Odyneropsis apicalis Ducke, 1909

Roig-Alsina, Arturo, 2024, The cleptoparasitic bee genus Odyneropsis in México (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Epeolini), Journal of Melittology 2024 (117), pp. 1-9 : 4-5

Odyneropsis apicalis Ducke

( Figs. 2–4 )

Odyneropsis apicalis Ducke, 1909: 307 (Lectotype female, México, Veracruz, Orizaba, Sumichrast, Coll. O. Sichel 1867, MNHN, examined, present designation). Rozen, 1966: 20–22, figures 33–38 (description of mature larva). Ayala et al., 1996: 461. Ayala, 2004: 201.

DIAGNOSIS: This species is distinguished by the black integument and the fuscous pubescence of the body, except for a patch of white pubescence on the upper surface of the hind coxa. A few Mexican specimens may additionally bear a small white lateral patch on the mid coxa and a few white hairs on the lower corner of the posterolateral angle of the propodeum. Specimens from northern South America may also have whitish hairs on the dorsal surface of the pronotal collar. The dark forewings may have a whitish to translucent apex. This characteristic, when present, is diagnostic for the species, but some specimens may have the wings entirely dark. Ducke (1909) acknowledged this color variation of the wings in the original description of the species.

REDESCRIPTION: Female. Length, 13.0– 15.5 mm (lectotype 15.0 mm); length of forewing, 11.7–14.5 mm (lectotype 14.5 mm). Color. Integument black. Wings infuscate, forewing with or without pale apex. Veins and pterostigma dark brown to black, but when pale apex present distal veins yellowish brown. Pubescence. Brown to dark brown, paler on face and dorsal surface of pronotal collar; patch of white pubescence on upper surface of hind coxa always present. Some specimens with white lateral patch on mid coxa and white hairs on lower corner of posterolateral angle of propodeum. Dense, appressed pubescence on face only around antennal sockets. Scutum with semierect, branched hairs 0.4–0.6× MOD, and erect, simple, sparser hairs 0.6–0.8× MOD. Propodeum with erect pubescence not hiding integument. Sculpture. Frons and vertex densely punctate throughout; some specimens with band of sparser punctures between lateral ocellus and eye. Longitudinal median carina of clypeus weak, usually fading on apical half of clypeus. Scutum with small punctures (diameter 30–40 µ), separated by polished interspaces 0.2–0.4× PD. Mesopleuron with similar punctation. Punctures on metasomal terga smaller, on disc of T2 15-20 µ in diameter, separated by less than a PD. Structure. Labrum 1.7x as broad as long, with pair of small apical denticles separated by shallow emargination. Clypeus moderately protuberant, in lateral view protruding in front of eyes by less than half of eye width (0.4×). Axilla with lateral margin nearly straight, scarcely longer than mesal margin; produced pointed apex variable, from short (0.23× of total length of mesal margin), conical, and not keeled dorsally, to rather long (0.38×), compressed, and dorsally keeled; proportions between lengths of lateral margin, mesal margin, and free portion of mesal margin in Mexican specimens 1.02–1.08:1:0.23–0.35; lateral margin 0.51–0.61× scutellar width. Scutellum bigibbous; gibbae with conical, polished summits, directed backwards. Hind basitarsus shorter than intertegular span (0.83–0.87×).

Male. Length, 14.0– 16.8 mm; length of forewing, 12.5–14.5 mm. Color, pubescence and punctation similar to those of female. Hind basitarsus slender, shorter than in female, 0.76–0.78× intertegular span. Pygidial plate parallel-sided with truncate apex. Sterna without apical fringes of hairs.

COMMENTS: The color of the forewing varies considerably in this species. In some specimens, the pale apex encompasses the entire marginal cell, the third submarginal cell, the apex of the second medial cell, and all the apex beyond the closed cells. At the other extreme of variation, some specimens have entirely infuscated wings. Intermediates occur, including specimens with a faint pale preapical cloud.

There is also variation in the length of the produced apex of the axilla and its shape, as described above. I found no clear association between variation in the morphology of the axilla and variation in the color of the wings. Within México, I did not find any association between the two former variables and the provenance of the specimens either, but specimens from northern South America consistently have a longer projection of the axilla (0.40–0.42× of total length of the mesal margin), and the produced pointed apex in lateral view is narrower and rather digitiform. I see no other morphological differences between South American and Mexican specimens, and I interpret this as populational variation within the species.

The lectotype bears the following labels: green label “Museum Paris/ Mexique / (Sumichrast)/ Coll. O. Sichel 1867”; white label “Mex/ Sum/ 64”; white label “22/ [female symbol]/ Oriz.”; white label “ Odyneropsis / apicalis Ducke / type [female symbol]”; a red lectotype label of mine .

DISTRIBUTION: México: Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz. Panamá, Colombia, Trinidad , and Ecuador.

MATERIAL STUDIED: México. Guerrero: 1 M, La Pintada, El Paraíso , 31.III.1984, R. Ayala ( IBUNAM) . Hidalgo: 1 F, Tlanchinol , 2, 5 km E, 14.X.1990, Rodríguez ( IBUNAM) . Jalisco: 1 F, Guadalajara ( LACM) . Michoacán: 1 F, Ario de Rosales , 1800 m, 28.X.1987, R. Ayala ( IBUNAM) . Nuevo León: 1 F, Mesa de Chipinque, ca. Monterrey , 19/ 22. VI.1976, C. Porter ( SEMC) . San Luis Potosí: 1 F, Hotel Covadonga, Ciudad Valle , 2/ 3. VI.1977, C. Porter, A. Cerbone ( MACN) . Tamaulipas: 1 M, 64 km N Cd. Victoria, Rta. 85, 17. VI.1975, C. Porter & H. Weems ( FSCA) . Veracruz: 1 F, lectotype, Orizaba, Sumichrast ( MNHN) ; 2 M, paralectotypes ( MNHN) ; 1 M, Catemaca , 30. V.1964, J.C. & D. Pallister ( AMNH) . Panamá. Canal Zone: 1 F, Barro Colorado Island , 5.VII.1956, C.W. & M.E. Rettenmeyer ( SEMC) . Colombia. Magdalena: 1 M, Minca, San Lorenzo , 2040 m, 8.IV.1987, A. Otero & L. Vasquez ( ICN-MHN) . Trinidad. 2 F, Nariva Swamp , III.1964, F.D. Bennett, reared from cell of Ptiloglossa fulvopilosa Cameron ( AMNH) . Ecuador. Los Ríos: 1 F, Pichilingüe, ca. Quevedo , 30. VI / 2.VII.1975, C. Porter ( FSCA) .

Figures

Figures 2–4. Odyneropsis apicalis Ducke, female. 2. Mesosoma, posterior view. 3. Axilla and scutellum, dorsal view. 4. Axilla and scutellum, lateral view. Scale lines = 1 mm.