Sphecodes simlaensis Bluethgen , 1924

Astafurova, Yulia V., Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., Niu, Ze-Qing, Orr, Michael C. & Zhu, Chao-Dong, 2020, New and little-known bees of the genus Sphecodes Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Halictidae) from Southern and South-Western China, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 79, pp. 145-162 : 145

Sphecodes simlaensis Bluethgen, 1924

Sphecodes simlaensis Blüthgen, 1924: 514-515, ♀ (syntypes: 2 ♀, India, Simla, VIII. and IX.[18]98, Nurse leg., were not found in NHMUK).

Material examined.

Yunnan: Longling Country, 1600 m, 20.V.1955, (1 ♂), leg. V. Popov [ZISP]; Xianggelila Xian (27.8357N, 99.7074E), 3334 m, 14.VII.2017, (1 ♀), leg. Zhong-Ming Ye [IZCAS]. Sichuan: Nanping, Ta Zang (33.2528N, 104,2528E), 2200 m, 15-18.VI.1990, (1 ♀), leg. Chs [PCMS]; Wushan, Liziping (31.0805N, 109.8855E), 1850 m, 18.V.1994, (1 ♀), leg. Xing-Ke Yang [IZCAS]; Wolong, Santiaogou (39.9039N, 116.3863E), 2500 m, 6.VIII.1983, (1 ♂), leg. Xue-Zhong Zhang [IZCAS].

Published records.

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Variation.

Coloration of metasomal terga in males varies from entirely dark brown or black to partially red on T1-T3. Sculpturing of the propodeal triangle is also quite variable, with wrinkles ranging from longitudinal and parallel to net forming. The male specimen from Santiaogou is larger than the typical form (6.5 mm versus 5.0-5.5 mm).

Distribution.

*China (Sichuan, Yunnan); India (Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh), Laos.