Austroplebeia
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 workers of the genus Austroplebeia
Remarks. In the workers, Austroplebeia species are most reliably identified using a series of mature foragers collected from a nest. The colour distinctions given in this key are relatively easy to see but can be misleading in individual specimens. Within a nest there are often workers with unusually dull or bright maculations (Fig. 6). The most common colouration pattern seen in a series of nest-mates provides the most reliable species identification. Colour maculations and bristle colouration may also be under-developed in younger callow specimens.
The head width and HBW measurements provide more reliable identifications of individual specimens than the colour distinctions. Where the size ranges overlap, the colouration, pilosity and geographic origin of the specimen should be considered. The distributions given in some couplets are not mutually exclusive but are provided to help determine the correct choice.
Where these combined characters do not provide sufficiently clear identification, examination of worker sting rudiments (Figs 15, 16) may be necessary. If available, male genitalia (Fig. 21), male mesepisternal pilosity (Fig. 25 e–g) or queen metasomal pilosity (Fig. 27) in specimens obtained from the same colony may assist in species identification.
1. Metepisternum with yellow-brown to yellow maculation (Fig. 25 a). Paraocular area with cream to yellow maculation along orbital margins extending well above antennal sockets (Face Grades 9–14, Figs 1, 22 a–b). Frons and mesepisternum with fine simple hair, lacking plumose hair or nearly so (Figs 22 a–b, 25a). Distribution: New Guinea and northeastern QLD, Australia (Fig. 28 a)............................................................................ A. cincta (Mocsáry)
- Metepisternal maculation absent (except in rare highly-coloured A. essingtoni specimens) (Fig. 25 b). Paraocular area maculation absent or usually not extending above level of antennal sockets (Face Grades 0–8, Figs 1, 22 c–f). Frons and mesepisternum with simple hair admixed with plumose hair (Figs 22 c–f, 25 b). Distribution: WA, NT, QLD, NSW............... 2
2(1). Clypeus with an extensive cream maculation (Face Grades usually 5–6, ranging 4–8, Figs 1, 3, 22 c). Small bees, head width ≤ 1.67 mm (Fig. 10), forewing including tegula ≤ 3.8 mm, HBW usually ≤ 0.30 mm (Fig. 11). Distribution: WA, NT (Fig. 28 b)................................................................................ A. essingtoni (Cockerell)
- Clypeus maculation restricted to lower margin or absent (Face Grades 0–4, rarely 5, Figs 1, 3, 22 d–f). Larger bees, head width ≥ 1.59 mm, usually> 1.65 mm (Fig. 10), forewing including tegula ≥ 3.6 mm, HBW ≥ 0.29 mm (Fig. 11). Distribution: WA, NT, QLD, NSW...................................................................................... 3
3(2). Thorax markings usually Grade 2–11 (Figs 5, 7). Pronotal collar and legs usually with cream or yellow maculations. Bristles on inner basitarsus III gold or pale gold. HBW mean = 0.35 mm (range 0.29–0.40 mm, n=361) (Fig. 11)................................................................................. A. australis (Friese) ... 4 (three colour morphs)
- Thorax markings usually Grades 0–2 (Figs 5, 7). Pronotal collar and legs usually lacking cream or yellow maculations. Bristles on inner basitarsus III brown or slightly brown. HBW mean = 0.41 mm (range 0.35–0.47 mm, n=173) (Fig. 11)......... 6
4(3). Thorax markings usually Grades 9–11 (Figs 5, 7). All tibiae usually with cream maculations. HBW mean = 0.34 mm (range 0.29–0.35 mm, n=139) (Fig. 11). Distribution: northeastern WA, NT and western QLD (Fig. 28 c)............................................................................................. A. australis –Central Colour Morph
- Thorax markings usually Grades 2–10 (Figs 5, 7). Leg maculations limited to a basal spot on tibia I. HBW mean = 0.36 mm (range 0.33–0.40 mm, n=220) (Fig. 11). Distribution: QLD, NSW or far northern WA.............................. 5
5(4). Thorax markings usually Grades 2–5 (Figs 5, 7). Ventral scape lacking cream maculations. Distribution: QLD, NSW (Fig. 28 c)...................................................................... A. australis – Eastern Colour Morph
- Thorax markings usually Grades 4, 9 or 10 (Figs 5, 7). Ventral scape often with cream maculations. Distribution: far northern WA (Fig. 28 c).......................................................... A. australis – Western Colour Morph
6(3). Plumose hair on clypeus usually dense, integument barely visible among hairs (Fig. 22 e). Bristles on scutellum usually coarse and opaque brown. HBW mean = 0.40 mm (range 0.35–0.44 mm, n=131) (Fig. 11). Distribution: QLD (Fig. 28 d)............................................................................................ A. cassiae (Cockerell)
- Plumose hair on clypeus usually more sparse, integument moderately visible among hairs (Fig. 22 f). Bristles on scutellum finer with a slight brown tinge or pale. HBW mean = 0.42 mm (range 0.39–0.47 mm, n=42) (Fig. 11). 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 pages 24-25, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4047.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/290024