Large carpenter bees in Argentina: systematics and notes on the biology of Xylocopa subgenus Neoxylocopa (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Author Lucia, Mariano Author Alvarez, Leopoldo J. Author Abrahamovich, Alberto H. text Zootaxa 2014 3754 3 201 238 journal article 46675 10.11646/zootaxa.3754.3.1 4c04c966-f36c-4dea-85ce-a5d6063db703 1175-5326 252928 B36E65F9-491C-4231-91AF-B41621F1F5E2 Xylocopa (N.) eximia Pérez, 1901 ( Figures 3 , 10 , 17 , 23 , 29 , 35 , 41 , 47, 53 , 60 ) Xylocopa eximia Pérez, 1901 : 87 . Hoplotype: ♀, deposited at MNHP, Type locality: Bolivia (examined). Xylocopa ( Neoxylocopa ) eximia, Hurd & Moure, 1963 : 151 . Diagnosis. The female of this species can be distinguished from other Argentinian large carpenter bees by the following combination of characters: integument black, mesosomal dorsum densely covered with ferruginous pubescence ( Fig. 3 ), tegula ferrouginous or light brown; T2–T3 with median pubescence long, 1.1–1.3 times MOD; and gena wide and sparsely punctate. The male can be easily recognized by the T1–6 with black integument bands occupying approximately the apical half and T6–7 with brown to black pubescence ( Fig. 23 ). The female of this species resembles that of X . tacanensis in the pubescence ferruginous on the dorsum of mesosoma; however, it differs from that species in the length of the median pubescence on T2–T3. Female. Approximate body length 26 (25–28); head length 6 (5.9–6.4); head width 7 (6.6–7.4); mesosoma width 9 (8.6–10); metasoma width 9.7 (9.2–10.6); forewing length 21 (20.7–23.3); forewing width 6.1 (6–6.6). Coloration. Integument black; antenna dark brown. Tegula ferrouginous or light brown (in some specimens are dark brown). Wing dark brown with violet iridescent. Pubescence. Predominantly black, except ferruginous on scutum, scutellum, metanotum, propodeum, mesepisternum below the tegula and pronotal lobe. Head with abundant hairs, scattered on supraocular area and upper and inner part of gena ( Fig. 3 ). Mesosoma with abundant plumose hairs, except on the disc and posterior area of scutum. Metasoma with long hairs laterally; T1 with intermixed plumose and simple hairs; T2–T3 with median pubescence long, 1.1–1.3 times MOD; T4 with median pubescence longer than T2 (1.2–1.3 times); T5–T6 with long hairs (1.5–1.7 times longer than in T2) ( Fig. 10 ). Sculpturing. Head regularly and densely punctate, supraorbital area and genae with regular and very sparsely punctate; median longitudinal area of vertex and clypeus smooth, weakly defined. Scutum densely punctate, except impunctate on disc and posteriorly. T1–2 regularly and densely punctate, remaining terga with punctate dense on lateral side and dispersed on the center. Structure. Head broader than long (proportion 1.1–1.2:1); inner orbits weakly incurved dorsally, proportion of upper to lower interocular distance 0.9–1:1; middle interocular distance 4.6–5.2 mm . Vertex broad, distance ocelloccipital (to median ocellus) 3.8–4.7 times MOD; orbitoccipital distance long, 1.4–1.7 mm . Lateral ocelli below supraocular line, approximately a MOD. Proportions of interocellar to ocelocular distance 0.7–0.8:1, interocellar to ocelloccipital 0.5–0.7:1, ocellocular to alveolocellar 0.9–1:1, orbitoccipital to ocellocular 1.1–1.4:1, alveolocular to interalveolar 1–1.2:1. Proportion of clypeocellar distance to distance between median ocellus and posterior margin of head (0.9–1.1:1). Frontal carina moderately elevated, long 1–1.2 mm , apex scarcely exceed upper level of antennal sockets. Clypeus broader than long (proportion 2– 2.4:1). Proportion of length of scape, pedicel and first four flagellomeres 3–3.3:0.3–0.5:1:0.4–0.5:0.4–0.5:0.4–0.5. Labrum broader than long, with three basal protuberances the middle elongated and triangular shape, the laterals twice wider than the median. Scutellum gently rounded as seen in profile. Apex of basitibial plate beyond middle length of tibia, asymmetrically bifid, posterior apical lobe rounded, distinctly shorter than anterior lobe. Male: Description. As in the female, except as follows: approximate body length 25 (24–27); head length 4.6; head width 5.9 (5.8–6); mesosoma width 9.8 (9.4–10.6); metasoma width 10.4 (10–11); forewing length 21; forewing width 5.2 (5–5.4). Coloration. Integument predominantly brown yellowish, except dark brown as follows: latero-basal side of clypeus, subantennal sulcus, middle and apical portion of mandible, dorsal face of antenna; coxa, trochanter, middle and posterior tibia basally, middle and posterior femur, propodeum, bands on apical half of T1–6. Tegula yellowish anteriorly, otherwise translucent brown. Wings dark yellow with golden iridescent. Pubescence. Yellowish (varying from ferruginous to yellow); T6–7 with dark brown to black pubescence ( Fig. 23 ). Pubescence of ventral of posterior tibia forming a tuft restricted to the base ( Fig. 29 ). T1 with plumose hairs; T2–T3 with median pubescence long with hairs approximately one MOD; T4 with median pubescence longer than on T2 (1.5 times); T5–T7 with long and decumbent hairs (3 times or more than T2). Punctation. Head regularly and densely punctate, scattered in the clypeus; internal lower part of genae impunctate. Metasomal terga homogeneously and densely punctate. Structure . Head broader than long (proportion 1.2–1.3:1). Proportion of upper to lower interocular distance 0.9–1:1; upper interocular distance 5.6–6.4 times MOD; middle interocular distance 3.6–3.7 mm . Distance ocelloccipital (to median ocellus) 2.2–2.6 times MOD, orbitoccipital distance long 1–1.1 mm . Proportions of interocellar to ocelocular distance 1.1–1.6:1, interocellar to ocelloccipital 0.8–1.1:1; ocellocular to alveolocellar 0.7:1; orbitoccipital to ocellocular 1.5–1.7:1; alveolocular to interalveolar 1.1–1.3:1. Proportion of clypeocellar distance to distance between median ocellus and posterior margin of head (1.1–1.3:1). Frontal carina, short 0.8–1 mm , apex not exceed lower level of antennal sockets (barely exceeds the half of the antennal sockets). Clypeus broader than long (proportion 1.7–1.8:1). Proportion of length of scape, pedicel and first four flagellomeres 2.9–3.1:0.3–0.4:1: 0.3–0.5:0.4–0.5:0.4–0.5. Labrum broader than long with median basal triangular process well defined. Genitalia as in figures 35, 41, 47 and 53. Comments. This species does not show considerable variation in the color pattern. In some females the following areas have a brown integument: legs, genae, scutellum and metasomal terga. In the holotype from Bolivia the tegula is light brown; however, in the Argentinian specimens (except some females from Jujuy province) the color of the tegula varies from light to dark brown. Observations. In Argentina this species was listed as X. aurulenta ( Fabricius, 1804 ) (see Moure 2008 ). Distribution ( Fig. 60 ): ARGENTINA : Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta, Santa Fe and Tucumán. Its distribution comprises part of Yungas and Chaqueña biogeographic provinces and the southernmost record of this species is the locality of Villa Guillermina in the Santa Fe province, approximately parallel 30°. Moure (2008) recorded this species from Perú and Bolivia . FIGURES 9–14. Metasoma of female, dorsal view. 9, Xylocopa augusti ; 10, Xylocopa eximia ; 11, Xylocopa frontalis ; 12, Xylocopa nigrocincta ; 13, Xylocopa tacanensis ; 14, Xylocopa mendozana . Scale bars: 2 mm. FIGURES 15–20. Head of male, frontal view. 15, Xylocopa atamisquensis ; 16, Xylocopa augusti ; 17, Xylocopa eximia ; 18, Xylocopa frontalis ; 19, Xylocopa mendozana ; 20, Xylocopa nigrocincta . Scale bars: 1 mm. Type material. Holotype female ( MNHP ) labeled: Bolivíe [handwritten]//Museum Paris/Coll.J. Pérez 1915// Museum Paris/EY0000001757// Type // HOLOTYPE [red label]// eximia J.P [handwritten]. Additional examined material. A total of 146 specimens (139♀and 7♂ ) from ARGENTINA . CATAMARCA. 1♀, Yunka-Sunaj, 15-XII-1949 , Budin-Pieretti ( IFML ). JUJUY . 1♀, San Lorenzo, -1911, Jörgensen ( MLP ); 1♀, Ledesma, - XI-1978 , Fritz ( MLP ); 1♀, Los Perales, 6-II-1950 , Monrós-Willink ( IFML ); 1♀, Jujuy, - II-1946 , Birabén ( MLP ); 1♀, La Esperanza, 3-III-1955 , J.Fonder ( MLP ); 1♀, El Carmen, 13-IX-2009 , L.Álvarez-J.Meriggi ( MLP ); 1♀, Termas de Lambrisca, 27-I-1948 , Monrós-Willink ( IFML ); 4♀, Jujuy, 11-XII-1925 , Pozzi-Sota ( MACN ). SANTA FE . 6♀, Villa Guillermina, 21-II-1946 , Hayward-Willink ( IFML ); 1♀, Villa Ana, 18-II-1946 , Hayward-Willink ( IFML ). SALTA . 3♀, San Lorenzo, 1-X-1911 , Jörgensen ( MLP ); 1♀, Chicoana, 2-II-1974 , J.L.Neff ( IFML ); 4♀, Río Pescado (near to Orán ), 19-VII-1971 , C.Porter-L.Stange ( IFML ); 1♀, Río Pescado (Est. Y.P.F), 22-XI-1967 , Porter-Willink ( IFML ); 1♀, Dto. Orán , Ruta Nac. 57 Km 33 “Angosto del Pescado”, 26- 27 -X- 9-XI-1978, ( 700 m ), P.Fidalgo ( IFML ); 1♀, Cuesta del Obispo, II-1986 , ( 2200 m ), Fritz ( IFML ); 1♀, Cuesta del Obispo, II-1985 , ( 2500 m ), Fritz ( IFML ); 1♀, Rosario de Lerma, - IX-1982 , Fritz ( MLP ); 1♀, Pocitos, - XI-1978 , Fritz ( MLP ); 1♀, Güemes, - II-1944 , Martínez ( MLP ); 2♀, Rosario de Lerma, - X-1981 , Fritz ( MLP ); 2♀, El Naranjo, - XII-1942 , Martínez ( MLP ); 2♀, El Naranjo, - II-1944 , Martínez ( MLP ); 1♀, Rosario de Lerma, XII- 1986 , Fritz ( MLP ); 2♀, Aguas Blancas, 10-XII-1987 , J.L.Farina-L.González-R.Piñero (MMP); 1♀, Aguas Blancas, - XII-1997 , (MMP); 1♀, Aguas Blancas, 2-9-II-2001 , J.L.Farina-Romero (MMP); 1♀, Salta capital, 12- XI-2009 , L.Álvarez-J.Meriggi ( MLP ); 1♀, Oran-24 Km de Aguas Blancas, 9-V-1969 , Terán-Willink ( IFML ). TUCUMÁN . 3♀, Horco Molle, 16-IX-2005 , ( 26°47'36"S , 65°19'1"W , 720 m . a.s.l), M.Lucia ( MLP ); 5♀ 2♂ , Sala de San Javier, 15-VIII-2008 , A.H Abrahamovich ( MLP ); 8♀, Raco, 28-IX-2006 , ( 26°39'55.6"S , 65°24'19.9"W , 1085 m .a.s.l), M.Lucia-A.H.Abrahamovich-E.Jiménez ( MLP ); 1♀, San Pedro de Colalao, 9-X-2008 , ( 26°37'11,2"S , 65°11'44,2"W , 667 m . a.s.l), M.Lucia-B.Defea ( MLP ); 1♀, Horco Molle, 22-XII-1965 , L.Stange ( IFML ); 1♀, Trancas, - IV-1946 , ( 1280 m .a.s.l), Bellomo ( IFML ); 3♀, Depto. Tafi Siambón, - II-1945 , D.Olea ( IFML ); 1♀, Tucumán, 27-X-1967 , ( 430 m . a.s.l), W.Weyrauch ( IFML ); 1♀, San Javier (Ciudad Universitaria), 15-I-1972 , A.Willink ( IFML ); 1♀, Villa P.Monti, 1-XII-1971 , A.Willink ( IFML ); 1♀, Quebrada de Lules, 14-IV-1966 , L.Stange ( IFML ); 1♀, Quebrada de Lules, - I-1942 , Monrós ( MLP ); 1♀, Quebrada de Lules ( MLP ); 1♀, San Pedro de Colalao, - III-1979 , Fritz ( MLP ); 1♀, San Javier, 21-IV-1968 , A.Willink ( IFML ); 2♀, Salas de Tucumán, 16-X- 2007 , A.H.Abrahamovich ( MLP ); 2♀, Camino a Villa Nogues, 13-XI-2008 , A.H.Abrahamovich ( MLP ); 2♀, Tafí Viejo, 19-IX-2007 , ( 26°44'15,7"S , 65°17'29"W , 755 m . a.s.l) M.Lucia ( MLP ); 2♀, Dique el Cadillal, 9-X-2008 , ( 26°37'11,2"S , 65°11'44,2"W , 667 m . a.s.l), M.Lucia-B.Defea ( MLP ); 1♀ 1♂ , Horco Molle, 8-X-2008 , ( 26°46'41,5"S , 65°19'34,5"O , 719 m . a.s.l), M.Lucia-B.Defea ( MLP ); 1♀, Quebrada del Funicular (near to Horco Molle), 15-18-VII-1978 , Porter-Fidalgo ( IFML ); 1♂ , Tafí Viejo, 17-IX-2008 , ( 26°44'15,7"S , 65°17'29"O , 755 m . a.s.l) M.Lucia ( MLP ); 1♂ , Tucumán, - III-1964 , Santilli ( IFML ); 1♂ , Tucumán (Ciudad), 24-XI-1966 , ( IFML ); 1♀, Ruta a Tafí (Km 20 C/Indio), 23-24-IV-1987 , (MMP); 1♀, Ciudad Capital, IX-1951 , Willink ( IFML ); 2♀, Tafí del Valle, 12-IX-1945 , Hayward ( IFML ); 2♀, Dpto. de Burruyacú, Villa Padre Monti, - II-1948 , R.Golbach ( IFML ); 2♀ 1♂ , Tucumán, -1945, ( IFML ); 1♀, Dpto. Burruyacú (La Mesada), 11-X-1947 , Ares ( IFML ); 1♀, Tucumán, - I-1947 , Córdoba ( IFML ); 1♀, Sala Ancajuli, - IX-1944 , D.Olea ( IFML ); 1♀, Dpto.Río Chico (Los Sarmientos), 30-I-1948 , Ares ( IFML ); 2♀, Tucumán, 28-II-1947 , J.Córdoba ( IFML ); 1♀, Los Nogales, - III-1947 , Ares ( IFML ); 1♀, Dpto Tafí, Siambón,- V-1946 , D.Olea ( IFML ); 1♀, Dpto. Río Chico (Monte Bello), 18-IV-1946 , A.Willink ( IFML ); 5♀, Dpto. Tafí Siambón, - IX-1945 , D.Olea ( IFML ); 1♀, Tucumán Trancas-Tacanas, - II-1951 , J.M.Arnau ( IFML ); 1♀, Horco Molle, 5-X-1955 , R. Golbach ( IFML ); 9♀, Siambón, 4-II-1946 , D.Olea ( IFML ); 1♀, Dpto. de Tafí Siambón, - XII-1945 , D.Olea ( IFML ); 11♀, Dpto. de Tafí Siambón, - IV-1945 , D. Olea ( IFML ); 1♀, Trancas-Tacanas, - I-1947 , J.M.Arnau ( IFML ); 1♀, Tafi-Raco, - XII-1955 , M.A.T de Colombres ( IFML ); 2♀, San Pedro de Colalao, 1-III-1953 , Terán ( IFML ); 2♀, Tucumán, Girard ( MACN ); 1♀, Tucumán, - X-1932 , ( MACN ).