Mexalictus (Mexalictus) verdazulus Dumesh, 2013

DUMESH, SHEILA, 2013, <p> <strong> Revision of the rare Mesoamerican bee genus <em> Mexalictus </ em> (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) with the description of </ strong> <br /> <strong> 21 new species </ strong> </ p>, Zootaxa 3708 (1), pp. 1-80 : 52-55

Mexalictus (Mexalictus) verdazulus Dumesh , new species

( Figs. 152–157 )

Holotype. Female. MEXICO, Chiapas, San Cristobal de Las Casas , 7200’, 1-3 June 1969, Malaise trap [ CNC].

Diagnosis. Both sexes of this species can be distinguished by the following combination: head and mesosoma metallic blue-green; mesosoma and metasoma entirely shiny, admedian line very slightly depressed anteriorly. This species is similar to M. arizonensis and M. mexicanus , but can be separated by the fine and sparse punctation on the mesoscutum (punctures larger and denser), punctures becoming dense laterad of parapsidal line (punctures or similar density), and the shiny metapostnotum and basal areas of terga (dull or granular).

Description. Female (Holotype): Body length 7.0– 7.5 mm, forewing length 5.3–5.9mm, head width 1.05– 1.10mm, ITW 1.16–1.18mm. Head and mesosoma metallic blue-green; pubescence pale whitish. Head: slightly longer than wide, L:W = 1.05:1. (1) Labrum and mandible: dark brown, with a subrectangular basal area raised medioapically with lateral areas shiny and flattened, narrow triangular distal process; basal area of mandible dark brown, mandible red apically. (2) Clypeus: shiny, nearly entire apical half black; length subequal to length of supraclypeal area, nearly entire length below lower compound eye, weakly convex in lateral view, less protuberant than supraclypeal area; punctures separated by <1pd basally, evenly distributed throughout, less dense apically with larger punctures separated by 2pd. (3) Supraclypeal area: convex, slightly protuberant, greatest width nearly equal to length from upper clypeal margin to mid-level of antennal sockets; punctation usually even throughout, lateral areas with punctures separated by 1–2pd, central area with punctures sometimes slightly less dense, dulled area between antennal sockets more evident. (4) Lower paraocular area: punctures below antennal sockets separated by>1pd, more sparse towards supraclypeal area (1–2pd). (5) Frontal area: frontal line carinate between antennae and continuing above antennal sockets, terminating at shiny impunctate triangle anterior to medial ocellus; punctation coarse and crowded above antennae, punctures crowded, becoming more sparse below. (6) Vertexal area: shiny, with weak transverse depression; OOD = 2.0MOD, IOD = 2.0MOD, OVD = 1.2MOD; larger punctures separated by 2pd, smaller punctures more dense. (7) Genal and hypostomal areas: genal area subequal to compound eye in lateral view, shiny with fine obscure punctures, hypostomal area granular, impunctate. (8) Antenna: scape reaching posterior median ocellus, pedicel slightly longer than wide, F2 and F3 subequal in size, both wider than long and shorter than F1, flagellomeres slightly increasing in length from F2–F10, F10 as wide as long. Mesosoma: (9) Pronotum: smooth, impunctate, more shiny dorsally; pronotal lobe pubescent, bearing pale branched hairs. (10) Mesoscutum: basal area dulled medially and along admedian line, otherwise entirely shiny; punctures of 2 sizes, larger punctures deep, separated by 4–6pd in central disc, smaller punctures shallow and more dense, separated by 2–3pd; punctures in central disc, becoming more dense laterally beyond parapsidal lines, where punctures are separated by 1–1.5pd. (11) Mesoscutellum: shiny becoming slightly dulled apically, with a depressed midline through basal half; punctures more dense than those of mesoscutum; small punctures finer and separated by 1–1.5pd becoming more dense laterally and apically, larger punctures separated by 3–4pd. (12) Metanotum: mostly dull, may appear somewhat shiny at certain angles, with extremely minute punctures. (13) Mesopleuron: obscurely punctate, somewhat shiny, pre-episternum weakly granular anteriorly; hypoepimeral area and central episternum mostly impunctate, smooth, if granular punctures light or nearly absent. (14) Metapleuron: transversely striate basally, otherwise weakly granular and somewhat shiny. (15) Metapostnotum and propodeum: metapostnotum dorsally bare, shiny basally, weakly granular baso-medially, striation present basally, strong laterally, extending to apical, irregularly wrinkled centrally; propodeum somewhat shiny, smooth and impunctate posteriorly, weakly granular laterally. (16) Wings: clear, veins and stigma brown, membrane slightly infuscate; first recurrent vein meeting at or 1.5 vein widths basad of second transcubital vein; second submarginal cell with anterior margin 2/3 length of posterior margin. (17) Tegula: punctate anteriorly, with few long branched hairs distally, posteriorly transparent. (18) Foreleg: hairs pale golden on tarsi, metafemoral brush and anterior tibia; coxa, trochanter, and femur with branching shorter erect hairs; pubescence on tibia and basitarsus dense, hairs long, not branched. (19) Middle leg: as foreleg, hairs brownish on outer surfaces of tibia and basitarsus as well as basitibial plate; tibia with lateral patch of pale, long and dense pubescence on apical 2/3. (20) Hind leg: as middle leg, coxa and trochanter with long, branching, pale pubescence; femoral scopa well formed with long branching hairs; tibia densely pubescent, hairs long and erect; basitarsus with several branched hairs, pubescence less dense than on tibia; femur 3X as long as greatest width; tibia 4X as long as greatest width; basitarsus 3.5X as long as greatest width; tibial spurs translucent yellow, apically darkened; inner hind tibial spur microserrate, with over 15 short, close teeth; outer hind tibial spur weakly curved at apical 1/3. Metasoma: (21) Terga: dark brown basally becoming lighter brown toward apical margin with margin somewhat hyaline, nearly entirely shiny, metallic reflections absent; T2–T4 with minute punctures present basally, separated by 2–4pd, apically shiny and impunctate, T5 with punctures more coarse and sparse; T1 smooth and shiny, branching pubescence present laterally and anteriorly, pubescence pale on T1–T4, darker on T5, reddish to dark brown apical and pseudopygidial area, T4 bearing only long branched pubescence, apical impressed areas translucent, T5 with dense pubescence, branched hairs longer than unbranched, black anteriorly, golden posteriorly. (22) Sterna: ventral hairs long, plumose and pale, brownish on anterior surface of S5–S6, long pubescence on S1 near crossing with mesosoma.

Male (Allotype): Body length 6.5–6.7mm, wing length 4.8–5.0mm, head width 1.48–1.50mm, ITW 0.9mm. As for female except as follows: Lower third of clypeus dark purple-brown. Head: (1) Labrum and mandible: basally, about 2.6X as wide as long; rounded, smooth elevation extending length and width, medially indented; distal process extending beyond basal area for up to 0.5X length of labrum. (2) Clypeus: subapical row of dark bristles absent; mandible with distinct subapical tooth. (5) Frontal area: frontal line not carinate above antennal sockets. (7) Genal and hypostomal areas: genal area slightly narrower than compound eye in lateral view. (8) Antenna: reaching basal mesoscutellum; scape reaching median anterior ocellus; pedicel about as long as wide; F1 slightly longer than pedicel, about as long as wide, longer than F2, subequal in size to F3–F11. Mesosoma: (15) Metapostnotum and propodeum: metapostnotum dorsally bare, shiny basally, smooth and impunctate apically, basal striation strong laterally, extending to apical, surface appearing weakly concave below striation. (16) Wings: clear, veins and stigma brown, membrane slightly infuscate; first recurrent vein meeting at or 1 vein width basad of second transcubital vein; second submarginal cell with anterior margin length of posterior margin, or slightly longer. Metasoma (21) Terga: metallic reflections absent; pygidial plate broadly rounded with elevated rim, depressed centrally, shiny and smooth, or with irregular rough areas. (22) Sterna: S4 with long plumose hairs medially directed on concave apico-median area; S5 broadly concave centrally, medial plumose hairs longest apically, projecting ventrally as apical tuft; S6 slightly elevated apically with an apical patch of plumose medially directed hairs. (23) Terminalia: see Figs. 156, 157 .

Material examined. MEXICO, Chiapas, San Cristobal de Las Casas , 7200’, 1-3 June 1969, Malaise trap [condition of male allotype: metasoma detached beyond T1 as a result of genitalia dissection, these parts all in genitalia vial on pin] (holotype female, allotype male, 399 paratype females, 11 paratype males, [ CNC]; 1 paratype female and one paratype male deposited at [ BZM]) ; 4.8km NE San Cristobal , 8 June 1969, B. V . Peterson (37 paratype females, 1 paratype male [ KUM]) ; GUATEMALA, Baja Varapaz Prov., 17km N. Salama, Hwy 5, 1700m, 29 June-3 July 1993, J. Ashe & R . Brooks #188, flight intercept trap (3 paratype females [ KUM]) .

Etymology. This species is named for its bluish-green integument on the head and mesosoma, distinguishing it from other species of this subgenus which are usually metallic green (with the exception of M. hansoni which is purple-blue).

Comments. The longitudinal striation on the metapostnotum varies in extent from occupying the basal 1/4 to almost the basal 1/2 of the dorsal surface. A specimen labelled Depto Zacapa, San Lorenzo, 7-18.vii.86, malaise trap on edge of pine forest, L. Lesage differs from the others in the supraclypeal area which is more densely punctate laterally and in the second submarginal cell which is parallel-sided rather than narrower anteriorly. It is tentatively placed as belonging to this species and is labelled M. verdazulus ?.

Figures

FIGURES 152–157. Mexalictus verdazulus Dumesh, n. sp., 152. Female lateral habitus, 153. Female head, 154. Male lateral habitus, 155. Male head, 156. Male genital capsule, dorsal view, 157. Male genital capsule, ventral view. Scale bars = 1mm.