Ptiloglossa cyaniventris Friese, 1925

Ayala, Ricardo & Engel, Michael S., 2014, A new species of Ptiloglossa from Mexico, with new records of Ptiloglossa cyaniventris from Panama and Costa Rica (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), Journal of Melittology 35, pp. 1-13 : 8-11

Ptiloglossa cyaniventris Friese

( Figs. 9–14 )

Ptiloglossa cyaniventris Friese, 1925: 13 [♂].

DIAGNOSIS: Males of P. cyaniventris are quite characteristic for the black integument of the metasoma with strong dark metallic blue highlights ( Fig. 9 ), which may be slightly greenish or blue-green on the terga; a long and thin metatibia with dark brown to nearly black integument ( Figs. 9 , 11 ), contrasting with the color of pubescence on area facial and mesosoma that is mostly ochraceous to yellow ochre; the shape of the fused metatibial spur ( Fig. 11 ); a long metabasitarsus with anterior ridge elevated along its length, producing a narrow anterior-facing surface and wider, slightly depressed outer surface; compound eyes strongly converging above ( Fig. 10 ); the vertex set below the upper tangent of the compound eyes in facial view ( Fig. 10 ); and the form of the male terminalia ( Figs. 12–14 ).

DESCRIPTION: ♂: Total body length 17.6–20.3 mm; forewing length 13.1–16.1 mm. Mandible reddish brown with apex black ( Fig. 10 ), straight, as long as lower interocular distance ( Fig. 10 ). Malar space short, much shorter than basal mandibular width. Labrum and clypeus yellow ( Fig. 10 ); labrum smooth with rounded surface. Clypeus projected, with discal area relatively flat to slightly depressed ( Fig. 10 ). Compound eyes strongly converging above ( Fig. 10 ). Ocellocular distance extremely short, similar to posterior interocellar distance, narrower than minimum width of first flagellomere; interocellar posterior distance shorter than an ocellar diameter. Vertex below upper tangent of compound eyes in facial view; ocelli situated below level of vertex in facial view. Occipital margin posterior to ocelli strongly depressed. Facial and genal pubescence yellow, setae of vertex fuscous, upper frons intermingled with yellow and fuscous setae.

Mesosoma with integument dark reddish brown to nearly black in some places; pubescence generally yellow ocher to ochraceous, most specimens with setae of mesoscutum with apices darkened. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum strongly punctate, more so on mesoscutum, punctures separated by a puncture width or less; basal area of propodeum medially faintly imbricate, impunctate, and shiny, laterally surface more prominently imbricate and similar to lateral surfaces of propodeum, laterally surface may be weakly transversely striate, such striae never extend into medial third of disc. Forelegs largely yellow to orangish brown on outer surfaces and paler so on lateral and inner surfaces; midlegs dark brown to nearly black, with lighter areas of yellow to yellow brown on inner surfaces, metatarsus lighter; hind legs largely dark reddish brown to nearly black; metatibia and metabasitarsus elongate; metafemur whitish pubescence, otherwise setae lightly fuscous to black; fused outer metatibial spur elongate, subtriangular proximally, narrow and acute at apex, distally curved ( Fig. 11 ), inner margin without serrations and with single margin; anterior surface of metatibia with a abundant, fuscous, erect, plumose setae, such setae a little longer than width of metatibia; metabasitarsus with an anterior edge elevated along length, delimiting distinct, narrow anterior-facing surface from wider outer surface (itself distinct from the inner surface bearing the dense, thickened, stiff, apicall-directed, simple setae).

Metasoma with integument nearly black, with strong, bright, metallic blue highlights, greenish highlights also present on terga. Tergum I with abundant, pale yellow to whitish pubescence except those medioapically sometimes more ochraceous; terga II–VII with more sparse, dark fuscous, suberect pubescence, terga II–IV without apical bands, black setae short, terga V and VI with black pubescence longer; tergum II with tufts of whitish setae at lateral extremities; sterna I–IV with abundant, whitish, plumose pubescence, contrasting in color with dark integument of corresponding terga; sternum V with long, whitish setae only laterally, otherwise setae fuscous; sternum VI with fuscous setae, with medioapical margin extended, with a strong, longitudinal elevation (nearly carinate) along medioapical extension, short, dentiform projections extending ventrally on apical margin and lateral on either side of medioapical extension. Hidden sterna VII and VIII and genitalia as in figures 12–14.

♀: Unknown.

NEW RECORDS: Panama: 1♂, Colon Prov., ( Santa Rita Ridge ), 30 km SW Colon, 5 May 1981 , R. W. Brooks ( SEMC). 1♂, Colón Prov., Portobelo 12 km SW, Santa Rita Ridge , 18 May 1988 , D.W. Roubik ( CDWR). 3♂♂, Panamá Prov., Chepo, 23 km NE, Carti Rd , 28 May 1982 , D.W. Roubik, No. 46, 58 ( CDWR). 1♂, Panamá Prov., Corti Rd .

22, abr., ex Psychotria luxurians , col. D.W. Roubik ( IB-UNAM). 1♂, Panamá Prov. , Chepo 23 km E, Carti Rd. , 20 June 1982, D. Roubik, No. 50 ( DZUP). 1♂, Panama Prov. , 14 Km W. El Llano (Carti Rd. Km 9), 22 April 1981, on Psychotria sp. , R . W. Brooks ( SEMC). 2♂♂, Panama Prov. , 15 Km N. El Llano (Carti Rd.), 10 May 1981, on Psychotria sp. , R . W. Brooks ( SEMC). Costa Rica: 1♂, Finca la Tirimbina , La Virgen de Sarapiqui. 9/06/1997 (Trat: B/LR, Parcela: 9, COLCTA: so 65-3, spa: 3/3) ( INBIO) .

DISTRIBUTION: Presently known only from Panama, a single locality in Costa Rica, and southwestern Colombia (west of Popayan, Cauca). The species likely ranges along the western region of Colombia up through Panama and into Costa Rica.

COMMENTS: This is a peculiar species among other Ptiloglossa , noteworthy for its elongate body with a dark, nearly black, metasoma bearing strong bluish and greenish metallic highlights, and this contrasting with the light brown color of the pubescence on the mesosoma and first metasomal tergum, and in combination with elongate hind legs with dark integument. The shape of the fused metatibial spur is similar to P. costaricana Moure , but lacks the serrated area on the spur. Padre Moure had misidentified P. cyaniventris as he had considered them to be associated with P. fulvopilosa in his collection in Curitiba, while true P. cyaniventris were labeled with a manuscript name as a putative new species (but it is now clear that had it been published it would have been synonymous with P. cyaniventris ). Examination of the holotype of P. fulvopilosa reveals that it has nothing to do with P. cyaniventris , and definitive specimens of the latter were apparently never seen by Padre Moure. There is considerable variation in color from within a single locality, specimens ranging with setae more intensely yellowish to more ochraceous, and from having the anterior legs more yellow to light reddish brown, but all have identical sternal and genitalic forms. The female of the species remains unknown. It is hoped that by bringing these new localities to the attention of melittologists that collecting efforts during the early morning hours might be intensified and the female and biology of P. cyaniventris discovered.

Figures

Figure 9. Lateral photograph of a more yellowish male of Ptiloglossa cyaniventris Friese from Panama.

Figures 10–11. Photographs of more yellowish male of Ptiloglossa cyaniventris Friese from Panama. 10. Facial view. 11. Outer surface of metatibia.

Figures 12–14. Male terminalia of Ptiloglossa cyaniventris Friese from Panama. 12. Metasomal ster- num VII. 13. Metasomal sternum VIII. 14. Ventral view of genital capsule.