Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) wilmattae Cockerell, 1912

Mérida-Rivas, Jorge A., Hinojosa-Díaz, Ismael A., Ayala-Barajas, Ricardo, Pozo, Carmen & Vandame, Rémy, 2022, Revision of carpenter bees of the subgenus Neoxylocopa Michener (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from Mexico and Mesoamerica, Zootaxa 5158 (1), pp. 1-67 : 55-58

Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) wilmattae Cockerell, 1912

( Figs. 94–101 , 129–131 , 140 )

Xylocopa wilmattae Cockerell, 1912: 555 . Holotype: American Museun of Natural History , New York, USA (♀). Type locality: Guatemala, Guatemala City.

Diagnosis. Body length, female, 27.02 mm (25.06–28.72; n=5); male, 25.00 mm (23.90–26.32; n=5). Female: Head without elevated ridges or prominences on frons; ocelli below tangent of the eyes; area between parapsidal line and mesoscutal disca area with sparse punctures (separated by two or more times their diameter); wings dark brown with dark blue iridescence from base to middle part, papillate region bright green with blue iridescence ( Fig. 96 ); pubescence evenly black; integument of terga evenly black; T1 to T5 with sparsely punctures on disc (punctures separated by three or four puncture diameters); T1 and T2 with punctures slightly smaller than on the other terga; length of hairs on terga respect MOD, T2 0.25–0.50, T3 0.38–0.84, T4 0.64–1.17, T5 1.09–1.69. Male: Apical margin of T1 to T5 with integumental black bands; metasoma with yellowish-orange pubescence; hind tibia internal distal extreme with a laminar subapical projection, curved distally and continuing on posterior margin like a strong laminar edge, well-defined throughout the posterior margin of the tibia ( Fig. 101 ); length of hairs on terga respect MOD, T2 0.43–1.51, T3 0.64–1.12, T4 0.75–1.31, T5 1.08–1.73; Tip of the lateral process of gonostylus ending on an oval shape as broad as shaft of the process.

Description. Female: Integument and pubescence black; wings with dark blue iridescence from the base to the middle part; papillate region with green and bright blue iridescence ( Fig. 96 ); venation dark. Body length 27.02 mm (25.06–28.72; n=5); length of forewing 23.36 mm (22.69–24.29; n=5); head length 6.40 mm (6.20–6.60; n=5); intertegular distance 8.24 mm (7.75–8.65; n=5); width of T2 12.43 mm (11.97–12.81; n=5). Head: Clypeus: inferior margin without punctures, with two depressions, with a narrow middle longitudinal line, slightly wider on the disc; superior lateral area with dense punctures; inferolateral areas with more scattered punctures. Genal area, densely punctate on lower area; middle and superior area with punctures separated by two to four times their diameter. Vertex dense punctate; pits on area sublateral to the posterior ocelli of half the diameter of the ocelli. Mesosoma: Between the parapsidal line and discal area with sparse punctures, separated by two or more times their diameter. Hind tibia, basitibial plate with two asymetrical dentiform projections ( Fig. 97 ), with a small notch between them, the anterior projection slightly sharper and narrower than the posterior projection, scutellum convex in profile. Metasoma: Terga densely punctate; T1 to T5 with dense punctures on discal area, separated by three or four times their diameter; T1 and T2 with punctures slightly smaller than on the other terga; T6 with dense appressed punctures. Length of hairs on terga respect MOD as follows: T2 0.25–0.50, T3 0.38–0.84, T4 0.64–1.17, T5 1.09–1.69. Male: Integument and pubescence of head and mesosoma yellowish or orange. Body length 25.00 mm (23.90–26.32; n=5); length of forewing 20.82 mm (19.44–22.16; n=5); head length 4.85 mm (4.49–5.07; n=5); intertegular distance 7.97 mm (7.50–8.29; n=5); width of T2 12.43 mm (11.97–12.81; n=5). Head: Labrum with submarginal anterior margin unpunctate; upper margin densely punctate. Clypeus with a dark brown middle longitudinal line, becoming broader on discal area ( Fig. 98 ), and a broad line without punctures toward the upper area; discal area with scattered punctures; lateral and inferolateral extremes with dense punctures, separated by approximately three times their diameter. Lateral ocelli located on the level of upper margin of eyes; pits on sublateral region of posterior ocelli, half the diameter of the ocelli. Vertex with an unpuctate area on the middle region, rest of vertex with densely punctate. Mesosoma: Between the parapsidal line and mesoscutum with dense punctures, separated by 1 time or less their diameter. Wings light brown or orange; venation reddish brown. Posterior tibia with strong external tibial spur; internal distal extreme with a laminar subapical projection, with curved distal extreme that continues by the posterior margin like a strong laminar (carinated) edge, well-defined throughout the posterior margin of the tibia; internal surface with long pubescence toward the base; anterior margin with long hairs, very dense and short toward the apical region; internal posterior margin with principally short pubescence ( Fig. 101 ). Metasoma: Terga with dense uniform punctures; discal area, punctures separated by one and a half to two times their diameter; apical margin of T1 to T5 with black bands. T1 with dense, long, plumose hairs, T2 to T5 mainly with simple hairs, some plumose hairs on submarginal areas, T6 and T7 with dense, long, simple and plumose hairs. Length of hairs on terga respect MOD as follows: T2 0.43–1.51, T3 0.64–1.12, T4 0.75–1.31, T5 1.08–1.73. Genitalia: Distal angle of the ventral section of the gonostylus, obtuse ( Fig. 131 ); basal angle at the base of lateral process of the gonostylus, obtuse, barely noticeable ( Fig. 130 ); tip of the lateral process ending on an oval as broad as shaft of the process ( Fig. 130 ).

Variation. Some females may present wings more bluish, or bluish with the papillate region with greenish iridescence.

Distribution ( Fig. 140 ). Present in Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico, in the following ecoregions ( Dinerstein et al. 2017): Pine-oak forests of the Central America, Dry forests of the Central Depression of Chiapas, and Humid forests of the Sierra Madre of Chiapas. Broad altitudinal distribution: 315 to 2512 masl.

Material examined. 34 ♀ 9 ♂. GUATEMALA: Escuintla: San Vicente Pacaya: Palin, sendero principal Volcán de Pacaya , 14.4121, -90.6054; 1917 m, 28-XI-2012 , 1 ♀ ( CANG). Villa Nueva: San José Villanueva, 14.5455, -90.60335; 1472 m, 1-IX-2012 , M. Vásquez 1 ♂ ( CANG). Chimaltenango: Patzun: Cerro Balam Juyu , 14.50885, -91.006116; 2551 m, 5-VII-2012 , G. Armas, 1 ♀ ( CANG). Chiquimula: Esquipulas: El Refugio, 14.51179, - 89.37375; 1601 m, 2-VII-2003 , E. Enriquez, 1 ♀ ( CANG). Huehuetenango: Jacaltenango: Hotel Jacal , 15.6683, -91.7078; 1425 m, 18-II-2010 , J. Mérida, 1 ♀. Sololá: Panajachel: 14.73604, -91.14947; 1587 m, 2-XI-1970 , J. Johnson, 2 ♀ 4 ♂ ( BBSL). HONDURAS: Francisco Morazán: Escuela Agrícola , 14.0078, -87.0096, 800 m, - VII- 1966 , J. S. Packer, 1 ♂ ( BBSL). MEXICO: Chiapas, Acacoyagua : 15.45579, -92.63989; 1113 m, 15.XII-2014 , J. López, 1 ♀ ( ECOAB); Rosario Zacatonales, 15.43365, -92.65051; 915 m, 28-V-2005 , R. Ayala , 1 ♀; 29-V-2005, M. Guzmán, 2 ♀; 15-VI-2007, M. Guzmán, 2 ♀ ( ECOAB). Bella Vista: Carretera a Bella Vista , 15.6071, -92.21429; 1827 m, 18-II-2012 , J. Mérida, 1 ♀ ( ECOAB). Mapastepec: La Palma, 15.53032, -92.80199; 498 m, 31-V-2005 , M. Guzmán, 1 ♀; 6-VII-2014, M. Duennes, 1 ♀ ( ECOAB). Reserva — Zona Núcleo, 15.65680, -92.80894; 1984 m, 13-V-2005 , C. Balboa, 1 ♀ ( ECOAB). Unión Los Olivos-orilla del río, 15.5219, -92.79967; 315 m, 26-V-2005 , M. Guzmán, 1 ♀ ( ECOAB). Motozintla: Carretera a El Porvenir, 15.37550, -92.3379; 2179 m, 13-XII-2011 , J. Mérida, 1 ♀; E. Pineda , 1 ♀ ( ECOAB). Carretera Motozintla-Niquivil, 15.33701, -92.22378; 2230 m, 18-II-2014 , P. Sagot, 3 ♀ ( ECOAB). Llano Grande, Carretera a Motozintla , 15.394532, -92.33005; 2512 m, 1-III-2016 , P. Sagot, 1 ♀ ( ECOAB). Siltepec: Carretera a Cumbre Ventanas , 15.52009, -92.29890; 1896 m, 14-XII-2011 , J. Mérida, 1 ♀ ( ECOAB). Tapachula: Camino Pavencul, 15.2028, -92.1974; 1852 m, 17-XII-2009 , J. Mérida, 1 ♂ ( ECOAB). Tonalá: Ejido Sierra Morena, 16.15319, -93.60569; 1282 m, 4-XII-2011 , J. Mérida, 1 ♀ ( ECOAB). Unión Juárez: Chiquihuites, 15.09296, -92.09861; 1984 m, 17-II-2014 , P. Sagot, 2 ♀ ( ECOAB). Talquián, 15.0847, -92.0836; 18- XI-1986 , L. Godínez, 1 ♀; 1-IV-1992, M. Medina, 1 ♀ ( ECOAB). Unión Juárez, 15.0618, -92.08; 1310 m, 25-XI- 1986 , 2 ♂; 18-II-1987, F. Pérez, 3 ♀; 10-IV-1987, F. Pérez, 1 ♀; 5-IX-1989, A. Aquino, 1 ♂; 21-XI-1990, F. Pérez, 1 ♀; 27-XI-1990, J. Sibaja, 1 ♀ ( ECOAB) .

Commentaries. The type specimen described by Cockerell as X. wilmattae ( AMNH _IZC 00323995) was reviewed but lacked antennae and the final tarsi and claws of the middle and posterior legs. Xylocopa wilmattae is the largest species with convex scutellum, and thus may be confused with species of the frontalis group, but may easily be distinguished by the absence of frontal projections. Males in this species do not present a prominent curved subapical projection on the internal distal extreme of the posterior tibia, and it is the only species with thick external tibial spurs on the middle and posterior tibias.

Figures

FIGURES 94–97. Female of X. (N.) wilmattae. 94. Frontal view; 95. Lateral habitus; 96. Dorsal habitus; 97. Basitibial plate.

FIGURES 98–101. Male of X. (N.) wilmattae. 98. Frontal view; 99. Lateral habitus; 100. Dorsal habitus; 101. Hind tibia.

FIGURES 126–131. Male genitalia of Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) species. X. (N.) sonorina. 126. Dorsal view; 127. Lateral view; 128. Ventral view. X. (N.) wilmattae 129. Dorsal view; 130. Lateral view; 131. Ventral view.

FIGURES 136–140. Maps of distribution. 136. X. (N.) clarionensis; 137. X. (N.) maya sp. nov. and X. griswoldi sp. nov. 138. X. (N.) gualanensis. 139 X. (N.) sonorina. 140. X. (N.) mexicanorum and X. (N.) wilmattae.