Epeolus deyrupi, Onuferko, Thomas M., 2018

Onuferko, Thomas M., 2018, A revision of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Epeolus Latreille for Nearctic species, north of Mexico (Hymenoptera, Apidae), ZooKeys 755, pp. 1-185 : 61-63

18. Epeolus deyrupi sp. n. Figs 39, 40, 92C

Diagnosis.

The following morphological features in combination can be used to tell E. deyrupi apart from all other North American Epeolus : the axilla is large, with the tip extending well beyond the midlength of the mesoscutellum, dilated laterally, and like the mesoscutellum ferruginous; the mesopleuron commonly has sparser punctures ventrolaterally (i≤2d) than in upper half, with the interspaces shining or somewhat dull due to tessellate surface microsculpture; and the T1-T3 apical fasciae are interrupted and (to varying degrees) brownish orange medially and off white laterally. Epeolus deyrupi resembles E. andriyi , E. floridensis , E. howardi , and E. packeri in that the axilla is large, with the lateral margin arcuate, and like the mesoscutellum ferruginous, and that the T1-T3 apical fasciae are interrupted medially. However, in E. deyrupi the pseudopygidial area of the female is wider (the apex>2 × the medial length) than in E. andriyi , E. floridensis , or E. howardi (the apex <2 × the medial length), and the T1 basal fascia is absent or reduced to a pair of small patches of pale tomentum whereas in E. andriyi , E. floridensis , and E. howardi T1 has a distinct, although often medially-interrupted, basal fascia. Epeolus deyrupi closely resembles E. packeri , but in E. packeri the mesopleuron has denser punctures ventrolaterally (most i<1d) than that of E. deyrupi and the metasomal terga have pale but not brownish orange pubescence.

Description.

FEMALE: Length 8.8 mm; head length 2.2 mm; head width 2.9 mm; fore wing length 6.1 mm.

Integument coloration. Mostly black; notable exceptions as follows: at least partially ferruginous on mandible, labrum, clypeus, antenna, pronotal collar, pronotal lobe, tegula, axilla, mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, metanotum, mesopleuron, metapleuron, propodeum, and legs. Mandible with apex darker than rest of mandible; preapical tooth lighter than mandibular apex (difficult to see in holotype because mandible closed; described from paratypes). Antenna brown and orange in part. Pronotal lobe and tegula pale ferruginous to amber. Mesoscutum reddish brown laterally and posteriorly. Wing membrane subhyaline, apically dusky. Legs more extensively reddish orange than brown or black.

Pubescence. Face with tomentum densest around antennal socket. Dorsum of mesosoma and metasoma with bands of off-white and brownish orange short appressed setae. Mesoscutum with paramedian band. Mesopleuron mostly bare, but tomentum moderately dense ventrally as well as between two almost entirely bare patches (one beneath base of fore wing (hypoepimeral area), a larger circular patch occupying much of ventrolateral half of mesopleuron). Metanotum with tomentum uninterrupted except for median bare patch in posterior half (also bare along posterior margin), uniformly off white. T1 with basal fascia reduced to pair of small patches of off-white tomentum; T1-T4 with apical fasciae brownish orange medially and off white laterally, and medially interrupted and removed from apical margin; T2 with fascia without anterolateral extensions of tomentum. T4 with fascia interrupted laterally. T5 with two patches of pale tomentum bordering and separate from pseudopygidial area. T5 with pseudopygidial area lunate, its apex more than twice as wide as medial length, indicated by silvery setae on disc of apicomedial region elevated from rest of tergum. S5 with apical fimbria of coppery to silvery hairs not extending beyond apex of sternum by more than 1/4 MOD.

Surface sculpture. Punctures dense. Labrum with larger and sparser punctures (i=1-2d) than clypeus (i<1d). Small impunctate shiny spot lateral to lateral ocellus. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, and axilla coarsely and densely rugose-punctate. Tegula densely punctate mesally (i≤1d), less so laterally (i=1-2d). Mesopleuron with denser (i≤1d) punctures in upper half than ventrolateral half (i≤2d), the interspaces somewhat dull due to tessellate surface microsculpture. Metasomal terga with punctures very fine, dense (i≈1d), evenly distributed on disc.

Structure. Preapical tooth obtuse. Labral apex with pair of small denticles, each preceded by longitudinal carina. Frontal keel not strongly raised. Scape with greatest length 1.7 × greatest width. F2 noticeably longer than wide (L/W ratio = 1.2). Preoccipital ridge not joining hypostomal carina, from which it is separated by less than 1 MOD at its terminal. Mesoscutellum moderately bigibbous. Axilla large, its lateral margin (L) more than half as long as mesoscutellar width (W) (L/W ratio = 0.6) and tip nearly extending as far back as apex of horizontal dorsal portion of mesoscutellum; axilla with tip clearly visible, but unattached to mesoscutellum for less than 2/5 the medial length of axilla; axilla with lateral margin arcuate. Fore wing with three submarginal cells. Pygidial plate apically truncate.

MALE: Description as for female except for usual secondary sexual characters and as follows: F2 shorter, not noticeably longer than wide (L/W ratio = 1.1); S4 and S5 with much longer coppery to silvery subapical hairs; pygidial plate with apex slightly concave and large deep punctures closely clustered basally and sparser apically, with the interspaces shining.

Etymology.

This species is named after its discoverer, Dr. Mark A. Deyrup, who recognized it as a new species and brought his discovery to my attention.

Distribution.

Florida and coastal Georgia (Fig. 40).

Ecology.

HOST RECORDS: The host species of E. deyrupi is/are presently unknown.

FLORAL RECORDS: Labels of examined voucher specimens indicate a floral association with Sideroxylon tenax L. ( Sapotaceae ).

Discussion.

Epeolus deyrupi is a southeastern species that exhibits very little intraspecific morphological variation. Most of the known specimens of this species were collected in Highlands County, Florida. Based on known records, adults of E. deyrupi are active in spring.

Material studied.

Type material. Primary: USA: Florida: Flamingo Villas Preserve (27.4423°N; 81.3782°W) (Highlands County), 26.v.2009, M. Deyrup, A. May, and H. Otte (holotype ♀ [CCDB-24583 F06], FSCA).

Secondary: USA: Florida: Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park (27.8503°N; 81.4954°W) (Polk County), 08.vi.2009, M. Deyrup, A. May, and H. Otte (paratype ♂, ABS); Archbold Biological Station (27.1239°N; 81.3661°W) (Highlands County), 21.vi.2010, M. and L. Deyrup (paratype ♀, ABS); Archbold Biological Station (Highlands County), 29.v.1979, H.V. Weems, Jr. and S. Halkin (paratype ♀, LACM), 14.vi.2010, M. and L. Deyrup (paratype ♀, ABS); Flamingo Villas Preserve (27.4423°N; 81.3782°W) (Highlands County), 25.v.2009, M. Deyrup, A. May, and H. Otte (paratype ♀, ABS); Flamingo Villas Preserve (27.4487°N; 81.3767°W) (Highlands County), 01.vi.2009, M. Deyrup, A. May, and H. Otte (paratype ♀, ABS); Gould Rd Preserve (27.1336°N; 81.3256°W), 25.v.2009, M. Deyrup, A. May, and H. Otte (paratype ♀, PCYU), 26.v.2009, M. Deyrup, A. May, and H. Otte (paratype ♀, ABS); Lake Placid (Archbold Biological Station, Highlands County), 12.vi.1983, M. Deyrup (paratype ♀, ABS), 11.vi.1986, M. Deyrup (paratype ♀, ABS); The Nature Conservancy Tiger Creek Preserve (27.8077°N; 81.4816°W) (Polk County), 04.vi.2010, J. Dunlap, M. and N. Deyrup, and K. Dearborn (paratype ♀ [CCDB-24583 H04], PCYU); Tiger Creek Preserve (27.8133°N; 81.4868°W) (Polk County), 12.vi.2010, J. Dunlap, M. and N. Deyrup, and K. Dearborn (paratype ♀ [CCDB-24583 H02], USNM); Georgia: St Catherines Island (Liberty County), 24-27.vi.1989, Rozen, Quinter, and Eickwort (allotype ♂, AMNH), 27.vi.1974, R.O. Schuster and E.C. Teftner (paratype ♂, UCBME).

DNA barcoded material with BIN-compliant sequences.

Available. BOLD:ADF0241. See Type material for specimens examined and sequenced (indicated by unique CCDB-plate and well number).