Euaspis aequicarinata Pasteels, 1980

Nalinrachatakan, Pakorn, Ascher, John S., Kasparek, Max, Traiyasut, Prapun, Thanoosing, Chawatat & Warrit, Natapot, 2023, A review of the anthidiine bees (Apoidea, Megachilidae) in Thailand, ZooKeys 1186, pp. 235-284 : 235

Euaspis aequicarinata Pasteels, 1980

Fig. 9

Euaspis aequicarinata Pasteels, 1980: 78 (♀, ♂). Female holotype from Kalabankan, Sabah, Malaysia (image in NHMUK examined under https://data.nhm.ac.uk/media/80bdf262-c729-42ef-bf3a-3180eb81ceb2).

Euaspis aequicarinata Pasteels: Baker 1995: 289, 290, fig. 13; Soh et al. 2016: 57; Tran et al. 2016: 516, fig. 13.

Material examined.

(1♀, 2♂). Thailand: 1♀, Chiang Mai (new record), Chom Thong District , Ban Luang Subdistrict, Doi Inthanon National Park, Ban Mae Klang Luang. (18°32'17.9"N, 98°32'49.6"E, alt. 1,057 m), 30 Aug. 2021, on Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth. [ Lamiaceae ], T. Srimaneeyanon et al. (CUNHM: BSRU-AB-4120) ; 2♂, Phayao (new record), Mueang District, Maeka Subdistrict, Phayao University (19°1'31.45"N, 99°53'24.17"E, alt. 558 m), 1 Jun 2012, W. Suwannarak et al. (CUNHM: BSRU-AA-4445, 4462) .

Distribution.

China (Yunnan), Indonesia (Java), Laos (Vientiane), Malaysia (Negeri Sembilan, Borneo: Sabah, Sarawak), Thailand (Chiang Mai (new record), Nakhon Ratchasima, Phayao (new record), Surat Thani)), Vietnam (Kon Tum, Hoa Binh).

Diagnosis.

Typically for Euaspis , Eu. aequicarinata has a black body with a reddish metasoma, and a median carina and a juxta-antennal carina are present on its face. This is the only species that has a distinct longitudinal carina on the clypeus, while the sculptures are confluent. Pale yellow patches are found on the lateral margin of scutellum and posterior margin of axilla (absent on axilla for female in this study, in contrast to the monochrome pictures in Baker (1995: fig. 30); compared to Eu. strandi , the band is more restrict and more yellowish. Female S6 obtuse, with distinct elevated basal platform (Fig. 10C, E ). Male S5 with median subcircular hyaline area and median tooth, genitalia with an apical lamina which is longer than 2 × its width.

Floral associations.

Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth. ( Lamiaceae ).

Remarks.

As mentioned in Soh et al. (2016), the status of male Eu. aequicarinata is not confirmed since the male allotype was designated from Surat Thani, Thailand, while originally, the female holotype is from Sabah (in Borneo), Malaysia. For this reason, there is currently no proof that the male is associated with the holotype regardless of the fact that they are similar in clypeal form and mesosomal maculation. Also, Pasteels (1980) did not mention any male genitalia or associated structures. Baker (1995) subsequently rectified the erroneous type locality in his key for Oriental Euaspis species, noting that Eu. aequicarinata should have an apical lamina longer than twice its width.

Figures

Figure 9. Females of Euaspis aequicarinata Pasteels, 1980 (BSRU-AB- 4120) A mesosoma including the scutellum B face C, E S 6 D lateral habitus. Scale bars: 2 mm (D); 1 mm (A-C, E).

Figure 10. Females of Euaspis polynesia Vachal, 1904 (BSRU-AA- 4453) (A - D) and Euaspis strandi Meyer, 1922 (BSRU-AA- 4470) (E-H) A, E lateral habitus B, F face C, G mesosoma including the scutellum D, H S 6, with a white dash line indicating boundary of the median elevated area in the left. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, C, E, G); 1 mm (B, D, F, H).