Pseudaugochlora simulata Almeida

Almeida, Eduardo A. B., 2008, Revision of the Brazilian Species of Pseudaugochlora Michener 1954 (Hymenoptera: Halictidae: Augochlorini), Zootaxa 1679, pp. 1-38 : 32-35

Pseudaugochlora simulata Almeida sp.n.

Diagnosis. This species is most similar to P. g r a m i n e a, P. callaina , P. erythrogaster , and P. i n d i s t i n c t a. The female can be distinguished from those of P. callaina and P. indistincta by the flat or weakly depressed disc of clypeus (distinctively depressed in P. callaina and P. indistincta , Fig.8 ); the punctation of T1 composed of very fine and moderately sparse punctures intermixed with fine and sparse punctures ( Figs.1 d–f; in P. graminea , P. indistincta the punctures are coarse and moderately dense to dense, as in Figs.1 a–c); and the microreticulate area on the clypeus most commonly restricted to the lateral area and upper corner of the clypeus (sides and base of clypeus extensively microreticulate, forming a rough U­shaped band adjacent to the epistomal sulcus in P. c a l l a i n a, P. erythrogaster , and P. i n d i s t i n c t a). The male can be distinguished by the strongly hooked F11 (as in Fig.1 c; weakly hooked in P. c a l l a i n a [ Fig.1 b] and P. i n d i s t i n c t a; in P. g r a m i n e a [ Fig.1 a], F11 is not as strongly produced into a hook as in P. simulata ); and by the entangled and unordered hair apices of the stem of the Y­shaped hair patch (as in Fig.2 a; in P. c a l l a i n a apices of hairs of the Y­shaped are ordered and aim at midline of the Y­stem, Fig.2 b). Males and females of P. simulata can be distinguished from P. erythrogaster by the lack of conspicuous reddish highlights on metasoma (present in P. erythrogaster ).

Description. FEMALE (Holotype)

Color: metallic green with yellowish and bluish highlights, except: mandible black, apex blackish ferruginous, basal area with greenish highlights; labrum and apex of clypeus black; transverse line near apical dark margin of clypeus with yellowish and reddish highlights; scape, pedicel and flagellum dorsally black; ventral surface of flagellum brown; mesoscutal bands dark blue; tegula light brown with proximal border green; wings hyaline with apex dusk­hyaline; wing veins and pterostigma light brown (R black); external face of tarsi and femora brown, internal face dark brown (femora with greenish highlights); tibial spurs and strigilis light yellow; apical margin of T1–T4 black; pre­marginal band of T2 blue; apical margin of S2–S4 light brown, followed by a pre­marginal (broader) band dark brown with bluish green highlights, basal area dark brown; T5 around pseudopygidial area with yellowish highlights.

Pubescence: on paraocular area, mandible, clypeus, supraclypeal area, apical margin of clypeus and metasomal sterna whitish brown; on frons and vertex dark brown; on gena, lateral and ventral areas of mesosoma, posterior surface of propodeum, T1–T4 white; on mesoscutum and scutellum brown, intermixed with longer black hairs; on pseudopygidial area brown to dark brown. On condylar groove and interspace of mandible long, simple and semierect, shorter apicad, on outer surface shorter and semidecumbent; on labrum apparently absent (apical marginal hidden by mandibles); on disc of clypeus long, fine and semidecumbent, on apical margin long, very fine to simple and semierect; on supraclypeal area moderately long, plumose and semierect to erect; on paraocular area long, plumose and erect; on frons long, moderately plumose and semierect to erect; on postocellar fringe moderately long, plumose and semierect; on gena long, plumose and semierect to erect, very short and densely plumose near eye margin; on scape short, simple and semidecumbent, long, fine and semierect near base; on pedicel very short and decumbent, with a median ring of long apically directed setae; on flagellum minute and semidecumbent; on dorsal surface of pronotum short, moderately plumose and erect, on pronotal dorsal carina longer; on mesoscutum moderately short, plumose and semierect; on scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and posterior surface of propodeum moderately long, densely plumose and erect; on metapostnotum absent; on wings denser apically; on T1–T4 very short, fine and decumbent, intermixed with short to moderately long setae; on T5 moderately long, moderately plumose and decumbent; on metasomal sterna moderately long and semidecumbent, shorter distad to apical margin. Scopa, except on tibia, constituted by long hairs, branched at approximately their distal half and forming a tangle; on hind tibia hairs are less dense and branched approximately at distal third.

Sculpture: integument smooth and shiny except: outer interspace of mandible longitudinally microrugulose near superior margin (mostly smooth); basal area of labrum irregularly microrugulose basally (mostly smooth); near apical margin of clypeus rough, lateral area and upper corner of the clypeus microreticulate; on anterior surface of supraclypeal area irregularly microrugulose near carina; scape microreticulate; dorsal ridge of pronotum irregularly microrugulose; mesoscutum microreticulate (as in Fig.5 a); metanotum irregularly reticulate, irregularly microreticulate inside reticulations; metapostnotum coarsely reticulate, posteriorly microreticulate inside reticulations; upper corner of posterior surface of propodeum and close to margin of basal area of propodeum microreticulate; disc of T1 weakly microreticulate; basitibial plate microreticulate.

Punctures: on outer interspace of mandible fine and moderately dense; on basal area of labrum absent; on clypeus coarse and dense, finer near lateral and posterior margins; on anterior face of supraclypeal area moderately coarse and moderately sparse, on the remainder beveled, moderately coarse and moderately dense; between supraclypeal and frontal areas very fine and sparse; on frons moderately fine and very dense; on paraocular area beveled, moderately fine and moderately sparse, denser toward eye margin and frons; on vertex behind ocelli (anterior face of postocellar ridge) protuberant, fine and sparse; on vertex between eye and lateral ocellus dense (as on frons near ocelli), near eye protuberant, fine and sparse; on gena beveled, moderately fine sparse, finer near eye margin; on scape beveled fine and very sparse; on F1 beveled and very fine, on F2 beveled, moderately fine and sparse, on F3–F10 beveled fine and dense; on dorsal ridge of pronotum protuberant, very fine and sparse; on disc of mesoscutum fine and dense, intermixed with few coarser punctures, denser near margins, upon mesoscutal bands and toward mesoscutal line (but not reaching it) sparser; on scutellum moderately fine and dense, intermixed with coarser and sparser punctures; on metanotum minute and sparse, intermixed with coarser and sparser punctures inside reticulations; on metapostnotum absent; on posterior surface of propodeum beveled, moderately coarse and moderately sparse; on mesepisternum moderately coarse and very dense; on anterior vertical surface of T1 fine and sparse (more than three diameters apart), on disc of T1 very fine and sparse (more than two diameters apart), intermixed with fine and sparse punctures (as in Fig.7 e), sparser toward anterior and posterior margins; on T2–T4 very fine and sparse.

Structure: epistomal sulcus forming approximately orthogonal angle; disc of clypeus almost flat; frontal carina weakly marked on supraclypeal area; angle of the frontal line between supraclypeal and frontal areas gently declivous (approximately 140, as in Fig.6 a); seven unevenly spaced hamuli on hind wing; right inner hind tibial spur with 4 teeth, the left spur with 4 teeth; basal area of basitibial plate slightly elevated.

Measurements (mm). Approximate length of body = 9.0, anterior wing = 7.8. Length and width of head = 2.21, 2.69. Maximum, inferior and superior distances between eyes = 1.86, 1.41, 1.38. IOC, OOC = 0.32, 0.35; MOD, LOD = 0.18, 0.18. Length and diameter of scape = 1.14, 0.14. Length of pedicel, F1, F2, F3 and F10 = 0.14, 0.18, 0.15, 0.18, 0.33. Diameter of F5 = 0.20. Length and width of mesoscutum = 1.62, 2.00. Length and width of prestigma = 0.23, 0.18. Length and width of pterostigma = 0.78, 0.24. Length and width of marginal cell = 1.46, 0.48.

MALE (Allotype)

Differs from female as follows:

Color: mostly green with blue highlights, particularly on metasoma; mandible, labrum and apical area of clypeus yellow with brown borders; scape dark brown with a lighter apical rim; ventral surface of flagellum brown, dorsally blackish brown, except for F1, which is light brown; tarsi brown to dark brown; tibial spurs and strigilis light yellow; apical margin of T1–T5 translucent dark brown; metasomal sterna light brown, darker on apical sterna.

Pubescence: predominantly light yellow; whitish on paraocular area, gena, and ventral surface of mesosoma; yellowish on S4–S6, especially on the hair tufts. On disc of labrum, between and anterior to the two basal elevations, very short and erect; on scape moderately long and moderately plumose; on frons, supraclypeal area and on metasomal terga longer than on female; on S4 and S5 with hair patches forming tufts: S4 with a Y­shaped hair patch, hair apices on the stem of this patch entangled and unordered (as in Fig.2 a, but basal branch slightly shorter and narrower than in P. graminea ), S5 with two lateromedial tufts (as in Fig.2 a); on S6 moderately long, forming an apical fringe.

Sculpture: integument smooth, except: outer interspace of mandible weakly microrugulose, almost smooth; basal half of clypeus microreticulate; on metanotum irregularly rugulose; on propodeum reticulate, but lacking posterior microreticulate band; upper corner of posterior surface of propodeum rugulose.

Punctures: on outer interspace of mandible absent; on clypeus deeper than on females; on scutellum moderately coarse and dense; on scutellum moderately coarse and moderately dense, intermixed with minuscule points; on metanotum fine and moderately sparse; on T1 coarse and dense; on T2–T4 as on T1, but progressively finer.

Structure: epistomal sulcus forming approximately orthogonal angle (more rounded than in female); F11 strongly hooked (as in Fig.3 c); frontal carina weak and well­defined only on upper part of supraclypeal area; angle of the frontal line between supraclypeal and frontal areas gently declivous (approximately 140, as in Fig.6 a); seven unevenly spaced hamuli on hind wing; apical margin of S4 emarginate, posterior marginal area of S4 and S5 depressed, forming protuberant anterior meso­lateral areas on S4; S7, S8 and genitalia structurally similar to those of P. graminea ( Figs.3 a, 4a).

Measurements (mm). Approximate length of body = 10.3, anterior wing = 7.4. Length and width of head = 2.83, 2.48. Maximum, inferior and superior distances between eyes = 1.85, 1.15, 1.38. IOC, OOC = 0.28, 0.39; MOD, LOD = 0.24, 0.24. Length and diameter of scape =.81, 0.31. Length of pedicel, F1, F2, F3 and F10 = 0.15, 0.18, 0.29, 0.30, 0.32. Diameter of F5 = 0.23. Length and width of mesoscutum = 2.28, 2.05. Length and width of prestigma = 0.26, 0.17. Length and width of pterostigma = 0.95, 0.26. Length and width of marginal cell = 1.84, 0.53.

Variation: Specimens from Southern Brazil (especially from Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul states) tend to have more typical traits of this species: i.e. integument green with conspicuous blue highlights; microreticulation on the clypeus of the female restricted to the upper corner; the disc of the clypeus weakly concave apically (not forming furrow as in P. indistincta ); wings hyaline; the punctation on the disc of T1 as shown in Figs.7 d,e; the integument of the disc of T1 is smooth or weakly microreticulate, rendering a shiny aspect to its surface. The width of microreticulate lateral band on the clypeus varies from almost imperceptible (very narrow) to about ¼ of one flagellar diameter; it can also be well­developed and approach a U­shaped band interrupted medially. The punctation on the disc of T1 of the female can be more densely distributed in some specimens (as in Figs.7 d,f – two females from Óbidos, state of Pará), but the punctures are separated by at least one puncture diameter. One female from Parque Nacional das Emas (state of Goiás) had strong yellowish highlights; specimens from Amapá and Pará states were more golden than bluish.

Etymology: the specific epithet refers to the great similarity between this species and P. g r a m i n e a, with which it can be easily confounded.

Distribution in Brazil: widely distributed in most regions of Brazil, except the Northeast (states of Acre, Amapá, Bahia, Distrito Federal, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, São Paulo).

Comments: this species may, in the future, be split into two species more geographically restricted. Due to the lack of consistent geographically structured morphological variation, it seemed premature to recognize more than one species in this study.

Period of activity: every month of the year.

Holotype (female): “ Brasil, Distr. Federal, Brasília, Faz. Água Limpa (UnB). 26.v.1993, G. A. R. Melo”. Type depository: UFMG.

Allotype (male): “COLEÇÃO CAMPOS SEABRA”, “Floresta da Tijuca; D. Federal BRASIL; II­1954; C. A. C. Seabra, Coll.” ( DZUP).

Paratypes (listed by Brazilian state): Acre: “R.Branco Acre; BR 15­20­XI 61; F.M.Oliveira” (2ɗ: DZUP); Amapá: “COLEÇÃO CAMPOS SEABRA”, “SERRA DO NAVIO; Terr. Amapá BRASIL; Out­ 1957; K. Lenko leg” (2Ψ: DZUP); “OIAPOQUE Amapá; Brasil V­1959; M.Alvarenga” (1Ψ: DZUP); Bahia: “DPTº ZOOL; UF­PARANÁ”, “Anagé­Bahia Brasil; 28­VI­1976; C.Elias&Enoque col.” (1ɗ: DZUP); “COLEÇÃO CAMPOS SEABRA”, “VITORIA DA CONQUISTA; BAHIA Brasil; 5/ 9­V­1961; F.M.Oliveira” (1ɗ: DZUP); Distrito Federal: “ Brasília, DF, BRASIL, 28/08/99, C.Freitas” “RECOR–IBGE, 4264–15475” (1Ψ: DZUP); “ Brasília – DF, Brasil ” “ 30­VI­1972, Camargo, Leg.” (1Ψ: CCRP); “ Brasília – DF, SD­23, 48­16” “ 11­XI­1971, A.C.Santos, Leg.” (1Ψ: CCRP); Goiás: “Est. Goiás, Parque Nac. das Emas, 12­6­1980 ”, “ Pseudaugochloropsis sp.5” “ P. g r a m i n e a ” (1Ψ: UFV); “COLEÇÃO CAMPOS SEABRA”; “JATAI Goias; BRASIL I­1955; F.Pereira” (1Ψ: DZUP); “Est. Goiás; P. Nacional das Emas; Sede – 13/4/ 1980 ”, “ Pseudaugochloropsis graminea ” (1ɗ: UFV); Minas Gerais: "S. Seb. Paraiso; MG Brasil ­ VI­61; C.Elias leg" (1Ψ: DZUP); "TAPIRA ­ MG; Brasil 27­V­65; C. ELIAS leg" (1Ψ: DZUP); “PASSOS­MG; Brasil V­1961; Claudionor Elias” (1Ψ: DZUP); “S. DO SALITO MG; Brasil IV­66; C.ELIAS leg” (1Ψ: DZUP); “Abelhas Cerrado; Mannesmann; Fazenda Sta. Cruz; 2711­8066”, Felixlândia MG; BRASIL 08/12/1998; A.A.Azevedo” (1ɗ: UFMG); Pará: BRASIL­Para, Belem; November 1955; (Damasceno)” (1Ψ: DZUP); “OBIDOS; Pará BRASIL; Jan/Maio 1959; F.M.Oliveira” (1Ψ: DZUP); “COLEÇÃO CAMPOS SEABRA”, “OBIDOS; Pará BRASIL; XI­1953; F.M.Oliveira” (1Ψ: DZUP); Rio de Janeiro: “COLEÇÃO CAMPOS SEABRA”; “Gavea Pequena; Distrito Federal BRASIL; 1­III­1953; C. A. Seabra, Col." (1ɗ: DZUP, 2ɗ: KUNHM); “COLEÇÃO CAMPOS SEABRA”; “S. Bento; Duque de Caxias; Est. do Rio BRASIL; julh­1955; F.Oliveira” (1Ψ: DZUP); “Terezópolis; Parque Nac. Serra dos Orgãos; 23­VIII­1947; C.R.Hathaway”, “11ɗ” (1ɗ: DZUP); Paraná: "COLOMBO ­ PR; Brasil ­ XI­63; S.LAROCA leg" (1Ψ: DZUP); "DPTº ZOOL; UF­ PARANÁ", "União Vitória ­ PR; Br ­ 10/IV/1966; E.V.Breyer ­ leg."; "S.J.PINHAIS­PR; Brasil ­ III­63; C.Elias leg" (2Ψ: DZUP); "CASTRO PR; Brasil ­ 20­X­1966; Olavo Fonseca Jr" (2Ψ: DZUP); "CASTRO PR; Brasil ­ 8­IX­1966; Marinoni, Fonseca" (1Ψ: DZUP); "DPTº ZOOL; UF­PARANÁ", "CASTRO­PR­ BRASIL; 28/IV/73; S.Laroca leg." (1Ψ: DZUP); “COLEÇÃO CAMPOS SEABRA”, “CURITIBA 980m; Paraná BRASIL; 27­IX­1955 Moure, Michener e Lange" (1Ψ: DZUP); " BRAZIL ­ Parana; February 1956; (C. D. Michener)" (1Ψ: KUNHM); Rio Grande do Sul: "B. de COTEGIPE; R.Gr.S. ­ BRASIL; 15/I/1967; F.Giacomel lg" (2Ψ: DZUP); "B. de COTEGIPE; R.Gr.S. ­ BRASIL; 21/I/1967; F.Giacomel leg" (1Ψ: DZUP); "DPTº ZOOL; UF­PARANÁ.", "B. COTEGIPE ­ RS; BRASIL; 04/12/1967; F.Giacomel leg" (1Ψ: DZUP); "BAGE ­ RS; Brasil ­ II­61; N.L.Marston" (1Ψ: DZUP); "Pelotas, Brazil; R.G. do Sul; VI­7­1956; C. Biezanko" (1Ψ: AMNH); Santa Catarina: "CORUPA ­ SC; Brasil I­1956; A.Maller, leg (2ɗ: DZUP); "DPTº ZOOL; UF­PARANÁ", "Itapema ­ SC; 7­I­1976; Luiz Perereira col" (1ɗ: DZUP); "COLEÇÃO CAMPOS SEABRA", "NOVA TEUTONIA; S. Catarina BRASIL; Dezembro 1956; F.Plaumann" (1ɗ: DZUP); "Cauna; S. Cath., Brazil; XII 1945 "; "A. Maller, Coll.; Frank Johnson; Donor" (1Ψ: AMNH); "Nova Teutonia; Santa Catarina; Brasil 22­IV­1954; Fritz Plauman" (1: KUNHM); São Paulo: "São Carlos ­ SP; Brasil — 18–XII– 45; D.P.S.DIAS leg" (1Ψ: DZUP); " BRAZIL São Paulo: Cosmopolis; Jan 22, 1925 "; "A. Maller, Coll.; Frank Johnson; Donor" (1Ψ: AMNH); " BRASIL ­ São Paulo; Batatais August 1943 (Stafuzza)" (1Ψ: KUNHM).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distal flagellomeres of male antenna: (a) P. graminea (Fabricius 1804); (b) P. callaina Almeida, sp. n.; (c) P. erythrogaster Almeida, sp. n.; (d) P. flammula Almeida, sp. n.; (e) P. pandora (Smith 1853). Scale = 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 2. Ventral view of metasoma of male: (a) P. g r a m i n e a (Fabricius 1804); (b) P. callaina Almeida, sp. n.; (c) P. flammula Almeida, sp. n.; (d) P. pandora (Smith 1853). Pubescence, except tufts on S 4 and S 5, ommited. Scale = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 3. Seventh and eighth metasomal sterna (S 7 and S 8) of male: (a) P. graminea (Fabricius 1804); (b) P. callaina Almeida, sp. n.; (c) P. f l a m m u l a Almeida, sp. n.; (d) P. pandora (Smith 1853). Scale = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 5. Integument of mesoscutum of female: (a) P. graminea (Fabricius 1804); (b) P. flammula Almeida, sp. n. Scale = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 6. Fronto­lateral view of head of female: (a) P. graminea (Fabricius 1804); (b) P. flammula Almeida, sp. n. a. s. = antennal socket; m. o. = median ocellus. Scale = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 7. Six punctation patterns (a – f) observed on disc of T 1 of females of Pseudaugochlora spp.

FIGURE 8. Frontal view of head of female Pseudaugochlora spp. showing depressed area of clypeus (a) P. callaina Almeida, sp. n.; (b) P. i n d i s t i n c t a Almeida, sp. n. Scale = 1 mm.