Thyreomelecta cf. paucimaculosa (RIGHTMYER & ENGEL, 2003)

RIGHTMYER, MOLLY G. & ENGEL, MICHAEL S., 2003, A New Palearctic Genus of Melectine Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae), American Museum Novitates 3392, pp. 1-23 : 20-21

Thyreomelecta cf. paucimaculosa

COMMENTS: A female specimen runs to couplet 10 in the key to species (below) and there runs out to T. paucimaculosa . Indeed, the pygidial plate and other features are reminiscent of T. paucimaculosa (or T. siberica ). However, T. paucimaculosa lacks the anterior spot of white pubescence on T1, white setae projecting from the posterior margin of the mesoscutellum, and patches of white pubescence on the mesosomal dorsum. In the pattern of white pubescence this individual more strongly resembles T. siberica but differs by the pattern of white pubescence on T1 (see Key below: principally in that the posterior mark is not two­fold), narrow and shining pygidial plate with median crest present (relatively broad and dull in T. siberica , with median crest weak and present only at apex), and is generally larger. Like both T. siberica and T. paucimaculosa , the sterna are entirely black. Although this individual appears to represent another species of Thyreomelecta , the combination of only a single specimen and the general difficulty with assigning females in the absence of the male leads us to leave this species undescribed in the hope of obtaining additional material in the future. At that time its specific status (or true identity as merely a variant of T. siberica or T. paucimaculosa ) can be more critically evaluated.

MATERIAL: Female labeled, ‘‘KYR­ GYZSTAN: Issyk­Kul, S shore Issyk­Kul 10 km E Kadzhi­Saj, 42°10'33̎N/77°18'55̎E, 1675 m, 2 Jul [July] 1999, J.G. Rozen & J.K. Bouseman, #40’’ // ‘‘ Thyreomelecta sp. nr. paucimaculosa , det. Rightmyer & Engel’’ ( AMNH).

PRELIMINARY KEY TO SPECIES OF THYREOMELECTA (Female unknown for T. merviensis and male unknown for T. paucimaculosa )

1. Male.............................. 2

– Female............................. 7

2. Clypeus entirely covered in appressed white setae............................. 3

– Clypeus with dark setae, or with white setae interspersed with numerous dark setae (pubescence long, suberect, and not entirely concealing clypeal surface)........... 5

3. T7 with apical projections separated with broad, straight emargination (fig. 27); tarsi with white setae; sterna with white patches of setae ( Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan).............. T. merviensis (Radoszkowsky)

– T7 with apical projections forming a V­shaped emargination; tarsi with black setae; sterna lacking white patches of setae, all black.. .................................. 4

4. Metasomal terga with white patches of setae (northwestern Libya to eastern Iraq)................ T. dimidiatipuncta (Spinola)

– Metasomal terga with black setae, although T2 sometimes with few white setae interspersed ( Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Iran?)........................ T. bidentata (Kirby)

5. Mesoscutellum with tuft of white setae along posterior margin (northeastern Asia, Armenia?: see Comments on species).................... T. sibirica (Radoszkowsky)

– Mesoscutellum without tuft of setae along posterior margin...................... 6

6. Apex of gonostylus densely clothed in simple setae; S7 without setose, medial, subapical tubercle (fig. 15); S8 with setose medio­apical projections forming a V (fig. 14) (northeastern Asia, ‘‘Turkestan’’?: see Comments on species).... T. propinquua (Lieftinck)

– Apex of gonostylus with few (less than 15) simple setae (fig. 16); S7 with setose, medial, subapical tubercle (fig. 13); S8 lacking setose medio­apical projections (fig. 12) ( Kyrgyzstan)........ T. kirghisia , n. sp.

7. Sterna with white patches of setae....... 8

– Sterna without white patches of setae, all black ................................. 9

8. Pygidial plate with median ridge long, extending basally to distinctly more than one­half length of plate (northeastern Asia, ‘‘Turkestan’’?: see Comments for species)................... T. propinquua (Lieftinck)

– Pygidial plate with median ridge short, extending basad to between one­fourth and onethird length of plate ( Kyrgyzstan).......................... T. kirghisia , n. sp.

9. Mesoscutellum with tuft of long, white setae along posterior margin............. 10

– Mesoscutellum without tuft of long setae along posterior margin................... 11

10. T1 with three rounded patches of white setae on each side; T2–5 with transverse, lateral bands of white setae (northeastern Asia, Armenia?: see Comments on species)............... T. sibirica (Radoszkowsky)

– T1–4 with short, transverse, lateral bands of white setae ( Tajikistan).......................... T. paucimaculosa (Alfken)

11. Metasomal terga with white patches of setae (northwestern Libya to eastern Iraq)................ T. dimidiatipuncta (Spinola)

– Metasomal terga with black patches of setae ( Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Iran?)...................... T. bidentata (Kirby)