Chilicola (Oroediscelis) fritzi Packer and Dumesh, 2019

Packer, Laurence & Dumesh, Sheila, 2019, Fifteen new species of Chilicola (Oroediscelis) (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Xeromelissinae) with illustrated keys to the males and females of the subgenus, Zootaxa 4559 (1), pp. 1-56 : 14-15

Chilicola (Oroediscelis) fritzi Packer and Dumesh , new species

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:14772B86-6838-4D1F-B5AC-8BA905B9F59C

( Figs. 31–35 , 86-87 )

Diagnosis. The male of this species can be differentiated from others in the subgenus by the combination of: clypeus with yellow marking, S4 with long processes which in ventral view subtend a space that is twice as long as wide and with apices of processes notched in lateral view and S5 lacking processes. It is very similar to C. goloboffi but differs in lacking processes on S5 and some surface sculpture characteristics as noted below.

Description. Male: Length 7.5 mm, forewing length 5.2mm, head width 1.5 mm. Head: more than 1.1 X as long as wide, 87:77. Dorsal margin of yellow paraocular mark more transverse. Clypeus punctures larger, denser, i=0.5–3 d; lower paraocular area punctures sparser, i=1–3 d; frontal area alveolate. Malar space 2/3 as long as wide (6.5:10). Longest hairs on face between antennae and on scape, 2.5 MOD; genal beard with hairs up to 4.2 MOD. F1 as long as F2 on anterior surface (11:11), longer on posterior surface (14:12); F2 with long subapical seta attaining midlength of F4, shorter seta subequal in length to F3; F3 with long seta subequal in length to F4, shorter one ~0.5 X length of F4.

Mesosoma: pronotum with dense punctures, i<d, set among striae. Mesoscutellum less strongly imbricate than mesoscutum, both evenly punctate, i<d; metanotum more densely punctate, i<d; mesepisternum more densely and evenly punctate i<d;. Metepisternum strongly rugulose above, weakly longitudinally striate below; metapostnotum shorter, length:mesoscutellum 18:24, rugulose-striate; lateral surface of propodeum punctures weak, obscure, large. Longest hairs of mesosoma 3.5 MOD, on lateral area of propodeum, 2.5–3 MOD on mesepisternum, mesoscutellum posteriorly, metanotum laterally, and dorsolateral area of propodeum; longest hairs on mesoscutum ~2 MOD. Stigma much shorter than marginal cell on wing margin (33:48); marginal cell more rounded apically; distal stigmal perpendicular slightly apical to first submarginal crossvein. Mesofemur produced almost to a right angle basoventrally, shallowly concave beyond angle. Metatibia 3 X as long as greatest depth (50:17). Metabasitarsus 4/ 5X as long as remaining tarsomeres combined (43:53); in ventral view, apex of anterior process right angular.

Metasoma: apicolateral patches of white, plumose hairs on T1–T2. S1 erect hairs longer, 2.5 MOD posterolaterally; S2 erect hairs longest anteriorly, 2 MOD; S3 with few long hairs posterolaterally, <2 MOD; S4 and S5 erect hairs longer, 3.5 MOD, only those of S4 weakly sinuate; S6 apical tuft ~3 MOD. S5 lacking process; S6 apicolateral fovea almost 3X as long as greatest width, apical impressed area longer ~1.3 MOD, subapical setal row longer, <2 MOD, at ~30° to impressed area.

Terminalia : refer to Figs. 33–35 .

Female: unknown.

Etymology. The species is named after the late Manuel Fritz who collected so many undescribed species of C. ( Oroediscelis ) and other Hymenoptera in northern Argentina.

Material studied. Holotype male: ARGENTINA, Salta, El Alisal , i.1994, M. Fritz [ AMNH]. In good condition, the right hind leg beyond the femur has been detached from the rest of the specimen and glued to the side of the pin. [See Figs. 184–185 for distribution map].

Comments. The form of S4 is seemingly identical to that of C. goloboffi and it would not be impossible for the absence of processes on S5 of C. fritzi to be a result of allometry combined with its smaller size. However, there are numerous differences in setation and surface sculpture (larger and denser clypeal punctures, sparser punctures on the lower paraocular area, more densely and evenly punctate metanotum; longer appressed seta on both F2 and F3 and generally somewhat longer hairs elsewhere) and a relatively longer malar space (2/3 as long as wide, as opposed to ½ as long as wide), which led to the decision to treat the single known specimen as a distinct species.

Figures

FIGURES 31–35. Chilicola fritzi. 31. male lateral habitus (holotype); 32. male face (holotype); 33. male genital capsule, dorsal view (holotype); 34. male S7, dorsal view (holotype); 35. male S8, dorsal view (holotype).

FIGURES 85–86. Lateral view of metasomal apex to show: 85. S4 process straight and apex entire (C. goloboffi holotype); 86. notched apex to process of S4 (C. fritzi holotype).

FIGURES 87–88. Ventral view of S4 of male to show relative length to distance between processes. 87. length ~3X distance between them (C. fritzi holotype), 88. length ~2X distance between processes (C. styliventris).

FIGURES 184–185. Distribution maps of newly described Chilicola (Oroediscelis) species. 184. Large scale map of South America showing distribution of new species; 185. Small scale map of northern Argentina to show distribution within the country.