Augochlora (Oxystoglossella) bipunctata, Lepeco & Gonçalves, 2020

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 : 271-274

Augochlora (Oxystoglossella) bipunctata sp. nov.

( Figs. 4B ; 8 A-D; 9A-D; 19C)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7B5E018D-7CCD-4BE7-B85B-1C4CADB13C56

Diagnosis. As A. morrae , this species has a rugose preepisternum and copper-red terga, in addition to the striate gena and postgena on females. It can be distinguished from A. morrae by the presence of very tiny punctuations among larger punctures on mesoscutum of females and the imbricate integument on mesepisternum below scrobe of males. Augochlora bipunctata sp. nov. also has an larger body size and more robust head, body and legs.

Comments. Although a single female and male were found, the distinctive morphological features in both sexes (see diagnosis) suggests that these specimens belong to a new species. The most similar species occurring in the region is A. morrae , which are represented by a large series of specimens, none of them showing the distinctive features of A. bipunctata sp. nov.

Description. ♀. Measurements. Eye notch width: 1.8; head length: 2.2; clypeus width: 0.7; clypeus length: 0.5; clypeoantennal distance: 0.4; clypeus ocellar distance: 1.3; intertegular distance: 1.4; T1 width: 2.05; T2 width: 2.4; body length: 8.4.

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 (3.0 OD) on apical margin, shorter on basal margin. Epistomal angle acute, protruding into clypeus. Supraclypeal area with copper and golden reflections; 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 dark brown, flagellum ventrally light 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 golden reflection; contiguously to conflected punctate, punctures weak. Postgena with copper reflection, darkened near hypostoma; strongly striate, some scattered weak punctures; setae length <3.0 OD. Hypostomal carina lamellate, slightly projected anteriorly.

Mesosoma. Pronotum lateral angle obtuse; dorsal surface golden. Fore leg: coxa ventrally dark brown with green reflection; trochanter dark brown; femur dark brown with green reflection; long plumose setae (<5.0 OD); tibia and tarsus light brown. Mesoscutum golden with copper reflection; contiguously punctate, punctures small, some scattered larger punctures; anterior border rugulose; setae length <2.0 OD. Scutellum green with copper and golden reflections; 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 densely punctate, i <0.5 PD, smooth in between, ventrally conflected; Mid leg: coxa and trochanter dark brown; femur brown; tibia and tarsus brown. Tegula 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 brown. Metapostnotum green; as long as 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 densely puncticulate, smooth in between; mostly copper-red with golden reflection, lateral surfaces green; tiny setae dorsally, long setae (2.0 OD) on lateral surfaces. T2 densely puncticulate, smooth 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; dark brown; with long plumose setae (> 2.0 OD) medially, margin with tiny decumbent setae. S2 mostly dark brown, apical band brownish; with long plumose setae (> 3.0 OD). S3–4 as S2. S5 apical margin widely rounded; dark brown; long plumose setae (> 3.0 OD). S6 dark brown; long dark setae on apex.

Description. ♂. Measurements. Eye notch width: 1.45; head length: 2.05; clypeus width: 0.50; clypeus length: 0.55; clypeoantennal distance: 0.35; clypeus ocellar distance: 1.2; intertegular distance: 1.45; T1 width: 1.8; T2 width: 1.9; scape length: 0.55; body length: 8.50.

Head. Labrum basal surface pale, yellowish. Mandible mostly yellowish, apex brown. Clypeus mostly golden with copper reflection, apex yellowish; densely punctate, i = 0.5 PD, punctures large, smooth in between; setae length = 2.0 OD. Supraclypeal area golden with copper reflection. Parocular area with copper 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 black, ventrally light brown. Frons with green reflection; contiguously to conflected punctate; setae length = 2.0–3.0 OD. Vertex conflected punctate behind ocelli, punctures weak. Preoccipital area lamellate. Gena with golden and copper reflections; densely punctate to striate. Postgena with copper and golden reflections, darkened near hypostoma; imbricate to striate, some scattered punctures; setae length <4.0 OD.

Mesosoma. Pronotum dorsal surface green with golden reflection. Pronotal lobe punctate, loosely imbricate in between. Fore leg: coxa ventrally green with golden reflection; trochanter black; femur light brown with green reflection; strongly swollen; tibia and tarsus light brown. Mesoscutum green with copper and golden reflections; anterior border rugulose; densely punctate on disc, i = 0.5 PD, loosely imbricate in between, denser punctuation on lateral margins; setae length = 1.0–2.0 OD. Scutellum with slight longitudinal furrow; golden with copper reflection; mostly densely punctate, sparser on sublateral surfaces, smooth in between; longer setae (2.0 OD) near apex. Mesepisternum golden with copper reflection; preepisternum rugose; hypoepimeral area contiguously punctate; below scrobe densely punctate, i <0.5 PD, imbricate in between. Mid leg: coxa and trochanter black; setae length 2.0 OD; femur light 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 (3.0 OD). Metepisternum golden; punctate, loosely imbricate in between, striate near hind wing. Hind leg: coxa and trochanter green; long plumose setae (2.0 OD); femur light 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 golden with copper reflection; 1.5 times longer than metanotum; slightly concave, covered with strongly sinuous carinae. Propodeum green with copper and golden reflections; 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; golden with copper reflection; long setae only, up to 2.0 OD. T1 dorsal surface punctate, i = 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 black with green reflection; with long plumose setae (3.0 OD) medially, margin with tiny decumbent setae. S2 mostly black, apical band yellowish; with long plumose setae (2.0 OD), tiny setae on apex. S3–4 as S2. S5 not depressed medially; mostly black, apical band yellowish; setae length <OD. S6 mostly black, apical band yellowish; setae length = OD, tiny setae on apex. S7 lateral apodemes shorter than half S8 width. S8 anterior projection <5.0 times longer than apical width.

Genitalia. The single male was not dissected.

Distribution. Augochlora bipunctata sp. nov. is only known from Northeastern Brazil, in the states of Bahia and Paraíba.

Etymology. Derivative of Latin meaning two punctures bearer, referring to the particular mesoscutum punctuation.

Type material. Holotype, DZUP, 1♀ “ SALVADOR - BA\ Brail [Brazil] 19 III 61\H. e A.CORDEIRO”. Para- type, DZUP, 1♂ “ João Pessoa \PA. 26/I/1989 ”.

Figures

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

FIGURE 8. Female of Augochlora bipunctata sp. nov.: 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.