Lophopedia flava (Smith, 1879)

(Figs. 19, 34−36)

Exomalopsis flava Smith, 1879: 127; holotype female, examined (BMNH), BRAZIL: Amazonas, São Paulo de Olivença.

Tetrapedia acuta Vachal 1909: 27; lectotype female, examined (MNHP), ECUADOR: Napo, Arquidona; designated by Aguiar (2007): 616; new synonymy.

Exomalopsis flava; Friese (1899): 250; Schrottky (1902): 534; Ducke (1910a): 364.

Tetrapedia flava (Smith); Cockerell (1909a): 399; Cockerell (1931): 414.

Chalepogenus flavus; Cockerell (1923a): 449.

Tetrapedia acuta; Cockerell (1931): 413; Moure (1944b): 74.

Chalepogenoides flavus; Michener (1942): 281.

Paratetrapedia flava; Moure (1944b): 74.

Paratetrapedia (Lophopedia) acuta; Michener and Moure (1957): 415.

Lophopedia acuta; Aguiar (2007): 616. Lophopedia flava; Aguiar (2007): 617.

Comments and diagnosis. In Lophopedia flava the integument is completely orange yellow, except for a few specimens that have dark brown marks on mesoscutum and vertex. Lophopedia flava is very similar to L. nigriceps but can be distinguished from the latter mainly by the completely yellow integument. Lophopedia flava also differs from the other species by the presence of only coarse and usually sparse punctures on frons (ca. 0.5–2 pd), whereas L. nigriceps has dense coarse punctures (<0.5 pd) with finely minute punctures intermingled in the female. Lophopedia flava is also distinct due the mesepisternum with sparse coarse punctures, scutellum with an evenly convex profile, and S6 of male with short and sparse pubescence on the apical portion.

Distribution: BOLIVIA; BRAZIL: Acre, Amazonas, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia; COLOMBIA; ECUADOR; PERU (Fig. 19).

Variation. Most of specimens present the mesoscutum orange yellow, however some specimens from Peru have a pale brown mesoscutum. In only one male specimen (DZUP\ 023567), the mesoscutum was completely dark brown, with yellow stripes.