Hoplitis (Anthocopa) sternocarinata Müller 2022, spec. nov.

Hoplitis (Anthocopa) sternocarinata spec. nov.

Holotype. MOROCCO: Souss-Massa: S Tizi-n-Test, 1900 m, 30.6.1987, ♂ (leg. M. Schwarz). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich.

Paratypes. MOROCCO: Souss-Massa: 60 km NE Agadir, 18.4.1979, 1♀ (leg. K. Warncke); S Tizi-n-Test, 1900 m, 30.6.1987, 2♀ (leg. M. Schwarz); Taroudant, 18.4.1990, 5♀, 1♂, 22.4.1990, 1♀, 1♂ (leg. M. Halada); Oulad Teima, 19.4.1995, 1♀ (leg. M. Halada); 30 km E Taroudant, 27.4.1995, 3♀ (leg. M. Halada); Agadir, Boulevard du 20 Août, 30.399270N / 9.590625W, 15.4.2014, 1♀ (leg. R. Prosi). Deposited in the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich, the Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum Linz and the private collection of M. Schwarz (Ansfelden).

Diagnosis. With a body length of 5.5–6.5 mm, H. sternocarinata is the smallest representative of the subgenus Anthocopa in the western Palaearctic. An unusual character of both sexes is the very short labial palpus, which is distinctly shorter than the length of the compound eye (Fig. 20, 21). The female is further characterized by the shape of the clypeus, which is longitudinally bulged and medioapically prolonged into a short, narrow and more or less polished projection (Fig. 22). Diagnostic characters of the male are the sharp longitudinal keel on sternum 6 (Fig. 24), the rectangular tergum 7 with a small median incision (Fig. 23, 24) and the apically slightly bent and narrowed gonoforceps, which does not reach the apex of the penis valve (Fig. 25).

Description. FEMALE (Fig. 20): Body length 5.5–6.5 mm. Head: Head 0.85–0.9x as long as wide. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital margin 1.8–1.9x as long as ocellar diameter. Maximum width of genal area about 0.8x as long as maximum width of compound eye. Mandible three-toothed and of black colour except for narrow reddish-brown preapical zone. Clypeus longitudinally bulged and medioapically prolonged into short, narrow and more or less polished projection, whose apical margin is truncate to very slightly rounded (Fig. 22); clypeus densely punctured with only linear interspaces except for its apical half or third, where punctation becomes more scattered and irregular; here, the punctures are often longish rather than roundish. Face covered with rather long suberect whitish pilosity. Ventral side of mandible and gena beset with moderately long whitish to yellowish bristles forming weakly developed basket on underside of head. Proboscis very short; second segment of labial palpus about 0.5x as long as compound eye and 1.8–2x as long as first segment. Antennal segments 1–5(6) black, (6)7–11 light to yellowish-brown on anterior side and segment 12 predominantly dark; antennal segment 3 about 1.5x as long as wide and 2x as long as segment 4, segments 4–11 shorter than wide and segment 12 about 1.5x as long as wide. Mesosoma: Parapsidal line linear. Punctation of scutum, scutellum and mesepisternum very dense with interspaces rarely exceeding diameter of half a puncture. Basal area of propodeum shagreened except for lower lateral zones, which are more or less polished. Pilosity of mesosoma laterally whitish and dorsally yellowish. Tegula yellowish except for black inner margin, its punctation usually limited to anterior half. Stigma and veins of fore wing predominantly dark to light brown. Tibial spur of fore leg apically prolonged into moderately long tip, which is 1.5–2x as long as basally wide. Tibial spurs of hind leg yellowish, long and straight. Metasoma: Punctation of tergal discs basally and laterally rather dense with interspaces rarely exceeding diameter of one and a half punctures and medially usually more scattered with interspaces reaching diameter of two to three punctures. Marginal zones of terga 1–5 dark reddish-brown, finer and more densely punctured than discs and covered with uninterrupted white hair bands. Terga 2–3 basally constricted. Tergum 6 covered with sparse and appressed white pilosity. Scopa white and not plumose.

MALE (Fig. 21): Body length 6–6.5 mm. Head: Head about 0.75x as long as wide. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital margin 1.6–1.8x as long as ocellar diameter. Maximum width of genal area 0.7–0.8x as long as maximum width of compound eye. Mandible three-toothed and of black colour except for narrow reddish-brown preapical zone. Apical margin of clypeus medially serrate. Face covered with dense white pilosity, which surpasses clypeal margin. Gena with appressed and rather sparse white pilosity, its ventral side with erect and dense white pilosity, which is about as long as tarsal segment 2 of fore leg. Proboscis very short; second segment of labial palpus about 0.5x as long as compound eye and about 2x as long as first segment. Antennal segments 1–3 black, 4–12 yellow and segment 13 basally yellow and apically dark; antennal segments 3–4 as long as wide and of about same length, segments 5-11 slightly shorter to slightly longer than wide, segment 12 about 1.25x and segment 13 about 1.75x as long as wide. Mesosoma: Parapsidal line linear. Punctation of scutum, scutellum and mesepisternum very dense with interspaces rarely exceeding diameter of half a puncture. Basal area of propodeum shagreened except for lower lateral zones, which are more or less polished. Pilosity of mesosoma whitish. Tegula yellowish except for black inner margin, its punctation usually limited to anterior half. Stigma and veins of fore wing predominantly dark to light brown. Tibial spur of fore leg apically prolonged into moderately long tip, which is 1–2x as long as basally wide. Tibial spurs of hind leg yellowish, long and straight. Metasoma: Punctation of tergal discs basally and laterally rather dense with interspaces rarely exceeding diameter of one and a half punctures and medially usually more scattered with interspaces reaching diameter of two to three punctures. Marginal zones of terga 1–5 dark reddish-brown, finer and more densely punctured than discs and covered with uninterrupted white hair bands. Terga 2–3 basally constricted. Tergum 6 covered with appressed and sparse white pilosity, its apical margin translucent, impunctate, medially evenly rounded and laterally with distinct tooth (Fig. 23). Tergum 7 rectangular with small median incision, which is about as wide as deep (Fig. 23, 24). Apical margin of sternum 1 straight to slightly rounded. Sternum 2 preapically bulged, its apical margin triangularly projecting and ending in two very short lobes (Fig. 24). Sternum 3 medially with thick tuft of felt-like whitish pilosity, its apical margin very shallowly emarginate and ciliated with short whitish hairs. Apical margin of sternum 4 widely emarginate and densely beset with very long, whitish and inwardly directed hairs (Fig. 24). Sternum 5 with deep triangular median incision (Fig, 24). Sternum 6 at base with pair of translucent flaps and medioapically with roundish and impunctate translucent zone, which is crossed by sharp and distinctly elevated longitudinal keel (Fig. 24). Gonoforceps apically narrowed and slightly bent downwards, its apex weakly widened and bevelled (Fig. 25). Penis valve distinctly projecting over apex of gonoforceps, its apical fourth with straight outer margin (Fig. 25).

Distribution. Western Souss-Massa region in southern Morocco.

Pollen hosts. Polylectic (Tab. 1): pollen hosts include Resedaceae, Brassicaceae and Asteroideae (Asteraceae). The short proboscis limits nectar and probably also pollen uptake to plants with open or short-tubed flowers.

Nesting biology. Unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the diagnostic character of the male, i.e. the sharp longitudinal keel on sternum 6 (carinatus = lat. keeled).