Sphecodes chaprensis Bluethgen , 1927

Astafurova, Yulia V., Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu. & Schwarz, Maximilian, 2020, New and little-known species of the genus Sphecodes Latreille (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) from Southeast Asia, ZooKeys 937, pp. 31-88 : 31

Sphecodes chaprensis Bluethgen, 1927 Figures 28-33

Sphecodes chaprensis Blüthgen, 1927: 96-98, Fig. 30 , ♂ (holotype: ♂, India, Chapra, Bengal, Mackenzie, B.M. TYPE HYM. 17a564; NHMUK 013380323; examined).

Diagnosis.

This species resembles Sphecodes shillongensis Blüthgen, 1927 and S. simlaensis Blüthgen, 1924, sharing a similar structure and sculpture of the body, including weakly developed antennal tyloids, a densely punctate mesoscutum and scarcely punctate metasomal terga. The species differs from S. simlaensis in having dense facial pubescence obscuring integument above the antennal sockets; from S. shillongensis it differs by shorter antennae with flagellomeres (from F3 onward) ca. 1.1-1.2 times as long as wide (versus 1.3) and shape of the gonostylus with a large membranous part.

Descriptive notes.

Wings hyaline; hind wing with angle between basal (M) and cubital (Cu) veins almost 90°, costal margin with six or seven hamuli. Preoccipital carina absent. Male. Total body length 4.5-5.5 mm. Head transverse, ca. 1.15 times as wide as long (Fig. 29 ); vertex not elevated as seen in frontal view; antennae (Fig. 28 ) short, attaining posterior margin of mesoscutum, F1 0.7 times as long as wide, F2 1.3-1.4 times as long as wide, remaining flagellomeres ca. 1.1-1.2 as long as wide; tyloids weakly developed, at most semicircular across basal 1/4 of ventral surfaces of last flagellomeres (Fig. 28 ); ocello-ocular area with minute punctures separated by at most a puncture diameter; face above and below the antennal sockets with adpressed white pubescence obscuring integument. Gena with sparser pubescence. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum (Fig. 31 ) finely punctate, sparser medially (15-20 μm / 0.5-3), becoming denser peripherally; mesepisternum and hypoepimeral area rugose (Fig. 32 ); propodeal triangle (metapostnotum) shining, with coarse longitudinal-winding wrinkles; remaining surfaces of propodeum rugose to reticulate-rugose. Metasomal terga scarcely punctate (Fig. 30 ); T1 almost impunctate, with a few minute punctures; remaining terga basally with tiny setae pores; marginal zones impunctate; T1 (apically) and T2 red, coloration of T3 variable; gonocoxite dorsally with impression; gonostylus as on Fig. 33 . Female unknown.

Material examined.

Laos: 1 ♂, Phongsaly prov., 21°44'N, 102°12'E, Ban Natsa, 9-17.V.2004, 550 m, P. Pacholatko (OLBL/PCMS).

Distribution.

*Laos, India (Bihar).

Figures

Figures 28 - 33. Sphecodes chaprensis Bluethgen, male 28 antennae, lateral view 29 head, frontal view 30 T 1 - T 3, dorsal view 31 mesosoma, dorsal view 32 mesepisternum and hypoepimeral area, lateral view 33 genitalia, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (29 - 31), 0.5 mm (28, 32, 33).