Varthemapistra Engel, 2018

Engel, Michael S., 2018, A new genus of anthophorine bees from Brunei (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Journal of Melittology 2018 (78), pp. 1-13 : 2-5

Varthemapistra Engel , new genus

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CED25625-5914-4B08-9D73-8A3EAC58DFD6

TYPE SPECIES: Varthemapistra edentata Engel , new species .

DIAGNOSIS: The new genus can be distinguished in the female from other anthophorines by the simple mandible, lacking any preapical teeth ( Fig. 4 ) (note that this is not the result of mandibular wear: vide etiam Discussion, infra). In addition the combination of a weakly protuberant clypeus, linear malar space, metatibia with setae on outer surface distinctly fuscous medially, and forewing with the anterior border of the third submarginal cell only slightly shorter than the posterior border further serve to characterize the genus among other Anthophorini , in the female sex.

DESCRIPTION: ♀: Medium-sized anthophorines (total length approximately 11.2 mm), with broad areas of yellow maculation on face (refer to species description, infra) ( Fig. 3 ). Mandible simple, without preapical teeth ( Fig. 4 ); malar space linear ( Figs. 3, 6 ); labrum broader than long, margin not thickened; clypeus weakly protuberant so that, in profile, lower anterior surface is in front of lower inner compound eye orbit by a distance of about one-half compound eye width in profile ( Fig. 6 ) [similar to Habrophorula Lieftinck ( Fig. 20 ), while Elaphropoda Lieftinck has clypeus greatly protuberant, with lower anterior surface in front of compound eye by compound eye width or more ( Fig. 18 )]; surface of clypeus weakly and gently rounded; anterior margin of clypeus extending to base of mandible; first flagellomere slightly less than one-half length of scape; first flagellomere length about twice apical width; ocelli arranged in broad isosceles triangle, lateral ocelli closer to median ocellus than to each other; proboscis reaching beyond metacoxae in repose; galea length just under twice as long as head ( Fig. 6 ); maxillary palpus short, shorter than stipes (subequal to stipes in Elaphropoda ), with five palpomeres; maxillary palpomere II rounded in cross-section, with scattered setae (lacking setal fringe); maxillary palpomere III about one-half length of palpomere II; glossa with flabellum present at apex (absent in Habropoda Smith ). Mesoscutellum slightly overhanging metanotum. Legs slender; coxae not spined; protrochanter with longitudinal row of hooked bristles ventrally along posterior length; metabasitibial plate well-developed and comparatively short, about as long as wide (similar to Habrophorula ), apical margin pointed ( Fig. 5 ); scopa rather short and sparse, setae simple, white except medially fuscous; pretarsal claws cleft, arolia present. Forewing with 1cua confluent with basal vein; pterostigma twice as long as wide ( Fig. 7 ); marginal cell moderately elongate, about 4.5 times as long as wide; distance from marginal cell apex to wing tip shorter than marginal cell ( Fig. 7 ); free part of marginal cell shorter than bounded portion of marginal cell, about as long as anterior border of third submarginal cell ( Figs. 7 , 15 ); first submarginal cell shorter than combined lengths of second and third submarginal cells (as measured along posterior borders); second submarginal cell shorter than either first or third submarginal cells, slightly narrowed anteriorly; 1m-cu terminating near apex of second submarginal cell ( Fig. 7 ); third submarginal cell broad anteriorly, with anterior border slightly shorter than posterior border (anterior border about three-quarters length of posterior border: Figs. 7 , 15 ) (borders subequal in Habrophorula and more distinctly narrowed anteriorly in other Asiatic genera); 2rs-m gently arched but not sinuate (sinuate form results in anteriorly narrowed third submarginal cell) ( Figs. 7 , 15 ); hind wing cu-a about half as long as 2M+Cu, oblique relative to M+Cu; 2M+Cu slightly less than one half as long as 1M. Metasomal terga II–V with lateral longitudinal parts of graduli present and strong; pygidial plate margins slightly converging apically, lateral margins weakly carinate, apex broadly blunt.

♂: Latet.

ETYMOLOGY: The new generic name is a combination of Varthema; after Ludovico di Varthema (1470–1517), the Italian explorer who, among other things, was apparently the earliest to record accounts of Brunei based on his possible visit to the then Empire in 1505 ( Temple, 1928: it should be noted, however, that while his account accords with a visit to Brunei, he may have landed elsewhere on Borneo and learned trade details from other ports on the island, e.g., Vienne, 2015); and the Latin apis (meaning, “bee”), and – istra, the diminutive suffix referencing “wild resemblance”. The gender of the name is feminine.

Figures

Figure 7. Wing venation of Varthemapistra edentata, new genus and species, from Brunei.

Figures 3–6. Holotype female of Varthemapistra edentata, new genus and species, from Brunei. 3. Facial view. 4. Mandible. 5. Metabasitibial plate. 6. Profile of head.

Figures 20–23. Representative anthophorine bees. 20. Habrophorula nubilipennis (Cockerell), lateral habitus. 21. H. nubilipennis, facial view. 22. Habropoda miserabilis (Cresson), lateral habitus. 23. H. miserabilis, facial view.

Figures 16–19. Representative anthophorine bees. 16. Amegilla quadrifasciata (de Villers), lateral habitus. 17. A. quadrifasciata, facial view. 18. Elaphropoda khasiana (Schulz), lateral habitus. 19. E. khasiana, facial view.

Figures 8–15. Wing venation from representative species of Anthophorini. 8. Anthophora (Lophanthophora) dammersi Timberlake. 9. Amegilla quadrifasciata (de Villers). 10. Habropoda depressa Fowler. 11. Elaphropoda percarinata (Cockerell). 12. Pachymelus (Pachymelus) unicolor (Saussure). 13. Deltoptila sp. 14. Habrophorula nubilipennis (Cockerell). 15. Varthemapistra edentata, new genus and species.