Heriades nora Rojas-Arias, Griswold & Ayala., 2025

Rojas-Arias, Laura, Griswold, Terry, Hinojosa-Díaz, Ismael, Morrone, Juan J. & Barajas, Ricardo Ayala, 2025, Neotropical bees of the genus Heriades Spinola, 1808 (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae: Osmiini) with description of nine new species, Zootaxa 5570 (2), pp. 201-259 : 244-247

Heriades nora Rojas-Arias, Griswold & Ayala. sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 , 2M , 26–27 )

Diagnosis. Base of clypeus with small punctures (0.1 times OD); tergal fasciae with row of thick, white hairs ( Fig. 3J ). Male: clypeus with plumose, thick, dense, short, white to goldish hairs directed medially, joining long hairs on hypostomal area ( Fig. 27A ); posterior margin of S1 truncate without emargination ( Fig. 2 Mb); posterior half of S2 and posterior third of S3 with plumose, thin, long, dense, white hairs; posterior margin of S5 wavy, with two small tufts of capitate hairs on lateral margins directed radially outward ( Fig. 27E ); S6 with one subapical tuft of several hooked, thin hairs increasing in length outwards ( Fig. 27F ). Female: with outer ridge on outer surface of mandible with low elevation on its most basal point; clypeus and supraclypeal area with small punctures; clypeus with emargination and a more than five small, very rounded tubercles, almost crenulated margin ( Fig. 27C ); similar to H. luisa sp. nov. but differing from this by having clypeus in profile not projected on apical margin, scutum with large punctures (0.55 times OD), propodeum with large pits ( Fig. 3I ) and T3 with large punctures ( Fig. 3L ).

Description. Male: Body length, 6.3 mm (5.5–6.5, n=6); forewing length, 3.7 mm (3.6–4.2, n=6).

Head. Length 1.4 mm (1.4–1.7, n=6), width 1.6 mm (1.56–1.85, n=6); eyes about 3.4 times longer than broad, 2.1 times wider than gena in profile; lower interocular distance 0.8 mm (0.8–0.9, n=6); upper interocular distance 1 mm (1–1.1, n=6); interantennal distance 2.1 times antennocular distance; lateral ocelli large ( Fig. 3C ), 3.3 times DOP in interocellar area; interocellar distance 1.6 times OD; ocellocular distance 1.5 times OD, OPR 1.6 times OD; labrum without basal elevation; clypeus 1.2 times broader than long, lower half convex in profile, apical margin without emargination; scape length 0.7 times alveolocellar distance, 2.3 times longer than wide; pedicel as long as broad, about 1.3 times longer than F1 and about 0.6 times longer than F2; flagellum black, F1 broader than long, remaining flagellomeres 2 times longer than F1; F11 1.83 times longer than broad. Mesosoma. Scutum 2.6 times longer than scutellum, 3.1 times longer than tegula, and 3.7 longer than axilla; intertegular distance 1.2 mm (1.1– 1.4, n=6); metanotum with transverse ridge, in posterior view straight; propodeum with large pits ( Fig. 3I ), 0.09 mm long; legs black. Metasoma. T1 1.4 mm broad (1.3–1.5, n=6); T3 1.6 mm broad (1.5–1.8: n=6); T6 with posterior margin not projected; S1 with posterior margin truncate without emargination ( Fig. 2 Mb), in profile, with elongate margin of process that stand out above morphological posterior margin ( Fig. 2 Ma).

Sculpturing. Clypeus with small (at base 0.1 times OD), contiguous, coarse punctures; supraclypeal area with punctures as on base of clypeus; frons with bigger and coarser punctures than those on supraclypeal area; frons in front of ocelli sparser and slightly smaller than frons; vertex with bigger, sparser punctures than on supraclypeal area, without micropunctures between punctures; hypostomal area with punctation as on clypeus; pronotum anterior surface with punctures bigger coarser than on clypeus; disc of scutum with bigger (0.3 times OD), sparser punctures than on vertex, with micropunctures between punctures; rest of mesosoma as on scutum except: scutellum with punctures slightly bigger and sparser punctures; mesepisternum with slightly bigger punctures, irregularly shaped towards ventral surface, with micropunctures between punctures; metepisternum with notably smaller punctures, less dense and coarse; T1 with smaller (0.2 times OD), denser punctures than on scutum; T2 with punctures smaller than on T1; T3 with bigger, coarser, and denser punctures than on T1, slightly rounded shape, separated by less than third DOP; T4 with slightly smaller punctures than on T3; T5 with smaller and slightly coarser punctures than on T4, DBP resembling lines; dorsal surface of T6 with bigger, equally sparser punctures as on T5, on posterior surface with bigger and slightly sparser punctation, DBP one DOP; sides of S1 with punctation bigger and sparser than on T1, and on disc smaller and denser; sides of S2 with punctures sparser than on T1, disc of S2 microreticulate without punctation.

Vestiture. Clypeus with hairs, scattered on middle vertical line, directed medially; supraclypeal area with plumose, thin, white to gold, short hairs directed medially and dorsally; frons with plumose, thin, long, white to golden hairs directed dorsally; hypostomal area with hairs joining hairs in clypeus ( Fig. 27A ); dorsolateral angles of pronotum with pubescence not forming continuous, linear band with hairs on anterior margin of scutum, and without tuft of thick, short hairs; disc of scutum with simple, thin, short, scattered, white hairs on its entire surface; mesepisternum with plumose, thin, long, white hairs absent on dorsal third; disc of metepisternum without tuft of plumose, thick, short, white hairs; tergal fasciae with row of thick, short, white hairs; T1 to T3 with simple, short, thin, white hairs in punctures; disc of T4 to T6 with simple, long, thick, whitish hairs in punctures increasing in length towards posterior terga ( Fig. 27B ); posterior surface of subapical margin in S1 with tuft of plumose short golden hairs; S2 and posterior margin of S3 with plumose, long, thin, dense, white hairs.

Terminalia . Posterior margin of S5 wavy, with two tufts of capitate hairs on lateral margins directed outward, with transverse, waved, thin, dark, subapical line ( Fig. 27E ); S6 with rounded, right-angled apex, with one subapical tuft of several hooked, thin hairs increasing in length radially outwards ( Fig. 27F ); capsule in dorsal view 1 mm length, and 0.4 mm width, 2.3 times longer than wide, gonobase 0.08 mm length, 5 times wider than long, and gonocoxite 0.3 mm length, gonostylus 0.9 mm length with acute apex, penis valve 0.6 mm length ( Fig. 27G ).

Female: Body length 6 mm (5.6–6.7, n=6); forewing length 3.8 mm (3.7–4.4, n=6). Similar to male except: Head. Length 1.6 mm (1.4–1.8, n=6), width 1.7 mm (1.6–1.8, n=6); eyes about 3.6 times longer than broad, 1.4 times wider than gena in profile; lower interocular distance 0.9 mm (0.8–0.9, n=6); upper interocular distance 1.1 mm (1 –1.2, n=6); interantennal distance 1.8 times antennocular distance; interocellar distance 2 times OD, ocellocular distance 1.9 times OD, OPR 1.4 times OD; labrum with one rounded, basal, medial tubercle; mandible on outer surface with outer and condylar ridge parallel without tubercle; dorsal margin of mandible with carina; clypeus with shallow emargination on medial half of length and two rounded, small, lower tubercles, crenulated on sides; scape 3.2 times longer than broad; pedicel 1.4 longer than broad, about 2.2 times longer than F1 and F2, remaining flagellomeres 1.7 longer than F1. Mesosoma. Scutum 2.5 times longer than scutellum; intertegular distance 1.4 mm (1.1–1.4, n=6). Metasoma. T1 1.5 mm broad (1.2–1.5, n=6); T3 1.7 mm broad (1.5–1.8, n=6).

Sculpturing. Mandibles dull with micropunctures, carinae smooth and shiny; clypeus with medium-sized (0.2 times OD), contiguous, coarse punctures becoming smaller on lower two thirds, with few micropunctures between punctures; supraclypeal area with punctures slightly smaller and sparser than base of clypeus; frons with bigger, coarser and contiguous punctures than those on supralypeal area; frons in front of ocelli with slightly smaller punctures than those on frons; vertex bigger, sparser and coarser than on clypeus; gena evenly punctate as on frons in front of ocelli; scutum with slightly bigger and denser punctures than on vertex; rest of mesosoma as on scutum except: scutellum with bigger and slightly sparser punctures; mesepisternum with bigger punctures; metasomal terga bright with micropunctures between punctures; T1 and T2 with smaller (0.2 times OD) punctures than on scutum, sparser (1 time DOP), with slightly semicircular shape; T3 with punctures 0.3 times DOP as on scutum, irregularly shaped, and sparser (0.3 times DOP); dorsal surface of T6 with smaller, denser, and more coarsely punctures than on T5; sterna with punctation smaller and sparser than on scutum, microreticulate on posterior margin.

Vestiture. Clypeus with few plumose, short, white hairs on sides; frons with few plumose, thin, white hairs; gena with plumose, white hairs evenly distributed ( Fig. 27C ); T4 to T6 with simple, thin, white hairs in punctures; subapical margin of T6 with linear tuft of plumose, short, yellowish hairs ( Fig. 27D ).

Type material: Holotype Male (MEG0393): MEXICO: Jalisco, Teocolotlán, Camino a Sierra de Quila , 1723 m, 20°15’42.9”N 104°03’51”W, 11/X/2013, E. Razo, A. Murias & C. Uribe ( CZUG) . Allotype (MEG0394): MEXICO: Jalisco, Tecolotlán, Camino a la Ciénaga BTC, 1481 m, 20°15’13.7”N 104°03’39”W, 22/XI/2013, C. Uribe, E. Razo & A. Urias ( CZUG) . Paratypes: MEXICO: Jalisco, Chamela. [91 m. 19°29’54”N 105°02’40”W], 19/VIII, 22/X/1985, 25/XI/1985, R. Ayala, 1-8/X/1985, T. L. Griswold ( BBSL 4♀ 4♂) . Chamela, Est. Biol , [91 m, 19°29’54”N 105°02’40”W], 18/XI/1985, R. Ayala, 13/11/1985, R. A. Usela, 20/VII/1989, T. Griswold ( BBSL 3♀) . La Huerta , 92 m, 19.4983 -105.04, 29/VI/2019, J. Mérida ( ECOAB 6♂) . Tecolotlán, Camino a la Ciénaga BTC, 1704 m, 20°15’39”N 104°04’02”W, 23/V/2014, E. Razo & A. Muñoz ( CZUG 1♂) , 1723 m, 20°15’42”N 104°03’51”W, 23/XI/2013, C. Uribe, E. Razo & A. Urias ( CZUG 3♂) , 1481 m, 20°15’13.7”N 104°03’39”W, 25/ X/2012, 22/XI/2013, C. Uribe, E. Razo & A. Urias. ( CZUG 1♀ 1♂) .

Additional material examined: MEXICO: Chihuahua, Santo Nino , [2013 m, 28°30’41”N 106°42’57”W], 10/VIII/1968, T. A. Sears, R. C. Gardner, C. S. Glaser ( BBSL 1♂) . Guerrero, Chilpancingo 5mi. S, 2.5 mi. E, 2010 m, [17.51888889 -99.54555556], 4/VIII/1962, U. Kans. Mex. Exped. ( KUNHM-ENT 1♂) . Michoacán, 80kmN Arteaga El Descansadero, [300m, 18°21’22”N 102°17’53”W], 1/XI/1987, ( KUNHM-ENT 1♂) . Morelos, Ajuchitlán , [990 m, 18°27’52”N 98°59’30”W], 6/VI/1996, R. Brooks ( KUNHM-ENT 7♂) . Sierra de Huatla C.E.A.M.I.S.H. Huatla 2.5km N 4.0km W, [1050 m, 18°27’0”N 99°2’0”W], 5, 7/IX/1996, R. Brooks ( KUNHM-ENT 6♀ 33♂) . Tlaquiltenango, Huaxtla Represa al lado del camino, 1246 m, 18.427222 -99.049450, 20/VII/2015, I. Hinojosa ( CNIN 1♀ 15♂) . Querétaro, Huimilpan Parque Nacional Cimatario ( Sur ), 2230 m, 20°28’51”N 100°18’48”W, 30/VI/2019, R. W. Jones ( UAQE 1♂) . Zacatecas, Juchipila La Joya , 1483 m, 21°37’20.7”N 103°18’16.2”W, 21/ IX/2012, A. Salcedo ( UAQE 1♂) .

Distribution. This species is present mostly in the center of Mexico, in areas with tropical dry forest and in the mountains in ecotone with pine-oak forest. There are records from the Sierra Madre Occidental, from Chihuahua to Guerrero, and it is endemic to Mexico ( Fig. 26 ). Altitudinal range: 91 to 2230 m.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to the memory of Nora Patricia López, an environment biologist who worked in the protection of red Guacamayas ( Ara macao ), a species with high extinction risk in Chiapas, Mexico. She is one of the many environmentalists murdered for their activism on behalf of biodiversity protection in Latin America.

Comments. This species is abundant in collections. Females present variation in the size of tubercles on apical margin of clypeus. Females punctures on T3 varies slightly on size, but always large, also varies on shape from rounded to the more usual horseshoe-shaped. Males present variation in hairs of clypeus, on some long enough to cover low margin, and on others shorter, showing a few smaller hairs in the middle of apical margin.

Figures

FIGURE 1. S1 of male of H. nora, on ventral view as an example, showing (a) profile with posterior margin of sterna and whole metasoma to the right, (b) posterior margin, and (c) ventral process of S1 posterior view with dorsal surface up.

FIGURE 2. S1 of male, (a) profile with posterior margin of sterna to the right, (b) posterior margin in ventral view, and (c) ventral process of S1 in posterior view with dorsal surface up, when relevant (shown for A and B applies to the reminder) A. H. micheneri B. H. amanda sp. nov. C. H. bruneri D. H. briceida sp. nov. E. H. currani F. H. leavitti G. H. viridiana sp. nov. H. H. texana I. H. cristina sp. nov. J. H. danuncia sp. nov. K. H. vulcanica sp. nov. L. H. mariana sp. nov. M. H. nora sp. nov. N. H. luisa sp. nov. O. H. crucifera.

FIGURE 3. Ocellar size, punctation on scutum, pits on propodeal basal zone, apical terga fasciae and T3 punctation.A–C ocelli: A. small (H. currani) B. medium-sized (H. micheneri) C. large (H. mariana sp. nov.). D–F scutal punctation: D. small (H. luisa sp. nov.) E. medium-sized (H. briceida sp. nov.) F. large (H. cristina sp. nov). G–I propodeal basal zone pits: G and H. small to medium-sized (H. briceida sp. nov. and H. micheneri) I. large (H. cristina. sp. nov.). J–L Terga apical fasciae and T3 punctation: J. Fasciae with row of thick, short, white hairs and T3 with dense punctures (H. briceida sp. nov.) K. Fasciae with rows of thin, long, orangish hairs and T3 with small and sparse punctures (H. bruneri). L. Fasciae with rows of thin, short, white hairs and T3 with large, horseshoe-shaped punctures (H. cristina sp. nov.)

FIGURE 26. Known distribution records for Heriades nora sp. nov.

FIGURE 27. Heriades nora sp. nov. Male: A. frontal view B. dorsal view. Female: C. frontal view D. dorsal view. Male: E. S5. F. S6. G. genital capsule in dorsal view and H. ventral view.