Megalopta nitidicollis Friese, 1926

Santos, L. M. & Melo, G. A. R., 2014, Updating the taxonomy of the bee genus Megalopta (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Augochlorini) including revision of the Brazilian species, Journal of Natural History 49 (11), pp. 575-674 : 601-603

Megalopta nitidicollis Friese, 1926

( Figures 2B , 6F , 14B )

Megalopta nitidicollis Friese, 1926: 130 . Lectotype female, presently designated, Bolivia: Cochabamba, Tarata (ZMB, examined).

Type material

There is one female and one male syntype in the ZMB collection. The female, with the labels ‘ Bolivia \ Tarata \ 1900’, ‘ Megalopta \ nitidicollis\ ♀ 910 Friese det.’, ‘Coll.\ Friese’ ‘ LECTOTYPE \ Megalopta \ nitidicollis\ ♀ \ Friese, 1926 \ desig. Melo 2010’, is here designated lectotype .

Additional examined material

(31 ♀, 27 ♂). See Appendix 2.

Diagnosis

The female differs from those of M. aegis , M. aeneicollis and M. sulciventris by the weakly impressed longitudinal rugulosities in the central portion of the basal area of metapostnotum, in contrast with the strong rugulosities laterally, and by the integument of the basal area often reddish brown on basal half and metallic green on apical half ( Figure 2B ). The male is distinguished from that of M. sulciventris by glabrous basal portion of F6–F11 levelled to remainder of flagellomere surface; metanotum with very dense pilosity covering entire disc, obscuring the integument in dorsal view, and by the basal area of metapostnotum reddish brown on basal half and metallic green apically ( Figure 6F ); from M. aeneicollis by basal area of metapostnotum in posterior margin forming a carina; from M. aegis by basal area of metapostnotum lacking longitudinal rugulosities or only with a few weak rugulosities in its mid portion ( Figure 6F ).

Description

Female. Mandible bidentate and with supplementary teeth. (2) Labral elevation with lateral surface slightly raised in relation to central portion. (3) Clypeus. Surface between punctures on basal and central area smooth. (4) Central portion of supraclypeal area with sparse punctation, punctures separated by ≥ 1 pd. (5) Antennae reddish brown. (6) Upper frons conspicuously convex, strongly declivous toward sulcus around median ocellus. (7) Ocellocular distance smaller than the F1 length. (8) Mesoscutum adjacent to parapsidial line densely punctured, punctures contiguous, punctation becoming sparser towards mesoscutal lip (<1 pd). (9) Scutellum with posterior margin raised in relation to anterior margin of metanotum. (10) Metanotum with integument, in oblique view, hidden by dense short plumose pilosity ( Figure 2B ). (11) Basal area of metapostnotum reddish brown in basal half and metallic green in apical half; its length at least 0.6× that of metanotum; longitudinal rugulosities absent or slightly impressed in central area and weakly impressed laterally ( Figure 2B ). (12) Mesepisternum with contiguous punctation. (13) Metepisternum with sparse pilosity, integument visible through pilosity, posterior upper margin modified into a conspicuously large process covered with velvety pilosity, its diameter at least 0.5× tegula length. (14) T1 with dorsal surface of disc densely punctured (<1 pd), posterior marginal zone smooth between punctures. Male. (15) Scape with diameter gradually enlarging toward the apex. (16) Flagellum reddish brown; F1–F11 not differing in diameter; F2 about as long as F3; F6–F11, in anterior view, with the anterior and posterior margins depressed, in posterior view with basal glabrous area at same level of remaining surface. (17) Metanotum with integument, in dorsal view, hidden by dense short plumose pilosity ( Figure 6F ). (18) Basal area of metapostnotum reddish brown, except for the metallic green apex, its length half of that of metanotum, the longitudinal rugulosities limited to sides ( Figure 6F ). (19) Metepisternum as in the female. (20) 1st and 2nd tarsomeres of foreleg with longest simple setae longer than summed length of the three apical tarsomeres. (21) S3 with longitudinal sulcus, posterolateral margin notched. (22) S4 with medial protruding process, profile of process triangular in lateral view; basal portion glabrous; posterolateral margin notched, notch not extending to basal half of sclerite.

Measurements

Approximate body length: (10.5–14.6); maximum width of head: (3.3–3.9); intertegular distance: (3.4–4.1); forewing length with the tegula: (10.1–11.5).

Distribution

BOLIVIA. Cochabamba: Tarata. La Paz : Nigrillani . BRAZIL. Acre: Capixaba, Cruzeiro do Sul, Rio Branco. Amazonas : Ipixuna, Novo Aripuanã , São Paulo de Olivença, Urucará . Rondônia: Ariquemes, Ji-Paraná, Itapuã do Oeste , Porto Velho .

PERU. Junin: Satipo . Loreto: Maynas. Madre de Dios: Mazuko, Santa Rosa, Tambopata. San Martin: Juan Guerra ( Figure 14B ).

Figures

Figure 2. Females of Megalopta. (A) Lateral view of head of M. guimaraesi Santos & Silveira from Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Brazil; (B‒F). posterolateral view of mesosoma; (B) M. nitidicollis Friese from Rio Branco, Brazil; (C) M. aeneicollis Friese from Novo Airão, Brazil; (D) M. aegis Vachal from Caldas Novas, Brazil; (E) M. chaperi Vachal from Amajari, Brazil; (F) M. amoena Spinola from Alenquer, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 6. Males of Megalopta. (A, B) Lateral view of mesosoma; (A) M. aeneicollis Friese from Manaus, Brazil; (B) M. yanomami sp. n. from Parauapebas, Brazil; (C‒F) posterolateral view of mesosoma; (C) M. sulciventris Friese from Manaus, Brazil; (D) M. aeneicollis Friese from Manaus, Brazil; (E) M. aegis Vachal from Caldas Nova, Brazil; (F) M. nitidicollis Friese from São Paulo de Olivença, Brazil. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figure 14. Distribution records of Megalopta species. (A) M. aegis Vachal (grey circles) and M. aeneicollis Friese (black squares); (B) M. nitidicollis Friese; (C) M. sulciventris Friese; (D) M. amoena Spinola.