Augochlora (Oxystoglossella) morrae Strand, 1910

Lepeco, Anderson & Gonçalves, Rodrigo Barbosa, 2020, New species of Augochlora (Oxystoglossella) Eickwort (Hymenoptera; Apoidea) from Northeastern Brazil with an identification key for the region, Zootaxa 4802 (2), pp. 261-293 : 282-286

Augochlora (Oxystoglossella) morrae Strand, 1910

( Figs. 2B, D ; 4A ; 14 A-D; 15A-D; 18D; 19C)

Augochlora morrae Strand, 1910 , holotype ♀ (ZMB) from Paraguay, ‘ Villa Morra’ . Not examined.

Halictus hemitomes Vachal, 1911 , lectotype ♀ (MNHP, accession number EY25514) from Bolivia is presently designated to stabilize the taxonomy of the species. Examined through photographs.

Diagnosis. As A. bipunctata sp. nov., this species has a rugulose preepisternum, copper-red metasomal terga and striate gena and postgena. A. morrae females differ from A. bipunctata sp. nov. in bearing slightly larger punctures and shorter setae on mesoscutum. The males can be distinguished from A. bipunctata by the smooth integument among punctures on mesepisternal surface below scrobe. Both sexes of A. morrae have smaller size and a slightly more elongate head, body and legs in comparison to A. bipunctata sp. nov.

Comments. The description A. morrae made by Strand (1910) agrees perfectly with a very common species occurring in Southern South America, actually the only Augochlora species from that region which agrees with the original description. We examined photographs of H. hemitomes syntypes and they also agree with the species circumscribed here.

Description. ♀. Measurements. Eye notch width: 1.36–1.77 (mean = 1.57, n = 10); head length: 1.76–2.36 (mean = 2.03, n = 10); clypeus width: 0.46–0.64 (mean = 0.55, n = 10); clypeus length: 0.44–0.62 (mean = 0.49, n = 10); clypeoantennal distance: 0.30–0.42 (mean = 0.36, n = 10); clypeus ocellar distance: 1.06–1.34 (mean = 1.19, n = 10); intertegular distance: 1.21–1.58 (mean = 1.38, n = 10); T1 width: 1.60–2.20 (mean = 1.91, n = 10); T2 width: 1.84–2.44 (mean = 2.14, n = 10); body length: 6.50–8.50 (mean = 7.40, n = 10).

Head. Labrum basal surface dark brown; basal elevation well defined, orbicular. Mandible mostly black, subapical region brown and with basal green spot; preapical tooth far from apex. Clypeus mostly copper with golden reflection, apical black band = OD; punctate, punctures large and weak, mostly smooth in between, imbricate on basal margin; long setae (2.0 OD) on apical margin, shorter on basal margin. Epistomal angle acute, protruding into clypeus. Supraclypeal area golden; densely punctate, imbricate in between. Parocular area with golden reflection; contiguously punctate, punctures coarse; long setae (1.0–2.0 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. Antennae mostly black, flagellum ventrally brown; longer setae (= OD) on scape base. Frons with golden and blue iridescences; contiguously punctate; setae length 1.5–2.0 OD. Vertex contiguously punctate, punctures weak. Preoccipital area strongly lamellate, lamella expanded near post gena. Gena with copper and golden reflections; contiguously to conflected punctate, punctures weak. Postgena golden with copper reflection; microreticulate to strongly striate, some scattered weak punctures; setae length <3.0 OD. Hypostomal carina lamellate, slightly projected anteriorly.

Mesosoma. Pronotum lateral angle obtuse, dorsal surface green. Fore leg: coxa ventrally green; trochanter black; femur black with green reflection; long plumose setae (<5.0 OD); tibia dark brown; tarsus brown. Mesoscutum green with golden reflection; densely punctate, punctures small, some scattered larger punctures; anterior border rugulose; setae length <2.0 OD. Scutellum green with golden reflection; punctate, i = PD, punctures small; longer setae (4.0 OD) near apex. Mesepisternum green with golden reflection; preepisternum rugose; hypoepimeral area densely punctate, i <0.5 PD, smooth in between; below scrobe punctate, i = PD, smooth in between, ventrally conflected. Mid leg: coxa and trochanter black with green reflection; femur black with weak green reflection; tibia and tarsus dark brown. Tegula light brown with anterior green spot. Fore wing marginal cell apex truncate, appendiculate. Metanotum with tiny setae near base, scattered long setae (<4.0 OD). Metepisternum green with golden reflection. Hind leg: coxa green, ventrally rounded; trochanter green; long plumose setae (3.0 OD); femur to tarsus dark brown. Metapostnotum green with golden reflection; shorter than scutellum; plane, mostly rugose, carinate on lateral surfaces, posterior surface with transversal carinae. Propodeum green with golden reflection; long plumose setae (3.0 OD) intermixed with tiny decumbent setae; posterior surface some scattered larger punctures, microreticulate in between; lateral surfaces weakly punctate to rugulose.

Metasoma. T1 anterior surface sparsely punctate, smooth in between; mostly golden with copper reflection, base darkened; setae up to 3.0 OD intermixed with tomentose setae. T1 dorsal surface punctate, i> PD, smooth in between; mostly copper-red with golden reflection, lateral surfaces green; tiny setae dorsally, long setae (2.0 OD) on lateral surfaces. T2 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly copper-red with golden reflection; marginal area brown; tiny decumbent setae near base and on lateral surfaces, long setae (3.0 OD) on lateral surfaces. T3 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly copper-red with golden reflection, apex brown; mostly with tiny decumbent setae reaching apical margin, long setae (3.0 OD) near margin and lateral on surfaces. T4 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly copper-red with golden reflection, apex brown; mostly with tiny decumbent setae, long setae (3.0 OD) scattered on disc and lateral surfaces. T5 black with purplish iridescence; brownish long plumose bristles pointing downwards and inwards; prepygidial area covered with dense scale-like setae. S1 projection absent; black; with long plumose setae (> 2.0 OD) medially, margin with tiny decumbent setae. S2 mostly black, apical band brownish; with long plumose setae (> 3.0 OD). S3–4 as S2, although with weak green reflection. S5 apical margin widely rounded; black; long plumose setae (> 3.0 OD). S6 black; long dark setae on apex.

Description. ♂. Measurements. Eye notch width: 1.24–1.42 (mean = 1.34, n = 10); head length: 1.64–1.96 (mean = 1.82, n = 10); clypeus width: 0.38–0.50 (mean = 0.45, n = 10); clypeus length: 0.44–0.52 (mean = 0.48, n = 10); clypeoantennal distance: 0.30–0.36 (mean = 0.33, n = 10); clypeus ocellar distance: 0.98–1.16 (mean = 1.07, n = 10); intertegular distance: 1.05–1.36 (mean = 1.20, n = 10); T1 width: 1.36–1.60 (mean = 1.52, n = 10); T2 width: 1.44–1.80 (mean = 1.64, n = 10); scape length: 0.44–0.50 (mean = 0.47, n = 10); body length: 6.00–7.00 (mean = 6.60, n = 10).

Head. Labrum basal surface pale, yellowish. Mandible mostly yellowish, apex brown. Clypeus mostly green, apex yellowish; densely punctate, i = 0.5 PD, punctures large, smooth in between; setae length = 2.0 OD. Supraclypeal area green with golden reflection. Parocular area with golden reflection; densely punctate, punctures small, smooth in between; long setae (2.0 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. Antennae: scape black; pedicel mostly black, apex brownish; F1 ventrally light brown; remaining flagellomeres mostly dark brown, ventrally light brown. Frons with golden and blue iridescences; contiguously to conflected punctate; setae length = 2.0–3.0 OD. Vertex conflected punctate behind ocelli, punctures weak. Preoccipital area lamellate. Gena with golden reflection; punctate. Postgena with copper and golden reflections, darkened near hypostoma; imbricate, some scattered punctures; setae length <4.0 OD.

Mesosoma. Pronotum dorsal surface green. Pronotal lobe punctate, loosely imbricate in between. Fore leg: coxa ventrally green; trochanter dark brown; femur brown with green reflection; slightly swollen; tibia and tarsus light brown. Mesoscutum green; anterior border rugulose; densely punctate on disc, i = 0.5 PD, mostly smooth in between, denser punctuation on lateral margins, anterior border contiguously punctate to rugulose; setae length = 1.0–2.0 OD. Scutellum with slight longitudinal furrow; green with golden reflection; mostly densely punctate, sparser on sublateral surfaces, smooth in between; longer setae (4.0 OD) near apex. Mesepisternum green; preepisternum rugose; hypoepimeral area and below scrobe densely punctate, i <0.5 PD, smooth in between. Mid leg: coxa dark brown; trochanter black with weak green reflection; setae length 2.0 OD; femur dark brown with green reflection; slightly swollen; tibia and tarsus light brown. Tegula brown with anterior green spot. Metanotum densely punctate, punctures small, laterally and posteriorly rugulose; tiny setae near base, scattered long setae (5.0 OD). Metepisternum green; punctate, smooth in between, striate near hind wing. Hind leg: coxa and trochanter green; long plumose setae (2.0 OD); femur brown with weak green reflection; tibia light brown, with abundant tiny setae among long setae; tarsus light brown; basitarsus more than 6.0 times longer than wide. Metapostnotum green with golden reflection; 1.5 times longer than metanotum; plane, mostly covered with strongly sinuous carinae, posterior surface rugulose. Propodeum green with golden reflection; long plumose setae (3.0 OD) intermixed with tiny decumbent setae; posterior surface densely punctate, smooth in between; lateral surfaces contiguously to conflected punctate.

Metasoma. T1 anterior surface scattered small punctures, smooth in between; mostly golden with copper reflection, base darkened; long setae only, up to 2.0 OD. T1 dorsal surface sparsely punctate, i = 2.0 PD, punctures small, coarser punctuation on lateral surfaces; mostly golden with copper-red reflection; tiny setae at disc, lateral surfaces with longer setae (2.0 OD). T2 punctate on disc, i = PD, contiguously punctate on lateral surfaces, mostly smooth in between, imbricate near base; mostly green with copper-red and purplish iridescences; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (2.0 OD) on lateral surfaces, premarginal setae ending near apical margin on sublateral surfaces. T3 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly copper-red with golden and green reflections, marginal area brown; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (2.0 OD) near margin and lateral surfaces. T4 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly copper-red with golden and green reflections, marginal area brown; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (3.0 OD) scattered on disc and lateral surfaces. T5 mostly copper-red with golden reflection, apex brown; long setae (3.0 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. T6 mostly copper-red with golden reflection, apex brown; mostly with long setae (<3.0 OD). T7 brown. S1 light brown with weak green reflection; with long plumose setae (3.0 OD) medially, margin with tiny decumbent setae. S2 mostly light brown, apical band yellowish; with long plumose setae (2.0 OD), tiny setae on apex. S3–4 simillar to S2, although with weak green reflection. S5 not depressed medially; mostly brown, apical band yellowish; setae length <OD. S6 brown; setae length = OD, tiny setae on apex. S7 lateral apodemes shorter than half S8 width. S8 anterior projection> 6.0 times longer than apical width.

Genitalia. Gonobase 3.0 times wider than long. Gonocoxite about 1.5 times longer than wide. Gonostylus: basal process projected, forming a lobe; inner lobe of ventral process digitiform, small, with tiny setae; outer lobe of ventral process with setae longer than ventral process size. Volsellar lower margin straight. Gonapophysis lateral angles not enlarged; ventral prong well produced; dorsal bridge margin straight; apodeme broad and weakly hooked.

Distribution. A. morrae has a broad distribution in Brazil, occurring in the states of Bahía, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, and Sergipe. The species is also recorded in Argentina, Bolívia and Paraguay.

Examined material. Brazil, BA, DZUP, 1♀ “ BRAZIL: BA\Camacam, Serra Bonita\House: Wedelia triloba\ A. Raw 5.3.2004 ”, 2♀ “ BRAZIL: BA\Camacam, Serra Bonita\Wedelia triloba\ A. Raw 24.2.2003 ”, 1♀ “ITAPETINGA

- BAHIA\ BRASIL 25/ 7/1967 \C. T. & C. Elias leg.”, 2♂ “ SALVADOR - BA \ Brail 19 III 61\H. e A.CORDEIRO”, 1♂ “ SALVADOR - BA\ Brasil 18 III 64\C. ELIAS, LEG ”, 1♂ “ Brasil , Bahia , Camacã ,\ Serra Bonita , 800m,\ 15°23’S 39°34’W,\ 13.i.2007, A. Raw ”, MZUSP, 1♀ “Brasil: BA: ANDARARI\MATA CARRASCO\ 13 - 14 XII 1990 \ S. T.P. AMARANTE COL”, 4♀ “Brasil, bahia, Camacan,\Serra Bonita, 08.ii.2009,\ F. Fernandes leg.”, RPSP, 1♀ “ Morro do Chapéu \ 50 km S:BA-Brasil\ 17.I.1985,Camargo”, 2♀ “Trancoso-BA\ 39°6’12”W 16°35’6”S \BRA- SIL 16/XII/1998 \S. R. M. Pedro leg”. CE, RPSP, 1♀ “Brasil, Ceará, Pentecoste\Fazenda Experimental UFC\ 09. vi.2018 \Rede entomológica (RE-198)\ F. Chamorro (ID-403)”. PB, RPSP, 1♀ “Brasil, PB, Juazeirinho\ 07°00’37”S 36°41’03”W \ 600m 30.I.2015 \Almeida, Lucena, Tavares-cols”. SE, RPSP, 1♀ “Curituba-SE\Brasil\ 11.viii.2001 \dej. Michelette” .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Female preepisternum and metapostnotum. A and C) Augochlora aurinasis; B and D) Augochlora morrae. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 4. Female mesoscutum in detail. A) Augochlora morrae; B) Augochlora bipunctata sp. nov. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 14. Female of Augochlora morrae: 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.