Eulaema (Apeulaema) felipei Nemésio, 2010

Nemésio, André, 2010, Eulaema (Apeulaema) felipei sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossina): a new forest-dependent orchid bee found at the brink of extinction in northeastern Brazil, Zootaxa 2424, pp. 51-62 : 54-55

Eulaema (Apeulaema) felipei Nemésio sp. n.

Diagnosis. Eulaema felipei sp. n. is very similar to the Amazonian Eulaema (Apeulaema) mocsaryi ( Friese, 1899) , but can be readily distinguished by the darker coloration of T2 and T3 (dark orange in E. felipei sp. n. and pale yellow to dark yellow in E. mocsaryi ) and especially by the darker coloration of the setae on mesoscutum and mesepisternum (entirely deep black in E. felipei sp. n. and brown to dark brown in E. mocsaryi ). Males belonging to E. felipei sp. n. have at most very weak yellowish markings on the clypeus and none of the twelve known specimens have yellowish markings on paraocular, malar or supraclypeal areas (a common feature in males belonging to E. mocsaryi , although these markings are never so extensive in E. mocsaryi as in other members of Apeulaema). There is no other Eulaema in the entire Atlantic Forest that can be confused with E. felipei sp. n., since this species is the only one in this biome that has no black setae on any metasomal terga.

Description (Male, Fig. 3 ). Color and vestiture. Face and head black without metallic hues or yellowish markings on clypeus and malar area (holotype and some paratypes; other paratypes possess a narrow dark yellow marking on clypeus) ( Fig. 3 B), mesosoma black with black hairs, T1 black with yellow setae, T2–T3 black, the first 9/10 of their lengths with dark orange setae, the distal portion with pale yellow setae, T4–T7 black with only yellow setae ( Fig. 3 A). Wings dark brown basally, pale brown distally, except marginal cell of anterior wing, which is dark brown.

Head. Width 6.4 mm; interorbital distance at level of antennal sockets 3.3 mm; scape 1.9 mm.

Body. Body length ca. 20.0 mm; anterior wing ca. 16.0 mm; tongue in repose reaching hindcoxa; scutellum 5.5 mm wide, 2.0 mm long; abdominal width 9.5 mm.

Legs. Velvet area of mesotibia large and broad, almost reaching the distal portion of the tibia, leaving only a tiny smooth black area around it; mesotibial tuft large, occupying almost the entire basal portion of the velvet area ( Fig. 3 C); metatibia covered with sparse, short appressed black hairs ( Fig. 3 D).

Punctation. Sparse, small and circular punctures on clypeus; denser, larger and elongated on labrum and around clypeus; sparse, very small and circular punctures on mesoscutum; dense, small and circular punctures on T1–T3, larger and elongated on T4–T7; sparse, small and elongated punctures on metatibia.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym honoring my eight-year-old son, Felipe A. Nemésio.

Type locality. The holotype was attracted to and collected at methyl salicylate bait at Estação Ecológica de Murici, Serra da Bananeira site, at 09°13’23”S – 35°52’45”W, ca. 520 m above sea level, on the 3rd of September, 2009.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: male, with the following label data: “Euglossina de Alagoas, Est.[ação] Ecol.[ógica] de Murici, 14954-43460” and “Murici, AL, Brasil, 03/09/2009, A. Nemésio” ( UFMG). PARATYPES: eleven males, with the following label data: “Euglossina de Alagoas, Est.[ação] Ecol.[ógica] de Murici, 14954-43459” and “Murici, AL, Brasil, 03/09/2009, A. Nemésio” ( UFMG); “idem, 14972-43498” and “Murici, AL, Brasil, 04/09/2009, A. Nemésio” ( UFMG); “idem, 14976-43504” and “idem” ( UFMG); “idem, 14991-43504” and “idem” ( UFMG); “idem, 15018-43595” and “Murici, AL, Brasil, 05/09/2009, A. Nemésio” ( UFMG); “idem, 15035-43638” and “idem” ( UFMG); “idem, 15035-43687” and “idem” ( UFMG); “idem, 15166-43993” and “Murici, AL, Brasil, 08/09/2009, A. Nemésio” ( MNRJ); “idem, 15176-44021” and “idem” ( ZSM); “idem, 15176-44022” and “idem” ( AMNH); “idem, 15177-44032” and “idem” ( UFMG).

Attractive baits: β-ionone and methyl salicylate.

Geographic distribution: only known from the type locality, a small forest patch (ca. 2,700 ha) located at Serra da Bananeira, at ESEC Murici, municipality of Murici, state of Alagoas, Brazil.

Comments: recognition of this tiny and isolated population as a new species is important for conservation reasons, as discussed below in more detail. It is impossible to establish plans devoted to the conservation of a species that does not officially exist. Thus, due to (1) the consistent differences in coloration between this species and its putative closest ally, El. mocsaryi ; (2) the astonishing geographical disjunction between El. felipei sp. n. and El. mocsaryi (even considering the single record of this latter species in the state of Piauí), suggesting both “populations” are entirely isolated ( Fig. 4 ), especially considering they are highly dependent on densely forested areas, virtually non-existent between the Amazonian and the Atlantic forests; and (3) the need of establishing a name to make it possible to start conservation actions, I here describe this new species of Eulaema as Eulaema (Apeulaema) felipei .

The number of species now known to belong to Eulaema (Apeulaema) increases to seven. Below I provide an updated identification key for all species of the subgenus.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Holotype Eulaema felipei sp. n. A: dorsal view; B: frontal view of face; C: ventral view of mesotibia; D: metatibia. (Photos: Rodolfo C. C. Arantes).

FIGURE 4. Map showing the known geographic distributions of Eulaema mocsaryi (Friese, 1899) (circles) and Eulaema felipei sp. n. (square). Notice the location of Parnaíba, in the state of Piauí, where a single specimen of El. mocsaryi was recorded (see text). Acronyms represent Brazilian states, as following: AL = Alagoas, BA = Bahia, CE = Ceará, PB = Paraíba, PE = Pernambuco, PI = Piauí, RN = Rio Grande do Norte, SE = Sergipe (modified from Oliveira 2008).