Research Article |
|
Corresponding author: Holger H. Dathe ( holger.dathe@senckenberg.de ) Academic editor: Stephan M. Blank
© 2026 Holger H. Dathe, Shuichi Ikudome, Volker Haeseler, Jagdish Saini.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Dathe HH, Ikudome S, Haeseler V, Saini J (2026) Species survey of the Hylaeus subgenus Paraprosopis Popov, 1939 in the Eastern Hemisphere (Hymenoptera, Anthophila, Colletidae). Contributions to Entomology 76(1): 1-34. https://doi.org/10.3897/contrib.entomol.76.e155589
|
This study provides an overview of the species of Hylaeus (Paraprosopis), in the Palaearctic region and adjacent areas. A total of 37 species are identified, each of which is presented with a morphological diagnosis and comparative description, and illustrations of the faces of both sexes and the main features of the male terminalia. In addition, information on the distribution is given. Identification keys for specific geographic areas are provided for the species. A more detailed study in the Canary Islands revealed three new species, Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) gomerensis Haeseler, sp. nov., H. (Paraprosopis) hierro Haeseler, sp. nov., and H. (Paraprosopis) palmensis Haeseler, sp. nov. Two known species are excluded from the subgenus Paraprosopis: Hylaeus omanicus Dathe, 1995 – now placed in subgenus Prosopis, comb. nov.; Hylaeus krombeini Snelling, 1980 from Sri Lanka is provisionally placed as subgenus incertus.
Distribution, identification key, male terminalia, new species, taxonomy, zoogeography
Paraprosopis
Popov, 1939 is one of the larger groups within Hylaeus Fabricius, 1793 in terms of the number of species, and it is widespread. Most species have been found in the temperate zones of Eurasia and the New World, but some occur in North Africa and India. Their distribution in the Southwest roughly corresponds to the biogeographical boundaries of a Saharo-Arabian biorealm (
The Asininus Division corresponds to the later subgenus Paraprosopis, to which today belong the three species originally included, Hylaeus asininus (Cockerell & Casad, 1895), H. megalotis (Swenk & Cockerell, 1910) and H. cookii (Metz, 1911). As their main diagnostic character,
Méhelÿ’s grandiose work (1935: 50, 157) provided the solution to our problem. He classified eight taxa in his subgenus “X. Campanularia”, which is characterized by the „Anhang des 7. Sternits [of males] eine in der Mitte umgebogene, farblose, glockenförmige Membran“. The species in question – pictipes, minuta (=sinuatus), soror, xanthopoda, diplonyma (=taeniolatus), ater, lineolatus und clypearis – may be considered the key taxa of the subgenus, and their presentation in the above work remains unsurpassed. Unfortunately, Méhelÿ’s nomenclatural approach often did not comply with all the formal requirements of the ICZN. No type species was designated for Campanularia, and the name is preoccupied by Campanularia Lamarck, 1816, a marine hydrozoan; these errors were corrected by
In a way, the subgenus Paraprosopis is defined in negative terms: The lobes of sternum 7 have no comb teeth or other conspicuous structures, and sternum 8 also appears relatively simple and rather reduced. This can tempt one to include species that cannot be assigned elsewhere, and the suspicion that Paraprosopis is a “Sammelkategorie” (collective category), and might be paraphyletic, is obvious. Later authors (e.g.
The morphological terminology follows
The specimens were studied with a stereomicroscope Olympus SZX12, the photos taken with a Leica camera and Leica Application Suite vs. 4.12. The stacks of digital images were processed using Helicon Focus 8.2.
The collections mentioned in the text are abbreviated as follows:
ELKU Entomological Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
MICN Museo Insular de Ciencias Naturales, Tenerife, Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain
SDEI Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Müncheberg, Germany
UMO University Museum of Natural History, Hope Entomological Collections, Oxford, United Kingdom
ZMUH Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus, Helsinki, Finland
ZSS Zoologische Staatssammlung, Munich, Germany
Prosopis (Campanularia) Méhelÿ, 1935, nec Lamarck, 1816. Name preoccupied; invalid because no type species was designated. According to the ICZN, 3rd ed., Art. 13(b), the designation of a type species was prescribed after 1930 for subgenera containing more than one species.
Prosopis (Paraprosopis) Popov, 1939: 169. Type species: Hylaeus pictipes Nylander, 1852, by original designation.
Most species of the subgenus are small and slender, with a total body length between 4 and 6 mm. With a few exceptions, they are completely black in colour with genus-typical light markings on the pronotum, tegulae and calli. The legs are usually completely or predominantly light yellow. The only species that stands out with a rich yellow pattern on the mesosoma and metasoma is Hylaeus emir; H. decaocto also has yellow spots on the mesosoma.
The male antennal scapes are usually as slender as in the female, but in some species they appear moderately expanded, as in Hylaeus sinuatus, H. xanthopoda, H. soror, H. donbakeri, H. concinnus, H. gujaraticus, H. azorae. In the females, the foveae faciales extend to the top of the vertex, but further ‘definite’ characters are missing. Furthermore, a similar development of the foveae can also be found in other groups of Hylaeus outside Paraprosopis, and not in all females of the subgenus do the foveae end closer to the ocelli than to the orbits or at least halfway between them; this applies to Hylaeus styriacus, H. emir, H. clypearis, H. livius, H. lactipennis, H. taizzi and H. samhanicus.
The characteristic feature in the structure of the male terminalia is shown in Figs
The genital capsules differ in shape, in particular the variable ratio of the length of the basal part (gonocoxite) and the apical free part of the gonoforcipes (gonostylus). The shape of the tip of the gonoforcipes can also differ between species. The penis valves are always parallel when viewed dorsally, usually with a keel in the middle. In some species, horizontal surfaces are formed instead of the keel (Hylaeus donbakeri, H. samhanicus, H. decaocto, H. taizzi). The apical setae are strong, long and feathery.
Species groups within the subgenus Paraprosopis can only be defined to a limited extent. For example, Hylaeus lineolatus, H. livius and H. clypearis belong closer to each other, as do H. sinuatus and H. soror, but this brings little insight.
The following species are included here according to their geographical distribution:
aenigmatis Dathe, 2022 Israel
ater (Saunders, 1903) Canary Islands
azorae (Warncke, 1992) Azores
canariensis Erlandsson, 1983 Canary Islands
clypearis (Schenck, 1853) Palaearctic
concinnus Cockerell, 1924 Far East
decaocto (Warncke, 1992) Iran: Yazd
dinkleri (Friese, 1898) Egypt, Israel
donbakeri Dathe, 1995 UAE, Iran: Fars
emir Dathe, 2000 Oman, UAE
gomerensis Haeseler, sp. nov. Canary Islands
gribodoi (Vachal, 1895) Algeria
gujaraticus (Nurse, 1903) Levant to India
guptai Chandra & Saini, 2021 India: Arunchal
hierro Haeseler, sp. nov. Canary Islands
hirashimai Ikudome, 1989 Japan
hohmanni Dathe, 1993 Canary Islands
incomitatus Snelling, 1970 Japan
lactipennis (Benoist, 1957) Morocco, Tunisia
lineolatus (Schenck, 1861) Palaearctic
livius (Warncke, 1992) Morocco
lushanicus Dathe, 2015 China: Sichuan
maderensis (Cockerell, 1921) Madeira
mendibus (Warncke, 1972) Libya
meridianus Yasumatsu & Hirashima, 1965 Japan
munageus Ikudome, 2004 Japan
nigrocallosus Morawitz, 1890 China: Sichuan
palmensis Haeseler, sp. nov. Canary Islands
pictipes Nylander, 1852 Palaearctic
samhanicus Dathe, 2022 Oman
sinuatus (Schenck, 1853) Palaearctic
soror (Pérez, 1903) Palaearctic
styriacus Förster, 1871 Palaearctic
taeniolatus Förster, 1871 Palaearctic
taizzi Dathe, 2010 Yemen
xanthopoda (Vachal, 1895) Levant
yasumatsui Snelling, 1970 Japan
The following species are not placed in Paraprosopis, unlike in earlier studies:
Hylaeus albonotatus (Walker, 1871) – sgen. Prosopis
Hylaeus omanicus Dathe, 1995 – sgen. Prosopis – comb. nov.
Hylaeus krombeini Snelling, 1970 – sgen. incertus (see Addendum)
Sphex annulata Panzer, 1798: 53.1. ♂. Type material lost. Austria. Secondary homonym of Apis annulata Linnaeus, 1758.
Hylaeus pictipes Nylander, 1852: 95–97. ♀. Sweden, Västergötland. Lectotype ♀ NHRS Stockholm.
Prosopis varipes
Smith, 1853: 21. ♂ (nec ♀). Britain. Lectotype ♂
Prosopis excisa
Schenck, 1853: 216–217. ♂♀. Germany, Nassau. Holotype ♂
Hylaeus vicinus Förster, 1871: 1055–1056. 1 ♀. Germany, Aachen. Holotype ZSS Munich. Secundary homonym of Prosopis vicina Sichel, 1867.
Hylaeus melanarius Förster, 1871: 1066–1067. ♀. Germany, Aachen. Holotype ZSS Munich.
Hylaeus claripennis Förster, 1871: 1069–1070. ♀. Germany, Aachen. Holotype ZSS Munich.
Hylaeus panzeri Förster, 1871: 1082. Austria. New name for Sphex annulata Panzer, 1798.
Prosopis trimaculata
Schenck, 1875: 326. ♂. Germany, Nassau. Holotype
Prosopis aquisgranensis Dalla Torre, 1896: 25. New name for Hylaeus vicinus Förster, 1871.
Prosopis pictipes var. nigriscutum
Small, dainty species with fine sculpture of the mesosoma and slender metasoma. Males can be clearly identified by the tapering gonoforcipes; terminalia Fig.
Europe: in the North to 60°N in Sweden (Småland) and Finland (Åland Islands), east to the Urals (Perm). In the west, it is recorded from the Iberian Peninsula and in southern England and Wales. Asia: Turkey, Black Sea coast (Sinop, Erzurum;
The species has now also become established in the New World, as reported by
Hylaeus taeniolatus
Förster, 1871: 1068–1069, ♀. Italy, Sicily. Holotype
Prosopis arata
Vachal, 1895: 324, ♂. Algeria. Holotype
Prosopis luteipes
Benoist, 1943: 42, ♂. Morocco, Agadir. Lectotype
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) diplonymus
sensu
A small species with mostly fine sculpture of the mesosoma and slender metasoma, very similar in these respects to Hylaeus pictipes. However, males are clearly distinguished by the apically rounded gonoforcipes; terminalia Fig.
West Palaearctic. Africa: Canary Islands, Morocco to Egypt. Europe: Portugal to Turkey, southern Central Europe to southern Ukraine, Mediterranean islands. Asia: Anatolia, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Jordan.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) aenigmatis Dathe, 2022: 207–208. ♂. Israel, Nahal Alexander. Holotype SDEI Müncheberg.
The only verified specimen known to date (Fig.
Israel.
Prosopis xanthopoda
Vachal, 1895: 325, ♀. Egypt, Cairo. Holotype
Prosopis schmiedeknechti
Friese, 1898: 310–311, ♀♂. Egypt. Lectotype ♀
Of the similar species with almost entirely yellow legs, Hylaeus xanthopoda is distinguished in both sexes by the dominant shagreen of T1; a scattered, shallow punctation is only vaguely recognisable. The mesonotum is shagreen and only with scattered, fine punctation. In the females, the mask is tripartite, the clypeus yellow-spotted, the lateral spots expanded far upwards and the foveae faciales appear as dark strokes in the yellow field (Fig.
Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iran: Kerman. According to
Prosopis dinkleri
Friese, 1898: 311–312, ♀ (not ♂). Egypt, Suez. Lectotype ♀
Prosopis albonotata auctorum nec Walker, 1871.
Prosopis falsifica
Alfken, 1930: 221–223, ♀ (not ♂). Egypt, Ghezireh. Lectotype ♀
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) dinkleri
(Friese, 1898) –
A richly yellow-coloured, dainty species, like Hylaeus xanthopoda, with entirely yellow tibiae and tarsi. However, in the males, the labrum and mandibles are black, the scapes only have a yellow longitudinal stripe; last tergites are completely black. Reliable characters are exhibited mainly on the female: bright yellow, dull spots on the facial sides and the clypeus, often also on the supraclypeal area; the lateral spots are significantly shorter on top (Fig.
Israel, Jordan, Egypt.
Finds of this species were often reported as Hylaeus albonotatus in the past, for example by
Prosopis gujaratica
Nurse, 1903: 535, ♀. India, Deesa. Lectotype
Prosopis elata
Warncke, 1981: 169–170, ♀♂. Israel, Eilat Bay. Holotype ♂
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) elatus
(Warncke, 1981) –
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) gujaraticus
(Nurse, 1903) –
The species resembles Hylaeus xanthopoda in its colouration. The most obvious difference in the male is the shape of the S8 apical lobe, which has a prominent bulge; the proximal parts of the S7 lobes are approximately circular, with a sclerotised margin; genital capsule with short gonostyli (Fig.
Levant (Egypt: Sinai; South Israel), Arabia (UAE, Oman), Iran: Kerman, Fars, Pakistan, Northeast India: Punjab, Gujarat.
Prosopis gribodoi
Vachal, 1895: 323, ♂. Algeria, Biskra. Holotype
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) gribodoi
(Vachal, 1895) –
gribodoiNot Prosopis sinuata gribodoi sensu
Hylaeus gribodoi
, a very slender species, is particularly noticeable in the female due to a completely rust-coloured mask and yellow scapes (Fig.
Algeria (Biskra), so far only known from the locus typicus.
Prosopis lactipennis
Benoist, 1957: 169–170, ♀. Algeria, Beni-Abbés. Holotype
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) lactipennis
(Benoist, 1957) –
The wings are very pale, the veins including stigma light yellow and transparent, stigma of the male slightly darker. Males with distinct white hair on the mesosoma, which is less developed in females. Male mask white, shiny, as is the front of the scape (Fig.
Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria.
Prosopis (Paraprosopis) xanthopoda mendiba
Warncke, 1972: 750, ♀♂. Libya NW, Mendib. Holotype ♀
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) mendibus (Warncke, 1972), stat. nov.
This taxon is significantly larger and more robust than Hylaeus xanthopoda, as a subspecies of which it was described. This affiliation appears unfounded in view of the clear morphological differences. Mesonotum and mesopleura are distinctly punctate. The propodeum is rounded, the ribs are greatly reduced, the medial area has no distal edge. The metasoma is more compact, oval in outline instead of fusiform, its surface with cilia; terminal tergites black. The male has a white mask (Fig.
Libya.
Apis minuta Fabricius, 1793: 342, ♀. Germany, Kiel. Secondary homonym in Hylaeus of Vespa minuta Rossi, 1790: 89. – Not Hylaeus minutus Fabricius, 1798: 272; not Prosopis minuta Fabricius, 1804: 295.
Prosopis sinuata
Schenck, 1853: 216, ♂ (not ♀). Germany, Weilburg. Holotype ♂
Hylaeus sinuatus (Schenck, 1853) ♂♀ – Förster, 1871: 929–931.
Prosopis minuta
auctorum, not
Prosopis minuta var. nana Alfken, 1927: 225, ♀♂. Spain, Pyrenees. Not Prosopis nana Friese, 1924.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) sinuatus
(Schenck, 1853) –
Larger, more robust species with strong dense punctation of mesosoma. The male is easily recognisable by the facial mask pattern: the white side spots extend to the apex margin and enclose the bases of the scape three-quarters towards the inside (Fig.
West Palaearctic. Europe: Spain to Caucasus, north to southern Sweden, Russia to the Urals (Perm, Bashkiria), southern Russia (Dagestan). Asia: Cyprus; Anatolia, northern Iran.
Data for southern Europe often refer to Hylaeus soror, so careful verification is required.
Prosopis soror
Pérez, 1903: 233, ♂. France, Bordeaux. Syntypes
Prosopis dubitata
Alfken, 1904: 323–324, ♀♂. S Europe, N Africa, W Asia. Syntypes ♀ and ♂
Prosopis minuta soror Pérez, 1903 – Méhelÿ, 1935: 52, 158.
Prosopis (Paraprosopis) sinuata gribodoi sensu Warncke, 1972: 751. Not Prosopis gribodoi Vachal, 1895.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) soror
(Pérez, 1903) –
Hylaeus soror
closely resembles H. sinuatus, but according to the distribution pattern and the constancy of characters such as the different facial pattern, slimmer head shape and stronger metasomal punctation, it is a good species. In males, the lateral spots are not truncate at the top, but run diagonally to the orbits; those of females are larger, sometimes filling the space completely, the clypeus sometimes with a dot (Fig.
Circum-Mediterranean, Black Sea region. Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia. Europe: Portugal, Spain, S France, Italy, Balkans, north to Haute Savoie. Asia: Anatolia, Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan), Iran (NW, Fars); Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Syria.
Hylaeus soror is obviously very closely related to H. sinuatus and was therefore sometimes considered to be its southern form or subspecies. The morphological differences are indeed slight, but this is not an argument from a biological point of view. On the other hand, the sympatric occurrence of the forms in the Mediterranean and Anatolia speaks for their status as separate species. A more precise clarification of this is still pending.
Hylaeus styriacus
Förster, 1871: 1062–1064, ♂. Austria, Graz. Holotype
Prosopis tristis Frey-Gessner, 1900: 230–231, ♂. Switzerland. Not checked.
Prosopis styriaca var. nigroclypeata
Alfken, 1913: 19, ♀. Germany, Bremen. Not found in coll.
Prosopis styriaca crecca
Warncke, 1992: 776–777, ♀♂. Turkey, Taurus. Holotype ♀
This species is rather isolated morphologically and cannot be assigned to any species group here; even the subgenus is questionable, although the paired membranous apical lobes of the male S7 qualify it for inclusion in Paraprosopis. The males of this dainty species with a round face are characterised by rough sculpture with dense, prominent punctation on the mesosoma and T1, while the females can usually be recognised by a yellowish-white spot on the clypeus (Fig.
Central and Eastern Europe, from SE France to the Volga. Asia: Anatolia to the Caspian Sea (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan), Iran (Fars); south to Lebanon (
Prosopis clypearis
Schenck, 1853: 217, ♂. Germany, Nassau. Holotype
Prosopis angulata Smith, 1853: 22, ♂. Portugal. Types presumably NHML London. Not checked.
Hylaeus floricola
Förster, 1871: 982–983, ♂. Germany, Aachen. Holotype
Hylaeus siculus Förster, 1871: 984–985, ♂♀. Italy, Sicily. Types presumably NHML London. Not checked
Hylaeus blandus Förster, 1871: 985–987, ♀ (not ♂). Croatia, Dalmatia. Holotype ZSS Munich.
Hylaeus opacus Förster, 1871: 1018, ♀. Germany, Aachen. Holotype ZSS Munich.
Hylaeus moniliatus Förster, 1871: 1074–1075, ♀. Italy, Sicily. Holotype NHML London.
Prosopis subopaca Pérez, 1905: 86–87, ♀. Spain, Barcelona. Not checked.
Prosopis clypearis var. genimaculata Strand, 1909: 74, ♂. Italy, Sicily. Not checked.
Hylaeus lineolellus
Cockerell, 1938: 84–85, ♀. Morocco, Fez. Holotype
Hylaeus clypearis
is the smallest and probably most common of the Paraprosopis species with a transverse callus on S3 of the males. Characteristic is especially their butterfly-like mask with a connected white spot at the base of clypeus and supraclypeal area (Fig.
West Palaearctic. All of Europe, north to Denmark; North Africa: Morocco to Egypt; Asia: western Turkey, Levant, Azerbaijan. Mainly in the Mediterranean, including all islands.
Prosopis lineolata
Schenck, 1861: 312, 323, 1 ♂. Germany, Nassau. Holotype
Hylaeus inaequalis Förster, 1871: 1061–1062, ♂♀. Austria, Vienna. Syntypes ♂♀ ZSS Munich.
Prosopis lineolata var. nigrifacies
Alfken, 1913: 18, ♀. Germany, Bremen. Not found in
Prosopis creticola Strand, 1915: 146–147, ♂. Greece, Crete. Holotype SDEI Müncheberg.
Prosopis lineolata rudis Pittioni, 1950: 33–34, ♂♀. Cyprus, Kykkou. Holotype ♂ ZMUH Helsinki.
Prosopis lineolata ferina
Warncke, 1992: 781, ♀♂. Morocco, Tizi-n-Test. Holotype ♀
This species is unmistakable and unique in the subgenus in that the male’s face is completely black except for a small narrow white spot next to the base of the scape (Fig.
West Palaearctic. Western and southern Europe: north to Germany (Brandenburg); Ukraine, southern Russia; Western Asia: Anatolia to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, in Iran south to the province of Fars; Lebanon, Israel (
This widespread species tends to develop geographic forms that differ in colouration and spotting, which has often led to new descriptions, usually as subspecies.
Prosopis livia
Warncke, 1992: 779–780, ♀♂. Morocco, Tizi n’Test. Holotype ♀
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) livius
(Warncke, 1992) – Dathe in
The species corresponds to the pattern described for Hylaeus lineolatus and H. clypearis in the essential morphological characters: pointed pronotum corners, metasoma callosities, punctation, shape of the gonoforcipes. Terminalia of the males (Fig.
Morocco.
Prosopis (Paraprosopis) decaocta
Warncke, 1992: 780–781, ♀. Turkey, Hakkari. Holotype
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) socheri Dathe, 2010: 61–63, ♂♀. Iran, Yazd. Holotype ♂ SDEI Müncheberg.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) decaocto
(Warncke, 1992) –
The Hylaeus decaocto male is conspicuous in its extensive, intense, bright yellow colouration. The females also have a complete yellow mask (Fig.
Turkey: Hakkari; Iran: Yazd.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) guptai
Saini & Chandra, 2021: 172–177, ♂♀. India, Arunachal Pradesh, Tawang, Jang. Holotype ♂
The species differs from the previously known species of the subgenus Paraprosopis in India, Hylaeus gujaraticus (Nurse, 1903) by apex of gonostylus triangular, spiculum of sternum 8 elongate (Fig.
India: Arunachal Pradesh state.
Hylaeus concinnus
Cockerell, 1924: 282, ♂. Russia, Primorje, Kudja River. Holotype
Hylaeus monostictus
Cockerell, 1924: 278–279, ♀. Russia, Primorje, Preobrageniya Bay. Holotype
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) concinnus
Cockerell, 1924 –
A striking feature of Hylaeus concinnus is the smooth oval area above the scape insertion in both sexes. It can also be distinguished from H. nigricallosus by the shape of the head, frons and propodeum. The male has expanded black scapes, the light yellow mask is transversely truncate at the upper edge of the scape insertion (Fig.
Russia: Amurskaya Oblast, Primorskiy Territory; China: Jilin, Shandong, Shanghai.
Hylaeus nigrocallosus
Morawitz, 1890: 383–384, ♂. China, Sichuan. Holotype
Prosopis nigricallosa (Morawitz, 1890) – Dalla Torre 1896: 25.
Hylaeus nigricallosus
Morawitz, 1890 –
Hylaeus indistinctus
Morawitz, 1890: 382–383, ♀. China, Gansu. Lectotype
Prosopis indistincta (Morawitz, 1890): Dalla Torre 1896: 27.
Hylaeus indistinctus
Morawitz, 1890 –
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) nigrocallosus
Morawitz, 1890 –
A somewhat larger species of the subgenus (Fig.
China: Sichuan, Gansu.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) lushanicus
Dathe, 2015: 234–235. ♀. China, Sichuan, Lushan Mt. Holotype
Hylaeus lushanicus
resembles H. concinnus in the shape of the face and its yellow markings, but it has no smooth areas above the antennae bases (Fig.
China: Sichuan.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) emir
Dathe, 2000: 169–171, ♂. UAE, Liwa Oases. Holotype SDEI Müncheberg. – Description of ♀ in
The species is highly conspicuous, with an extremely richly yellow, wasp-like colouration, which is unique among the Paraprosopis species. It is reminiscent of Hylaeus luteobalteatus Dours, but is smaller and less robust, with finely sculptured integument. The face is almost twice as long as broad, the malae long (Fig.
UAE, Oman.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) donbakeri Dathe, 1995: 160–161, ♂♀. UAE, Towean. Holotype ♂ SDEI Müncheberg.
Among the Paraprosopis species in the region, the species stands out due to the coarse (females) and strong (males) punctation of the mesopleura. The trapezoidal face is short and broad (Fig.
UAE, Iran: Fars.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) samhanicus Dathe, 2022: 211–212, ♂. Oman, Dhofar. Holotype SDEI Müncheberg.
The face of the male converges strongly downwards, the bright yellow mask is slightly impressed at the orbits and rounded on the clypeus below; the anterior clypeus corners are broadly black, as are the labrum and mandibles (Fig.
Oman.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) taizzi Dathe, 2010: 63–65, 78, ♂♀. Yemen, Taizz. Holotype ♂ SDEI Müncheberg.
A very small species with a broad-oval head outline, the face strongly converging downwards, the compound eyes somewhat bulbous. Integument shagreen with dense fine punctation, only slightly shiny. Mask reduced at the bottom, clypeus sometimes completely black. Females with a yellow median spot on the clypeus, the lateral spots shortened at the bottom (Fig.
Yemen.
The following identification keys avoid, as far as possible, the use of male terminalia characters in order to simplify the identification process. In fact, however, verification of these characters is indispensable for reliable identification in many cases. These characters are presented in more detail in the diagnoses of the species.
| Males | ||
| 1 | Head strikingly elongate; entire body with rich yellow markings, metasoma with yellow transverse stripes (‘wasp marking’) | H. (P.) emir Dathe, 2000 |
| – | Head roundish or trapezoid, not elongate; pale markings restricted to mask, pronotum, calli, tegulae and legs, metasoma black | 2 |
| 2 | Metasoma compact, S3 with transverse callosity; some with characteristic mask (Figs |
3 |
| – | Metasoma slender and spindle-shaped, ventrally without markings; mask different | 6 |
| 3 | Clypeus wholly or partly black, in particular apical; anterolateral pronotum sides acute | 4 |
| – | Clypeus entirely white or yellow, occasionally darkly lined at front margin; anterolateral pronotum sides rounded | 5 |
| 4 | Clypeus entirely black; face with two lateral, high set yellow-white stripes at the orbits; S3 and S4 with transverse bulge; gonoforcipes apically widened and flattened, considerably longer than the penis valves | H. (P.) lineolatus (Schenck, 1861) |
| – | Clypeus with only lower half black, mask otherwise complete; metasoma underside flat; gonoforcipes conventional; penis valves relatively longer | H. (P.) clypearis (Schenck, 1853) |
| 5 | Scapes slender, black; mask white | H. (P.) livius (Warncke, 1992) |
| – | Scapes expanded, entirely yellow; mask yellow | H. (P.) donbakeri Dathe, 1995 |
| 6 | Tibia III with black ring or spot | 7 |
| – | Tibia III completely yellow, at most with a small brown spot on the inside | 16 |
| • Tibiae with black ring | ||
| 7 | Terminal area of the propodeum with a sharp edge, also lateral areas separated with a ridge | 8 |
| – | Terminal area of the propodeum not bordered, lateral areas finely sculpted and rounded, without a distal ridge | H. (P.) samhanicus Dathe, 2022 |
| 8 | T1 with moderate to strong punctation, often the surface matt; frons without distinct smooth areas | 10 |
| – | T1 punctation very fine and scattered, surface smooth and shiny; frons with two distinct polished areas at the SCA (Figs |
9 |
| 9 | Scape white with black margin; mask extending laterally beyond the bases of the scape; T1 shagreen with moderate sparse punctation | H. (P.) mendibus (Warncke, 1972) |
| – | Scape black; mask with white lateral spots that only reach the bases of the scape; T1 smooth and shiny, without punctation | H. (P.) concinnus Cockerell, 1924 |
| 10 | T1 with moderate to strong punctation (Fig. |
H. (P.) guptai Saini & Chandra, 2021 |
| – | T1 with weaker and denser punctation or, if punctation strong, S8 with broadened or significantly smaller apical lobe | 11 |
| 11 | T1 with dense to contiguous punctation; tibiae and metatarses III rich yellow, often also scapes brightly marked | 12 |
| – | T1 with sparse moderate punctation, surface smooth and shiny; hind legs entirely black except for a light spot on the knees and the tarses; scapes dark brown | H. (P.) nigrocallosus Morawitz, 1889 |
| 12 | Propodeum terminal area with sharp edges, lateral areas with transverse edge; T1 with strong punctation | 13 |
| – | Propodeum terminal area rounded, especially the lateral areas without a sharp edge; T1 with moderate but dense punctation | H. (P.) taizzi Dathe, 2010 |
| 13 | T1 with strong close to sparse punctation, intervals smooth and shiny, without shagreen | 14 |
| – | T1 with dense moderate punctation, intervals shagreen, matt | H. (P.) styriacus Förster, 1871 |
| 14 | Scape slender, only slightly wider than the antennal flagellum, usually completely black; mesopleura with moderate sparse punctation, with fine shagreen intervals | H. (P.) pictipes Nylander, 1852 |
| – | Scape expanded, almost twice as wide as antennal flagellum, white-striped; mesopleura distinctly rougher and more densely punctate, punctation strong and close to dense | 15 |
| 15 | Lateral spots above antennal sockets expanding inward (Fig. |
H. (P.) sinuatus (Schenck, 1853) |
| – | Lateral spots above antennal sockets straight, not expanding inward (Fig. |
H. (P.) soror (Pérez, 1903) |
| • Legs at least from femoral tip yellow | ||
| 16 | Scape completely yellow; T1 finely shagreen, with fine scattered punctation | 17 |
| – | Scape black with bright marginal stripes; T1 smooth and shiny, patterns of punctation different | 18 |
| 17 | Frons with indistinct wrinkled punctation; apical metasomal tergite(s) with yellow transverse spot | H. (P.) xanthopoda (Vachal, 1895) |
| – | Frons with distinct punctation; apical metasomal tergites black | H. (P.) gujaraticus (Nurse, 1903) |
| 18 | T1 with fine and sparse to scattered punctation | 19 |
| – | T1 with strong and dense punctation | 20 |
| 19 | Small, dainty, strikingly slender species with a narrow mesosoma; face rounded, with a white mask; T1 with minute scattered punctation | H. (P.) gribodoi (Vachal, 1895) |
| – | Species with normal habitus, mesosoma compact; face trapezoidal, with sulphur-yellow mask; T1 with fine regular punctation | H. (P.) dinkleri (Friese, 1898) |
| 20 | Terminal area of propodeum with sharp margins, lateral areas also separated by a ridge; T1 with moderate dense to close punctation; end margins of terga not pale and hairy | 21 |
| – | Terminal area of propodeum rounded, lateral areas without distal ridges; T1 with fine subcontiguous punctation; end margins of terga paler and with white hairs | H. (P.) decaocto (Warncke, 1992) |
| 21 | Head and mesosoma with long upright white hairs; wing veins yellow | H. (P.) lactipennis (Benoist, 1957) |
| – | Head and mesosoma with short, sparse hair; wing veins dark brown | 22 |
| 22 | S7 apical lobe with shallow incision; mask sulphur yellow; legs yellow | H. (P.) taeniolatus Förster, 1871 |
| – | S7 apical lobe with deep incision; mask white; tibia III inside with small brown spot | H. (P.) aenigmatis Dathe, 2022 |
| Females | ||
| 1 | Scutellum, postscutellum and axillae black with yellow markings | 2 |
| – | Scutellum, postscutellum and axillae black | 3 |
| 2 | Propodeum and metasoma black with yellow markings | H. (P.) emir Dathe, 2000 |
| – | Propodeum and metasoma black | H. (P.) decaocto (Warncke, 1992) |
| 3 | Scapes yellow spotted or all yellow, T1 shagreen, without punctation | 4 |
| – | Scapes black, T1 different | 5 |
| 4 | Mask completely yellow | H. (P.) gribodoi (Vachal, 1895) |
| – | Mask incomplete, pattern characteristic; clypeus only spotted | H. (P.) xanthopoda (Vachal, 1895) |
| 5 | Clypeus with distinct yellow spot | 6 |
| – | Clypeus black, occasionally with a small pale spot | 10 |
| • Clypeus with yellow spot | ||
| 6 | Scapes black | 7 |
| – | Scapes black with yellow longitudinal stripe | H. (P.) donbakeri Dathe, 1995 |
| 7 | Propodeum rounded with finer wrinkles, terminal area not completely surrounded by a rim | 8 |
| – | Propodeum with coarse reticulated wrinkles, terminal area completely surrounded by a sharply defined rim | 9 |
| 8 | Propodeum medial area reticulate over entire surface, laterally with fine margin; face strongly converging downwards, with long lateral spots extending far beyond the antennal bases | H. (P.) taizzi Dathe, 2010 |
| – | Propodeum medial area only basally reticulate, laterally without margin; face slightly converging downwards, lateral spots short, ending next to the antennal bases | H. (P.) lushanicus Dathe, 2015 |
| 9 | Femora yellow, T1 polished with scattered microscopically fine punctation, frons with shagreen supra-antennal area | H. (P.) dinkleri (Friese, 1898) |
| – | Femora black, T1 polished, without punctation, frons with shiny supra-antennal surfaces | H. (P.) concinnus Cockerell, 1924 |
| • Clypeus black | ||
| 10 | Head long, trapezoidal; facial lateral spots linear, adjoining orbits along their length | H. (P.) lineolatus (Schenck, 1861) |
| – | Head transverse or roundish; lateral spots punctiform to triangular, sometimes filling the paraocular areas | 11 |
| 11 | Lateral pronotum edges pointed; T1 with close punctation; paraocular area with a triangular spot | 12 |
| – | Lateral pronotum edges rounded; T1 shagreen or with scattered punctation, paraocular marking different | 13 |
| 12 | T1 with close to dense punctation, without shagreen interspaces; clypeus always completely black; mandibles three-toothed | H. (P.) clypearis (Schenck, 1853) |
| – | T1 shagreen with close punctation, interspaces shagreen; clypeus often with small pale spot; mandibles bluntly truncate apically | H. (P.) livius (Warncke, 1992) |
| 13 | Legs yellow or yellow-white distally from the tip of femora | 14 |
| – | Legs predominantly black, at most femora completely yellow | 15 |
| • Legs from femoral tip yellow | ||
| 14 | Stigma and veins of wings dark brown; paraocular fleck reaching far onto the frons; T1 finely shagreen, without punctation | H. (P.) gujaraticus (Nurse, 1903) |
| – | Stigma and veins of wings yellow; paraocular fleck small, reaching up only to the base of scape; T1 polished, with minute sparse punctation | H. (P.) lactipennis (Benoist, 1957) |
| • Legs predominantly black | ||
| 15 | T1 finely shagreen, with scattered fine punctation, silkily shiny; clypeus black or with white spot | 16 |
| – | T1 smooth and shiny, with coarser punctation; clypeus black or with yellow spot | 17 |
| 16 | Very small species, TL approx. 4.5 mm; facial outline almost circular, malae narrow; mesonotum subcontiguously punctate, dull | H. (P.) styriacus Förster, 1871 |
| – | Larger species, TL approx. 6 mm; facial outline trapezoidal, malae about half as long as broad; mesonotum closely punctate, shiny | H. (P.) mendibus (Warncke, 1972) |
| 17 | Propodeum with pronounced reticulated wrinkles, terminal area surrounded by sharp edge | 18 |
| – | Propodeum rounded and with fine sculpture, only medial area with weak longitudinal wrinkles, without bordered terminal area | H. (P.) nigrocallosus Morawitz, 1889 |
| 18 | Mesopleura with shallow fine sparse punctation on finely shagreen surface; silkily shiny | 19 |
| – | Mesopleura with moderate close punctation; glossy | 21 |
| 19 | Richly marked with light yellow: tibiae mostly completely yellow, lateral spots fully developed, clypeus often with spot, pronotum with band | H. (P.) taeniolatus Förster, 1871 |
| – | Bright colouration less expanded: tibiae predominantly black; usually lateral spots abbreviated above and below, clypeus black, pronotum with two short stripes or black | 20 |
| 20 | T1 with fine close punctation, silkily shiny; pronotal lobe with yellow spots; paraocular marking large, reaching upto antennal socket (Fig. |
H. (P.) pictipes Nylander, 1852 |
| – | T1 with sparse punctation (Fig. |
H. (P.) guptai Saini & Chandra, 2021 |
| 21 | Head shorter, wider than long; lateral spots truncate at top and bottom; clypeus without spot; T1 with fine sparse punctation | H. (P.) sinuatus (Schenck, 1853) |
| – | Head longer, hardly wider than long; lateral spots often fully developed; clypeus sometimes with spot; T1 with minute scattered punctation | H. (P.) soror (Pérez, 1903) |
The islands of the eastern Atlantic and near North Africa are zoogeographically considered part of the Palaearctic, while the neighbouring African mainland is part of the Afrotropical region. All the endemic Hylaeus species of the archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands belong to Paraprosopis, and although the Canary Islands are located near the West African coast, no species of Paraprosopis have been recorded on the mainland to date. However, this area has not yet been well explored, so there may still be surprises. Only one species is known from the Azores and one from the Madeira archipelago, while the present study doubles the number of endemic species in the Canary Islands from three to six.
Several other Paraprosopis species have also been found on the Atlantic islands, such as Hylaeus taeniolatus from Tenerife (Sta. Cruz) and H. pictipes from Porto Santo (Madeira archipelago). However, they were probably introduced; only a single specimen of each species was hitherto recorded (
Prosopis atra
Saunders, 1903: 212–213, ♀♂. Spain, Canary Islands, Tenerife. Syntypes
Prosopis (Paraprosopis) pictipes atra
Saunders, 1903 –
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) ater
(Saunders, 1903) –
Body length 4.4–6.1 mm in males, 5.5–5.8 mm in females. The species is unique in the archipelago in having a sharp edge between vertex and occiput in males and females (Fig.
Canary Islands: Tenerife.
The illustration by
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) canariensis
Erlandsson, 1983: 115–116, ♀♂. Spain, Canary Islands, Tenerife. Holotype ♀
The smallest species of Paraprosopis on the archipelago, at 4–5 mm long. Males and females relatively richly coloured: only in this species are the legs brightly ringed, tibiae and basitarsi 3 with ivory-white ring. Faces Fig.
Canary Islands: Tenerife.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) hohmanni Dathe, 1993: 749–751, ♂♀. Spain, Canary Islands, Tenerife. Holotype ♂ MICN Tenerife.
Body length 4.6–6.3 mm in males, 5.1–6.8 mm in females. T1 without fringes, shiny, with fine and scattered punctation. Mesosoma densely shagreen and punctate, dull. On Lanzarote, integument also shiny. Females sometimes with lateral whitish face spots (Fig.
Canary Islands: La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote.
Integument shiny, especially scutellum and head. Depression of T1 with lateral ciliar bands. Females seldom with small face spots. In males, tibia 1 with yellowish stripe, tibia 2 sometimes striped. Compared to Hylaeus hierro, the maxillary palps short, in males and females shorter than flagellomeres 1–5. Female with cluster of white hairs over each antennal socket. Omaulus above episternal groove bulging. Supraclypeal area abruptly set up from the frons. Mask of male yellow, paraocular patches rarely lengthened beyond the antennal base. Unlike H. hierro, without black stripe between clypeus and paraocular area. In contrast to H. ater, boundary between vertex and occiput rounded, and the parts of the apical lobes of S7 are about the same length.
Canary Islands: La Gomera.
Male. N = 29. TL 4.2–6.0 mm. Head. HL:HW 0.82–0.88 (0.86), UFW:LFW 1.81–2.13 (1.92). Colouration: antennae black, flagellum ventrally brownish, flagellomeres 1 and 11 often half black. Setae on frons and vertex brownish-white, twice as long as on clypeus, longest hairs as long as spur of tibia 2. Scapes dorsally with hairs as long as spur of tibiae 2. Mask yellow, paraocular patches terminating at lower level of antennal sockets, rarely tapering to orbit, isolated lengthened stripes or dots [6/29], epistomal suture and anterior tentorial pit unobtrusive (Fig.
Mesosoma (Fig.
Metasoma (Fig.
Female. N = 48, TL 4.8–6.1 mm. Head. HL:HW 0.77–0.87 (0.84), UFW:LFW 1.45–1.57 (1.54). Colouration black, sporadically with small yellowish spots on paraocular areae [7/48]. Antennae black, flagellum ventrally brownish, antennomeres 1 and 10 often half black. Mandibles apically often paler (brownish). Pilosity: brownish hairs on frons and vertex as long as spur of tibiae 2; pilosity on clypeus short, apical edge with row of longer hairs; above antennal socket aggregation of dense white hairs, half as long as longest hairs on vertex; dorsal pilosity of scapes as long as scape width. Sculpture: foveae faciales converging halfway distant between ocelli and orbits. Frons and vertex with fine and dense punctation, decreasing towards ocelli and orbits, interspaces shiny, distal area of vertex with increasing shagreen; clypeus and supraclypeal area shagreen with moderate scattered punctation. Boundary between vertex and occiput rounded. Supraclypeal area distally ending abruptly and sometimes grooved (Fig.
Mesosoma (Fig.
Metasoma (Fig.
Holotype
SPAIN • ♂, Islas Canarias, La Gomera, Eremita San Lorenzo, 4 km SE Chipude, 24.III.2014, V. Haeseler leg.; coll. SDEI. – Paratypes SPAIN • 18 ♂, 15 ♀, same data as for holotype, 24–25.III.2014; in coll.
SPAIN • Islas Canarias, La Gomera: 1 ♂, Mirador de C. Manrique, 3 km N Valle Gran Rey, 17.III.2014, 2 ♂, same locality, 21.III.2014; 5 ♂, 2 ♀, Arure, 3 km N Valle Gran Rey, 18–20.III.2014; 13 ♀, Eremita San Lorenzo, 4 km SE Chipude, 13.IV.2024, 11 ♀, same locality, 15.IV.2024; 1 ♂, 4 ♀, 2 km W San Sebastian, 26.III.2014; 1 ♂, El Cercado, 6 km NE Valle Gran Rey, 800 m alt., 10.V.2018, 1 ♀, same locality, 13.IV.2019; 2 ♀, Mirador de Igulero, 3 km ESE Chipude, 15.IV.2024.
Echium plantagineum , Euphorbia balsamifera.
Integument shiny. Females completely black, only flagellum ventrally brownish. Boundary between vertex and occiput rounded. Lateral depressions of T1 with ciliar bands. In males, tibiae 1 with yellowish stripe. As in Hylaeus gomerensis, mask of male yellow, but with striking black stripe between clypeus and paraocular area; in contrast to H. gomerensis, omaulus above episternal groove only slightly thickened, female without conspicuous cluster of hairs above antennal sockets, supraclypeal area dorsally not abruptly sloped or grooved. Maxillary palps longer than flagellomeres 1–5. In contrast to H. ater, boundary of vertex to occiput rounded, S7 with shorter distal part of apical lobes.
Canary Islands: El Hierro.
Male. N = 38, TL 5.1–6.1 mm. Head. HL:HW 0.83–0.91 (0.86), UFW:LFW 1.70–2.15 (1.89). Mask: colouration of supraclypeal area, clypeus and paraocular areae light yellow to middle of antennal sockets; an expanded black stripe between clypeus and paraocular area from anterior tentorial pit to malar area, seldom [2/38] with black line; paraocular spots beginning distinctly higher than basal edges of clypeus (Fig.
Mesosoma (Fig.
Metasoma (Fig.
Female. N = 32, TL 4.7–6.3 mm. Head. HL:HW 0.87–0.89 (0.88), UFW:LFW 1.51–1.57 (1.53). Colouration black. Sculpture: punctation on frons fine and dense, increasing towards inner orbits, interspaces shiny. Small section above each antennal socket impunctate, minutely striped. Boundary between vertex and occiput rounded, punctation of ocellar-occipital area reduced, shagreen. Pilosity brownish-white, frons and vertex with hairs of two lengths: some hairs as long as spur of tibia 2, shorter hairs half the length of these. Pilosity on clypeus distinctly shorter. Dorsal hairs on scapes half as long as width of scapes. White aggregations of short hairs above antennal sockets, these hairs scarcely longer than hairs of scapes. Foveae faciales converging halfway between ocelli and orbit. Boundary between vertex and occiput rounded. Supraclypeal area apically flattened, not bifurcated by shiny groove (Fig.
Mesosoma (Fig.
Metasoma (Fig.
Holotype
SPAIN • ♂, Islas Canarias, El Hierro, Montaña de los Muertos, 3 km NW La Restinga, 10.IV.2015. V. Haeseler leg., coll. SDEI. – Paratypes SPAIN • 8 ♂, same data as for holotype, 8 ♂, 2 ♀, 14.IV.2015; 6 ♂, 11 ♀, Valverde, 16.IV.2015; 6 ♀, La Frontera, Tigaday, 8.V.2016; all V. Haeseler leg.; in coll.
SPAIN • Islas Canarias, El Hierro: 2 ♂, 3 ♀, Arenas Blancas, 3 km WNW Sabinosa, 12–13.IV.2015; 4 ♂, 1 ♀, La Frontera, Tigaday, 13.IV.2015, 1 ♀, same locality, 1.V.2016, 3 ♀, 13.V.2016; 2 ♂, Guinea, 2 km S Las Puntas, 15.IV.2015; 2 ♂, Eremita Virgen de los Reyes, 3 km SW Sabinosa, 600 m, 17.IV.2015; 1 ♂, La Maceta, 2 km W Las Puntas, 18.IV.2015; 4 ♂, 5 ♀, El Pinar, 6 km N La Restinga, 600 m, 21.IV.2015.
Echium plantagineum , Euphorbia balsamifera.
The species is named after its place of origin, the Canary Island of El Hierro.
Integument shiny. Females clearly distinguished by white face spots and striking white fringes of T1. Distal depression of T2 laterally with ciliar bands. Maxillary palps shorter or as long as flagellomeres 1–5. Males are characterized by the white mask and white fringes on T1. Tibiae 1 with white stripe, tibiae 2 sometimes with white stripe. Omaulus rounded in males and females. Boundary between vertex and occiput. Median furrow of propodeum shiny.
Canary Islands: La Palma.
Male. N = 92, TL 4.8–5.8 mm. Head. HL:HW 0.84–0.91 (0.88), UFW:LFW 1.79–1.99 (1.89). Colouration: Antennae except the ventral part of flagellum black; pedicellus and apical flagellomere rarely completely black. Hairs white to brownish; dense dorsal pilosity of scapes as long as width of scape, pilosity below antennal sockets half the length of pilosity above antennal sockets, single hairs on vertex as long as spur of tibiae 2. Mask (Fig.
Mesosoma (Fig.
Metasoma (Fig.
Female. N = 50, TL 5.0–6.3 mm. Head (Fig.
Mesosoma (Fig.
Metasoma (Fig.
Holotype
SPAIN • ♂, Islas Canarias, La Palma, Las Nieves, 16.IV.2003, V. Haeseler leg., coll. SDEI. – Paratypes: SPAIN • 5 ♂, 2 ♀, Las Nieves, 15.IV.2003, 4 ♂, same locality as for holotype, 16.IV.2003, 5 ♂, 1 ♀, 18.IV.2003, 1 ♂, 5 ♀, 1.IV.2004; 5 ♀, Fuencaliente, 6.IV.2004; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 28.III.2005; 8 ♂, 5 ♀, 4 km SW Puntagorda, 30.III.2005; in coll.
SPAIN • Islas Canarias, La Palma: 3 ♂, Los Llanos de Aridane, 28.III.2002; 1 ♂, 6 ♀, La Laguna, 1.IV.2002, 1 ♂, same locality, 3.IV.2002; 6 ♂, Todoque, 4 km S Los Llanos, 1.IV.2002; 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Las Nieves, 3.IV.2002, 3 ♂, same locality, 13.IV.2003, 2 ♂, 14.IV.2003, 1 ♀, 7.IV.2004, 2 ♂, 9.IV.2004, 3 ♂, 25.III.2005; 2 ♂, Las Indias, 3 km NW Los Canarios, 5.IV.2002; 1 ♂, San Nicolas, 7 km SE Los Llanos, 2.IV.2004, 4 ♂, same locality, 1 ♀, 6.IV.2002, 1 ♀, 7.IV.2002; 7 ♂, 2 ♀, Fuencaliente, 28.III.2005; 9 ♂, 5 ♀, Buenavista, 3 km S Santa Cruz de la Palma, 9.IV.2004; 4 ♂, Tacante, 2 km S El Paso, 13.IV.2004, Barkemeier leg., 9 ♂, 1 ♀, same locality, 27.III.2005; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, San Andres, 10 km N Santa Cruz de la Palma, 1.IV.2005; 4 ♂, 2 ♀, Echedey 6 km S El Paso, 22.IV.2007, 4 ♂, 6 ♀, same locality, 26.IV.2007; 1 ♀, same locality, 28.IV.2007, Riemann leg.; 1 ♀, Los Brecitos, 6 km NNW El Paso, 28.IV.2007.
Ruta pinnata , Jasminum odoratissimum, Sonchus palmensis, Euphorbia balsamifera.
The species is named after its place of origin, the Canary Island of La Palma.
Prosopis maderensis Cockerell, 1921: 363, ♀. Portugal, Madeira, Deserta Grande. Holotype UMO Oxford.
Prosopis (Paraprosopis) pictipes maderensis
Saunders, 1903 –
Species with a completely black body, except for a yellow stripe on the front of the anterior tibia; mask yellow, in females reduced to two spots in the middle paraocular area, while in males the supraclypeal area is black (Fig.
Portugal, Madeira Archipelago: Madeira, Deserta Grande; Porto Santo (
Prosopis (Paraprosopis) azorae
Warncke, 1992: 781–782, ♂. Portugal, Azores, Pico. Holotype
The species, of which so far only one male is known, resembles Hylaeus maderensis in habitus and punctation. It is also completely black and distinctly hairy. However, the scape is enlarged and expanded, and the flagellum yellow below. The clypeus and two narrow stripes on the lateral clypeus margins are flecked light yellow (Fig.
Portugal, Azores: Pico Island.
| Males | ||
| 1 | Boundary between vertex and occiput with sharp edge (Fig. |
H. (P.) ater (Saunders, 1903) |
| – | Boundary between vertex and occiput rounded (Fig. |
2 |
| 2 | Tibia 3 ringed basally ivory-white, metatarsi ivory-white; T1 depression with lateral fringes | H. (P.) canariensis Erlandsson, 1983 |
| – | Tibia 3 basally not white-ringed; if only metatarsus 1, 2 or 3 white or tibia 3 ringed, then without fringes on T1; T1 with or without fringes | 3 |
| 3 | T1 with distinct white fringes; mask white | H. (P.) palmensis Haeseler, sp. nov. |
| – | T1 without distinct fringes; mask ivory white or yellow | 4 |
| 4 | Mask white or ivory white; T1 without fringes; integument shagreen, dull, scutellum distinctly shagreen H. (P.) hohmanni Dathe, 1993 | |
| – | Mask yellow; T1 lateral with distal ciliar fringes; wide areas of integument shiny; scutellum often indistinctly shagreen | 5 |
| 5 | Lateral facial spots ventrally shortened, separated from the clypeus by a distinct black stripe on the lower part (Fig. |
H. (P.) hierro Haeseler, sp. nov. |
| – | Lateral facial spots ventrally not shortened, bounded by an even, narrow line (Fig. |
H. (P.) gomerensis Haeseler, sp. nov. |
| Females | ||
| 1 | Boundary between vertex and occiput with sharp edge (Fig. |
H. (P.) ater (Saunders, 1903) |
| – | Boundary between vertex and occiput rounded (Fig. |
2 |
| 2 | Omaulus evenly rounded, episternal groove without transverse ridge at the lower end (Fig. |
3 |
| – | Omaulus bulging above episternal groove, this with distinct transverse ridge at lower end (Fig. |
4 |
| 3 | Medial area of propodeum reticulately wrinkled, also on side parts, margined to terminal area; face laterally marked with white | H. (P.) palmensis Haeseler, sp.nov. |
| – | Medial area of propodeum only basally reticulate wrinkled, laterally only with few ridges, transition to terminal area rounded; face with or without marks | H. (P.) canariensis Erlandsson, 1983 |
| 4 | Upper supraclypeal area with abrupt transition to the frons, often divided by deep groove (Fig. |
H. (P.) gomerensis Haeseler, sp.nov. |
| – | Supraclypeal area gradually merging into the frons, without a groove; omaulus less protruding above lower end of episternal groove, maxillary palps as long as flagellomeres 1–5 or longer | 5 |
| 5 | T1 without fringes; scutellum dull, distinctly shagreen | H. (P.) hohmanni Dathe, 1993 |
| – | T1 with narrow lateral ciliar fringes; scutellum shiny, shagreen often indistinct | H. (P.) hierro Haeseler, sp.nov. |
Hylaeus incomitatus
Snelling, 1970b: 18–19. ♀. Japan, Bonin Islands (Southwest Bay on Ani-jima, Chichi-jima Group). Holotype
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) incomitatus
Snelling, 1970b –
Body length 4–5 mm. Slender species with fine and sparse punctation. Head roundish, slightly wider than high (Fig.
Japan: Ogasawara Islands [Bonin Islands]: Ani Island, Haha Island.
Endemic to the oceanic Ogasawara Islands, located 1,000 km SSE of Tokyo.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) hirashimai Ikudome, 1989: 239–246. ♀♂. Japan, Kyushu. Holotype ♀ ELKU, No. 2712.
Body comparatively short: 4.5–5.5 mm in female, 3.5–4.5 mm in male. Head roundish, slightly wider than long. The pattern of yellow marks on the face in both sexes (Fig.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) species. Females, dorsal view; top row: mesonotum, bottom row: propodeum and metasoma. 47. H. (P.) incomitatus Snelling; 48. H. (P.) hirashimai Ikudome; 49. H. (P.) meridianus Yasumatsu & Hirashima; 50. H. (P.) munageus Ikudome; 51. H. (P.) yasumatsui Snelling. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.
Japan: Honshu, Izu Islands (Nii Island, Hachijo Island), Kyushu, Okinoshima Islands, Tsushima Islands, Koshiki Islands, Ryukyu Islands ((Tane Island, Yaku Island, Take Island, Iwo Island, Kuro Island, Suwanose Island, Akuseki Island).
This species is widespread in Japan except Hokkaido (
Hylaeus meridianus Yasumatsu & Hirashima, 1965: 239, 251–252. ♀. Japan, Amami Island. Holotype ELKU.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) meridianus
Yasumatsu & Hirashima, 1965 –
Body comparatively short: 4.5–5.0 mm in female, 3.5–4.0 mm in male. Head slightly wider than long in front view, as in Hylaeus incomitatus, but differs from the latter in black axillae. The pattern of yellow marks on the face in both sexes (Fig.
Japan: Ryukyu Islands (Amami Island, Okinawa Island, Izena Island).
Endemic to the middle Ryukyu Islands, not occurring north of Watase’s line. Therefore, it is usually considered to be a member of the Oriental fauna. Hylaeus meridianus and H. hirashimai are considered to be closely related (
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) thoracicus Ikudome, 1989: 233–240. ♀♂. Japan, Hokkaido. Holotype ♀ ELKU, No. 2711. Not Hylaeus thoracicus Fabricius, 1793.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) munageus Ikudome, 2004: 5. Replacement name.
Body short: 4.5–5.0 mm in female, male 3.5–4.0 mm. Head roundish, slightly wider than long in frontal view. The pattern of yellow marks on the face in both sexes (Fig.
Japan: Hokkaido, Honshu.
Currently, this species appears to be restricted to northern Japan.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) yasumatsui
Snelling, 1970b: 5–10. ♂♀. Japan, Bonin Islands (Haha-jima). Holotype ♂
Body length is the longest of the five Japanese species: 6 mm in female, 5.5 mm in male. Head in frontal view somewhat wider than long in both sexes. Clypeus usually with yellow stripe in both sexes (Fig.
Japan: Izu Islands (Nii Island), Ogasawara Islands (Haha Island, Muko Island).
This species appears to be restricted to some islands, scattered from 100 km to 650 km south of Tokyo, from the Izu Islands to the Ogasawara Islands. Whereas the former are volcanic islands, the latter oceanic.
| 1 | Axillae yellow marked (Fig. |
H. (P.) incomitatus Snelling, 1970 |
| – | Axillae without yellow marks; supraantennal area smooth and shiny | 2 |
| 2 | Pilosity on mesosoma conspicuous, long and erect; male antenna with scape distinctly stout; propodeum medial area with clear edge | H. (P.) munageus Ikudome, 2004 |
| – | Pilosity on mesosoma short, appressed; male antennae with scape slender or somewhat expanded; propodeum medial area with or without a clear edge | 3 |
| 3 | Males | 4 |
| – | Females | 6 |
| 4 | Propodeal medial area distinctly defined, with strong wrinkles up to the edge, posterior part truncate | H. (P.) hirashimai Ikudome, 1989 |
| – | Propodeal medial area weakly defined, with weak carinae, surface anteriorly partly shagreen, posterior part rounded | 4 |
| 5 | Metasomal T1 with scattered weak but distinct punctation; clypeus sometimes with broad yellow stripe in the middle | H. (P.) yasumatsui Snelling, 1970 |
| – | Metasomal T1 hardly punctate, shiny; clypeus completely yellow | H. (P.) meridianus Yasumatsu & Hirashima, 1965 |
| 6 | Propodeal medial area distinctly defined, anteriorly with strong carinae, posteriorly truncate (Fig. |
H. (P.) hirashimai Ikudome, 1989 |
| – | Propodeal medial area weakly defined, anteriorly with weak carinae, posteriorly rounded | 7 |
| 7 | Punctation on mesonotum (Fig. |
H. (P.) yasumatsui Snelling, 1970 |
| – | Punctation on mesonotum (Fig. |
H. (P.) meridianus Yasumatsu & Hirashima, 1965 |
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) species. Males. Terminalia, upper: genital capsule, middle: sternum 8, lower: sternum 7. 52. H. (P.) pictipes Nylander; 53. H. (P.) taeniolatus Förster; 54. H. (P.) aenigmatis Dathe; 55. H. (P.) xanthopoda (Vachal); 56. H. (P.) dinkleri (Friese). Scale bar: 0.5 mm.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) species, males. Terminalia, upper: genital capsule, middle: sternum 8, lower: sternum 7. 57. H. (P.) gujaraticus (Nurse); 58. H. (P.) gribodoi (Vachal), holotype, preparation shrunken; 59. H. (P.) lactipennis (Benoist); 60. H. (P.) mendibus (Warncke); 61. H. (P.) sinuatus (Schenck). Scale bar: 0.5 mm.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) species, males. Terminalia, upper: genital capsule, middle: sternum 8, lower: sternum 7. 62. H. (P.) soror (Pérez); 63. H. (P.) styriacus Förster; 64. H. (P.) clypearis (Schenck); 65. H. (P.) lineolatus (Schenck); 66. H. (P.) livius (Warncke). Scale bar: 0.5 mm.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) species, males. Terminalia, upper: genital capsule, middle: sternum 8, lower: sternum 7. 67. H. (P.) decaocto (Warncke); 68. H. (P.) guptai Saini & Chandra; 69. H. (P.) concinnus Cockerell; 70. H. (P.) nigrocallosus Mor.; 71. H. (P.) emir Dathe. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) species, males. Terminalia, upper: genital capsule, middle: sternum 8, lower: sternum 7. 77. H. (P.) gomerensis Haeseler; 78. H. (P.) hierro Haeseler; 79. H. (P.) hohmanni Dathe; 80. H. (P.) palmensis Haeseler; 81. H. (P.) maderensis (Cockerell). Scale bar: 0.5 mm.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) species, males. Terminalia, upper: genital capsule, middle: sternum 8, lower: sternum 7. 82. H. (P.) incomitatus Snelling; 83. H. (P.) hirashimai Ikudome; 84. H. (P.) meridianus Yasumatsu & Hirashima; 85. H. (P.) munageus Ikudome; 86. H. (P.) yasumatsui Snelling. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.
Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) krombeini
Snelling, 1980: 3–5, ♂♀. Sri Lanka, Hunuwiligama, Anuradhapura District, Holotype ♂,
Hylaeus krombeini Snelling, 1980, subgenus incertus, not Paraprosopis.
This is so far the only species from the Indo-Malayan (Oriental) region that has been assigned to the subgenus Paraprosopis. Despite some shared characters, it exhibits clear differences to Paraprosopis as defined here.
We would like to sincerely thank the following people for generously supporting our project in various ways: Stefanie Krause (