Halictus ( Protohalictus ) flaminii, Brau & Michez, 2025

Brau, Thomas & Michez, Denis, 2025, Halictus (Protohalictus) flaminii, the first Halictus described from Indonesia (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), Zootaxa 5692 (3), pp. 567-576 : 570-572

Halictus ( Protohalictus) flaminii sp. nov.

Etymology: The species is dedicated to my colleague and friend Simone Flaminio, an active Italian wild bee specialist and Halictini taxonomist, who found this specimen in the collection of the Biodiversitätszentrum Oberösterreich in Linz.

Type material. Holotype. Indonesia: ♀, Lombok , Kuta, 8.881S, 116.281E, 30 m, 27–31.XII.2019, leg. J. Starkova, OÖLM.

Female. Body length (vertex to T 6): 10 mm ( Fig. 1a ), andreniform.

Head ( Fig. 1b, d ): Graphite gray to black, 1.2 times wider than long, testaceous minutely barbed hairs ( Fig. 1b ). Mandible black to hyaline-ferrugineous at the apex, bidentate, rounded. Labrum black to hyaline-ferrugineous at terminal edge, semi elliptical, testaceous simple hairs at edge of labrum, twice as long as wide, protuberance of the labrum forming a simple carina. Labral process black, semi-elliptical, central protuberance triangle shaped, edge of labral process carinate. Clypeus graphite gray to black, 1.5 times wider than long, dense punctation, punctures separated by 0.1–3 puncture diameters, underlying surface smooth and glossy ( Fig. 1b ). Supraclypeal region graphite gray to black, slightly domed, dense punctation, punctation separated by 0.1–1.5 punctation diameters, underlying surface slightly imbricate and glossy ( Fig. 1a, b ). Malar area black, short, equal to 3 times the eye rim width. Gena graphite gray to black, large, equal to the width of the eye, shallow punctation, punctation separated by 0.5 punctation diameter, underlying surface strongly rugose and matte ( Fig. 1a, b ). Vertex short, equal to 2.3 times the diameter of a lateral ocelli, dense punctation, punctation separated by 0.1 punctation diameter, underlying surface strongly rugose and matte ( Fig. 1b ). Antenna black, flagellum filiform, A3 apical width = 1; relative length of articles: A3 = 1.0; A4 = 0.66; A5 = 0.8; A6 = 1.06 ( Fig. 1d ).

Mesosoma ( Fig. 1c,e,f,g ; 2g ): Pronotum graphite gray to black, strigulate. Scutum graphite gray to black, sparse testaceous plumose hairs, dense punctation, punctures separated by 0.5–1 puncture diameters, underlying surface slightly imbricate and glossy except for the sides of the propodeum which are reticulate-rugulose up to the parapsidal line ( Fig. 1c ). Scutellum graphite gray to black, sparse testaceous plumose hairs, sparse punctation, punctures separated by 1–3 puncture diameters except border and middle of the scutellum which have dense punctation, punctures separated by <1 puncture diameter, underlying surface smooth and glossy ( Fig. 2g ). Metanotum graphite gray to black, sparse testaceous plumose hairs, rugose with few shallow punctures ( Fig. 1f ). Mesepisternum graphite gray to black, strongly rugose with dense shallow punctation, punctures separated by <1 puncture diameter ( Fig. 1e ). Metepisternum graphite gray to black, strigulate ( Fig. 1e ). Propodeal enclosure black, almost triangular, rugulose ( Fig. 1f ). Propodeum side graphite gray to black, sparse testaceous plumose hairs, rugulose with dense shallow punctation to granulate at dorsal part of propodeum without punctation, punctures separated by 0.1 puncture diameter ( Fig. 1f ). Tegula black to hyaline-testaceous at external edge, sparse punctation, punctures separated by 1–4 puncture diameters, underlying surface slightly coriaceous ( Fig. 1c ). Wings slightly smoked, venation black to dark brown ( Fig. 1a ). Anterior leg graphite gray to black except tarsus orange, testaceous simple hairs. Mid leg graphite gray to black except tarsus and basitarsus orange, testaceous simple hairs. Hind leg black to light orange; coxa and femur graphite gray to black, tibia to tarsus light orange with one black elliptical spot on anterior surface of basitarsus ( Fig. 1g ). Hind leg scopa with testaceous long branched plumose hair ( Fig. 1g ). Pilosity of femur simple and testaceous ( Fig. 1g ). Pilosity of tibia and tarsus yellow-golden ( Fig. 1g ). Inner hind spur orange, finely toothed.

Metasoma ( Fig. 1g, h ; 2a ): Metasoma graphite gray to black, elliptical ( Fig. 1h ). Posterior part of T1–4 terminated by interrupted floral white hair band. T1 graphite gray to black, sparse punctation, punctures separated by 1–4 puncture diameters, disc of the terga less punctuated, underlying surface slightly imbricate almost smooth and shiny, coriaceous on the marginal zone ( Fig. 2a ). T2 graphite gray to black, dense punctation, punctures separated by 0.1–1 puncture diameter, underlying surface smooth and glossy ( Fig. 2a ). T3 and T4 with the same structure as T2 ( Fig. 1h ). T5 graphite gray to black, shallow punctation, punctures separated by 1 puncture diameter, underlying surface imbricate and glossy, fimbria chamoisee ( Fig. 1h ). T6 graphite gray to black ( Fig. 1h ).

Ecology and habitat

Halictus flaminii was discovered on Lombok Island, Indonesia. The island’s climatic zones are primarily divided into tropical savannah (Aw) in the southern parts and tropical monsoon (Am) in the northern regions ( Fig. 3b ). Surrounding islands share these predominant climates ( Fig. 3b ). The specimen was collected within a region characterized by a tropical savanna climate (Aw) ( Fig. 3b ), in a garden located in an open area featuring significant vegetation cover ( Fig. 4 ). This climate is highly atypical for species of the genus Halictus , particularly those in the subgenus Protohalictus , which are generally associated with temperate, continental, or arid climates ( Fig. 3a ). The ecology of Halictus species remains poorly understood; however, they are known to nest in the ground, requiring open areas suitable for burrowing ( Pesenko et al. 2000). While such habitats can support Halictus nests, they are also ideal for most Protohalictus species, which typically prefer open environments such as plains, grasslands, or steppes. In tropical regions, where vegetation is denser and soils are often covered with organic matter, local disturbed open habitats may provide a more suitable environment for Protohalictus . Additionally, managed environments like gardens can serve as refuges for Halictus , as they create openings in the landscape conducive to nesting.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Holotype female Halictus flaminii sp. nov. holotype. a) Lateral habitus. b) Head, front view. c) Scutum. d)Antenna. e) Mesosoma, side view. f) Propodeum. g) Hind leg. h) Metasoma, dorsal view.

FIGURE 2. Comparative of species morphologically related to Halictus flaminii. a) T1 of H. flaminii. b) T1 of H. hedini. c) T1 of H. rubicundus. d) Scutellum of H. flaminii. e) Scutellum of H. hedini. f) Scutellum of H. rubicundus. g) Scutellum of H. bagirensis.

FIGURE 3. Distribution map of species morphologically closest to Halictus flaminii superimposed on climate distribution according to Köppen-Geiger classification, the color opacity has been reduced by 50% to enhance the map’s readability and improve clarity.A = tropical, B = dry, C = mild temperate, D = snow, E = Polar, f = fully humid, m = monsoon, s = dry summer, w = dry winter, W = desert, S = steppe, T = tundra, F = frost, h = hot arid, k = cold arid, a = hot summer, b = warm summer, c = cool summer, d = cold summer. a) Map of Asia. b) Zoom on islands surrounding H. flaminii locality.

FIGURE 4. Habitat of Halictus flaminii. a) Similar habitats to the specimen’s sampling site (photo by Hen San Bunardy). b) Example of vegetation cover at the sampling site (photo by Hen San Bunardy). c) Type of landscape from which the specimen was sampled (photo by Lily Heise).