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| Homalictus terminalis
Dorey, Schwarz & Stevens, 2019
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Abstract
The genus Homalictus Cockerell has not been taxonomically reviewed in the Fijian archipelago for 40 years. Here we redescribe the four known species and describe nine new ones, bringing the number of endemic Homalictus in Fiji to 13 species. We provide identifications keys to all species. Most of the species diversity (11 species) have their distributions over 800 m asl (meters above sea level; highlands), and with only two species under 800 m asl (lowlands). We highlight the vulnerability of the highland-restricted species to a warming climate, and document the potential extinction of one highland species. The new species described here are H. atritergus sp. nov., H. concavus sp. nov., H. groomi sp. nov., H. kaicolo sp. nov., H. nadarivatu sp. nov., H. ostridorsum sp. nov., H. taveuni sp. nov. H. terminalis sp. nov. and H. tuiwawae sp. nov..
Keywords: Hymenoptera, DNA barcodes, Lasioglossum, Pacific Islands, taxonomy, Viti Levu
Taxonomy:
Family Halictidae Thomson, 1869
Subfamily Halictinae Thomson, 1869
Tribe Halictini Thomson, 1869
Genus Homalictus Cockerell, 1919
Homalictus achrostus Michener, 1979
Homalictus fijiensis (Perkins & Cheesman, 1928)
Homalictus versifrons (Perkins & Cheesman, 1928)
Homalictus atritergus sp. nov.
Etymology. T1 of both males and females of H. atritergus are black. The name H. atritergus is derived from the
Latin adjective atri meaning ‘dark’ (genitive case of ‘ater’) and the noun tergus meaning ‘back’ or ‘rear’.
Homalictus concavus sp. nov.
Etymology. The name concavus is Latin for ‘concave’ and refers to the concave posterior scutal margin in both
the males and females of this species.
Homalictus groomi sp. nov.
Etymology. Homalictus groomi is named after Dr. Scott V. C. Groom who initiated recent studies of Fijian bees and provided the first understandings of their origins and phylogenetics.
Homalictus kaicolo sp. nov.
Etymology. The name H. kaicolo is a noun in apposition derived from the Fijian term “kai colo” (pronounced
ky-thow-low) which means “from the hills”. H. kaicolo is named so because of its wider-distribution in the highland
regions of Viti Levu, between 800 m asl and 1,100 m asl.
Homalictus nadarivatu sp. nov.
Etymology. The name H. nadarivatu refers to the region that this species was discovered in, Nadarivatu (pronounced Nan-dari-vah-two) on the Fijian island of Viti Levu.
Homalictus ostridorsum sp. nov.
Etymology. Both the males and females of this species have a purple scutum. The name is derived from the
Latin ostrum meaning ‘purple’ and dorsus meaning ‘back’.
Homalictus taveuni sp. nov.
Etymology. The name H. taveuni refers to the island of Taveuni that this species appears to be restricted.
Homalictus terminalis sp. nov.
Etymology. Homalictus terminalis has only been found within 95 m of the maximum elevation available to it.
The Latin noun terminalis means limit or boundary indicating the upper elevational and thermal limit that H. terminalis inhabits and could ultimately result in its extinction with global climate warming.
Homalictus tuiwawae sp. nov.
Etymology. Homalictus tuiwawae is named in recognition of Marika Tuiwawa, the herbarium curator at the
Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment at the University of the South Pacific. Marika Tuiwawa has been
a key facilitator for past and ongoing bee research in Fiji, contributing greatly to our ecological and behavioural
studies, and the discovery of new species in Fiji.
James B. Dorey, Michael P. Schwarz and Mark I. Stevens. 2019. Review of the Bee Genus Homalictus Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) from Fiji with Description of Nine New Species. Zootaxa. 4674(1); 1–46. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4674.1.1
Colorful New Bee Species Discovered in Fiji, but Extinction From Climate Change Feared - scitechdaily.com/colorful-new-bee-species-discovered-in-fiji-but-extinction-from-climate-change-feared/
