Thygater latitarsis Urban 1967

Freitas, Felipe V. & Silveira, Fernando A., 2017, Synopsis of the bee genus Thygater Holmberg 1884 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, with the description of a new species and a key to all Brazilian species, Zootaxa 4238 (1), pp. 1-29 : 14-16

Thygater latitarsis Urban 1967

( Fig. 8 )

Thygater (Nectarodiaeta) latitarsis Urban 1967 ; Urban, Moure & Melo 2012.

Thygater (Thygater) nigrilabris Urban 1967 ; Urban, Moure & Melo 2012. NEW SYNONYMY Holotype (male): “ Curitiba; Paran—XII—40; Pe. Moure leg.” “holótipo” “ Thygater ; nigrilabris ; D. Urban det. 67” [DZUP]—examined.

Diagnosis. Male T. latitarsis can be distinguished from those of most other species by the hind basitarsus widening apicad, with its apical margin produced beyond the articulation of the second tarsomere. This feature is also present in T. tuberculata , which however has a tubercle on the disc of S4 (absent in T. latitarsis ). Both sexes of T. latitarsis can be easily recognized when they have a band of whitish pilosity across the posterior margin of mesoscutum, and scutellum, axillae, pronotal lobe and tegula, contrasting with the fuscous pilosity predominant on the rest of mesosoma and on entire metasoma ( Fig. 8 ). However, this whitish band can be ill defined or absent. In this case, it can be distinguished from females of other species by the following combination of characters: Maxillary palpus with four palpomeres; clypeus without mid-longitudinal keel, homogeneously dull, weakly punctate, its pilosity normal; third submarginal cell, measured on its anterior margin, about 1.5 times as long as second; pilosity on dorsum of mesosoma black, at least on anterior half of mesoscutum; scopa entirely black.

Description ♀: Integument black, except reddish on tarsomeres and S6; wing membrane dark; on clypeus reticulate, coarsely punctate; on paraocular areas, frons and vertex reticulate; on mesosoma reticulate, fine and densely punctate; wings densely papillate beyond venation; on terga and sterna, reticulate and densely punctate (<1 dp); marginal zones of terga without translucent areas; translucent-amber areas on apex of marginal zone as long as pedicel in S2 – S4. Pilosity on head light grey; on mesosoma predominantly fuscous, with whitish band across posterior margin of mesoscutum, scutellum, axillae, pronotal lobe and tegula; on metasoma fuscous, plumose, with white tomentum on T3 – T4; on sterna, sparse, with apical fringes composed of thicker setae, dense and covering marginal zone on S5; S4 – S5 with white lateral tufts; on S6 simple, short and dense. Structure —malar area as long as 1/3 of basal mandibular width or less; clypeus with low mid-longitudinal keel on its distal two-thirds, without basal depression; S6 with mid-longitudinal carina on apical half.

♂ (holotype): Integument black, except blackish ferruginous on tarsomeres and on T4 – T7, on the later translucent-amber; wings light brown with brownish veins; on labrum reticulate medially, smooth marginally, sparsely punctate (>1 dp); on clypeus entirely reticulate, sparsely punctate, rugose; on mesosoma strongly reticulate, densely punctate (1 dp); on metasoma finely and densely punctate (1 dp); marginal zones of terga with translucent-amber apical areas;. Pilosity on head predominantly white, with dark setae on paraocular area and vertex; on mesosoma, much dense, dark on anterior half of mesoscutum; on trochanters white; on metasoma fuscous, except whitish and sparse on T5 – T7 and lateral tufts of S4 – S5; on T1 – T2 plumose; S2 – S5 with complete fringe of thick setae; on disc of S6 dense, with simple, short hairs. Structure —clypeus with low mid-longitudinal carina on distal half, its basal depression shallow, less than 1/5 as long as clypeal length; malar area about as long as basal mandibular width; hind basitarsus with apical margin project beyond articulation of 2nd tarsomere; T7 deeply emarginate with two flat triangular lobes; S5 with two apical dentiform projections; S6 with high lateral carinae.

Holotype (male): “3—48; P. Grossa; C. Bruhn.” “Blank label” “4962; Thygater ; ♂” “ Thygater ; latitarsis ; D. Urban det 67” “holótipo” [UFPR]—examined.

Variation and taxonomic notes: A variation was pointed to us by G. A. R. Melo (UFPR) on the apical width of the hind basitarsus of T. latitarsis , as shown in Fig. 9 . The holotype ( Fig. 9 . A), from Paran state, has the apical half of the hind basitarsus wider than specimens collected in the states of Minas Gerais (Serra do Brigadeiro) and Rio de Janeiro (Itatiaia) ( Fig. 9 .B). Only one additional specimen with the hind basitarsus similar to the holotype was examined; it was also collected in the state of Paran (Piraquara). This suggests that there might be two species involved, with T. latitarsis having wider hind-basitarsal apex and being restricted to the state of Paran, and the populations in the mountain chains of Southeastern Brazil (Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and, maybe, São Paulo) belonging to a second, undescribed species. However, considering: 1) that there are too fill specimens available for study (apparently due to the natural rarity of the species); 2) that, otherwise, all specimens seemed identical; and 3) that no specimen was available for molecular study, it was decided, here, to recognize a single species, until more specimens can be examined. It should be stressed that, if two species are involved, than, the type series is composed.

A female from the municipality of Camanducaia (Minas Gerais) is considerably larger than the other examined specimens and possesses an apical fringe of hairs on clypeus not observed in other individuals. Other than that she is identical to the remaining females studied. It may belong to a different species but the scarcity of specimens do not allow for a sound conclusion on this.

Habitat: In Minas Gerais, T. latitarsis has been found so far only in forested areas at elevations above 1000 m.

Additional material examined (14 specimens, 6 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂). BRAZIL — MINAS GERAIS: Araponga — Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro 16/04/1989, E.F. Morato 2♂♂ [UFV]. Camanducaia — Monte Verde 24/ 03/1994, M. Sazima 1♀ e 1♂ [ RPSP]. PARAN: Piraquara — 16/04/2005, G. Melo, 1 ♂ [DZUP]. RIO DE JANEIRO: Itatiaia — 15/03/2007, A.A. Azevedo, 3♀♀ 2♂♂ [ UFMG] ; 02/04/2007, M. Loureiro 1♀ [UFMG]; 15/03/2007, M. Loureiro 1♂ [UFMG]; 04/11/1931, no collector data 1♂ (Paratype) [DZUP]. SÃO PAULO: Campos do Jordão — 10/II/1968, Laroca 1♀ [DZUP]. SANTA CATARINA : Seara — Nova Teutônia , 04/08/1933, F. Plaumann 1♂ (Paratype of T. nigrilabris ) [ DZUP] .

Distribution in Minas Gerais: Here, this species is recorded for the first time in the state, at the Serra do Brigadeiro (municipality of Araponga) and Serra da Mantiqueira (municipality of Camanducaia).

Flower records: Colvolvulaceae — Ipomoea sp., Camanducaia—MG [RPSP].

Figures

FIGURE 8. T. latitarsis — ♀: A — frontal view; B — lateral view; C — dorsal view (UFMG 37923). ♂: D — frontal view; E — lateral view; F — dorsal view (UFV Araponga, MG, Brasil, 16 / 04 / 1989, E. F. Morato; Parque Florestal da Serra do Brigadeiro, MG). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 9. Hind basitarsus of male of T. latitarsis, A — Holotype; B — male from Rio de Janeiro: Itatiaia— 15 / 03 / 2007, A. A. Azevedo (UFMG 37881) (the arrows indicate the apical half of the hind basitarsus wider in A, narrower in B).