The Resin and Carder bees of south India (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae: Anthidiini)
Author
Belavadi, Vasuki V.
text
Zootaxa
2017
2017-05-05
4317
3
436
468
journal article
32206
10.11646/zootaxa.4317.3.2
0d2f4545-5d0c-4c02-b43e-31adfae5d5b7
1175-5326
884690
Cd76400C-9478-42A2-A52B-Fc9Fb80Bbc3D
Stelis tuberculata
Cockerell, 1911
Stelis tuberculata
Cockerell, 1911: 103
.
Description.
Female. Body length
6 mm
.
Head:
Black; paraocular area, clypeus laterally, narrow interantennal stripe laterally, vertex with submedial spot, stripe on gena off-white; eyes strongly converging below; clypeus with pair of strong tubercles on apical margin; anterior tentorial pit on epistomal sulcus below intersection with subantennal sulcus; juxtantennal carina present; flagellum with F1 and F2 broader than long.
Mesosoma:
Black; pronotal lobe, anterior margin except medially and lateral margin with stripe, axilla mostly, posterior margin of mesoscutellum, fore tibia stripe off-white; mesoscutellum overhanging metanotum, apical margin a broad semicircle; omaulus carinate, fore and mid tibiae each with two apical spikes; mid tibia moderately expanded apically.
Metasoma:
Black; T1–T5 with transverse bands interrupted medially; T1 with strong carina separating anterior and dorsal faces; terga with narrow impunctate apical margins.
Male: Unknown.
Flight period:
April.
Distribution.
Endemic to south
India
.
Comments.
Stelis
are rarely encountered in tropical environments. This rare species is known only from the unique female holotype. The subgeneric placement for
Stelis tuberculata
is unclear. It is possible that it belongs in
Pseudostelis
Popov
based on the laterally carinate mesoscutellum and its small size (body length
6 mm
).