Megalopta (Megalopta) sodalis ( Vachal, 1904 )

Santos, Leandro M. & Silveira, Fernando A., 2009, Taxonomic notes on Megalopta Smith, 1853 (Hymenoptera: Halictidae: Augochlorini) with a synopsis of the species in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, Zootaxa 2194, pp. 1-20 : 13

Megalopta (Megalopta) sodalis ( Vachal, 1904)

( Figs. 2, 6, 8, 16)

Halictus sodalis Vachal, 1904: 114 . Holotype female, Joinville, Santa Catarina (MNHP; examined).

Diagnosis. Ƥ /3: Body length 11.3–13.3 mm. Lateral surface of metapostnotum reticulate; posterior margin of metapostnotum gently arcuate, gradually converging towards metanotum, gradually narrowing the metapostnotum laterally; disc of scutellum gently convex, dorsal surface of axilla and contiguous anterolateral margin of scutellum below level of disc of scutellum; pubescence of metanotum relatively sparse, not hiding integument in oblique view; metepisternal process inconspicuous, narrow, without velvety pilosity; longitudinal rugae of metapostnotum limited to a central triangular area (long, reaching the posterior margin of metapostnotum medially, shortening laterad), its surface black or green, always shorter than metanotum; pilosity on metepisternum sparse.

3: Front shiny green or black; body integument green or black, that of legs, brown; mid-longitudinal depression of S3 deep and relatively wide throughout most its length, widening still more as it approaches marginal zone of sternum; posterior margin of discal lobes of S3 forming vertical surface, continuous to internal walls of mid-longitudinal depression; protruding process of S4 triangular, with a row of setae along its posterior margin, these setae forming a relatively long brush basally, homogeneously short apicad.

Material examined. A total of 62 specimens (50 Ƥ Ƥ and 12 3 3) of the following localities: MINAS GERAIS. Belo Horizonte, Estação Ecológica da UFMG, 17/04/1998 [D.A.Yanega] (1 Ƥ,1 3) { UFMG}; 19- 26/10/1999, EEM 2 [J.C.R. Fontenelle] (1 Ƥ) { UFMG}; 10/01/2005 [L.M. Santos] (1 Ƥ, 1 3) { UFMG}; Parque das Mangabeiras, 24/04/2005 [L.M. Santos] (1 Ƥ) { UFMG}; 26/10/2005 [L.M. Santos] (2 ƤƤ) { UFMG}. Bom Jesus do Amparo, Egas do Bom Jesus do Amparo, 20/11/2003 [R.B.Martines] (1 Ƥ) { UFMG}. Caratinga, Estação Biológica de Caratinga, 400m, 29/ 01-03/02/2003 [Mielke & Casagrande] (1 Ƥ) { DZUP}. Ipanema, Fazenda Montes Claros, 13 km NE de Ipanema, 400m, 29-30/01/2003 [Mielke & Casagrande] (18 ƤƤ, 5 3) { DZUP}. Nova Lima, 01-10/01/1985 [V.O.Becker] (1 Ƥ) { DZUP}. Santana do Riacho, Serra do Cipó, 12/03/1997 [D.A.Yanega] (1 3) { UFMG}. São Gonçalo do Rio Abaixo, EPDA de PETI, 26/10/1990 [L.A.Ladislau] (1 Ƥ) { UFMG}; 05-08/12/2002 [Mielke & Casagrande] (1 Ƥ) { DZUP}; 11/ 01/2003 [C.F.Cardoso] (1 Ƥ) { UFMG}; 14/11/2003 [A.F.Kumagai] (8 ƤƤ, 1 3) { UFMG}; 15/11/2003 [idem] (1 Ƥ) { UFMG}; 15/03/2002 [N.G.Fonseca] (1 Ƥ) { UFMG}; 1º/10/2005 [L.M. Santos] (1 Ƥ) { UFMG}; 28/04/2006 [idem] (1 3) { UFMG}. Três Marias, Ilha de Três Marias, 24/11/1997 [D.A.Yanega] (1 Ƥ) { UFMG}; Estação Piratininga, 01/05/1998 [D.A. Yanega] (1 Ƥ) { UFMG}. Uberlândia, 21/12/2006 [Amorim, F] (1 Ƥ) { UFU}. Viçosa, Córrego do Paraíso, Mata da Prefeitura, Armadilha UV, 17/03/1982 [P.S.Fiuza F.] (1 3) { MEUV}; 24/03/82 [idem] (1 3) { MEUV}; 20/11/1997 [idem] (1 Ƥ) { MEUV}; 08/01/ 1998 [idem] (2 ƤƤ) { MEUV}; 11/02/1988 (1 Ƥ, 1 3) [idem] { MEUV}; date unkonown [idem] (2 Ƥ) { MEUV}.Indetermined municipy, Rio das Velhas, Jaguara de Minas, unkown date [unkown collector] (2ƤƤ) { MNRJ}.

Distribution. BRAZIL (MINAS GERAIS, RIO DE JANEIRO, SANTA CATARINA, SÃO PAULO).

Comments. Specimens from the Brazilian state of Goiás attributed to this species by Sakagami & Moure (1967) were examined and seem to belong to other species. For this reason, we are excluding this state from the distribution range of the species. Considering the known geographic distribution of the species, which excludes the entire Amazonian basin, we also doubt that it occurs in Guyana, which is also provisionally excluded from the range of the species.

Specimens of M. sodalis greatly vary in color of frons, mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum and metapostnotum, which can be green, black or a mixture of black and green. Black forms are found among other metallic-green species of sweat bees, as noted by Eickwort (1967) for Pseudaugochlora sordicutis ( Vachal, 1904) [cited as P. nigerrima (Friese, 1916) ].