Sphecodes bluethgeni, Astafurova, Yulia & Proshchalykin, Maxim, 2020

Astafurova, Yulia & Proshchalykin, Maxim, 2020, New and little-known bees of the genus Sphecodes Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae) from the Himalayas, European Journal of Taxonomy 729, pp. 74-120 : 87-89

Sphecodes bluethgeni sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E7F25913-AF79-4CC7-8E33-B6470F31813F

Figs 6 , 7 A–D

Diagnosis

Like members of the Palaearctic hyalinatus species group (see Astafurova & Proshchalykin 2017a) the new species has a pronotum rounded between the dorsal and lateral surfaces, but it clearly differs by the presence of a sharp carina between the lateral and vertical surfaces of the propodeum ( Fig. 7D ). From S. engeli Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2020 , another Oriental species of this group, the new species differs by the shape of the head with а rounded vertex as seen in frontal view (vs the head with a straight upper margin in S. engeli ).

Etymology

This species is dedicated to famous German entomologist Paul Blüthgen (1880–1967), in recognition of his significant contributions to the study of bees and wasps.

Material examined

Holotype BHUTAN • ♀; Paro Prov., Chiley La ; 3000–3500 m a.s.l.; 10–13 Jul. 1990; C. Holzschuh leg.; PCMS / OLBL.

Paratype BHUTAN • 1 ♀; Thimpu Distr., Taba ; 2600 m a.s.l.; 14–17 Jul. 1988; C. Holzschuh leg.; ZISP .

Description

Female ( Fig. 6 , holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. Total body length 7.0– 7.5 mm; forewing length (without tegula) 5.8–6.0 mm.

HEAD. Black ( Fig. 7A ); transverse, ca 1.25 times as wide as long; preoccipital carina absent; vertex weakly elevated, distance from top of head to upper margin of a lateral ocellus approximately a lateral ocellar diameter as seen in frontal view and ca 2.5 diameters as seen in dorsal view; mandible bi-dentate; labrum semi-oval, 0.5 times as long as basal width; F1 0.7 times as long as wide; F2 0.8–0.9 times as long as wide; F3 0.9–1.0 times as long as wide; gena wide, 1.1 times as wide as eye; supraclypeal area weakly bulging; clypeus with punctures separated by at most a half puncture diameter; frons, paraocular and supraclypeal areas with confluent punctures (20–25 μm); ocello-ocular area with punctures separated by 0.5–2 puncture diameters ( Fig. 7A ), vertex behind ocelli shiny with sparse punctures; gena shiny, with dense setal pores; face (below antennal sockets) and gena with sparse and thin setae.

MESOSOMA. Mesosoma (including legs) black ( Fig. 7B ); wings with weak brownish darkening, veins and stigma brown; hind wing with angle between basal (M) and cubital (Cu) veins ca 90°, costal margin with six hamuli; pronotum rounded between dorsal and lateral surfaces; mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with punctures (25–30 μm) separated by 0.5–4 puncture diameters; metafemur enlarged in proximal half, maximum width 0.4 times its length; hypoepimeral area, mesepisternum and lateral parts of propodeum reticulate-rugose; propodeal triangle (metapostnotum) with coarse winding wrinkles and large shiny, finely granulate interspaces ( Fig. 7B, D ).

METASOMA. T1 almost impunctate, with a few fine punctures along marginal zone ( Fig. 7C ); remaining terga basally with sparse and fine punctures (5–10 μm); marginal zones impunctate; pygidial plate dull, pointed apically, narrow, 0.8–0.9 times as wide as metabasitarsus; T1–T3 red; sterna tessellate, with tiny shallow setal pores (sparse on S2 and denser on S3–S5).

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Bhutan.

Figures

Fig. 6. Sphecodes bluethgeni sp. nov. Holotype, ♀ (PCMS/OLBL). Habitus in lateral view and labels. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 7.Sphecodes bluethgeni sp. nov. Holotype, ♀ (PCMS/OLBL). A. Head in frontal view.B. Mesosoma in dorsal view. C. Metasoma in dorsal view. D. Propodeum in dorso-lateral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.