Austroplebeia Dollin, Dollin & Rasmussen, 2015, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Dollin, Anne E.
name: Dollin, Leslie J.
name: Rasmussen, Claus
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Apidae
Austroplebeia

description: Key to males of the genus Austroplebeia
Remarks. Males of A. australis, A. cassiae and A. magna sp. nov. are very difficult to distinguish in isolation. Their colouration and structural characteristics overlap much more than those of the workers (compare Figs 7, 8). A high quality microscope is needed to see the differences in the mesepisternum plumose hair given in the key. However, these were the most reliable distinctions found between the males of these species in this analysis.
1. Scutellum maculation limited to a very narrow cream band on posterior rim (Thorax Grade 18, Figs 5, 25 c). Frons and mesepisternum with simple hair (Figs 23 a, 25c). S6 median body narrow (Fig. 20 k). Base of penis valve relatively long and tapered (Fig. 21 a) Currently known only from northeastern QLD (Fig. 28 a).............................. A. cincta (Mocsáry)
- Scutellum with a prominent dorsal cream or yellow maculation (Thorax Grades 5–14, Figs 5, 25 d). Frons and mesepisternum with plumose and simple hair (Figs 23 b–f, 25d). S6 median body broad (Figs 20 l–o). Base of penis valve relatively short and broad (Figs 21 b–c). Distribution: WA, NT, QLD, NSW...................................................... 2
2(1). Small bees, head width <1.60 mm (Fig. 14), forewing including tegula ≤ 3.7 mm. Gonostylus tip with distinct subapical curve (Figs 21 b, d). S6 median body tapering. S5 apical margin with protruding narrow lobes (Figs 20 l, h). HBW 0.18–0.22 mm (Fig. 13). Distribution: WA, NT (Fig. 28 b)............................................. A. essingtoni (Cockerell)
- Larger bees, head width> 1.65 mm (Fig. 14), forewing including tegula ≥ 3.8 mm. Gonostylus gently curved (Figs 21 c, e). S6 median body parallel sided or with slight median constriction. S5 apical margin smooth or slightly curved (Figs 20 m–o, i–j). HBW 0.22–0.29 mm (Fig. 13). Distribution: WA, NT, QLD, NSW.............................................. 3
3(2). Mesepisternum plumose hairs narrow and feather-like, with short closely set barbs (Fig. 25 d, f). Distribution: QLD (Fig. 28 d)................................................................................... A. cassiae (Cockerell)
- Mesepisternum plumose hairs broad or irregular in shape, with longer sparser barbs (Figs 25 e, g). Distribution: WA, NT, QLD, NSW.............................................................................................. 4
4(3). Mesepisternum plumose hairs usually with long evenly spaced barbs and a broad triangular shape (Fig. 25 e). Distribution: WA, NT, QLD, NSW (Fig. 28 c).............................................................. A. australis (Friese)
- Mesepisternum plumose hairs with long barbs at various angles and irregular in shape (Fig. 25 g). Distribution: NT and far northwestern QLD (Fig. 28 d)............................................................. A. magna sp. nov.
description: Published as part of Dollin, Anne E., Dollin, Leslie J. & Rasmussen, Claus, 2015, Australian and New Guinean Stingless Bees of the Genus Austroplebeia Moure (Hymenoptera: Apidae) — a revision, pp. 1-73 in Zootaxa 4047 (1) on page 25, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4047.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/290024