New and little-known bees of the genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Nomadinae) from Mongolia

Yulia V. Astafurova; Maxim Yu. Proshchalykin

doi:10.3897/jhr.84.67150

Research Article

New and little-known bees of the genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Nomadinae) from Mongolia

Yulia V. Astafurova^‡, Maxim Yu. Proshchalykin^§

‡ Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia

§ Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia

Corresponding author: Maxim Yu. Proshchalykin ( proshchalikin@biosoil.ru )

Academic editor: Vladimir Gokhman

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: Astafurova YuV, Proshchalykin MYu (2021) New and little-known bees of the genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Nomadinae) from Mongolia. In: Proshchalykin MYu, Gokhman VE (Eds) Hymenoptera studies through space and time: A collection of papers dedicated to the 75^th anniversary of Arkady S. Lelej. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 84: 11-28. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.84.67150

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F447C28D-F4F4-4541-9527-99465AF7D177

Abstract

A review of nine species of the bee genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Nomadinae) currently known from Mongolia is given. Two new species, E. leleji sp. nov. and E. mongolicus sp. nov. are described. The following five known species are newly recorded from Mongolia: E. alpinus Friese, 1893, E. cruciger (Panzer, 1799), E. melectiformis Yasumatsu, 1938, E. nudiventris Bischoff, 1930, and E. ruficornis Morawitz, 1875. A lectotype is designated for Epeolus tarsalis Morawitz, 1874.

Keywords

Anthophila, Apiformes, cleptoparasites, fauna, new species, Palaearctic, taxonomy

Introduction

Mongolia is a large, landlocked country in eastern Central Asia, covering 1,564,100 km². Politically, Mongolia is divided into 21 provinces named “aimags” in addition to the capital, Ulaanbaatar (Fig. 1). This territory, as part of the Central Asian region, is an important centre of bee diversity in the Palaearctic (Michener 1979).

Figure 1.

Administrative map of Mongolia (from Rosa et al. 2020). Aimags 1 Bayan-Ulgii 2 Uvs 3 Khovd 4 Zavkhan 5 Govi-Altai 6 Khuvsgul 7 Arkhangai 8 Bayankhongor 9 Bulgan 10 Orkhon 11 Uvurkhangai 12 Umnugovi 13 Selenge 14 Darkhan-Uul 15 Tuv 16 Ulaanbaatar 17 Dundgovi 18 Khentii 19 Govi-Sümber 20 Dornogovi 21 Dornod 22 Sukhbaatar.

In recent years, significant progress has been made towards a better knowledge of the Mongolian species of some genera: Colletes Latreille, 1802 (Kuhlmann and Proshchalykin 2013; Proshchalykin and Kuhlmann 2015), Hylaeus Fabricius, 1793 (Colletidae) (Dathe and Proshchalykin 2016), and Sphecodes Latreille, 1804 (Halictidae) (Astafurova and Proshchalykin 2015; Astafurova et al. 2015). In total, 348 bee species are currently known from Mongolia (Ascher and Pickering 2021). However, taxonomic information about most Mongolian genera is still fragmentary. We begin here with a reference to the genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802.

The genus Epeolus includes 109 species spread across much of the globe: they occur throughout the Holarctic zone, from the west coast of the United States and eastwards to Europe and as far as Japan. About 65 species are known from North and Central America, about 35 from the Palaearctic region, of which 17 species are found in Europe (Michener 2007; Onuferko 2018; Bogusch and Hadrava 2018). The Epeolus fauna of Mongolia is particularly under-recorded. Only two species, Epeolus tarsalis Morawitz, 1874 and E. variegatus (Linnaeus, 1758), have been recorded from this country, though without precise localities (Friese 1895).

In the present paper, based on a comprehensive study of specimens deposited in various collections, we report seven additional species, with two species described as new and five species recorded from Mongolia for the first time, resulting in a total number of nine Epeolus species known from this country. In addition, we designate a lectotype for Epeolus tarsalis Morawitz, 1874 in order to clarify the status and diagnosis of type specimens.

A key to Mongolian Epeolus has not been included in this paper, it is forthcoming in a subsequent publication uniting this and the Eastern Palaearctic fauna due to their extensive species sharing and the need for some additional work in these regions.

Materials and methods

The results presented in this paper are based on 277 specimens collected in Mongolia and currently housed in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg, Russia, ZISP); Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum, Biologiezentrum (Linz, Austria, OLBL) and the personal collection of Maximilian Schwarz (Ansfelden, Austria, PCMS).

The taxonomy, synonymy and distribution of species follow those of Friese (1895), Levchenko et al. (2017) and Bogusch and Hadrava (2018). Morphological terminology follows that of Engel (2001) and Michener (2007). The density of integumental punctures is described using the following formula: puncture diameter (in μm) / ratio of distance between punctures to average puncture diameter, e.g., 15–20 μm / 0.5–1.5. Abbreviations F, T, and S are used for flagellomere, metasomal tergum and metasomal sternum respectively. The species are listed alphabetically. The records are first sorted alphabetically according to the aimags, and then chronologically according to the locality. Hard brackets are used when certain data are added to specimen label information (e.g. current name of a particular locality). We have used the following abbreviations for collectors: EN – E. Narchuk; ES – E. Sugonyaev; JH – J. Halada; IK – I. Kerzhner; KM – M. Kozlov; MH – M. Halada; MK – M. Kadlecová; PK – P. Kozlov; PT – P. Tymer.

Specimens were studied with an Olympus SZ51 stereomicroscope and photographs taken with a combination of a stereomicroscope (Olympus SZX10) and digital camera (Olympus OM-D). Final images are stacked composites using Helicon Focus 6. All images were post-processed for contrast and brightness using Adobe Photoshop.

New distributional records are noted with an asterisk (*).

Taxonomy

Genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802

Epeolus Latreille, 1802: 427. Type species: Apis variegata Linnaeus, 1758, monobasic.

Epeolus alpinus Friese, 1893

Epeolus alpinus Friese, 1893: 34, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Goeschenen, Switzerland).

Epeolus variegatus Thomson, 1872 (nom. praeocc., nec Linnaeus 1758): 212, ♀ (type locality: unknown).

Epeolus glacialis Alfken, 1913: 36, nomen novum for E. variegatus Thomson, 1872.

Epeolus montanus Bischoff, 1930: 9, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Warnemünde, Germany).

Epeolus pilosus Bischoff, 1930: 9–10, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Rositten [=Rybachij], Kaliningrad Prov., Russia).

Epeolus alpinus Bischoff, 1930 (nom. praeocc., nec Friese 1893): 9–10, ♀ (type locality: Saas, Switzerland).

Material examined

Dornod, 15 km W of Choibalsan, Kerulen River, 770 m, 24.VII.2007, (1 ♀), JH [PCMS]; Khuvsgul, Terkhiyn-Tsaggan Lake, 47°11'N, 99°43'E, 2100 m, 22.VII.2005, (6 ♀, 2 ♂), JH & PT [PCMS]; Tuv, 100 km E of Ulaanbaatar, 20 km NE of Tereltz, Tuul River, 15–21.VII.2003, (6 ♀, 4 ♂), JH [OLBL/PCMS]; Khangaun Mts, 5 km N of Khunt, 20.VII.2005, (1 ♀), JH [PCMS]; 75 km W Ulaanbaatar, dunes, 2.VIII.2005, (1 ♀), JH [PCMS]; 50 km N of Ulaanbaatar, E of Mandal, 1180 m, 8–13.VIII.2007, (2 ♀), JH [PCMS]; Selenge, 90 km N of Ulaanbaatar, Segnez River, 1450 m, 6–8.VII.2003, (3 ♀, 2 ♂), JH [PCMS]; Ulaanbaatar, Tola River, Urga [=Ulaanbaatar], 30.VI–5.VII.1905, (10 ♀, 27 ♂), PK [ZISP]; Zuunmod env., 47°11'N, 106°59'E, 1630 m, 27.VII.2004, (3 ♀), MK [OLBL/PCMS]; Uvurkhangai, Kholt [375 km SW Ulaanbaatar], Northern Gobi, 15–16.VII.1926, (10 ♀), PK [ZISP]; 12 km E of Aravaykheer, 46°22'N, 102°49'E, 1800 m, 3.VII.2004, (1 ♀), JH [PCMS]; Zavkhan, 40 km SW of Uliastay, dunes, 18.VII.2005, (1 ♂), JH [PCMS].

Distribution

*Mongolia (Dornod, Khuvsgul, Tuv, Selenge, Ulaanbaatar, Uvurkhangai, Zavkhan); North Africa, Europe, Turkey, Iran, Russia (eastern part to Far East).

Epeolus cruciger (Panzer, 1799)

Nomada crucigera Panzer, 1799: 20, ♂ (type locality: Austria).

Epeolus rufipes Thomson, 1870: 91, ♀ (type locality: S-Sweden).

Epeolus similis Höppner, 1899: 355–356, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Freisenbüttel, Germany).

Epeolus cruciger var. elegans Müller, 1921: 168, ♀ (type locality: Arnswalde, Germany).

Epeolus cruciger var. rufiventris Müller, 1921: 168, ♀ (type locality: Arnswalde, Germany).

Epeolus marginatus Bischoff, 1930: 11, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Warnemünde, Germany).

Material examined

Dornod, 13 km W of Dash-Balbar, Uldza River, 24.VIII.1975, (1 ♀), EN [ZISP]; Khentii, 8 km N Binder, 3–5.VII.1976, (1 ♂), KM [ZISP]; Khovd, 20 km N Bulgan, Ulyastain-Gol River, 30.VI.1980, (1 ♂), IK [ZISP]; Khuvsgul, Dzhargalant, Ider River, 19.VII.1975, (2 ♀, 2 ♂), ES [ZISP]; idem, 20.VII.1975, (2 ♀), EN [ZISP]; 17 km N of Shine-Eder, 21.VII.1975, (1 ♂), ES [ZISP]; 25 km SSW of Muren, 23.VII.1975, (1 ♀), KM [ZISP].

Distribution

*Mongolia (Dornod, Khentii, Khovd, Khuvsgul); Europe, Turkey, Iran, Russia (eastern part to Far East).

Epeolus leleji sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/C020E9AD-B666-46A7-B076-8AB5DA1360F2

Figures 2, 3, 4

Material examined

Holotype : ♂, SE Mongolia, Sukhbaatar, 100 km SSW of Baruun-Urt, 1100 m, 30.VII.2007, leg. M. Halada [OLBL/PCMS]. Paratypes: 1 ♀, 1 ♂, the same label [ZISP]; 1 ♀, 200 km SSE of Baruun-Urt, Moltsoy Els, 1250 m, 27.VII.2007, leg. M. Kadlecová [OLBL/PCMS]; 5 ♀, Dornogovi, 28 km SE of Chatan-Bulag, steppe, 3.VIII.2007, M. Halada leg. [OLBL/PCMS]; Umnugovi, 1 ♀, 70 km S of Saynshand, 1100 m, 5.VIII.2007, leg. M. Kadlecová [OLBL/PCMS].

Diagnosis

This species differs from other Palaearctic species of the genus by having forewings with two submarginal cells (versus three cells in other species, except E. bischoffi Mavromoustakis, 1954) (Fig. 2A, B). The new species are clearly distinguished from E. bischoffi by lack of long black dense hair on the whole body, position of labral teeth closer to apical margin, the reddish female mesosoma (black in E. bischoffi) and many other characters.

Figure 2.

Epeolus leleji sp. nov., holotype, male A, B habitus, lateral view (A); dorsal view (B). Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Description

Male (Figs 2, 3). Total body length 6.0 mm; forewing length (without tegula) 3.5 mm. Structure and sculpture. Head (Fig. 3B) transverse, ca 1.35 times as wide as long. Labrum (Fig. 3C) 1.6 times as wide as long; rounded basally and laterally, with two small sub-apical teeth, medially (between teeth) slightly depressed, apical margin straight; integument shiny, coarsely and densely punctate (15–30 μm / confluent–1). Frons with developed frontal keel. Upper part of frons and vertex shiny, smooth between punctures (15–25 μm / confluent–1.5). Antennae short, F1 ca 1.0 times as long as wide, F2 and F3 0.8 times as long as wide. Mesoscutum shiny and smooth between coarse punctures (20–40 μm / confluent–1). Axilla with short acute tooth not attaining posterior margin of mesoscutellum. Mesoscutellum with medial longitudinal impression; posterior margin scarcely extending over propodeum. Metanotum medially with small prominence, extending over propodeum (slightly visible under tomentum). Mesepisternum with confluent punctures (15–20 μm). Propodeal triangle finely rugulose; rest vertical part of propodeum smooth. Metasomal tergal discs shiny and smooth between tiny punctures (ca 15 μm / 0.5–1.5); marginal zones semi-transparent, smooth, with tiny and dense punctures. Pygidial plate (T7) shiny, 1.2 times as long as basal width, narrowed toward apex, with shallow punctures; apical margin slightly curved. Sterna shiny, with dense punctures. Coloration: Head black, but mandibles yellow-red with dark apex; labrum and clypeus (apically) yellow; antennae reddish with brown scape and pedicel. Mesosoma mostly black; pronotal lobe and axilla reddish; mesoscutellum with two reddish spots on the sides of medial impression; legs reddish, spurs pale (ivory); wings hyaline, stigma light brown, veins brown. Tergal discs dark brown, reddish brown laterally and along marginal zone; marginal zones yellowish. Pygidial plate (T7) reddish (Fig. 3D). Visible sterna brownish with yellow marginal zones. Pubescence: Labrum with white plumose pubescence, on apical margin with thin simple setae. Face and genae with dense (obscuring integument) whitish tomentum (sparser on frons). Vertex with relatively sparse short pubescence. Pronotum and metanotum with white tomentum obscuring integument. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with creamy tomentum denser and lighter (whitish) peripherally. Lateral and ventral parts of mesosoma entirely covered with white tomentum. Legs with dense white pubescence. Tergal marginal zones with uninterrupted white tomentum bands; T1 with wide basal band connected with apical (marginal) band laterally, T2 only with lateral white tomentum spots connected with apical (marginal) band; tergal discs with light brownish adpressed pubescence not obscuring integument. Visible sterna with white tomentum (Fig. 3A).

Figure 3.

Epeolus leleji sp. nov., holotype, male A habitus, ventral view B head, frontal view C labrum, frontal view D T4–T7, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A); 0.5 mm (B–D).

Female (Fig. 4). Total body length 6 mm; forewing length (without tegula) 3.5–4.0 mm. Structure and sculpture similar to those of the male. F1 1.6–1.8 times as long as wide, F2 and F3 ca 1.2 times as long as wide. Mesoscutum shiny and smooth between coarse punctures (20–30 μm / confluent–0.5). T6 mostly hidden under T5, pygidial plate truncate on apex. S5 wide, straight as seen in lateral view. Processes on sides of S6 normal, with short projections. Coloration of head and mesosoma similar to those of the male, but antennae entirely reddish-brown and mesoscutellum entirely reddish. Mesosoma reddish; pygidial plate yellow with brownish edging. Pubescence similar to that of the male, T5 with white tomentum, pseudopygidial area short with silver-like pubescence.

Figure 4.

Epeolus leleji sp. nov., paratype, female A, B habitus, lateral view (A); dorsal view (B) C head, frontal view D apex of metasoma, ventral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A, B); 0.5 mm (C, D).

Etymology

The new species is named in honor of Prof. Arkady Lelej (Vladivostok, Russia), an outstanding hymenopterist and our friend.

Distribution

Mongolia (Dornogovi, Sukhbaatar, Umnugovi).

Remarks

It is noteworthy that two other cleptoparasitic genera, Nomada Scopoli, 1770 (Apidae) and Sphecodes (Halictidae), also have a small group of species with two submarginal cells (Proshchalykin and Lelej 2010; Astafurova et al. 2020).

Epeolus melectiformis Yasumatsu, 1938

Epeolus melectiformis Yasumatsu, 1938: 224, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Ookawa-mura, Tosa, Shikoku, Japan).

Material examined

Arkhangai, Chuluut Gol River, 47°48'N, 100°19'E, 1940 m, 23.VII.2005, (1 ♀, 1 ♂), PT [OLBL/PCMS]; 100 km NE of Tsetserleg, Ogui Lake, 29.VII.2005, (2 ♂), JH [OLBL/PCMS]; Bulgan, 170 km W of Ulaanbaatar, dunes, 1070 m, 16.VIII.2007, (1 ♀), JH [OLBL/PCMS]; Dornod, 33 km SE Khalk-Gol, Khalkin-Gol River, 31.VII.1976, (5 ♀), KM [ZISP]; 100 km W of Choilbalsan, 820 m, 23.VII.2007, (1 ♀, 2 ♂), MH [OLBL/PCMS]; 15 km W of Choibalsan, Kerulen River, 770 m, 24.VII.2007, (17 ♂), JH [OLBL/PCMS]; 50 km SW Choibalsan, 960 m, 25.VII.2007, (2 ♂), JH [OLBL/PCMS]; Khentii, 100 km NE of Ondorkhaan, Kerulen River, 970 m, 22.VII.2007, (22 ♂), MK [OLBL/PCMS]; Khovd, 75 km WSW Salkhit, 24.VII.1971, (1 ♀), IK [ZISP]; Modon-Obr Mts, 30 km ENE of Tsagan-Ula, 25.VII.1971, (2 ♂), KM [ZISP]; Khuvsgul, 20 km SE of Toson-Tsengel, 25.VII.1975, (1 ♀), KM [ZISP]; Selenge, Ero-Gol River near Dulan-Khan, 4.VIII.1975, (1 ♀), KM [ZISP]; Sukhbaatar, 200 km SSE of Baruun-Urt, Moltsoy Els, 1250 m, 27.VII.2007, (14 ♂), MH [PCMS]; 210 km SSE of Baruun-Urt, 29.VII.2007, (2 ♀, 2 ♂), JH [OLBL/PCMS]; 100 km SSW of Baruun-Urt, 1100 m, 30.VII.2007, (10 ♀, 8 ♂), MH [PCMS]; idem, (1 ♀), PT [OLBL/PCMS]; Tuv, Khangaun Mts, 5 km N of Khunt, 20.VII.2005, (2 ♂), JH [PCMS]; 75 km W of Ulaanbaatar, dunes, 2.VIII.2005, (1 ♂), JH [OLBL/PCMS]; Ulaanbaatar, Tola River, Urga [=Ulaanbaatar], 23.VII.1905, (1 ♀, 1 ♂), PK [ZISP].

Distribution

*Mongolia (Arkhangai, Bulgan, Dornod, Khentii, Khovd, Khuvsgul, Selenge, Sukhbaatar, Tuv, Ulaanbaatar); Russia (Buryatia, Far East), Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Ryukyu).

Epeolus mongolicus sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/02AAC04F-71F7-46BE-9DEF-8272BC1D7AB9

Figures 5, 6

Material examined

Holotype : ♀, W Mongolia, Zavkhan, 40 km SW of Uliastay, dunes, 18.VII.2005, JH (OLBL/PCMS). Paratypes: 11 ♀, with the same labels (OLBL/PCMS, 2 ♀ – ZISP); 3 ♀, Bulgan, 170 km W of Ulaanbaatar, dunes, 1070 m, 16.VIII.2007, MK (OLBL/PCMS); 4 ♀, 160 km W Ulanbaatar, dunes, 1220 m, 16.VIII.2007, JH (OLBL/PCMS).

Diagnosis

This species is clearly distinguished from other Palaearctic species by red metasoma with spectacular bright copper-reddish (Fig. 5A, B) or gold-yellowish (Fig. 5C) tomentum entirely covering terga and well-developed on head and mesosoma. Unlike other Palaearctic species, the new species does not possess contrast coloration of pubescence, forming light spots or bands. The species is structurally closest to E. alpinus and E. cruciger, since it also belongs to E. cruciger species group, and especially resembles E. alpinus in having long setae on vertex and labrum with almost straight apical margin (slightly curved).

Figure 5.

Epeolus mongolicus sp. nov., holotype (A, B) and paratype (C), female A–C habitus, lateral view (A); dorsal view (B, C). Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Description

Female. Total body length 6.5–8.0 mm; forewing length (without tegula) 5.5–7.0 mm. Structure and sculpture: Head (Fig. 6A) transverse, ca 1.3 times as wide as long. Labrum (Fig. 6B) 1.6 times as wide as long, rounded basally and laterally, apical margin slightly curved with small distinct medial tooth; sub-apically with two well-visible teeth, medially (between teeth) slightly depressed; integument shiny, coarsely and densely punctate (15–30 μm / confluent–1). Clypeus dull, densely and finely punctate (10–15 μm / confluent–0.5), widely shiny and impunctate along apical margin. Frons with developed frontal keel. Upper half of frons densely punctate (15–25 μm / confluent–0.5), shiny and smooth between punctures. Flagellomeres ca 1.5 times as long as wide. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum coarsely and densely areolate-punctate (25–40 μm /confluent–0.5). Axilla pointed apically, but without distinct tooth (Fig. 6C). Mesoscutellum with medial longitudinal impression; posterior margin scarcely extending over propodeum. Mesepisternum areolate-punctate. Propodeal triangle shagreened; rest vertical part of propodeum shiny and smoother (finely tessellate to smooth). Metasomal terga densely and finely punctate (10–15 μm / 1–2), interspaces smooth and dull; marginal zones transparent under tomentum. Pseudopygidial area (Fig. 6E) short, triangular. Pygidial plate trapezoidal, truncate on apex. Processes on sides of S6 normal, with short projections. Sterna densely punctured like terga (Fig. 6F). S5 wide, straight as seen in lateral view (Fig. 6D). Coloration: Head mostly black, but mandibles yellow-red with dark apex; labrum entirely yellow-red; clypeus entirely yellow-red or black on upper half; antennae yellow-red on basal segments and ventrally. Mesosoma mostly black; mesepisternum entirely black or partially red (on upper half and ventrally and laterally; pronotal lobe, axilla, mesoscutellum, metanotum (medially) and legs (including spurs) yellow-red; wings with brownish darkening, stigma and veins brown. Metasoma yellow-reddish. Pygidial plate red with brownish edging. Pubescence: Body without contrast coloration of pubescence, only with tomentum of approximately the same color: bright copper-reddish (Fig. 5A, B) or gold-yellowish (Fig. 5C). Labrum with thin yellow setae denser and longer around sub-apical teeth. Face and genae with dense tomentum obscuring integument (sparser on upper half of frons). Upper half of frons with long thin setae. Vertex with short thick setae, dense but not obscuring integument. Mesoscutum entirely covered with tomentum (tomentum can be strongly shabby). Lateral and ventral parts of mesosoma, metanotum entirely covered with dense tomentum. Legs with sparse yellow setae. Metasomal terga entirely covered with dense tomentum obscuring integument. Pseudopygidial area with silver-like pubescence. Sterna with golden short and relatively dense setae (not entirely obscuring integument, but denser on S4 and S5).

Figure 6.

Epeolus mongolicus sp. nov., holotype, female A head, frontal view B labrum, frontal view C mesosoma dorso-lateral view D, E apex of metasoma, lateral view (D); ventral view (E) F metasoma, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology

The specific epithet is named after the country of origin.

Distribution

Mongolia (Bulgan, Zavkhan).

Epeolus nudiventris Bischoff, 1930

Epeolus nudiventris Bischoff, 1930: 14, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Mondy, Buryatia, Russia).

Material examined

Khovd, 50 km SSW of Uench, Utyn-Mod, 27.VI.1980, (1 ♀), IK [ZISP].

Distribution

*Mongolia (Khovd); Russia (Buryatia).

Epeolus ruficornis Morawitz, 1875

Epeolus ruficornis Morawitz, 1875: 144, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Varzaminor near Aykul Lake, Tajikistan).

Material examined

Dornogovi, 5, 65 km SE of Chatan-Bulag, 1020 m, 2.VIII.2007, (4 ♀, 1 ♂), MK & JH [OLBL/PCMS]; Khovd, 12 km SW of Altai, Bodonchin-Gol River, 22.VII.1970, (1 ♂), V. Zaytzev [ZISP]; Govi-Altai, 60 km SE of Bugat, Khaychi-Bulak, 19.VII.1970, (1 ♂), IK [ZISP]; Uvurkhangai, 159 km of SW Aravaykheer, 45°11'N, 101°26'E, 1250 m, 5.VII.2004, (1 ♂), JH [OLBL/PCMS].

Distribution

*Mongolia (Dornogovi, Khovd, Uvurkhangai); Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, China (Gansu) (Morawitz 1890, 1894).

Epeolus tarsalis Morawitz, 1874

Epeolus tarsalis Morawitz, 1874: 182–183, ♀, ♂ (lectotype (designated here): ♂, Derbent [Dagestan Republic, Russia] // к. Ф. Моравица [Collection of F. Morawitz] // Epeolus tarsalis Mor. [handwritten by F. Morawitz] // Lectotypus Epeolus tarsalis Mor., ♂, design. Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2021 <red label>, ZISP).

Epeolus praeustus Pérez, 1884: 324–326, ♀ (type locality: Pyrenees).

Epeolus rozenburgensis Van Lith, 1949: 105–112, ♀ (type locality: the Netherlands).

Epeolus himukanus Hirashima, 1955: 40–41, ♂ (type locality: Kyushu, Japan).

Epeolus tarsalis ssp. tirolensis Van Lith, 1956: 99, ♀ (type locality: Tirol, Austria).

Material examined

Dornod, 55 km NNE of Khavirga, 21.VIII.1975, (1 ♂), KM [ZISP]; 13 km W of Dash-Balbar, Uldzy River, 24.VIII.1975, (2 ♀, 1 ♂), EN [ZISP]; Selenge, Ero-Gol River near Dulan-Khan, 4.VIII.1975, (1 ♂), KM [ZISP]; 13 km E of Bayan-Gol, 7.VIII.1975, (1 ♂), EN [ZISP]; Sukhbaatar, 50 km SSW of Barun-Urta, 19.VIII.1975, (1 ♂), KM [ZISP]; Tuv, 75 km W Ulaanbaatar, dunes, 2.VIII.2005, (1 ♂), JH [OLBL/PCMS]; Ulaanbaatar, “Tzorgol-Khayrkhan” [SW Ulaanbaatar], 23.VII.1909, (1 ♂), PK [ZISP]; Uvs, Tarialan, 13.VIII.1965, (1 ♂), Dlabola (OLBL); Zavkhan, Songino, 28–29.VII.1965, (1 ♂), Dlabola (OLBL).

Distribution

Mongolia (*Dornod, *Selenge, *Sukhbaatar, *Tuv, *Ulaanbaatar, *Uvs, *Zavkhan); Europe, Caucasus, Russia (eastern part to Far East), Korea, Japan (Honshu, Kyushu).

Remarks

This species was previously reported from North Mongolia (Friese 1895; Pittioni 1947) without an exact locality.

Epeolus variegatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Apis variegata Linnaeus, 1758: 577, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Sweden).

Apis murcaria Christ, 1791: 188–189, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Germany).

Apis festiva Christ, 1791: 190–191, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Germany).

Epeolus pictus Nylander, 1848: 174–175, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Siberia, Russia).

Epeolus productus Thomson, 1870: 91, ♀, ♂ (type locality: Sweden).

Material examined

Bayankhongor, 56 km NW of Bayankhongor, 46°33'N, 100°12'E, 2200 m, 12.VII.2004, (1 ♀), MK [OLBL/PCMS]; 2 km S of Bayankhongor, 46°12'N, 100°43'E, 12.VII.2004, 1880 m, 10.VII.2004, (1 ♀), JH [OLBL/PCMS]; Selenge, 90 km N of Ulaanbaatar, Segnez River, 1450 m, 6–8.VII.2003, (1 ♀), JH [OLBL/PCMS]; Tuv, 50 km N of Ulaanbaatar, E of Mandal, 1180 m, 8–13.VIII.2007, (24 ♀), JH [OLBL/PCMS]; Ulaanbaatar, Tola River, Urga [=Ulaanbaatar], 14–16.VII.1905, (1 ♀), PK [ZISP].

Distribution

Mongolia (*Bayankhongor, *Selenge, *Tuv, *Ulaanbaatar), North Africa, Europe, Russia (east to Yakutia), Turkey, Georgia, Central Asia, Iran, Pakistan.

Remark

Friese (1895: 208) determined some specimens from North Mongolia (without an exact locality) as Epeolus pictus Nylander, 1848, but noted that these specimens differed from E. variegatus. However, according to Morawitz (1865: 50), Epeolus pictus is a synonym of E. variegatus, and this is supported by Bogusch and Hadrava (2018) who re-examined type specimens.

Discussion

The genus Epeolus in Mongolia is poorly known, and this study is the first special review of this taxon in the country. In total, nine species of Epeolus are now known from Mongolia (seven of these are newly recorded from the studied region, including two species that are new to science). For comparison, 17 species are known from Europe (Bogusch and Hadrava 2018), eleven from Turkey (Bogusch 2018), twelve from Russia (Levchenko et al. 2017), and only two from China (Morawitz 1890; Niu et al. 2018). Both Epeolus alpinus and E. melectiformis seem to be relatively common and widespread in Mongolia. Four species, Epeolus alpinus, E. variegatus, E. cruciger, and E. tarsalis are widespread in the Palaearctic, unlike E. melectiformis, which is an eastern Palaearctic species distributed only from Japan to Khovd (Mongolia). Epeolus ruficornis and E. nudiventris are xerophilic Central Asian species, and Mongolia is the easternmost region of their distribution ranges. The two new species are desert Mongolian endemics distributed in South-Eastern Mongolia (E. leleji sp. nov.) and North-Eastern Mongolia (E. mongolicus sp. nov.).

Unlike other Epeolini, all Epeolus species are so far known as cleptoparasites of species of Colletes (Colletidae). The Mongolian fauna includes 38 Colletes species, of which more than a half are found only in Mongolia or adjacent territories of China, Kazakhstan and Siberia (Russia) (Proshchalykin 2017). Although Colletes are found in all aimags of Mongolia, the fauna of the steppe and desert zones is the richest one. Most Colletes species prefer open landscapes with dry and well-warmed soils suitable for nesting. In addition, some Colletes are oligolectic, visiting a limited taxonomic range of flowering plants. It is obvious that the biodiversity of cleptoparasites is associated with their hosts. In this regard, Mongolia, like the rest of Central Asian territories, is very promising for the study of the genus Epeolus. It is quite certain that new records for regional faunas and species that are new to science will be found during further studies.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Fritz Gusenleitner (OLBL) for his help during our visit to Austria, Maximilian Schwarz (Ansfelden, Austria) and Esther Ockermueller (OLBL) for providing Epeolus specimens and Michael Orr (Beijing, China) for checking the English grammar, as well as to the guest editor (Vladimir Gokhman, Moscow, Russia) and two reviewers (Max Kasparek, Heidelberg, Germany and Petr Bogusch, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic) for their valuable comments, which helped to improve the quality of this paper.

This investigation was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant numbers 19–04–00027 and 20–54–44014) and the state research project AAAA–A19–119020690101–6.

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