Augochlora (Augochlora) scabrata, Lepeco & Gonçalves, 2020

Lepeco, Anderson & Gonçalves, Rodrigo Barbosa, 2020, A revision of the bee genus Augochlora Smith (Hymenoptera; Apoidea) in Southern South America, Zootaxa 4897 (1), pp. 1-97 : 73-77

Augochlora (Augochlora) scabrata sp. nov.

( Figures 40 A–D; 41A–D; 51C)

Diagnosis. A. scabrata sp. nov. has an inflexed T1 apex ( Fig. 2B ) and a long and slender spiniform projection on female S1 ( Fig. 1K ). It can be separated from similar species by the abundant tiny setae on T1 anterior surface, rugose preepisternum and female mid trochanter ventral margin almost straight ( Fig. 1D ), while it is swollen near base in the similar A. francisca .

Description. ♀. Measurements. Maximum interocular distance: 1.33–1.98 (x‾ = 1.64, n = 10); head length: 1.64–2.32 (x‾ = 2.01, n = 10); clypeus width: 0.50–0.76 (x‾ = 0.62, n = 10); clypeus length: 0.42–0.58 (x‾ = 0.51, n = 10); clypeoantennal distance: 0.30–0.40 (x‾ = 0.35, n = 10); clypeus ocellar distance: 1.02–1.36 (x‾ = 1.21, n = 10); intertegular distance: 1.08–1.70 (x‾ = 1.41, n = 10); T1 width: 1.56–2.36 (x‾ = 1.41, n = 10); T2 width: 1.68–2.64 (x‾ = 2.04, n = 10); body length: 5.50–9.50 (x‾ = 7.95, n = 10).

Head. Labrum basal surface black; basal elevation transverse. Mandible mostly black, subapical region brown and with basal green spot; medial portion strongly constricted, with about half basal width; preapical tooth large and sharp, produced near mandible apex; distal part of adductor ridge weakly swollen. Clypeus mostly green, apical black band <OD; punctate, punctures large and weak, smooth in between; apex not prolonged over apical border. Epistomal angle acute, strongly protruding over clypeus. Supraclypeal area green; densely punctate, imbricate in between. Lower paraocular area with golden reflection; contiguously punctate; long setae (1–2 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. Antennae: mostly dark brown, flagellum ventrally pale. Frons with blue and green iridescences intermixed; mostly contiguously punctate, medially crowded punctate; not protuberant above antennal sockets. Preoccipital area strongly lamellate, lamella expanded near post gena. Gena with golden reflection. Post gena with golden reflection; microreticulate, some scattered weak punctures; setae length <3 OD. Hypostomal carina not projected anteriorly.

Mesosoma. Pronotum dorsolateral angle orthogonal. Fore leg: coxa ventrally green; trochanter black; femur black with green reflection; ventral surface slightly rounded; long plumose setae (<4 OD); tibia and tarsus dark brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Mesoscutum green with golden reflection; densely punctate on disc, I <PD, sparser posterior to median line, microreticulate in between, contiguously punctate on lateral surfaces, anterior border contiguously punctate; setae length <2 OD. Scutellum medial furrow inconspicuous; green with golden reflection; densely punctate, I <PD; with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer white setae (4 OD). Mesepisternum green; preepisternum crowded punctate near pronotal lobe; hypoepimeral area densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, smooth in between; below scrobe densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, smooth in between, ventrally crowded punctate; with long setae (2 OD). Mid leg: coxa black with weak green reflection; trochanter black; ventral margin not swollen, almost straight; femur black, not flattened, mesofemoral brush yellowish; tibia and tarsus dark brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Tegula light brown with anterior green spot. Metanotum with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer white setae (= 3 OD). Metepisternum green; contiguously punctate, becoming crowded punctate to rugose above superior metapleural pit. Hind leg: coxa green, anterior and posterior surfaces ventrally separated by a smoothly curved area; trochanter black; setae length = 3 OD; femur black; tibia and tarsus dark brown; outer surfaces without dark setae. Metapostnotum green with golden reflection; shorter than scutellum; entirely with radiating carinae, medially somewhat rugose. Propodeum green with golden reflection; with tiny and long (3 OD) setae intermixed; posterior surface punctate to rugulose, smooth in between; lateral carinae ending below propodeum half; lateral surfaces imbricate among punctures.

Metasoma. T1 anterior surface sparsely punctate, smooth in between; mostly green with golden reflection, base darkened; with dense coverage of tiny decumbent setae among long setae. T1 dorsal surface punctate, loosely imbricate in between, coarser punctation on lateral surfaces; mostly green with golden and blue iridescences; tiny setae dorsally, long setae (2 OD) on lateral surfaces; apex inflexed, black. T2 mostly green with golden and blue iridescences; punctate, coarser and denser punctation on lateral surfaces, mostly smooth in between, imbricate near base; marginal area with punctate portion longer than apical black band on sublateral surfaces; tiny decumbent setae near base and on lateral surfaces, long setae (2 OD) on lateral surfaces. T3 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly green with golden and blue iridescences, apical band black; tiny setae apex not reaching apical margin sublaterally. T4 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly blue, apical band black; mostly with tiny decumbent setae, long setae (2 OD) scattered on disc and lateral surfaces. T5 black; pseudopygidial area not covered by scalelike setae, colliculate integument exposed. Pygidial plate black, apex rounded. S1 with a long and slender spiniform projection; dark brown; long setae (> 3 OD) medially, margin tiny decumbent setae. S2 mostly dark brown, apical band yellowish; medioapical margin sharp; punctate, microreticulate in between; long setae (> 3 OD). S3–4 as S2. S5 apical margin widely rounded; dark brown; long setae (> 3 OD). S6 dark brown; long dark setae on apex.

Description. Ƌ. Measurements. Maximum interocular distance: 1.45; head length: 1.88; clypeus width: 0.52; clypeus length: 0.50; clypeoantennal distance: 0;32; clypeus ocellar distance: 1.08; intertegular distance: 1.27; T1 width: 1.72; T2 width: 1.80; scape length: 0.50; body length: 8.00.

Head. Labrum basal surface black. Mandible mostly black, apex brown. Clypeus green with golden reflection, apical border hidden below, black; densely punctate, I = 0.5 PD, punctures large, smooth in between; setae length = 2 OD. Epistomal angle acute, protruding over clypeus. Supraclypeal area green with golden reflection; densely punctate, imbricate in between. Paraocular area with golden reflection; contiguously punctate, punctures small; long setae (2 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. Antennae: scape black; pedicel shorter than F1, black; F1 black; shorter than F2; F3 wider than long; remaining flagellomeres mostly black, ventrally dark brown. Frons with green and blue iridescences intermixed; contiguously to crowded punctate; setae length = 1–2 OD. Gena with golden reflection. Post gena mostly green with golden reflection, darkened near hypostoma; loosely imbricate, some scaterred punctures; sparse long setae up to 3 OD.

Mesosoma. Pronotum lateral angle orthogonal. Fore leg: coxa ventrally green; trochanter and femur dark brown with green reflection; slightly swollen; tibia and tarsus dark brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Mesoscutum green with golden reflection; densely punctate on disc, I <PD, smooth in between, contiguously punctate anteriorly and on lateral surfaces; setae length = 0.5–1 OD. Scutellum medial furrow inconspicuous; green with golden reflection; mostly punctate, punctures coarse, denser punctation medially; longer setae (3 OD) near apex. Mesepisternum green with golden reflection; preepisternum rugose; hypoepimeral area densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, imbricate in between; below scrobe densely punctate, I <0.5 PD, imbricate in between. Mid leg: coxa black; trochanter green; setae length 3 OD; femur dark brown with green reflection; not swollen; tibia and basitarsus dark brown; white to yellowish setae on both. Tegula dark brown with anterior green spot. Metanotum with dense tiny setae intermixed with longer white setae (= 3 OD). Metepisternum green with golden reflection; contiguously punctate, crowded punctate to striate near hind wing. Hind leg: coxa to trochanter femur green; tibia black, anterior surface without abundant tiny setae among long setae; basitarsus more than 6.5x longer than maximum width, parallel sided; black. Metapostnotum green with golden reflection; as long as metanotum; plane; entirely filled with radiating carinae. Propodeum green with golden reflection; with tiny and long (3 OD) setae intermixed; posterior surface contiguously punctate; lateral carinae lamellate, ending below propodeum half; lateral surfaces imbricate among punctures.

Metasoma. T1 anterior surface sparsely punctate, I = 3 PD, smooth in between; mostly blue, base darkened; with few tiny decumbent setae among long setae. T1 dorsal surface punctate, I = PD, denser punctation on lateral surfaces, with an impunctate area near apical margin medially; mostly green with golden reflection; tiny setae on disc, lateral surfaces with longer setae (2 OD); apex inflexed, black. T2 mostly green with golden and blue iridescences; punctate on disc, I = PD, smooth in between, denser punctation on lateral surfaces; marginal area with punctate portion as long as apical black band on sublateral surfaces; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (2 OD) near margin and lateral surfaces, pre-marginal setae ending far from apical margin on sub-lateral surfaces. T3 weakly punctate, imbricate in between; mostly green with golden and blue iridescences, apical band black; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (2 OD) near margin and lateral surfaces. T4 punctate, imbricate in between; mostly green, apical band black; mostly with tiny setae, long setae (2 OD) scattered on disc and lateral surfaces. T5 mostly green, apical band black; long setae (2 OD) intermixed with tiny setae. T6 black; mostly with long setae (<3 OD). T7 dark brown. S1 without elevation; mostly blue, apex brown; with long plumose setae (3 OD) medially, margin with tiny decumbent setae. S2 mostly black; apical band yellowish; medioapical margin sharp; punctate, microreticulate in between; with long plumose setae (2 OD), tiny setae on apex. S3-S4 as S2. S5 black; not depressed transversally on median surface; homogeneously pilose, without glabrous patch medially. S6 black; setae length = 2 OD, tiny setae on apex. S7 lateral apodemes longer than half S8 width. S8 anterior projection more than four times longer than apical width; posterior margin acuminate.

Genitalia: gonobase 2 times wider than long; ventral arms slightly curved on apex. Gonocoxite about 1.5 times longer than wide. Gonostylus, dorsal surface pubescent, tiny setae. Ventral process of gonostylus: inner lobe spatulate, expanded; with tiny setae and bristles intermixed; outer lobe with short setae with length = 0.6x inner lobe size. Gonapophysis ventral prong well produced, small; dorsal bridge margin weakly projected; ventral bridge absent; apodeme narrow and weakly hooked.

Distribution. This species is found in the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso

do Sul, Minas Gerais, and S„o Paulo. In Argentina, the species is found in the Province of Salta. There are also records in Paraguay and Bolivia.

Etymology. The name is a reference to the sculpturing on preepisternum, characterized as “scabrous” following Harris (1979), derived from Latin scabratus, meaning roughened, having the surface broken.

Type material. Holotype, DZUP, ♀ “ DZUP \568114” “ Uberlândia - MG \ BRASIL 23-IV.93\G. A. R. MELO ” . Paratypes, DZUP , 1♀ “ DZUP \568116” “ALPINOPOLIS-MG\Brasil II-1961 \Claudionor Elias”; 1♀ “ DZUP \568117” “Brasil, Minas Gerais,\noroeste de Jaíba,\ 500m, 15°13’S \ 43°50’W 21.i.2005,\G. A. R. Melo”; 1♀ “ DZUP \568112” “Brasil, Minas Gerais,\ G. Valadares, 26-27,\ XII.1994, G. A. R. Melo”; 1³ “ DZUP \568113” “Brasil, Minas Gerais,\ G. Valadares, 27.XII.\1994, G. A. R. Melo”; 1♀ “ DZUP \568119” “Paraopeba, MG, Brasil\Data 08/05/1987 \ F. A. Silveira ”; 1³ “ DZUP \568111” “PASSOS - MG \Brasil 17-23 IV-63\Claudionor Elias”; 1♀ “ DZUP \568118” “Gui-marães, R.A.\ 03/10/2005 \Salinas, MG ”; 1♀ “ DZUP \568115” “Viçosa-MG\Brasil 25/07/1991 \G. A. R. MELO ” .

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–C) Female mandible, anterior view. A) Augochlora aurinasis (Vachal); B) Augochlora daphnis Smith; C) Augochlora genalis sp. nov. Scale bar: 0.2 mm. D–G) Female mid trochanter, anterior view. D) Augochlora nausicaa (Schrottky); E) Augochlora francisca (Schrottky); F) Augochlora phoemonoe (Schrottky); G) Augochlora mulleri Cockerell. H–L) Female metasoma, anterior portion (T1 and S1), lateral view. H) Augochlora thusnelda (Schrottky); I) Augochlora nausicaa (Schrottky); J) Augochlora braziliensis (Vachal); K) Augochlora francisca Schrottky; L) Augochlora phoemonoe (Schrottky). D–L not in scale.

FIGURE 2. Male T1. A) Augochlora braziliensis Vachal; B) Augochlora thusnelda (Schrottky). Scale bar: 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 40. Female of Augochlora scabrata sp. nov. A) habitus, B) frontal view of head, C) dorsal view of mesosoma, D) dorsal view of metasoma. Scale bar: 1.0 mm, all at same scale.