Ceratina (Zadontomerus) sapphira Florez-Gomez & Ayala 2022, new species
Creators: name: Flórez-Gómez, Nathalia
name: Ayala, Ricardo
name: Hinojosa-Díaz, Ismael
name: Morrone, Juan J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Apidae
Ceratina
Ceratina sapphira

description: Ceratina (Zadontomerus) sapphira Flórez-Gómez & Ayala new species
(Figures 13, 14, 22G, 23H, 24G, 28)
Diagnosis: Body size of females from 7.0–9.0 mm, males from 6.0– 6.5 mm; this species is clearly distinguishable by its dark bluish color, smoked wings and polished propodeal triangle with distinct middle stria. Females with clypeus completely bluish, sometimes with reduced medial yellow mark; preoccipital carina slightly developed; disc of scutum polished, but with line of sparse punctures along the medial line. Male clypeus with distal and transverse yellow mark, sometimes forming two contiguous triangles; hind femur with rounded medial dilation (Fig. 22G); and posterior margin of T7 with truncated median projection (Fig. 23H).
Description. Holotype female. Length 7.4 mm. Body dark blue with metallic tones.
Head. Round shaped. Mandible with three teeth, black and middle area brownish. Labrum black with dispersed yellowish pubescence. Hypostomal carina with apical tooth. Clypeus dark bluish, same color as the rest of the head, some paratypes with thin middle yellow mark; dispersed punctures but middle area polished. Supraclypeal area with close and fine punctures between antennal sockets, medial area polished but with vertical line of punctures, separated by more than a puncture diameter. Lower paraocular area with dense punctation, but area adjacent to epistomal sutures impunctate. Upper paraocular area and frons, area surrounding the impunctate swellings, with dispersed punctures, separated by a distance from one to four times a puncture diameter. Vertex densely punctate, with scarce, short and whitish pubescence. Preoccipital carina slightly evident, being less conspicuous in dorsal view. Gena with upper area densely punctate, becoming sparser below; lower area with whitish, sparse and short hairs; area adjacent to the eye impunctate. Scape, flagellum and pedicel black. Head length 1.71 mm; head width 1.92 mm; lower interocular distance 1.15 mm; upper interocular distance 1.22 mm; ocellocular distance 0.45 mm.
Mesosoma. Pronotum with lateral carina; pronotal lobe dark with whitish short pubescence on the edge. Mesepisternum with sparse and long pubescence, with dense punctures separated by less than a puncture diameter; hypoepimeral area, with dense punctures becoming sparser below. Scutum, anterior area between notauli with punctures densely distributed, separated by a distance of up to a puncture diameter; disc polished but with line of sparse punctures along the medial line reaching the posterior margin; posterior area with fine and contiguous punctures. Scutellum with dense punctures becoming sparser in the disc. Propodeal triangle polished but with medial stria, lateral striae slightly evident. Propodeum, lateral areas with fine and close punctures, with whitish, scattered and long pubescence. Tegula dark brown and impunctate. Wings moderately smoked, stigma and venation dark brown. Length of forewing 5.1 mm. Scutum length 1.08 mm; scutum width 1.11 mm. Legs. Dark blue with metallic tones. Tibia base with yellow spot. Tarsi dark brown. Spurs light brown.
Metasoma. T1 polished, disc with small area with dispersed punctures. Lateral areas of T2 and T3 punctate, disc with sparse punctures and large impunctate areas. T4 with dense punctation, becoming more disperse on the disc. T5 and T6 rugose, with short and scattered whitish hairs. Sterna with long and scattered pubescence.
Paratype male. Length 6.25 mm. Length of forewing 4.77 mm. Same color as female.
Head. Mandibles with two teeth, black, with dispersed whitish pubescence on the distal margin. Labrum with small yellow mark in the middle. Clypeus, lower area with yellow transversal mark, punctation similar to female. Area above antennal sockets impunctate. Frons, area surrounding frontal swellings, densely punctate. Paraocular area, punctation as in female. Eyes convergent towards mandibles. Vertex densely punctate, punctures separated by a distance equal to or less than a puncture diameter, scarce long and whitish hairs over the surface. Gena densely punctate, as vertex, lower area with long, dispersed whitish pubescence.Preoccipital carina slightly more conspicuous than female. Antennae as female. Head length 1.43 mm; head width 1.67 mm; lower interocular distance 0.31 mm; upper interocular distance 0.97 mm; ocellocular distance 0.31 mm.
Mesosoma. Generally as in female, but anterior area of scutum densely punctate between notauli, disc with dispersed punctures. Scutum length 1.08 mm; scutum width 1.11 mm. Legs. Hind trochanter, ventral margin straight, with long, dispersed plumose hairs. Hind femur with rounded medial dilation; ventral margin, basal half with long, scattered pubescence (Fig. 22G).
Metasoma. Punctures as in the female. T6, middle area with tuft of brownish pubescence. T7, posterior margin straight, but with medial truncate projection (Fig. 23H). S6, as shown in figure 24G. Genital capsule as shown in the Fig. 14.
Type material: Holotype (♀ ECOAB: 18694): MEXICO: Chiapas: Oxchuc-Ch’enchawuk, 2057 m, 16. 798, - 92. 316, 15-VI-2013, M. Santiz. Described paratype (♂ ECOAB: 16932): same locality as holotype. Other paratypes: same locality as holotype (ECOAB 3♀: 18692, 18687, 18682). GUATEMALA: Cunén, 1830 m, 11-VIII-1947, F. Johnson (AMNH: 1♀). Chichicastenango, 7-VIII-1947, F. Johnson (AMNH: 1♀). Nebaj, 09-VIII-1947, F. Johnson (AMNH: 1♂).
Other material examined: MEXICO. Chiapas: El Porvenir, 1.26 km SW, 2724 m, 15.445, 92.281, 1-XII-2014, J. Mérida (ECOAB: 1♀: 18959). Huixtán, Carretera a Chana, 2087 m, 16.637, - 92.331, 13-VI-2012, P. Sagot y J. Mérida (ECOAB: 2♀: 18582, 53004). Jitotol, El Ocotal, 1692 m, 17.059 N, - 92.857 W, 13-14-III-2009, J. Mérida (ECOAB: 13♀: 18850, 18910, 18886, 18921, 18926, 18928, 18929, 18930, 18931, 18932, 18933, 16786, 16903). Motozintla de Mendoza, 2092 m, 15.240, -92.200, 16-II-2014, P. Sagot (ECOAB: 1♀: 52951). Oxchuc, 1962 m, 16.781, -92.334, 22-II-2013, M. Santiz (ECOAB: 2♀: 18517, 18669). Oxchuc, 1971 m, 16.805, -92.361, 24-VII-2012, J. Mérida (ECOAB: 1♀: 53024). Oxchuc-Mukulwitz, 1972 m, 16.802, -92.322, 23-IV-2013, M. Santiz (ECOAB: 7♀: 18476, 18494, 18495, 18661, 18711, 18576, 18725). Oxchuc-El Calvario, 1980 m, 16.791, -92.345, 27-II-2013, J. López (ECOAB: 4♀: 18536, 18704, 18548, 18569); 30-VI-2013, M. Santiz (ECOAB: 2♀: 18699, 18701). Oxchuc-Zona Urbana, 2000 m, 16.774, -92.342, 21-II-2013, J. López (ECOAB: 7♀: 18508, 18509, 18511, 18513, 18514, 18515, 18516, 1♂: 16933); 23-III- 2013, J. López (ECOAB: 19♀: 18658, 18577, 18579, 18580, 18496, 18490, 18552, 18558, 18562, 18489, 18502, 18493, 18466, 18560, 18567, 18570, 18565, 18564, 18568, 1♂: 16937); 17-IV-2013, J. López (ECOAB: 8♀: 18532, 18533, 18546, 18520, 18524, 18526, 18681, 18676). Oxchuc-Ch’enchawuk, 2057 m, 16.798, -92.316, 15-VI-2013, M. Santiz (ECOAB: 11♀: 18693, 18688, 18683, 18679, 18673, 16952, 16953, 16954, 16955, 16951, 16946, 2♂: 16976, 16947). Oxchuc-Tzopilja, 2211 m, 16.729, -92.310, 11-VI-2013, M. Santiz (ECOAB: 5♀: 16957, 18670, 16959, 18685, 18663). Oxchuc-Retiro, 2231 m, 16.786, -92.367, 31-III-2013, J. López (ECOAB: 8♀: 18556, 18481, 18482, 18486, 18487, 18497, 16964, 18675). Oxchuc-Ka'ket curus, 2251 m, 16.789, -92.372, 2-IV-2013, J. López (ECOAB: 3♀: 18518, 18519, 18528). Pueblo Nuevo Solistahuacán, 1792 m, 17.174, - 92.916, 11-VII-2012, J. Mérida (ECOAB: 1♂: 53003). San Cristóbal de Las Casas, 2138 m, 16.734, -92.618, 16-IV-2015, L. Marin (ECOAB: 3♀: 66570, 66572, 66573, 2♂: 66578, 66579); 2168 m, 16.748, -92.643, 17-II-2015, M. Robles (ECOAB: 9♀: 66564, 66565, 66566, 66567, 66568, 66569, 66571, 66574, 66575, 4♂: 66577, 66580, 66581, 66582); 2261m, 16.752, -92.676, 16-VI-2012, P. Sagot (ECOAB: 1♀: 18422). Zinacantán, 2139 m, 16.768, -92.736, 14-VI-2012, P. Sagot (ECOAB: 5♀: 18426, 18427,18428, 18420, 52992, 2♂: 52994, 52995). Hidalgo: Tenango de Doria, 2180 m, 9-III- 1993, L. Godínez (MZFC: 1♀: 26894, 2♂: 26896, 26892). Tenango de Doria-Cerro el Cirio, 2155 m, 20.3233, -98.197778, 9-V-1993, L. Godínez (MZFC: 3♀: 26895, 26882, 26885, 5♂: 26897, 26899, 26898, 26903, 26902); 20.325, -98.2272, 3-XI-1993, L. Godínez (MZFC: 3♀: 26877, 26880, 26881). La Misión, Cerro Prieto, 1654 m, 21.077, - 99.104, 19-VIII-2013, J. Mérida (ECOAB: 1♀: 18616). Oaxaca: Totontepec Villa de Morelos, 2537 m, 17.143, -96.031, 25-XI-2013, J. Mérida (ECOAB: 1♂: 52974). San Jerónimo Tecóatl, 1204 m, 18.152, -96.853, 18-V-2015, L. M. Reyes (ECOAB: 1♀: 74886). San Mateo Yoloxochitlán, 1564 m, 18.143, -96.870, 19-V-2015, L. Reyes (ECOAB: 1♀: 74919). Eloxochitlán de Flores Magón, 1377 m, 18.190, -96.886, 20-V-2015, L. Reyes (ECOAB: 1♀: 75015).
Distribution: Ceratina (Z.) sapphira is found in the mountains of Guatemala and Mexico, in the Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas Highlands and Sierra de Juárez in Oaxaca. Records range from 1200–2800 m above sea level. This species reaches the highest elevation of any of the Neotropical Zadontomerus. In Mexico it is reported from the states of Chiapas, Hidalgo and Oaxaca, and in Guatemala in the department Quiché.
Comments: This species shows variation in color associated with geographic distribution. Specimens from Hidalgo have an opaque blue-dark green coloration. In contrast, specimens from Chiapas, Oaxaca (both in Mexico) and Guatemala have a more intense bluish coloration, this is the most common color of this species.
Etymology: The specific name refers to sapphire, as the color of this bee resembles this blue precious gem.
description: Published as part of Flórez-Gómez, Nathalia, Ayala, Ricardo, Hinojosa-Díaz, Ismael & Morrone, Juan J., 2022, The Neotropical Species Of Small Carpenter Bees Of The Subgenus Ceratina (Zadontomerus) Ashmead, 1899 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), pp. 189-223 in Zootaxa 5214 (2) on pages 206-208, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5214.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7384856