Augochloropsis (Paraugochloropsis) fulgida (Smith) stat. nov.

Augochlora fulgida Smith, 1853: 79 ♀. Holotype: ♀ USA, Florida, St. John’s Bluff, East Florida [NHMUK014024970]. Images examined by ZP and MA (Fig. 23). Online record: https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/f5102905-1ee6-44fe-81f5-df87a97b4033 (Labels read "Type / H.T. [circle with red border] // B.M. TYPE / HYM / 14.a.1231 // B.M. TYPE / HYM / augochlora / fulgida / Smith 1853 // fulgida / Type Sm. // E. Doubleday / St. John’s Bluff, / E. Florida. // NHMUK 014024970 [label with QR code]").

Augochlora fulgida (in Cockerell 1905: taxonomy).

Augochloropsis cuprea (in Sandhouse 1937 [in part]: key).

Comments.

We define Augochloropsis fulgida differently than previous workers because examination of the type specimen (Fig. 23) revealed that it does not match the species concept used for Augochloropsis metallica fulgida by Mitchell (1960). Even though Mitchell (1960) examined the type, it does not key out correctly in his key or match his description. As it stands, the type of Augochloropsis fulgida does not match any Augochloropsis species we are familiar with. The type female, from St. John’s Bluff Florida (Fig. 18), is most similar to Augochloropsis anonyma in that it has erect dark hairs on the metasoma (Fig. 23C, D), but it differs in having a larger and more tessellate propodeal triangle (Fig. 23C) compared to the narrow and shining propodeal triangle in Augochloropsis anonyma (Fig. 17E), and the hair fringe on T2 of Augochloropsis fulgida appears to be slightly more prominent than in Augochloropsis anonyma .

More work is needed to clarify this species as it is currently only known from the type and the male is unknown. However, we have not performed a dedicated search for more material that could match Augochloropsis fulgida . It is also a possibility that the type of Augochloropsis fulgida is mislabeled and not from Florida or even the United States. However, a more likely explanation is that any Augochloropsis fulgida material has been misidentified as Augochloropsis anonyma due to the presence of black pubescence on the metasoma.