Catalogue and identification key of the bee genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) from the Palaearctic region Author Astafurova, Yulia V. Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya Nab., 1, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russia. Author Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu. Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok- 22, 690022, Russia. & Corresponding author text Zootaxa 2024 2024-05-20 5453 2 183 213 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8 journal article 298000 10.11646/zootaxa.5453.2.2 9e64885c-72a9-4857-a40d-476ac24ae6bf 1175-5326 11233829 C5C7C811-B9A1-414D-8FA4-11DED4400FB4 Identification key to the Epeolus species of the Palaearctic region 1. Forewing with two submarginal cells..................................................................... 2 – Forewing with three submarginal cells.................................................................... 3 2. Body integument (including legs) black/dark brown. Head and mesosoma with long erect black and gray setae. Terga each with apicolateral spot of pale tomentum.............................................. E. bischoffi (Mavromoustakis) – Body integument with yellowish, reddish and light brown coloration. Head and mesosoma with whitish and creamy tomentum of short adpressed setae. Terga each with uninterrupted apical band of pale tomentum ( Fig. 34 )............................................................................................ E. leleji Astafurova & Proshchalykin 3. Body integument black/dark brown, without reddish or yellowish coloration (except legs partially reddish). Terga each with uninterrupted apical band of whitish tomentum ( Fig. 61 ). Labral teeth well developed, positioned subapically.............................................................................. E. tibetanus Meade-Waldo (male unknown) – Body integument usually with reddish or yellowish coloration (at least with reddish tegula or labrum); if body entirely black, then at least on some terga apical bands of pale tomentum interrupted medially. Labral teeth well developed or ill-defined, their position variable..................................................................................... 4 4. Supraclypeal area strongly elevated, more or less expanded laterally into lobe partially extending over antennal socket ( Figs 100, 101 ). Apical margin of labrum with small medial tooth; pair of labral teeth positioned subapically or medially........................................................................................ 5 ( tarsalis species group) – Supraclypeal area not so strongly elevated and not expanded laterally into lobe. Apical margin of labrum without or with medial tooth; position of labral teeth variable..................................................................... 9 5. T 2 with apical band of pale tomentum uninterrupted or narrowly interrupted medially, T 3 with apical band uninterrupted ( Figs 10 , 35, 36 ) ........................................................................................... 6 – T 2 and T 3 with apical bands widely interrupted medially (on T 3 often reduced to pair of small lateral spots on each side) ( Figs 58–60 ) .............................................................................................. 8 6. Apical margin of labrum slightly sinuate or straight with indistinct medial tooth, pair of labral teeth positioned subapically (Fig. 88). T 1 with basal band of tomentum broadly connected laterally with apical band................................. 7 – Apical margin of labrum distinctly sinuate with distinct medial tooth, pair of tight labral teeth positioned rather medially (Fig. 86). T 1 only with apical band of tomentum (in female) or narrow basal band not connected laterally with apical band (in male) ( Fig. 10 )......................................................................... E. coreanus Yasumatsu 7. Apical margin of labrum slightly sinuate (Fig. 88). Clypeus flat. T 1 with apical band of pale tomentum uninterrupted ( Figs 35, 36 )............................................................. E. mikhailovi Astafurova & Proshchalykin – Apical margin of labrum straight. Clypeus convex. T 1 with apical band of pale tomentum widely interrupted medially........................................................................ E. ladakhensis Bogusch (male unknown) 8. Supraclypeal elevation curved laterally (as seen in frontal view), with lateral lobes clearly extending over antennal sockets ( Fig. 100 ). Male: S4 and S5 only with short, straight setae along posterior margin ( Fig. 81 )............... E. tarsalis Morawitz – Supraclypeal elevation straight laterally (as seen in frontal view), with lateral lobes slightly extending over antennal sockets ( Fig. 101 ). Male: S4 and S5 with long, thick, curved setae along posterior margin ( Fig. 80 ).. .. E. melectiformis Yasumatsu 9(4). Axillar spine (free portion of axilla) acute and long, extending as far back as posterior margin of mesoscutellum ( Figs 72–76 ). Labrum with apical margin almost straight, without medial tooth ............................................... 10 – Axillar spine right-angled, or obtuse but short, not extending as far back as posterior margin of mesoscutellum. Labrum with apical margin sinuate or straight, with or without medial tooth................................................. 18 10. Axillar spine strongly incurved. Posterior margin of mesoscutellum with pair of posteriorly directed, large and elongate toothlike processes separated by medial depression ( Fig. 72 ). – Body entirely covered in denser adpressed white to yellowish tomentum obscuring integument ( Fig. 68 ). Labrum with small pair of teeth positioned apically. Male: pygidial plate narrowed and rounded apically........................................................................... E. vinogradovi Popov – Axillar spine weakly incurved. Posterior margin of mesoscutellum at most with pair of small processes or tubercles ( Figs 73–76 ). – Without the above combination of morphological features........................................... 11 11. Mesoscutellum with pair of distinct sharp processes with shallow medial depression ( Figs 73, 74 ). Male: pygidial plate slightly bilobed apically ( Fig. 85 ).............................................................................. 12 – Mesoscutellum weakly bituberculate ( Fig. 75 ) or merely bigibbous ( Fig. 76 ). Male: pygidial plate rounded apically....... 13 12. Labral teeth not especially tightly grouped and separated by more than two tooth widths basally, labral teeth positioned subapically (Fig. 92). Terga, including most part of discs, entirely covered in pale tomentum ( Fig. 1 )........................................................................................ E. albus Astafurova & Proshchalykin – Labral teeth tightly grouped and separated by about one tooth width basally, labral teeth positioned submedially (Fig. 93). Terga with pale tomentum restricted to wide apical (and on T 1 also basal) bands ( Fig. 57 ) ............ E. subrufescens Saunders 13. Axilla greatly enlarged, with lateral margin strongly convex. Mesoscutellum with deep medial depression ( Fig. 76 ). Labrum with a pair of small teeth positioned near apex. Terga with uninterrupted apical bands of pale tomentum ( Fig. 48 ).......................................................... E. rasnitsyni Astafurova & Proshchalykin (female unknown) – Axilla smaller, with lateral margin at most slightly convex. Mesoscutellum with shallow medial depression. Labrum with a pair of small teeth positioned near apex, subapically or submedially. Terga with interrupted or uninterrupted apical bands of pale tomentum........................................................................................... 14 14. Pair of labral teeth positioned subapically or submedially (Fig. 98)............................................. 15 – Pair of labral teeth positioned closer to apex (Fig. 89)....................................................... 16 15. T 1 with apical band of pale tomentum uninterrupted ( Fig. 49 ). Sterna entirely covered in pale tomentum obscuring integument...................................................................... .. E. ruficornis Morawitz – T 1 with apical band of pale tomentum interrupted medially. Sterna with sparse setae, on discs not obscuring integument ...................................................................................... E. aureovestitus Dours 16(14). Axillar spine blade shaped ( Figs 69, 70 ). Labral teeth distinct, well-developed. Terga each with apical band of pale tomentum narrowly interrupted medially ( Figs 69, 70 ) ................................................ E. warnckei Bogusch – Axillar spine another shape (narrow and hook-shaped or triangular). Labral teeth usually poorly developed. Terga each with uninterrupted or interrupted apical bands of pale tomentum................................................... 17 17. Axillar spine narrow and hook-shaped. Mesoscutum and scutellum sparser punctate with shiny interspaces. Mesoscutum with tomentum of thick plumose setae only along margins, medially with scarce simple setae. Metasoma mostly black ( Figs 18, 19 )............................................................................... E. flavociliatus Friese – Axillar spine triangular. Mesoscutum and scutellum denser punctate with dull interspaces. Mesoscutum entirely covered in thick plumose setae (sparser medially). Metasoma entirely reddish ( Fig. 42 ).................... .. E. priesneri Bogusch 18(9). Pair of labral teeth positioned submedially or medially (Figs 90, 99). Last metasomal sternum (S5) of female curved as seen in lateral view ( Fig. 82 )........................................................... 19 ( variegatus species group) – Pair of labral teeth positioned apically or subapically (Figs 87, 91, 94–97). Last metasomal sternum (S5) of female straight as seen in lateral view.................................................................................. 28 19. Body integument entirely black to brownish............................................................... 20 – Body integument with reddish pattern or at least tegula and legs reddish......................................... 21 20. Labrum between medial teeth with depression ( Fig. 104 ). T 2 on each side with basal lateral spot of white setae ( Fig. 106 )....................................................................................... E. fallax Morawitz – Labrum between medial teeth flat and with distinct longitudinal carina. T 2 without basal lateral spots of white setae ( Figs 6, 7 )....................................................................................... E. collaris Pérez 21. Apical margin of labrum straight, with minute medial tooth between poorly developed rounded lobes; pair of labral teeth positioned submedially (Fig. 99)........................................................................ 22 – Apical margin of labrum sinuate, with distinct medial tooth between two large angulated or rounded lobes; pair of labral teeth positioned medially (Fig. 90)........................................................................... 23 22. Terga with marginal zones (apical impressed area) light yellow, semitransparent ( Figs 14, 15 ). Terga and legs reddish. Female: interantennal carina strong.......................................................... E. eriwanensis Bischoff – Terga with marginal zones darker, more or less opaque ( Figs 43–45 ). Terga on discs black to brownish or reddish only along marginal zones, coloration of legs variable. Female ( E. productulus ): interantennal carina weak and short................ E. productulus Bischoff / E. productuloides Bogusch (female unknown) [The difference between these two species is unclear. Refer to Bogusch 2018 for more diagnostic information]. 23. Terga with apical band of pale tomentum uninterrupted. Female with tomentum usually bright yellow ( Figs 40, 41 )........................................................................................ E. pesenkoi Astafurova – Terga with apical band of pale tomentum interrupted at least medially. Female usually with white or pale-yellow tomentum of the body........................................................................................... 24 24. Labrum with distinct polished interspaces, especially in basal half, with many punctures separated by about one puncture diameter............................................................................ E. ibericus Bogusch – Labrum coarsely and densely punctate, with punctures separated by less than one puncture diameter.................. 25 25. Labrum on apical margin with two rounded lobes.......................................... E. intermedius Pérez – Labrum on apical margin with two angulate lobes (Fig. 90)................................................... 26 26. Pale tomentum of the body entirely snow-white ( Figs 8, 9 )...................................... E. compar Alfken – Pale tomentum of the body mostly off-white or yellowish ( Figs 64–67 ) .......................................... 27 27. T 3 and T 4 each with pair of apical spots of tomentum on each side (i.e., bands interrupted medially and laterally, Figs 66, 67 ). Punctation on S2 coarser........................................................... E. variegatus (Linnaeus) – T 3 and T 4 with apical bands of tomentum narrowly interrupted medially ( Figs 64, 65 ). Punctation on S2 finer ................................................................................................ E . turcicus Bogusch 28(18). Body black to brownish. Labrum with two close subapical tubercles (Fig. 87); apical margin straight, with distinct medial tooth. Mesoscutum without paramedian strips of pale tomentum, T 1 with uninterrupted or narrowly interrupted narrow basal band of whitish tomentum, T 1 and T 2 with medially interrupted apical bands of yellowish tomentum, T 3 with interrupted or uninterrupted apical band, T 4 with uninterrupted apical band ( Fig. 63 )...................... E. tsushimensis Cockerell – Body usually with reddish integument coloration or at least legs to some extent yellowish to reddish. Labrum and body tomentum not as above ................................................................................ 29 29. Labrum with pair of teeth positioned apically or near apical margin; apical margin straight and without distinct medial tooth (Figs 94–97). Axilla with free portion acute and longer...................................................... 30 – Labrum with pair of teeth positioned subapically; apical margin straight or slightly sinuate medially, with small distinct medial tooth (Fig. 91). Axilla with free portion acute, right-angled, or obtuse and shorte.............. 48 ( cruciger species group) 30. Metasoma slender, with maximum width at midlength of T 2 ( T 2 wider than T 1). Body, mostly black in male and with reddish coloration in female. Terga each with uninterrupted apical bands of pale (usually snow-white) tomentum, uninterrupted basal band on T 1 and with large lateral basal spots of tomentum on T 2 ( Figs 38, 39 ). Male: S4 without fringe of long and thick setae; pygidial plate narrowed apically...................................................... E. nudiventris Bischoff – Metasoma robust, with maximum width between T 1 apical margin and T 2 basal margin ( T 2 not wider than T 1). Without the above combination of morphological features.............................................................. 31 31. Mesepisternum anteromedially on ventral surface with deep depression ( Figs 78, 79 ).............................. 32 – Mesepisternum anteromedially on ventral surface not deeply depressed, more or less flat........................... 33 32. Subpleural signum positioned on small, elevated plate. Mesepisternum lateral to anteromedian depression with strong, sharp carina ( Fig. 78 )..................................................... E. rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin – Subpleural signum not elevated. Mesepisternum lateral to anteromedian depression with weak rounded corners ( Fig. 79 )................................................................................. E. transitorius Eversmann 33. Females (antenna with 12 segments, S4 and S5 without long and thick setae. S6 with processes on sides armed short denticles; pigidial plate with setae)............................................................................... 34 – Males (antenna with 13 segments, S4 and S5 with long, thick, curved setae along posterior margin. Pigidial plate glabrous).. .................................................................................................. 42 34. Mesoscutum without pale tomentum. – Body integument mostly black, but pronotal lobe, tegula, axilla, mesoscutellum and legs reddish; T 1 laterally with basal spots of whitish tomentum; T 1– T 4 with apical bands of whitish tomentum interrupted medially................................................................ E. ishikawai Tadauchi & Schwarz – Mesoscutum with pale tomentum (developed as paramedian strips of tomentum, or entirely covered in dense tomentum, or at least with pale tomentum peripherally and/or anteriorly)..................................................... 35 35. Terga each with uninterrupted apical bands of pale tomentum................................................. 36 – At least T 2 and T 3 with narrowly interrupted medially apical bands of pale tomentum............................. 37 36. Mesoscutum entirely reddish ( Fig. 29 ). F1 slightly longer than F2 (ca 1.5 vs 1.3–1.4 times as long as wide). Labrum with pair of teeth positioned near apical margin............................................. .. E. kyzylkumicus Astafurova – Mesoscutum entirely black or largely black ( Fig. 51 ). F1 slightly shorter than F2 (ca 1.2 vs 1.3–1.4 times as long as wide). Labrum with pair of teeth positioned directly on apical margin (Fig. 96).................. E. seraxensis Radoszkowski 37. S2 disc with pubescence dense, obscuring integument. Labrum with pair of teeth positioned usually near apical margin (Figs 94, 95)............................................................................. E. laticauda Bischoff – S2 disc with pubescence sparse, sculpture of integument clearly visible. Labrum with pair of teeth positioned usually directly on apical margin.................................................................................... 38 38. Mesoscutum and terga predominantly reddish. Labrum with plumose setae. Axilla rounded apically. S5 disc with pubescence dense, obscuring integument. F1 distinctly shorter than F2 (1.05–1.1 vs 1.35) ...................... E. iranicus Bogusch – Mesoscutum mostly black (mesoscutum sometimes reddish along margins but never predominantly reddish), coloration of terga variable (from usually black to sometimes predominantly reddish). Labrum with simple setae. Axilla pointed apically. S5 disc with pubescence sparser, sculpture of integument clearly visible. F1 as long as F2 or longer...................... 39 39. F1 1.6–1.7 times longer than F2. T 1 with finely interrupted basal band of tomentum. Mesepisternum sparsely punctate. Body integument mostly black, coloration of labrum and axilla variable (usually black).................. .. E. fasciatus Friese – F1 as long as F2 or slightly longer. T 1 with widely interrupted basal band of tomentum. Mesepisternum densely punctate. Body integument with well-developed red coloration, labrum and axilla red........................................... 40 40. Terga with bright yellow bands of tomentum ( Fig. 53 ). Propodeum forms obtuse angle with mesoscutellum as seen as lateral view ( Fig. 77 )................................................................... E. siculus Giordani Soika – Terga with pale-yellow or whitish bands of tomentum ( Fig. 27 ). Propodeum forms right angle with mesoscutellum .............................................................................................. .. E. julliani Pérez 41. T 1 with medially interrupted apical band of pale tomentum ................................................... 42 – T 1 with uninterrupted apical band of pale tomentum........................................................ 44 42. Terga reddish. T 1 finely and sparsely punctate, interspaces larger than one puncture diameter. Axilla rounded apically......................................................................................... E. iranicus Bogusch – Terga usually black, sometimes expensively reddish. T 1 coarser and denser punctate, interspaces less than one puncture diameter. Axilla pointed apically........................................................................ 43 43. Terga with yellowish bands of tomentum ( Fig. 54 ). Propodeum forms obtuse angle with mesoscutellum as seen as lateral view ( Fig. 77 )....................................................................... E. siculus Giordani Soika – Terga with whitish to yellowish bands of tomentum ( Fig. 28 ). Propodeum forms right angle with mesoscutellum............................................................................................... .. E. julliani Pérez 44. T 2– T 5 with medially interrupted apical bands of pale tomentum or lateral spot on each side. Axilla and mesoscutellum usually black ( Fig. 17 )........................................................................ E. fasciatus Friese – Terga each with uninterrupted apical bands of pale tomentum or only T 2 and T 3 with narrowly interrupted bands. Axilla and mesoscutellum often red.............................................................................. 45 45. Pygidium narrower, about as wide as long, apically rounded.................................................. 46 – Pygidium wide, 1.4–1.7 times wider than long, apically distinctly or slightly bilobed............................... 47 46. Body integument mostly black; head, mesoscutum and terga entirely black ............ E. ishikawai Tadauchi & Schwarz – Body integument mostly reddish ( Fig. 30 )......................................... .. E. kyzylkumicus Astafurova 47. Labrum with pair of teeth positioned directly on apical margin (Fig. 96). Hind basitarsus bordered by dense fringe of plumose setae. Pygidium wide, 1.6–1.7 times wider than long, apically distinctly bilobed. Lateral lobes of penis (best seen in dorsal view) small, triangular, extending to mid-length of penis valve.......................... E. seraxensis Radoszkowski – Labrum with pair of teeth usually positioned near apical margin (Figs 94, 95). Hind basitarsus bordered by sparse fringe of simple setae. Pygidium narrow, 1.4 times wider than long, apically slightly bilobed or rarely straight. Lateral lobes of penis (best seen in dorsal view) large, petal shaped, elongate, and extending to tip of penis valve......... .. E. laticauda Bischoff 48(29). Vertex strongly convex, conspicuously raised above level of posterior ocelli, distance from top of head to upper margin of lateral ocellus about two lateral ocellar diameters as seen in frontal view. – Large species, 8–10 mm . Terga with apical bands of pale tomentum interrupted medially or reduced to spots ( Fig. 50 )............................. E. schummeli Schilling – Vertex at most slightly convex, hardly visible as seen in frontal view........................................... 49 49. Terga with bright yellow bands of tomentum conspicuously longer than disc length ( Figs 55, 56 ). Females: T 2- T 4 with apical band narrowly interrupted medially, apical band of T 3 and T 4 uninterrupted laterally, T 5 with ochreous tomentum. Males: T 2- T 6 with apical band narrowly interrupted medially, apical band of T 3- T 6 uninterrupted laterally....... E. sigillatus Alfken – Terga with apical bands of tomentum at most slightly longer than disc length or terga entirely covered with dense tomentum, their coloration variable. Without the above combination of morphological features............................... 50 50. Frons in upper half with short simple setae and confluent punctures. Terga each with apical band of tomentum interrupted ( Figs 11, 12 , 13 ). Male gonostylus mostly parallel-sided as seen in lateral view ( Fig. 84 ), with narrow apical area (membranous area with setae) as seen in ventral view....................................................... E. cruciger (Panzer) – Frons in upper half with relatively long, erect simple setae (can be mixed with adpressed, plumose pubescence) and usually with polished interspaces between punctures (punctures confluent and without distinct polished interspaces in E. gorodkovi ). Terga with apical bands of pale tomentum uninterrupted or interrupted. Male gonostylus apically distinctly curved and triangular as seen as lateral view ( Fig. 83 ); with apical area (membranous area with setae) wider as seen in ventral view ....... 51 51. Pubescence coloration monochromatic (golden or copper); terga entirely covered with dense tomentum ( Fig. 37 )......................................... E. mongolicus Astafurova & Proshchalykin (male unknown; inferred from female). – Pubescence coloration mixed (whitish/yellowish and brownish) or yellowish monochromatic; tergal pubescence heterogeneous, dense tomentum forming pale, well-defined spots or bands................................................... 52 52. Tergal coloration variable, but reddish-yellow coloration usually well developed or at least on posterior half of T 5. Labrum, pronotal lobe, axilla and mesoscutellum yellowish or orange ( Figs 4, 5 )....... .. E. asiaticus Astafurova & Proshchalykin – Tergal discs entirely black. Labrum, pronotal lobe, axilla and mesoscutellum black or reddish ........................ 53 53. Terga each with apical band of pale tomentum uninterrupted; marginal zones pale-yellow to golden ( Figs 20, 21 )........................................................................................ .. E. gorodkovi Astafurova – Terga (at least on T 2 and T 3) with apical band of tomentum interrupted medially; marginal zones black or brownish ( Figs 2, 3 , 31 )................................................................................................ 54 54. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum sparsely punctate with punctures separated by more than one puncture diameter ( Fig. 71 ) ..................................................................................... E. laevifrons Bischoff – Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely punctate with punctures confluent to separated by about one puncture diameter .......................................................................................... E. alpinus Friese