Lasioglossum (Hemihalictus) ekaterinae, Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2025

Astafurova, Yulia V. & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2025, Review of the bee genus Lasioglossum Curtis, 1833 (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) fauna of the Ciscaucasia region, Zootaxa 5637 (3), pp. 515-558 : 525-526

Lasioglossum (Hemihalictus) ekaterinae sp. nov.

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( Figs 1–8 )

HOLOTYPE: RUSSIA: Dagestan Republic: ♀, 13 km NE of Kochybey , 43.442°N, 46.691°E, 18. VI .2018, M. Proshchalykin , V . Loktionov, M. Mokrousov [ ZISP] ; Paratypes: 6 ♀, the same labels as in holotype; 1 ♀, 14 km NE of Kochybey , 44.26°N, 46.41°E, 16. VI .2018, YA; 1 ♀, 16 km NE of Kochybey , 16. VI .2018, YA; Kalmykia Republic : 1 ♀, 20 km E of Yashkul’ , 46.09°N, 45.38°E, 1. VI .2016, YA; AZERBAIJAN: 1 ♀, Elisavetopol, on Euphorbia, 26.IV.1909, Babadzhanidi [ ZISP] .

Diagnosis. Taken as a whole, the new species is consistent with the group of species placed in the subgenus Truncevylaeus by Pesenko (2007a: 24) [i. e. L. clypeiferellum ( Strand, 1909) , L. corvinum ( Morawitz, 1877) , L. puncticolle ( Morawitz, 1872) , L. resplendens ( Morawitz, 1889) , L. truncaticolle ( Morawitz, 1877) , L. schachti ( Warncke, 1984) L. villosulum ( Kirby, 1802) , L. medinai ( Vachal, 1895) , L. berberum (Benoist, 1941) ; the last two species were restored from synonymy of L. villosulum by Pauly et al. 2019]. In rugulose structure of mesepisternum (at least on upper half) the new species is similar to species of L. villosulum -complex and L. clypeiferellum . In the sculpture of mesoscutum (relatively dense punctuation, delicately shagreened surface at least on anterior half) L. ekaterinae sp. nov. is similar to that of L. medinai . The new species is closest to L. puncticolle in structure of the propodeum with very coarse wrinkles on the dorsal surface, including lateral angles, the dorsal surface forming a distinct right angel with the posterior vertical surface along all posterior margin. L. ciscaspum from the L. pauperatum species group also has similar structure of propodeum, but from this species L. ekaterinae sp. nov. differs by larger body size.

Description. Female. Total body length 5.5 mm. Structure and sculpture. Head ( Fig. 1 ) transverse-elliptic, 1.14 times as wide as long; vertex not elevated, distance from top of head to upper margin of lateral ocellus ca. half lateral ocellar diameter as seen in frontal view. Clypeus 2.1 times wider than high; on lower half with coarse puncture and distinct shiny and smooth interspaces, on upper half with tiny punctures separated by less than one puncture diameter. Supraclypeal area dull, with tiny and confluent punctures. Paraocular area dense punctate, distinctly shagreened lower antennal socket and smother along eyes. Frons confluently punctate. Ocello-ocular area shiny and smooth with tiny (5 μm) relatively sparse punctures. Vertex behind ocelli delicately shagreened with hardly visible sparse punctures. Genal area expanded downward, delicately transversely rugose, smooth and tiny punctate along eyes ( Fig. 2 ). Mesoscutum delicately shagreened, smoother to posterior margin, relatively dense punctate (10–15 μm / 1–3), sparser medially ( Fig. 8 ). Mesoscutellum shiny and smooth, tiny (ca 10 μm) and irregularly and punctate. Inner metatibial spur with several short triangular teeth ( Fig. 4 ). Mesepisternum rugulose, smother to posterior margin ( Figs 5, 6 ). Propodeum ( Fig. 3 ) short, its dorsal surface trapezoidal, as 0.7 time as long as scutellum, flat, horizontal, shiny with very coarse wrinkles, including lateral angles; lateral surface densely shagreened; posterior vertical surface densely shagreened with sparse coarse wrinkles, forming distinct right angel with vertical and lateral surfaces, sharply carinate along lateral margins. Terga ( Fig. 7 ) shiny and smooth, with tiny punctures (ca 5 μm); T1 sparsely punctate, almost impunctate on vertical surface and along marginal zone, marginal zone T1 smooth and impunctate; other terga denser punctate with delicately transversely lineolate marginal zones. Sterna tessellate.

Coloration. Body black; last flagellomeres on lower side brownish; wings slightly brownish infuscated, veins and stigma dark brown; marginal zones dark, not translucent, slightly lighter along posterior margin.

Pubescence. Dirty whitish, on legs pale-yellowish, on head and mesosoma with relatively sparse (integument well visible), erect, relatively long setae. Terga with sparse and short setae, laterally with long erect setae; pygidial fimbria golden. Sterna with long erect setae along posterior margins.

Male unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honour of our colleague and friend Dr. Ekaterina Tselikh (ZISP) on the occasion of her 40th birthday and in recognition of her many contributions to the study of the diversity of pteromalid wasps.

Distribution. Russia (Dagestan, Kalmyk Republics ), Azerbaijan.

Remarks. The species occurs in semi-desert and desert areas.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Lasioglossum (Hemihalictus) ekaterinae sp. nov., ♀, holotype (1, 3–5, 7, 8) and paratype (2, 6). 1—head, frontal view; 2—genal area, lateral view; 3—propodeum, dorsal view; 4—inner spur hind tibia, lateral view; 5, 6—mesepisternum, dorsal view; 7—metasoma, dorsal view; 8—scutum, dorsal view.