Hoplitis (Chlidoplitis) allii Müller, 2014

Müller, Andreas, 2014, Palaearctic Hoplitis bees of the subgenera Chlidoplitis and Megahoplitis (Megachilidae, Osmiini): biology, taxonomy and key to species, Zootaxa 3765 (2), pp. 161-174 : 168-170

Hoplitis (Chlidoplitis) allii Müller , spec. nov.

Holotype: JORDAN: Jordan Valley, Tabaqat Fahl , 24.4.2007, ♂ (leg. C. Praz, C. Sedivy, A. Müller). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich.

Paratypes: ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: Wadi Qelet , St. Georg Mon. , 5km W Jericho, 6.5.1996, ♀ (leg. O. Niehuis) ; Har Karmel, Bet Oren , 10km S Haifa, 14.5.1996, ♂ (leg. O. Niehuis). JORDAN: Tall al Arbatin, 20km S North Shuna, 19.4.1996, ♂ (leg. M. Halada); Jordan Valley , Mubalath , 27.4.1996, ♀, ♂ (leg. M. Halada); North Shuna env., 29.– 30.4.1996, ♀, 4♂ (leg. M. Halada); North Shuna , 30.4.1996, 2♀, 3♂ (leg. M. Halada); Pella env., 29.4.2006, ♂ (leg. K. Denes); Jordan Valley , Tabaqat Fahl , 24.4.2007, 13♀, 3♂ (leg. C. Praz, C. Sedivy, A. Müller). Syria: Anata, 50km SE Suwayda, 20.– 21.5.1996, ♀ (leg. M. Halada). TURKEY, Sanliurfa: Halfeti , Birecik , 31.5.1998, ♂ (leg. M. Halada). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich, the Oberösterreichische Landesmuseum Linz and the private collection of M. Schwarz (Ansfelden).

Diagnosis: The female differs from all H. (Chlidoplitis) species except H. onychophora by the lack of an unpunctured area at the clypeal base ( Fig. 10 ) in combination with the almost straight hind tibial spurs, which regularly taper towards the unmodified, pointed and very slightly curved apex. In contrast to H. onychophora , the marginal zones of terga 1–5 are not dark but yellowish-white to yellowish-brown. The male differs from all H. (Chlidoplitis) species except H. onychophora by the long and slender lateral processes of tergum 7 ( Fig. 11 ), short teeth at the base of the hind coxae and the curved apex of the last antennal segment ( Fig. 13 ). In contrast to H. onychophora , the posterior side of the basitarsus of the middle leg is distinctly expanded near its base, the apical margin of tergum 7 is not truncated but medially projecting ( Fig. 11 ), sternum 1 is not flat in its apical half but distinctly bulged ( Fig. 14 ) and the white hair band along the apical margin of sternum 3 is not irregular in length but of about the same length along the whole sternal width.

Description. FEMALE: Body length 6.5–7.5mm. Head: Second segment of labial palpus about 1.7x as long as first segment. Antenna dark brown, segments 6–11 sometimes reddish-brown. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge 3–3.5x as long as ocellar diameter. Apical margin of clypeus truncate, polished and medially sligthly impressed with a small triangular incision ( Fig. 10 ). Clypeus and supraclypeal area densely punctured with interspaces not exceeding the diameter of half a puncture except for the apical clypeal margin, which is broadly unpunctured, and sometimes for a very small unpunctured area at the clypeal base. Underside of mandibular base and hypostomal area ciliated with long curved hairs forming a hypostomal basket. Paraocular area, frons and to a lesser extent supraclypeal area covered with rather dense and long white pilosity. Pilosity of clypeus slightly less dense and directed at an angle of 45–60o towards the apical clypeal margin; clypeal pilosity basally white, apically yellowish. Mesosoma: Scutum densely punctured with interspaces varying in size between the diameter of less than half a puncture and the diameter of one puncture, rarely one and a half punctures. Scutellum densely punctured with interspaces rarely exceeding the diameter of half a puncture. Basal zone of propodeum shagreened in its upper third and polished in its lower two thirds. Tegula yellow, medially not translucent and indistinctly punctured in its anterior third. Hind coxa with longitudinal keel. Hind tibial spurs long, almost straight and regularly tapering towards the unmodified, pointed and very slightly curved apex. Metasoma: Discs of terga 1–6 densely punctured with interspaces of the diameter of half a puncture to one puncture. Marginal zones of terga 1–5 yellowish-white to yellowish-brown, very densely punctured with punctures about half as large as punctures on tergal discs. Terga 1–5 with dense apical white hair bands, which are usually interrupted on terga 1–2. Tergum 6 covered with rather sparse and appressed white pilosity. Scopa whitish.

MALE: Body length 8–10mm. Head: Second segment of labial palpus 1.7–1.8x as long as first segment. Antenna dark brown to brown, rarely reddish-brown. Antennal segments 3–13 nearly twice as long as wide, last segment slightly bent downwards in its apical third ( Fig. 13 ). Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge 2.8–3.2x as long as ocellar diameter. Mesosoma: Scutum and sutellum densely punctured with interspaces varying in size between the diameter of less than half a puncture and the diameter of one, rarely one and a half punctures. Basal zone of propodeum shagreened in its upper third and polished in its lower two thirds. Tegula yellow, medially not translucent and indistinctly punctured in its anterior third. Hind coxa with distinct tooth at its base and longitudinal keel. Tarsal segments of middle leg of normal shape, lateroapically without spine-like processes; posterior side of basitarsus of middle leg basally with small projection of roundish to triangular shape. Metasoma: Discs of terga 1–6 densely punctured with interspaces varying in size between the diameter of half a puncture and the diameter of one and a half, on tergum 6 two punctures. Marginal zones of terga 1–5 yellowishwhite to yellowish-brown, very densely punctured with minute punctures except for the apicalmost zone, which is unpunctured. Terga 1–5 with dense apical white hair bands, which may be interrupted on terga 1–2 in older specimens. Tergum 6 medially with weak roundish impression, laterally with distinct yellowish-brown tooth; its apical margin more or less yellowish-brown, medially rounded and slightly projecting, laterally straight and distinctly impressed. Tergum 7 varying in colour from black to yellowish-brown, basally with deep roundish groove, laterally with two long and slender processes and medioapically with rounded projection between lateral processes ( Fig. 11 ). Sternum 1 distinctly bulged in its apical half, its almost vertical and slightly concave posterior side densely beset with white hairs ( Fig. 14 ). Marginal zones of sterna 2–4 with dense white hair bands; hair band of sternum 3 of about the same length along the whole sternal width. Sternum 5 with weak medioapical impression, its apical margin with yellowish hair band, which is longest medially. Sternum 6 medioapically prolonged into long process of triangular shape.

Distribution. Southernmost Turkey to the Levant ( Syria, Jordan, Israel and Palestine). At several localities in Jordan and Israel, Hoplitis allii was collected at the same date as its sister species H. onychophora .

Pollen hosts. Probably oligolectic on Allium (Alliaceae) : all 13 pollen loads (4 localities, 1 country) analyzed so far exclusively consisted of Allium pollen.

Nesting biology. Unknown.

Etymology. Allium = genus of the Alliaceae , referring to the probably exclusive pollen host of H. allii .

Note. Hoplitis (Chlidoplitis) spec. nov. 1 in Sedivy et al. (2013) refers to H. allii .

Figures

FIGURE 10 – 15. 10: Hoplitis allii, clypeus of female. 11: Hoplitis allii, terga 4 – 7 of male. 12: Hoplitis onychophora, terga 4 – 7 of male. 13: Hoplitis allii, antenna of male. 14: Hoplitis allii, sterna 1 – 2 of male. 15: Hoplitis onychophora, sterna 1 – 2 of male.