2 times longer than broad.

Coloration as in male but face blue with weak green hues, mesoscutum and tegula lacking green hues.

Pubescence black including on legs and metasoma.

Clypeus sometimes with median longitudinal ridge continuing onto supraclypeal area; labrum with basal, longitudinally elongate tubercle, sublateral carinae sometimes weak. Mesoscutellum with fine, contiguous punctures submedially, median longitudinal groove weak, lacking distinct row of dense pubescence. T2 with punctures on disc sparser than in the male, separated by at least a puncture width, impunctate distal margin wide, at least three or four times a puncture width.

Distribution.

(Fig. 128 ) This species is known only from the western slope of the Cordillera of Chihuahua, Mexico.

Comments.

This species is reinstated from synonymy with E. coerulescens . As indicated in the key to species and the diagnosis, both sexes of this species are morphologically distinct as well as geographically separated from E. coerulescens . Moure (1965: 275) indicated that the length of the interocellar distance is greater than the ocellocular distance in the male of E. coerulescens whereas such a distance was subequal in the male of E. simillima ; however, such a difference was not observed in the lectotype of E. coerulescens , thus suggesting that Moure’s observation may have not been based on the type specimen. We were only able to examine the holotype and paratypes from Maguarichi and Barranca del Cobre, Chihuahua, all deposited in SEMC and FSCA.

Figures

Figure 128. Collection localities for species of Eufriesea of the Eufriesea coerulescens group.

Figures 1 - 3. Male mesotibia showing anterior (ap) and posterior (pp) felty patches. The presence or absence of setae in the area between the medial margin of the posterior patch and the anterior margin of tibia (aa) distally, is an important feature in species identification. 1 E. coerulescens (Mexico: Nuevo Leon; ECO-TAP-E- 104040) 2 E. oliveri (holotype) 3 E. simillima (holotype).

Figures 7 - 13. Outer view of the male hind leg (7) and detail of the subapical projection (indicated by an arrow) above the tibial spurs in anterior (8, 10, 12) and lateral views (9, 11, 13) Red box in Fig. 7 indicates detailed area in subsequent figures 7 - 9 E. coerulescens (Mexico: Nuevo Leon, ECO-TAP-E- 104040) 10, 11 E. oliveri (paratype. Mexico: Guerrero, EMEC 1069134) 12, 13 E. simillima (paratype. Mexico: Chihuahua, KUNHM-ENT 0504566).

Figures 67 - 72. Male holotype of E. simillima (except paratype in Fig. 70; Mexico: Chihuahua, Barranca del Cobre, KUNHM-ENT 0504566). 67 Facial view 68 Dorsal habitus 69 Lateral habitus 70 Outer view of hind leg; 71 Dorsal view of mesoscutellum 72 Second metasomal tergum.

Figures 73 - 78. Male terminalia of E. simillima (paratype. Mexico: Chihuahua, Barranca del Cobre, KUNHM-ENT 0504566). 73 Seventh metasomal sternum in ventral view 74, 75 Eighth metasomal sternum in ventral and lateral views 76 - 78 Genital capsule in dorsal, ventral, and lateral views.

Figures 63 - 66. Female second metasomal tergum. 63 E. oliveri (paratype. Mexico: Guerrero, EMEC 1069136) 64 E. simillima (paratype. Mexico, Maguarichi, KUNHM-ENT 1091973) 65 E. barthelli (paratype. Mexico: Morelos, Tepoztlan, UNAM 01827) 66 E. micheneri (paratype. Mexico: Jalisco, Mascota, KUNHM-ENT 1121708).

Figures 79 - 83. Female paratype of E. simillima (Mexico: Maguarichi, KUNHM-ENT 1091973). 79 Facial view 80 Dorsal habitus 81 Lateral habitus 82 Outer view of hind leg 83 Dorsal view of mesoscutellum.