Afroheriades hyalinus, Griswold, Terry & Gonzalez, Victor H., 2011

Griswold, Terry & Gonzalez, Victor H., 2011, New species of the Eastern Hemisphere genera Afroheriades and Noteriades (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae), with keys to species of the former, ZooKeys 159, pp. 65-80 : 68-71

Afroheriades hyalinus sp. n. Figs 113

Afroheriades hyalinus Cardinal et al. (2010): Fig. S1, Table S1, S3 [supporting online information]

Holotype.

♂ (Fig. 1), South Africa, [Northern Cape]: Studer's Pass (km 23), -30.4288°, 18.0592°, 806 m, 17 Sep 2007, T.L. Griswold (SAM).

Paratypes.

10♂, 4♀, same data as holotype; 1♂, same data except Lebeckia sp.; 1♂ Concordia, 6 km N, -29.4859°, 17.9445°, 14 Sep 2007, T. L. Griswold; 10♂ 3♀, De Kruis, 14 km S, -30.503°, 18.1367°, 17 Sep 2007, T. L. Griswold; 2♀, Nieuwoudtville Falls, 6.5 km N of Nieuwandtville, -31.3197°, 19.1174°, 18 Sep 2007, T. L. Griswold; 1♀, Namaqualand, Bowesdorp, Sept 1941; 1♂, Garies, Namaqualand, June 1930. Western Cape: 1♂, Hoek se Berg, -32.1159°, 19.1734°, 20 Sep 2007, T. L. Griswold; 1♀, Pakhuis Pass, NE, -32.0922°, 19.0673°, 20 Sep 2007, T. L. Griswold; Worcester, IX-25-75, R.M. Bohart; 2♂, 1♀, Pakhuis Pass, 32.08S, 19.02E, 7.ix.1987, C. D. Eardley; 2♀, 5 km E Montagu, X 10 [19]75, R. M. Bohart; 2♀, 16 km E Clanwilliam, Pakhuis Pass, 700 m, 32°08.1'S, 18°59.7'E, 8 Sept 2001; 2♀, 7 km W Nieuwoudtville, 31°22.60'S, 19°01.16'E, 830m 9/X/2002, pantrap, F. D. Parker, M. E. Irwin; 1♀, Stradfontein, W of Muizenberg, 25 m, 34°04.86'S, 18°32.47'E, 7/X/2002, F. D. Parker, M. E. Irwin; 1♂, Cape Peninsula, Hout Bay, 18-IX-1967, E. S. Ross & A. R. Stephen (BBSL, CUIC, DZUP, SAM, SANC, SEMC, UCDC).

Diagnosis.

The male of Afroheriades hyalinus is unique among Afroheriades in the S5 with erect, oval tuft of bristles (Figs. 4, 6). In addition, males can be recognized by the combination of: antennal flagellum unmodified (Fig. 2); T7 without a lateral spine (Fig. 4); basal zone of the propodeum bounded posteriorly by a carina (Fig. 3); and anterior-facing surface of T1 with fine, sparse, punctures smaller than those on dorsal face. The female can be easily recognized by the combination of: head about as long as broad (Fig. 12); clypeus sparsely punctate, not produced ventrally; hypostomal carina with anterior limb (i.e., portion of carina curving towards posterior margin of mandibular socket) longer than the straight, posterior limb (Fig. 13); basal zone of propodeum horizontal, scarcely longer than length of metanotum, broader laterally than medially; and anterior face of T1 very finely, sparsely punctate.

Description.

Male: Body length 4.4 mm (3.7- 4.4 mm); forewing length 2.9 mm (2.6-2.9 mm). Head length equal to width (Fig. 2); ocellocular distance greater than ocellar diameter; ocelloccipital distance equal to ocellar diameter; compound eyes converging ventrally; antennal scape not enlarged, tapered; length of F2 twice length of F1, F1-F4 not expanded laterally, F2-F10 not roundly produced ventrally, F7 longer than wide; mouthparts in repose slightly exceeding fossa. Mesosoma elongate, cylindrical; pronotum roundly produced laterally; scutellum flat; metanotum horizontal in lateral view, midline length in dorsal view equal to length of basal zone of propodeum; propodeum with basal zone horizontal, surface pitted, bounded posteriorly by carina (Fig. 3). T6 roundly emarginate apically, apicolaterally rounded; apical margin of T7 convex, laterally without elongate spine (Fig. 4); S1 without subapical carina; S2 not thickened basally, with gradulus projecting into a thin, hyaline lamella apically reaching nearly to margin of segment (Fig. 4); S3 with margin transverse (Fig. 5); S6-S8, and genital capsule as in figures 7-10.

Integument smooth and shiny between punctures; punctation on interantennal area moderate, approximately one puncture width apart; on scutum moderate, approximately one puncture width apart; on disc of T3 sparse, more than one puncture width apart.

Body black except flagellomeres, tegula, legs dark brown. Wings hyaline with weak green and coppery highlights; veins, stigma, prestigma dark brown.

Pubescence white; dense, appressed, obscuring surface on clypeus, interantennal area, paraocular area; lower gena covered with sparse, loosely plumose hair; S2 with short, wedge-shaped fringe; S4 without median longitudinal hair tuft or carina; S5 with erect, oval tuft of bristles on disc (Fig. 6).

Female: As in male except: Body length 3.5-4.4 mm; forewing length 2.7-3.3 mm. Ocellocular distance 0.6-0.7 times interocellar distance; ocelloccipital distance 0.9-1.0 times interocellar distance; clypeus sparsely punctate, with margin truncate, crenulate; mandible tridentate, ventral margin not angled basally; gena ventrally without longitudinal carina, long curled hair, or ventral impunctate region; hypostomal carina higher posteriorly, curving towards posterior margin of mandibular socket, with anterior limb (curved portion) longer than posterior limb (straight portion), angle between limbs obtuse, area anterior to anterior limb of hypostomal carina raised (Fig. 13); labrum with medial area punctate, apical margin upturned; stipes without ventral fringe of long curled bristles. Dense pubescence restricted to paraocular area; hairs on fore tarsomeres simple, with tips wavy. S1 at most with preapical hump.

Etymology.

The specific epithet makes reference to the thin, hyaline lamella of S2 that projects from the gradulus distally nearly to the posterior margin of the sternum.