Tetragona mourei Nogueira & Oliveira & Oliveira 2022, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Nogueira, David Silva
name: Oliveira, Favízia Freitas De
name: Oliveira, Marcio Luiz De
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Apidae
Tetragona
Tetragona mourei

description: Tetragona mourei sp. nov. Nogueira
Figures 7D, 8D, 9D, 10D, 11D, 12, 18, 19.
Tetragona clavipes; Imperatriz-Fonseca & Alves, 2020: 215 [geographic record, figure, nest entrance].
Tetragona quadrangula; Imperatriz-Fonseca & Alves, 2020: 222, 223 [partim, geographic records, figures, nest entrance].
Diagnosis: worker (Table 2): paraocular maculation reaching a superior line in comparation to T. clavipes, T. quadrangula and T. korotaii sp. nov., with the widest part of the maculation smoky above the upper portion of the epistomal suture, narrowing obliquely upwards towards the compound eyes, with the narrowest portion of the maculation towards the bottom reaching the middle tangent of the antennal socket. Malar area black. Metatibia as in T. quadrangula, completely yellow. Terga black with apical third yellow. Male: Sixth sternum bilobed in ventral view with a median inverted U-shaped recess; setae more elongated in the apical area, less long than the width of the median recess. Seventh sternum in ventral view with paraboloid lateral structure slightly apically truncated; with a median projection less wide than its distance to the lateral structure; slightly wider in the middle, with curved and pointed apex. Eighth sternum elongated in ventral view, about 2.1x its width and with a median T-shaped structure. Valve about 1.25x the length of the basal bulb. Gonocoxite in ventral view wider than long, with rounded apex. Long setae at the apex of the gonostylus, longer than the width of the gonostylus (Figs. 7–11D).
Description: holotype worker (Fig. 18).
Coloration: integument predominantly yellow-brown. Paraocular yellow maculation smoky in basal line of the antennal socket until the compound eye in midline of antennal socket. Labrum and clypeus yellow. Radicle yellowish-brown. Supraclypeal triangle smoky yellow superiorly. Gena and malar area black. Apex of mandible reddish brown and 2/3 basal yellow, black condyles. Scape yellow in frontal view and ¼ apical dark brown to black in dorsal view. Pedicel brown. Flagellum brown with yellowish brown in ventral view of F1 to F10. Pronotal lobe, metepisternum and scutellum yellow. Propodeum black with yellow sides, apex of propodeal triangle with a yellow maculation. Mesepisternum yellow with a yellowish-brown maculation on upper area and a yellowish-brown maculation on inferior area. Mesoscutum black with yellow lateral border. Axilla yellow. Legs and tarsomeres yellowish-brown. Metatibia with translucid points. Tegula, pterostigma and wing venation yellowish-brown. Wing membranes hyaline. T1 brown with medial band yellow and apical band translucid of the width of the flagellum. T2 and T5 with 2/3 basal yellowish brown to black and apical third yellow. T3 and T4 with basal half yellowish brown and apical half yellow. T6 yellow (visible region). Sterna yellow with irregular maculations yellowish-brown.
Punctation: piliferous punctures thin and sparse, except in the face very dense; integument predominantly smooth, polished and shiny between punctures, propodeal triangle impunctate, smooth, polished and shiny.
Pubescence: frons with yellow simple hairs (0.11 mm) and yellow branched hairs (0.03 mm); some hairs behind genal area with curved apex (0.19 mm). Malar area with very short setae (0.01 mm). Scape with sparse yellow simple setae (0.07 mm). Vertex with yellow long simple setae (0.23 mm), some with one to three branches. Clypeus in lateral view with yellow branched setae (0.05 mm). Supraclypeal area with branched and simple setae (0.08 mm). Labrum with yellow simple setae (0.17 mm). Coxae with yellow simple hairs: procoxa (0.20 mm), mesocoxa (0.30 mm) and metacoxa (0.26 mm). Mesocoxa with some hairs with curved apex. Trochanters with yellow simple hairs with curved apex: protrochanter (0.22 mm), mesotrochanter (0.17 mm) and metatrochanter (0.25 mm). Basal area of profemur with yellow simple hairs with curved apex (0.21 mm), apical area with short erect hairs (0.10 mm). Basal area of mesofemur with yellow simple hairs with curved apex (0.21 mm), apical area with short erect hairs (0.07 mm). Metafemur with erect hairs on basal area (0.17 mm) and apical area (0.12 mm). Protibia (0.10 mm) and mesotibia (0.29 mm) with yellow simple setae. Metatibia with branched and simple hairs (0.37 mm) on posterior border; basal half of external face with simple hairs more abundant than apical half. Basitarsi with yellow simple setae: probasitarsus (0.34 mm), mesobasitarsus (0.20 mm) and metabasitarsus (0.27 mm). Mesoscutum with erect setae (0.29 mm) with some branches and short branched hairs (0.07 mm). Mesoscutellum with yellow hairs (0.27 mm) with some branches. Propodeal triangle glabrous; sides of propodeum with long simple hairs (0.30 mm), and short branched hairs (0.07 mm). Mesepisternum with simple hairs (0.46 mm) and branched hairs (0.08 mm). Metepisternum with yellow simple hairs (0.22 mm). T1 practically glabrous with basal area with some short hairs (0.05 mm). T2 with basal half glabrous and with simple decumbent setae on 2/3 apical area (0.07 mm). T3 with simple erect setae (0.16 mm). T4 with simple erect setae (0.19 mm). T5 with erect setae (0.17 mm) with some branches. T6 with branched erect setae (0.56 mm). Sterna with simple hairs (0.34 mm: 0.35 mm: 0.37 mm: 0.35 mm: 0.29 mm = length of S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5, respectively), some hairs on S3–S5 curved apically.
Structures: body length 6.74 mm. Head 1.33x wider than long (2.0 mm: 2.71 mm, length and width, respectively). Length of compound eye 3.9x breadth (1.68 mm: 0.43 mm, length and width of the compound eye, respectively). Inner orbits concave, converging downwards. Maximum interorbital distance greater than the length of the eyes (1.78 mm: 1.68 mm). Flagellum diameter 3.8x of the malar area (0.05 mm: 0.19 mm). Clypeus with width 2x its length (0.57 mm: 1.18 mm = length and width of clypeus respectively). Clypeus-ocellar distance 1.19 mm. Alveolorbital distance 2.9x interalveolar distance (0.50 mm: 0.17 mm = alveolorbital distance and interalveolar distance, respectively). Vertex slightly convex. Ocellorbital distance greater than interocellar distance (0.46 mm: 0.42 mm). Scape length 4.5x its width (0.86 mm: 0.19 mm). Flagellum with a width equal to the the pedicel (0.19 mm). Mandible with the first tooth wider than the second. Spine of protibial strigillae (0.05 mm). Mesotibial spur 0.32 mm long. Metatibia with rounded corbicula; length of metatibia 2.6x its width (2.88 mm: 1.07 mm). Metabasitarsus 2x longer than broad (0.86 mm: 0.43 mm) and with posterior bord angled and projected. Intertegular distance 1.41 mm. With 6 hamuli on posterior wing.
Description: paratype male from Lizarda (Maranhão, Brazil) (Fig. 19).
Coloration: integument predominantly yellowish-brown. With yellow paraocular maculation from the upper portion of the epistomal suture towards the compound eye below the midline of the antennal socket. Clypeus and labrum yellow. Radicle yellowish-brown. Supraclypeal triangle yellow. Gena and malar area black. Mandible yellow with black condyles. Scape yellow. Pedicel yellowish-brown. Flagellum brown with yellowish-brown in ventral view of F2 to F11. Pronotal lobe and metepisternum yellow. Propodeum yellow circled in black and with longitudinal black line. Mesepisternum black with anterior and posterior yellow maculations. Epimeron black. Scutellum and axilla yellow. Proleg yellow with protarsi yellowish-brown. Mesoleg and metaleg completely yellowish-brown. Tegula yellowish-brown. Pterostigma and wing venation dark brown. Wing membranes slightly smoky. T1 dark brown with apical third yellowish brown. T2 and T3 with basal half dark brown and apical half yellow. T4 with basal third dark brown and apical 2/3 yellowish-brown. T5–T7 yellowish brown. Sterna yellowish brown, S2 with black maculation.
Punctation: predominantly smooth and shiny.
Pubescence: frons with yellow simple hairs (0.13 mm) and yellow branched hairs (0.07 mm). Some hairs behind genal area with curved apex (0.21 mm). Malar area with very short setae (0.01 mm). Scape with sparse yellow simple setae (0.03 mm). Vertex with yellow long simple and branched setae (0.26 mm). Supra clypeal area with erect simple setae (0.09). Clypeus in lateral view with yellow erect slightly curved simple setae (0.11 mm). Labrum with yellow simple setae (0.15 mm). Coxae with yellow simple hairs: procoxa (0.18 mm), mesocoxa (0.17 mm) and metacoxa (0.23 mm). Trochanters with yellow simple hairs: protrochanter (0.14 mm), mesotrochanter (0.15 mm) and metatrochanter (0.17 mm). Basal area of profemur with yellow simple hairs (0.17 mm), apical area with erect hairs (0.06 mm). Basal area of mesofemur with yellow simple hairs (0.13 mm), apical area with short erect hairs (0.05 mm). Metafemur with erect hairs on basal area (0.09 mm) and apical area (0.07 mm). Protibia (0.14 mm), mesotibia (0.20 mm) and metatibia (0.21 mm) with yellow simple setae on posterior border. Basitarsi with yellow simple setae: probasitarsus (0.14 mm), mesobasitarsus (0.14 mm) and metabasitarsus (0.17 mm). Mesoscutum with yellowish-brown erect simple setae (0.18 mm) and short branched hairs (0.07 mm). Mesoscutellum with dark brown simple hairs (0.38 mm). Propodeal triangle glabrous; sides of propodeum with yellow simple hairs (0.31 mm), and branched hairs (0.10 mm). Mesepisternum with yellow simple hairs (0.22 mm) and branched hairs (0.06 mm). Metepisternum with yellow simple hairs (0.21 mm) and branched hairs (0.05 mm). T1 glabrous with very short setae on basal third (0.01 mm). T2 with basal half glabrous and apical half with brown simple erect setae (0.04 mm). T3 and T4 with yellowish-brown simple setae (0.04 mm). T5 with simple (0.06 mm) and branched (0.04 mm) setae on central area and simple setae on sides (0.12 mm). T6 with simple (0.11 mm) and branched (0.09 mm) setae on central area and simple setae on sides (0.21 mm). T7 with yellowish-brown simple setae (0.12 mm) and branched setae (0.07 mm). Sterna with yellow simple hairs (0.04 mm: 0.13 mm: 0.12 mm: 0.11 mm: 0.20 mm = length of S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5, respectively); some hairs on S3 and S4 with curved apex.
Structures: body length 6.53 mm. Head 1.27x wider than long (1.86 mm: 2.37 mm, length and width, respectively). Length of compound eye 2.88x breadth (1.56 mm: 0.61 mm, length and width of the compound eye, respectively). Inner orbits concave, converging downwards. Maximum interorbital distance less than the length of the eyes (1.44 mm: 1.56 mm). Flagellum diameter 4.7x malar area (0.19 mm: 0.04 mm). Clypeus slightly less than half its width (0.50 mm: 0.86 mm = length and width of clypeus respectively). Clypeus-ocellar distance 1.13 mm. Interalveolar distance slightly less than the alveolorbital distance (0.17 mm: 0.25 mm = interalveolar distance and alveolorbital distance, respectively). Interocellar distance greater than ocellorbital distance (0.44 mm: 0.30 mm). Scape length 3.2x its width (0.69 mm: 0.21 mm). Flagellum wider than the pedicel (0.19 mm: 0.16 mm). Mandible with two teeth, the first shorter and further back than the second. Spine of protibial strigillae (0.04 mm). Mesotibial spur 0.29 mm long. Metatibia with apical paraboloid border; length of metatibia 3.2x its width (2.04 mm: 0.62 mm). Metabasitarsus 1.9x longer than broad (0.68 mm: 0.35 mm). Intertegular distance 1.60 mm. With 5 hamuli on posterior wing.
Variations (workers): one specimen from Cabeceiras (Piauí, Brazil — BIOSIS 06025) and one from Corrente (Piauí, Brazil — MZSP) have T2 with a longitudinal yellow line. We do not consider them as T. perangulata, because this longitudinal line is less wide than the diameter of the flagellum.
Etymology: in honor of the priest and professor Jesus Santiago Moure, who was a great contributor to the understanding of the taxonomy of many groups of bees.
Comments and discussion: Camargo separated some specimens as a new species (unpublished dada, from RPSP collection), which have yellow metatibia similar to T. quandrangula, and paraocular maculation reaching the base of the antennal socket, where it is smokier in contrast to the black coloring of the frons. We also consider these specimens as a distinct species even though we have found two individuals mounted on the same pin (RPSP 870870), where one is a typical T. quadrangula and the other belongs to this new species (T. mourei sp. nov.). As verified in the nest collection (RPSP), a specimen with tag code 22c is T. clavipes, while the other workers in the same nest are T. dorsalis (Smith, 1854). Probably there was a mix of labels, or even looting at the time of collection.
Furthermore, observing the male characters, the basal bulb of the valve in T. quadrangula has a tip (almost a 90-degree angle), while in T. mourei sp. nov., it is rounded. The upper margin of S 8 in T. quadrangula is in a shallow T-shape, while in T. mourei sp. nov. there is a central concavity.
Moure, on September 15, 1984 (unpublished data) separated some specimens from UNB collection of species T. clavipes, T. quadrangula, and T. mourei sp. nov. mixed as “ Tetragona flavipes ” (sic T. clavipes). He would probably considered them a new species, but he did not formally publish it.
Geographic distribution (Fig. 12): Brazil (Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Piauí, Tocantins).
Biological notes: very defensive behavior, like other species of the T. clavipes group. The nest entrance has a projection at the entrance as a lateral or lower landing area made with hardened cerumen and the access to the nest is through a vertical slit (see Imperatriz-Fonseca & Alves, 2020, pages 215 and 223), as was also described by Costa (2020) for T. clavipes.
Type material: holotype worker from Bom Jesus (Piauí, Brazil) in good condition. Data label: 30 km NW Bom Jesus, PI Brasil 25, 29 I 1993, SC23,44°35’W 8°57’S / Camargo, Tavares, Pedro leg. 931571 (RPSP).
Material examined: paratypes workers (60): BRAZIL: Goiás: 1 (BIOSIS), Favízia 000480 / Brasil, Goiás, Iporá, Parque Municipal da Cachoeirinha, 16°26’39.58”S; 51°08’12.84”W, 24.xi.2004, 10:30–11:30h, F. de O. Francisco & L. R. Santiago Leg.; 1 (BIOSIS), Favízia 000461 / Brasil, Goiás, Iporá, Parque Municipal da Cachoeirinha, 16°26’39.58”S; 51°08’12.84”W, 20.iii.2005, 11:30–12:30h, F. de O. Francisco & L. R. Santiago Leg.; 1 (UNB), UNB 029002 / Goias Velho, 15-10-1978, coll.A.Raw / Coll. at Cassia, Caesalpiniaceae / Tetragona clavipes (F); Maranhão: 4 (UNB), Brasil, Maranhão, Balsas, 9°14’13,7”S 46°42’32,5”W, Brejoda Limpeza 11. vii.2017, C.M. Maia leg; 1 (INPA), idem; 1 (RPSP), 39 Km S Chapadinha, MA, 43°30’W, 5°5’ S, Brasil, 12–13/ IX/1994, Camargo, Pedro leg., 941549; 5 (CEPANN), BRA, Maranhão, Orelha[?], III.2002, Marilda leg.; 4 (RPSP), 674c / 60 km L Lizarda-MA, Brasil, 18/XI/1994, 46° 14’ W, 9° 21’ S, Camargo, Pedro leg.; 2 (RPSP), 60 km L- Lizarda, MA. BR.18-XI.94, 46°14’W. 9°21’S, Sidnei.950052; 1 (UNB), Brasil, Maranhão, Urbano Santos, Agua Fria-Afs[?], 06.xi.2005, Maia, C.M leg.; Mato Grosso: 1 (UNB), UNB 029101 / MATO GROSSO, V. dos Sonhos, 25-4-1978, coll. A.Raw / Tetragona clavipes (F); 1 (UNB), UNB 028978 / BRAZIL: MT, Rio Manso, A.Raw, 14- 10.88 / Cassia; 1 (UNB), idem except: UNB 028976; 1 (RPSP), Nova Xavantina, MT —Brasil, 23-VII-1995, H.S. R Cabette leg. 952013 / Tetragona clavipes (Fab. 1804), Det. Camargo, 1995; 1 (INPA), BRASIL: Mato Grosso. Tangará da Serra. Faz Aparecida da Serra. 14°19’56.7”S. 57°43’29.9”W. Cerrado Strictu sensu. Malaise. 05-I- 2018. Ferreira, JVA. / G21NAT FERREIRA _1478; Mato Grosso do Sul: 1 (MZSP), Faz.Dr.José Mendes, Três Lagoas, MT, 16-VII.1964, Exp. Depto. Zool. / Kl.14; Pará: 2 (MPEG), BRASIL: PA: Conceição do Araguaia, zona 04, 07°59’53”S 49°22’27”W, 03–14.vii.2017, Arruda, FV. col.; Piauí: 1 (BIOSIS), PI, Bom Jesus, A4—Ponto 5, Jasmim, 17/10/2015 / 536 / EBDA; 1 (MHNBA), MZUFBA, Hymeno. 08074 / Brasil, Piauí, Cabeceiras do Piauí, Comunidade José Gomes, Projeto Márcio Luciano Pereira, Amostra 3 / Amostra 3, Rdo Nonato Batista de Sousa leg., 10–15.iv.2017 / Tetragona dorsalis (Smith, 1854), F. F. de Oliveira, 2019, Det.; 1 (MHNBA), MZUFBA, Hymeno. 08075 / Brasil, Piauí, Cabeceiras do Piauí, Comunidade José Gomes, Projeto Márcio Luciano Pereira, Amostra 3 / Amostra 3, Rdo Nonato Batista de Sousa leg., 10–15.iv.2017 / Tetragona sp. 1, F. F. de Oliveira, 2019, Det.; 1 (MHNBA), MZUFBA, Hymeno. 08083 / Brasil, Piauí, Cabeceiras do Piauí, Comunidade José Gomes, Projeto Márcio Luciano Pereira, Amostra 1 / Amostra 1, Rdo Nonato Batista de Sousa leg., 10–15.iv.2017 / Tetragona sp. 1, F. F. de Oliveira, 2019, Det.; 1 (BIOSIS), Favízia 06025 / Brasil, Piauí, Cabeceiras do Piauí, Comunidade José Gomes, Projeto Márcio Luciano Pereira, Amostra 10 /Amostra 10, Rdo Nonato Batista de Sousa leg., 10–15.iv.2017 / Tetragona sp. 2, F. F. de Oliveira, 2019, Det.; 1 (BIOSIS), Favízia 06023 / Brasil, Piauí, Cabeceiras do Piauí, Comunidade José Gomes, Projeto Márcio Luciano Pereira, Amostra 10 / Amostra 10, Rdo Nonato Batista de Sousa leg., 10–15.iv.2017 / Tetragona sp. 1, F. F. de Oliveira, 2019, Det.; 1 (MZSP), BRASIL: PI: 10 Km N, Corrente. Faz.Maracuja, 23–27. xi. 1991, S. T.P. Amarante & C.Fmartins; 2 (MZSP), BRASIL: PI: Corrente, 23–27, xi, 1991, Amarante Brandão Cancello Martins & Ponte col.; 6 (RPSP), 507c / 48 Km SE-Sta Filomena, PI-Brasil- 24-I-1993, SC 23,45°38’W, 9°18’S / Camargo, Tavares, Pedro leg. / Tetragona clavipes (Fabricius, 1804), Det. Camargo, 1993; 1 (RPSP), FLORIANO, PI —Brasil, 15.III.1983, 830120 / Mazucato, Camargo; Tocantins: 1 (MPEG), Brasil Tocantins, Cachoeirinha, 30-X-1990 / Brasil Tocantins, M. F. P. Torres; 9 (RPSP), 491c / Res.Krahó Galheiros, 45 Km SE Itacoja- TO, Brasil—17,21- I-1993 / Sc-23,47°22’W, 8°29’S, Camargo, Tavares, Pedro leg. / Tetragona quadrangula (Lepeletier, 1836), Det. Camargo, 1993; 1 (CPANN), BRA, TO, Reserva Indígena, próx. Tacajá [Itacajá], fev.2003, Rubens Porto Palagi leg., Kraho; 1 (RPSP), 80 km W Lizarda-TO, BRASIL 19/XI/1994, 47° 16’ W. 9° 32’ S, Camargo, Pedro leg., 941866.
Paratypes males (5): BRAZIL: Maranhão: 3 (RPSP), ♂ / 674c / 60 km L Lizarda-MA, Brasil, 18/XI/1994, 46° 14’ W, 9° 21’ S, Camargo, Pedro leg.; Goiás: 2 (RPSP), 16c / ♂ / GENÉTICA, F.M. R. PRETO / Aragarças, GO. BRASIL, 10.24. II.1971, Col. W.E.Kerr.
description: Published as part of Nogueira, David Silva, Oliveira, Favízia Freitas De & Oliveira, Marcio Luiz De, 2022, Revision of the Tetragona clavipes (Fabricius, 1804) species-group (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini), pp. 1-64 in Zootaxa 5119 (1) on pages 51-56, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5119.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6378560