A new species of Eufriesea from Jalisco , Mexico , with a key to Mexican species of the genus ( Hymenoptera : Apidae )

A new species of the orchid bee genus Eufriesea COCKERELL (Apidae: Apinae: Euglossini) is described and figured. Eufriesea micheneri sp. n. is generally similar to E. caerulescens (LEPELETIER DE SAINT FARGEAU) with is dark blue integument and purple iridescence but differs by its black pubescence, dark wings, and in the male by its green facial integument and terminalia. The new species is known from the Sierra del Tuito in Jalisco State, Mexico, a western part of the Transverse Volcanic Belt. A key for the Mexican species of Eufriesea is provided in English and Spanish.

Bees of the genus Eufriesea COCKERELL ( Euglossini) are readily recognized by their large, robust size and frequently metallic coloration which ranges from blue or green with yellow, to reddish or purple iridescence (e.g., Figs 1-2).The genus, like its relatives in the Euglossini, is also noteworthy for its role in orchid pollination.Euglossine males visit orchid flowers, among others, to collect essentials oils which are then carried and modified in their hind tibiae, and are presumably used as attracts for females (e.g., KIMSEY, 1980KIMSEY, , 1982;;DRESSLER, 1967DRESSLER, , 1968aDRESSLER, , 1968b;;ROUBIK &C HANSON, 2004;MICHENER, 2007).Eufriesea comprises about 60 species confined to the Neotropical region, most ol which occur in South America (RAMIREZ et al., 2002).The genus was revised by KIMSEY (198 2) who reported six species from Mexico, one of these being Eufriesea caerulescens (LEPELETIER DE SAINT FARGEAU), a species similar in overall appearance to the taxon treated in the present study.For those species occurring in Mexico there are few distributional records for those comprising the caerulescens species group.Apparently the distribution for the two species of this group in Mexico follows that of the tropical dry forest, or the pine and oak forest, between sea level and about 1500 m elevation.Herein we provide new information on species in this group in Mexico with the description of a new species that may be confused easily with E. caerulescens.

Material & Methods
The first specimen encountered for the new species reported herein was collected during the fieldwork of the PCAM project (El Programa Cooperativo sobre la Apifauna Mexicana).Additional specimens were later lound in the Colecciön Entomologica, Centra de Estudios en Zoologia, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico (CEGM) or were collected as part of the dissertation research of Charlotte SKOV at the University of Florida.Specimens were subsequently distributed across the Instituto de Biologia, Mexico City, Mexico (UNAM); Insect Collection oi the Chamela Field Station, Chamela, Mexico (IBUNAM); the Snow Entomological Collection, Division of Entomology, University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence, Kansas, USA (KSEM); and the Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory at Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA (EMUS).Morphological terminology for the description follows that of ENGEL (2001) and MICHENER (2 007), with the abbreviations S and T replacing metasomal sternum and metasomal tergum, respectively.Illustrations of the genitalia and sterna were made using a camera lucid mounted on an Olympus SZH10 dissecting microscope.Photomicrographs were made using Nikon Dlx digital camera attached to an Infinity K-2 long-distance microscopic lens.A key to Mexican species of Eufriesea was prepared by modifying the keys of KIMSEY (1 982).

Diagnosis:
The new species is similar in appearance and coloration to E. caerulescens, but males are separable by the dark blue integument with strong purple iridescence on the vertex, mesosoma, legs, and metasoma; the generally dark fuscous pubescence and wings (Figs 1-2); the typically green integument ol the facial area (Fig. 1), contrasting with the dark blue and purple on the remainder oi the integument; the metatibiae with a subapical projection on near the inner margin of the anterior surface which delimits the upper border of a slightly depressed area (Fig. 3); and in structure ol the male terminalia (Figs 4-9).
Figs 1-3: Eufriesea micheneri sp.n. -1 lateral aspect of male.-2 lateral aspect of female.-3 inner view of male metatibia (note the subapical projection near the inner border of the anterior surface).
Description: c?: Total body length 17.8 mm; forewing length 16.30 mm, width 5.30 mm.Head.Head wider than long, length 5.50 mm, width 6.30 mm.Glossa extending to second metasomal sternum.Labrum with two longitudinal, sublateral carinae that converge apically, with an elevated medial carina.Clypeus and facial area strongly and coarsely punctured, integument between punctures shining and polished, not granulöse or imbricate; with weak sublateral and medial ridges on slightly elevated.Compound eye length 2.07 mm, width 1.49 mm; upper interorbital distance 2.60 mm, lower interorbital distance 3.20 mm, interorbital distance at tangent of upper third ol compound eye length 3.57 mm; ocellocular distance 0.60 mm; posterior distance between lateral ocelli 0.64 mm, distance between medial and lateral ocelli 0.29 mm, width of medial ocellus 0.39 mm, distance between medial ocellus and posterior tangent of ocellar triangle 0.44 mm; interocellar furrow present (sensu ENGEL, 1999).Scape length 1.96 mm, width 0.35 mm; length of flagellum 4.60 mm, width 0.40 mm; distance between antennal torulus and compound eye 0.69 mm; distance between antennal toruli 1.08 mm.
Mesosoma.Mesoscutal width 5.54 mm, length 4.60 mm; mesoscutum with dense, coarse punctures, space between punctures very small.Tegula with dense, shallow punctures, impunctate and shining on posterior and lateral margins.Mesoscutellar width 4.50 mm, length 2.30 mm; mesoscutellum with dense punctured, distance between punctures always smaller as the diameter of the punctures; upper surface of mesoscutellum rounded in lateral view, with two sublateral elevations defined by mediolongitudinal sulcus; posterior-lateral angle of mesoscutellum rounded.Metanotal integument smooth.Jugal comb present at base of hind wing, setae of jugal comb longer than width of jugal lobe.Metatibia with depression on distal part of anterior surface near apical angle, depression proximally delimited by subapical projection (Fig. 3); metabasitarsus with strong elevation on inner surface near base.
Coloration.Mandible black with some metallic green, blue, and purple iridescence on basal third.Facial area and clypeus metallic green or bluish green, remainder of head dark metallic blue.Part of labrum, vertex, gena, mesoscutellum, metanotum, propodeum, and mesosomal pleura dark metallic blue with purple iridescence.Pronotum dark metallic blue.Majority of mesoscutum metallic blue and greenish blue except posterior fourth dark blue with purple iridescence.Antenna and tarsi black.Wing membranes darkly infuscate (Fig. 1), with some faint opalescence; veins black.Metasoma dark metallic blue with faint purple iridescence.
Pubescence.Clypeus and facial area with off white or grey pubescence.Vertex, gena, pronotum, mesepisternum, mesoscutellum, and metasomal terga with dark fuscous nearly black setae.Mesoscutum with brown setae predominant on anterior half of surface, anteriormost margin and remainder of surface with black setae.Legs with fuscous nearly black setae except outer surface of mesotibia with dense white setae.Metasomal S3-5 with abundant white or off white setae, apices of such setae curled.9: As described for the male except as follows: Total body length 17.50 mm; forewing length 14.67 mm, width 4.96 mm.Head.Head wider than long, width 5.99 mm, length 5.03 mm.Glossa extending to first metasomal sternum.Mandible with distal half of inferior margin rounded (but not strongly rounded as in E. caerulescens)-, inferior tooth (apical) largest, projecting beyond medial tooth, forming an orthogonal (i.e., 90°) notch between teeth.Labrum with medial line elevated, larger than sublateral carinae.Clypeus rounded, with strong, coarse punctures, integument between punctures smooth and shining, not granulöse or imbricate as in E. concava (FRIESE) or E. mexicana (MOCSÄRY).Supraclypeal area and frontal line slightly elevated between interantennal area and basal margin of clypeus.Compound eye length 4.23 mm, width 1.71 mm; upper interorbital distance 2.86 mm, lower interorbital distance 3.20 mm, interorbital distance at tangent of upper third of compound eye length 3.63 mm; ocellocular distance 0.74 mm, ocellocular space slightly depressed; posterior distance between lateral ocelli 0.73 mm, distance between medial and lateral ocelli 0.31 mm, width of medial ocellus 0.31 mm, distance between medial ocellus and posterior tangent of ocellar triangle 0.49 mm; vertex posterior to interocellar furrow elevated.Scape length 1.94 mm, width 0.29 mm; length of flagellum 3.88 mm, width 0.34 mm; distance between antennal torulus and compound eye 0.80 mm; distance between antennal toruli 1.11 mm.Coloration.Integument of head, mesosoma, legs, and metasoma dark metallic blue and purple, with strong purple iridescence (Fig. 2).Green of facial area weaker than in male.Mandible black, with dark blue restricted to basal third.Mesoscutum with dense black pubescence, partially obscuring integument.Lateral surface of mesosoma with black pubescence.

Etymology:
The specific epithet is a patronymic honoring our friend and colleague Charles D. MICHENER, in recognition of his contributions to melittology and in celebration of his 90 ,h year (as of 22 September 2008).

Distribution and phenology:
1 he overall morphology of the new species is similar to that of E. caerulescens (sensu KIMSEY, 1982) which is also occurs in the same geographical region but is k nown only from the lowlands, near to the coast of the Pacific Ocean and in areas with dry tropical forest, as well as in the Central Depression of Mexico (Balsas River Depression).In contrast, E. micheneri sp.n. is restricted to the mountains of Jalisco and in pine and oak forests at an elevation over 700 m, in western parts of the Transverse Volcanic Belt (Fig. 10).Naturally, the distribution of E. micheneri sp.n. is perhaps a bit broader than what is presently known.Future collecting should focus in Michoacän State, were the species likely occurs, along of the southern slopes of the Transverse Volcanic Belt.The available collecting times for the species suggest that it is most active from late June through early August, during the early part of the rainy season.Eufriesea micheneri sp.n. is apparently an efficient buzz pollinator of Senna sp.(Caesalpiniaceae = Leguminosae), abundant at the type locality.

Comments:
The species E. simillima (MOURE & MICHENER) (in MOURE, 1965) from the western slopes of the Cordillera of Chihuahua was considered a synonym of E. caerulescens by KIMSEY (1982).She believed that the former form merely represented a color variant of the latter.Indeed, the morphology of the distal anterior angle of the male metatibia is the same in both taxa, further suggesting that E. simillima is simply a form of color variation in a more widespread species.An extreme variation in color occurs in specimens collected on Isias Marias of Nayarit State, located 112 km from the coast.In this population all individuals exhibit a strikingly dark blue integument that appears almost black (only female specimens are presently known).We generally agree with this interpretation of E. simillima and E. caerulescens, noting that a similar pattern occurs in E. micheneri sp.n., with variation in coloration even along the limited distribution presently known for this species.Specimens from the Sierra del Tuito, a mountainous area on the western extreme of the Transverse Volcanic Belt in Mexico, are all similarly dark blue in overall color.In some males found in localities more toward the center of Mexico, however, they lack the metallic green integument and highlights of the face, while the metatibial (Fig. 3) and terminalic morphology remains identical across the populations.Cabeza y törax, diferente en coloraciön que el metasoma, este usualmente con el Tl oscuro y T2-5 con pubescencia amarilla y brillo dorado (puede presentar iridiscencia de azul o purpura) 10 9(8) Area facial, törax y metasoma con integumento de similar color, entre verde y azul verdoso; pubescencia blanquecina sobre area genal y los lados del törax E. caerulescens (LEPELETIER DE SAINT FA RGEAU) Area facial con integumento verde o verde azuloso, en contraste con el resto del cuerpo con integumento azul oscuros e iridiscencia purpura; pubescencia negra sobre area genal y los lados del törax E. micheneri sp.n.

Fig. 10 :
Fig. 10: Map of Mexico and Jalisco State, with the current collection localities for Eufriesea micheneri sp.n. indicated by black circles.
Key to Mexican Species of Eufriesea Facial area green and greenish blue like remainder of head and body; pubescence white to off white on gena and mesosomal pleura [Mexico to Honduras] E. caerulescens (LEPELETIER DE SAINT F ARGEAU)Facial area with integument green, bluish green, or greenish blue, contrasting with remain der of dark blue and purple integument on remainder of head and body; pubescence dark fuscous to black on gena and mesosomal pleura [west-central Mexico] E. micheneri sp.n.