Hoplitis (Anthocopa) prazi Müller 2022, spec. nov.
Creators: name: Müller, Andreas
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Megachilidae
Hoplitis
Hoplitis prazi

description: Hoplitis (Anthocopa) prazi spec. nov.
Holotype. MOROCCO: Guelmim-Oued Noun: 33 km SW Sidi Ifni, 29°09ʹ13ʹʹN/10°22ʹ50ʹʹW, 90m, 18.4.2017, ♀ (leg. A. Müller). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich.
Paratypes. MOROCCO: Oriental: 40 km S Guercif, 15.– 17.5.1995, 1♀ (leg. M. Halada); 10 km S Bouarfa, 20.5.1995, 1♀ (leg. M. Halada); Figuig, Jbel Bouarfa, 32°40ʹ04ʹʹN/2°01ʹ26ʹʹW, 1210 m, 30.5.1996, 1♀ (leg. P. Rasmont); Drâa-Tafilalet: 10 km SE Erfoud, 3.4.1980, 1♀ (leg. K. Warncke); Ait Saoun, 10 km N Agdz, 6.4.1980, 1♀ (leg. K. Warncke); 20 km E Agdz, 20.4.1995, 1♀, 1♂ (leg. M. Halada); 10 km N Mhamid, 21.– 22.4.1995, 2♂ (leg. M. Halada); 80 km S Errachidia, 20 km W Rissani, 4.4.1996, 1♀ (leg. O. Niehuis); Tizi-n-Fedrhate, 60 km NE Quarzazate, 31°06ʹN/6°40ʹW, 1370 m, 11.4.1996, 1♀, 7♂ (leg. M. Schwarz); Tamegroute, 20 km SE Zagora, 30°06ʹN/5°40ʹW, 13.4.1996, 1♀ (leg. J. Gusenleitner); Jebel Bani, 29.93315N / 5.63223W, 18.3.2016, 1♀ (leg. S. Grabener); Taojgalt, 31.38864N / 6.3258W, 10.4.2016, 1♂ (leg. S. Grabener); Souss-Massa: 10 km S Akka, 28.3.1986, 1♀ (leg. K. Warncke); Guelmim-Oued Noun: Foum Assaka, 35 km SW Sidi Ifni, 29°08ʹ22ʹʹN/10°24ʹ38ʹʹW, 0m, 19.4.2017, 1♂ (leg. A. Müller). TUNISIA: Tataouine: 50 km S Tataouine, 32°27ʹN/10°16ʹE, 5.5.1992, 1♀ (leg. M. Schwarz); 56 km S Tataouine, 11.4.1994, 1♀ (leg. J. Gusenleitner); 10 km NW Remada, 10.4.2001, 1♀ (leg. M. Halada); Tataouine, 11.4.2001, 1♀ (leg. M. Halada); Yekhzer SE Tataouine, 23.4.2012, 1♀ (leg. C. Praz); 5 km S Tataouine, 23.4.2012, 1♂ (leg. C. Praz). ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: Southern District: 2 km E Samar, 33 km N Eilat, 15.4.1990, 12♀, 1♂ (leg. K. Warncke); Gerofit, 46 km N Eilat, 16.4.1990, 1♀ (leg. K. Warncke); Zin Wilderness, En Zin, 30°53.38ʹN/35°09.39ʹE, - 61 m, 4.5.1995, 1♀, 2♂ (leg. Irvin); En Yahaf, 3.3.– 13.5.2010, 1♀, 3♂ (leg. A. Gotlieb); Hazeva, 26.3.– 3.5.2010, 3♂ (leg. A. Gotlieb, Y. Hobs); Hazeva, 13.4.– 1.5.2010, 5♀ (leg. A. Gotlieb, Y. Hobs, H. Marshall); 4 km SW Yotvata, 29°52ʹ56ʹʹN/35°02ʹ50ʹʹE, 23.4.2010, 1♀ (leg. C. Sedivy, C. Praz); 3 km E Ne’ot Smadar, 30°02ʹ10ʹʹN/35°02ʹ40ʹʹE, 23.4.2010, 1♀ (leg. C. Sedivy, C. Praz); 2 km SW Hatzeva, 30°45ʹ20ʹʹN/35°15ʹ30ʹʹE, 25.4.2010, 1♀ (leg. C. Sedivy, C. Praz); 2 km N Ein Yahav, 30°40ʹ39ʹʹN/35°14ʹ17ʹʹE, 28.4.2010, 19♀ (leg. C. Sedivy, C. Praz); Nahal Amazyahu, 30°49ʹ16ʹʹN/35°17ʹ32ʹʹE, - 205 m, 30.3.2011, 1♀ (leg. A. Dorchin). JORDAN: Qa’Disi, 8 km E Wadi Rum, 10.4.1989, 1♂ (leg. J. Gusenleitner); Rawayshid, 23.4.1996, 1♀ (leg. M. Halada); Wadi Rum, 4.– 5.5.1996, 1♀, 1♂ (leg. M. Halada). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich, the Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum Linz and the private collection of M. Schwarz (Ansfelden).
Additional records. MOROCCO: Fès-Meknès: 20 km N Missour, 14.5.1995, 4♀ (leg. M. Halada); Missour, Al Baten, 33.27176N / 3.85123W, 13.4.2002, 1♂ (leg. J. Yvernault); Marrakesh-Safi: Ijoukak, 50 km SW Asni, 31°00’N / 8°07’W, 22.4.1996, 8♂ (leg. J. Gusenleitner); Souss-Massa: 30 km SE Taliouine, 30°28’N / 7°41’W, 17.4.1996, 4♂ (leg. J. Gusenleitner); 10 km SE Ait Baha, 30°02’N / 9°05’W, 18.4.1996, 4♂ (leg. J. Gusenleitner). ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: Southern District: 10.5.1997, 1♀ (B.L. Rozen); Nahal Sayif, 22.3.2007, 1♀ (leg. I. Lalzar); Iddan, 28.4.2010, 1♀ (leg. A. Gotlieb); Arava Valley, Nahal Shezaf NR, 30°43’22’’N / 35°16’08’’E, - 134m, 30.3.2011, 1♀ (leg. A. Dorchin); Arava Valley, 2.5 km SE Sapir, 30°35’34’’N / 35°11’56’’E, - 41 m, 25.4.2011, 1♀ (leg. A. Dorchin).
Diagnosis. The 6–7.5 mm long female of H. prazi is characterized by the almost completely yellow to orange mandibles, by the impuncate polished zone along the apical margin of the clypeus, which is more or less reddish, medially prolonged into a short, regularly rounded, flat and sharp projection lacking a median impression (Fig. 12), by the partly orange coloured femora of the hind leg (Fig. 10) and usually by an orange spot on the ventral side of tergum 1 (Fig. 10). This combination of characters is unique among the western Palaearctic Hoplitis species of the subgenus Anthocopa except for H. batyamae and H. wahrmanni (Mavromoustakis). These latter species differ from H. prazi by their distinctly serrate clypeal margin and the almost completely yellow-coloured mid femora, which are predominantly black in H. prazi. The 6–7 mm long male of H. prazi, which also has yellow to orange mandibles and usually orange areas on hind femora and ventral side of tergum 1, is well characterized by the shape of tergum 7, which ends in two widely spaced, long, narrow and parallel-sided teeth (Fig. 13), and by the almost straight apical margins of sterna 4–5 (Fig. 14). In H. batyamae and H. wahrmanni, which are very similar to H. prazi with respect to both body colour and shape of tergum 7, the apical margins of sterna 4–5 are distinctly emarginate.
Description. FEMALE (Fig. 10): Body length 6–7.5 mm. Head: Head about 0.8x as long as wide. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital margin about 1.25x as long as ocellar diameter. Maximum width of genal area 0.65–0.75x as long as maximum width of compound eye. Mandible three-toothed (basalmost tooth occasionally slightly emarginate suggestive of an additional tooth) and yellow to orange except for black base and dark apical teeth. Clypeus medially slightly bulged and very densely punctured with only linear interspaces; its apical margin polished and mostly impunctate, more or less reddish and medially prolonged into a short, regularly rounded, flat and sharp projection lacking a median impression (Fig. 12). Face and gena with dense white pilosity. Ventral side of mandible and gena beset with long, curved and whitish to yellowish bristles forming basket on underside of head; similar bristles also arise from dorsal side of mandible. Proboscis of medium length, when folded reaching slightly beyond posterior margin of coxae of fore legs; second segment of labial palpus about 1.1x as long as compound eye and 2.5–2.8x as long as first segment. Antennal segments 1–3(4) black and (4)5–12 (partly) light to yellowishbrown on anterior side; antennal segment 3 about as long as wide, slightly longer than segment 4, segments 4–11 shorter than wide and segment 12 about 1.5x as long as wide. Mesosoma: Parapsidal line linear. Punctation of scutum, scutellum and mesepisternum very dense with usually only linear interspaces except for median part of scutellum, where interspaces may reach diameter of one puncture. Basal area of propodeum polished except for basal half, which is distinctly shagreened. Pilosity of mesosoma white, on mesepisternum long and dense largely hiding cuticular surface. Tegula predominantly yellow and rather densely punctured over entire surface except for impunctate central part. Stigma and veins of fore wing yellowish to light brown. Tibial spur of fore leg apically prolonged into long tip, which is 3–4x as long as basally wide. Femur of hind leg more or less orange (Fig. 10); in specimens from the Maghreb the orange colour is often limited to inner side of distalmost part of femur. Distal part of femur of middle leg occasionally also partly orange coloured. Tibial spurs of hind leg yellowish, long and straight. Metasoma: Ventral side of tergum 1 with orange spot (Fig. 10). Punctation of tergal discs dense with interspaces rarely exceeding diameter of one puncture. Marginal zones of terga 1–5 reddish, distinctly finer and more densely punctured than discs and covered with uninterrupted and dense white hair bands. Terga 2–3 basally constricted. Tergum 6 with sparse appressed white pilosity. Scopa white and plumose.
MALE (Fig.11): Body length 6–7 mm. Head: Head about 0.75x as long as wide. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital margin about 1.2x as long as ocellar diameter. Maximum width of genal area about 0.65x as long as maximum width of compound eye. Mandible three-toothed and yellow to orange except for black base and dark apical teeth. Apical margin of clypeus medially serrate. Face and gena including ventral side covered with very dense white pilosity, which surpasses clypeal margin. Proboscis of medium length, when folded reaching slightly beyond posterior margin of coxae of fore legs; second segment of labial palpus about 1.1x as long as compound eye and 2.5–2.6x as long as first segment. Antennal segments 1–2(3) black and (3)4–13 brown to yellowish-brown on anterior side; antennal segment 3 slightly shorter than wide and of about same length as segment 4, segments 4–12 about as long as wide to very slightly longer than wide and segment 13 about 1.5x as long as wide. Mesosoma: Parapsidal line linear. Punctation of scutum, scutellum and mesepisternum very dense with interspaces only rarely exceeding diameter of half a puncture except for median part of scutellum, where interspaces may reach diameter of one to two punctures. Basal area of propodeum polished except for basal half, which is distinctly shagreened. Pilosity of mesosoma white, on mesepisternum long and dense largely hiding cuticular surface. Tegula predominantly yellow and rather densely punctured over entire surface except for impunctate central part. Stigma and veins of fore wing yellowish to light brown. Tibial spur of fore leg apically prolonged into long tip, which is 2–4x as long as basally wide. Inner side of distalmost part of hind femur orange. Tibial spurs of hind leg yellowish, long and straight. Metasoma: Ventral side of tergum 1 often with orange spot. Punctation of tergal discs dense with interspaces rarely exceeding diameter of one and a half punctures. Marginal zones of terga 1–5 usually reddish, distinctly finer and more densely punctured than discs and covered with uninterrupted and dense white hair bands. Terga 2–3 basally constricted. Tergum 6 covered with appressed white pilosity, its apical margin translucent, impunctate, medially evenly rounded and laterally with distinct tooth (Fig. 13). Tergum 7 with two widely spaced, long, narrow, parallelsided and apically reddish teeth (Fig. 13). Apical margin of sternum 1 straight. Sterna 2–3 covered with rather long white pilosity, which surpasses apical margins but does not form dense hair bands (Fig. 14); apical margins of sterna 2–3 translucent and medially emarginate (Fig. 14), emargination of sternum 2 very shallow and of sternum 3 widely triangular. Apical margin of sternum 4 almost straight and densely beset with very long, whitish and inwardly directed hairs (Fig. 14). Apical margin of sternum 5 straight and ciliated with short whitish hairs (Fig. 14). Sternum 6 at base with pair of translucent flaps, its apical margin rounded and preapically with polished, almost impunctate and hairless zone (Fig. 14). Gonoforceps narrow, with erect whitish hairs in its apical third and apically bevelled. Penis valve parallel-sided in its medium third, apically widened and slightly projecting over apex of gonoforceps.
Distribution. Morocco from the Oriental region in the north to the Guelmim-Oued Noun region in the south; southern Tunisia; Negev desert of southern Israel; Syrian desert of northeastern Jordan.
Pollen hosts. Polylectic with strong preference for Asteraceae (Carduoideae, Asteroideae, Cichorioideae) (Tab. 1); additional pollen hosts include Brassicaceae.
Nesting biology. The species nests in self-excavated short burrows in the ground as revealed by the discovery of a still open brood cell at the end of a ca. 5 cm long and vertical burrow in horizontal, hard-packed sandy soil in southern Israel in spring 2010 (C. Praz and C. Sedivy, personal communication). The cell was built from yellow and pink flower petals of unknown origin.
Etymology. The species is dedicated to the Swiss bee expert Christophe Praz, who participated in several bee excursions to the Maghreb and the Near East, where the new species was found.
description: Published as part of Müller, Andreas, 2022, New Moroccan bee species of the tribe Osmiini (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae), pp. 233-263 in Zootaxa 5188 (3) on pages 237-240, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5188.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/7091557