Xylocopa (Cyaneoderes) caerulea, syn. nov.

Abstract

14a. Xylocopa insularis Smith, 1857 Fig. 13 Bombus coeruleus Fabricius, 1804: 345, sex not stated [Indonesia: Java; RMNH, neotype by present designation]. Xylocopa insularis Smith, 1857: 48, ♂ [Malaysia: Borneo; OUMNH, lectotype by present designation] syn. nov. Xylocopa bangkaënsis Friese, 1903: 206, ♀ ♂ [Indonesia: Bangka; NHMW, lectotype by present designation] syn. nov. Type material examined Neotype INDONESIA • ♀; W Java, Udjungkulon [Ujung Kulon N.P.], Tjilamar; 1–31 Dec. 1958; A.M.R. Wegner leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1715657 (neotype of Bombus coeruleus, by present designation). Lectotype INDONESIA • ♀; Asia Arch., Bangka; 1901; H. Kühn leg.; NHMW (lectotype of Xylocopa bangkaensis, by present designation). Lectotype MALAYSIA • ♂; Sar. [Sarawak]; [29 Oct. 1854 – 10 Feb. 1856]; OUMNH, ENT-HYME2775-01 (lectotype indicated by Lieftinck in 1958, de facto lectotype of Xylocopa insularis, by present designation). Other material examined CHINA • 1 ♀; S China, Hainan, Jianfenling N. Nature Res.; 980–1050 m a.s.l.; 13–14 Jul. 2013; C.v. Achterberg leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1715652. INDONESIA • 6 ♀♀; W Java, Udjungkulon [Ujung Kulon N.P.], Tjilamar; 1 Nov.–31 Dec. 1958; A.M.R. Wegner leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH • 1 ♀; Sumatra, SE coast, Laut Tador; 29 Jan. 1949; R. Straatman leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH • 1 ♀; Banca [Bangka]; v.d. Bossche leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH • 1 ♀; Bangka Isl.; 14–19 Mar. 1955; J.v.d. Vecht leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1715641 • 1 ♀; Bangka, Toboali; 18 Jun. 1930; J.v.d. Vecht leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1715642 • 2 ♀♀; Banka, PK Pinang [Pangkalpinang]; 31 Oct. 1929; J.v.d. Vecht leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1715643, RMNH.INS.1715644 • 1 ♀; Borneo Exp., G. Kenepai [Gunung Kenepai]; 21–31 Dec. 1893; Dr J. Büttikofer leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1715627 • 1 ♀; Eil. Bunguran, Natuna; 1–31 May 1895; v. Yosfelt leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1715645 • 1 ♀; Kalang [Sidikalang, Sumatra]; Hillebrand leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1715622 • 3 ♂♂; W Java, Mt Panggerano [Pangrango], Tjisaroea Z. [Cisarua]; 1000 m a.s.l.; 3–4 Nov. 1941; M.A. Lieftinck leg.; M.A. Lieftinck det.; RMNH • 2 ♂♂; W Java, Buitenzorg [Bogor]; 250 m a.s.l.; 16 Apr. 1940; M.A. Lieftinck leg.; M.A. Lieftinck det.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1715638, RMNH.INS.1715639 • 1 ♂; W Java, Buitenzorg, Bogor; 250 m a.s.l.; 1–31 Jan. 1954; M.A. Lieftinck leg.; M.A. Lieftinck det.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1715637 • 1 ♀; Sipirok [remaining text illegible; Sumatra]; 1200 m a.s.l.; 20 Apr. 1996; R. Desmier de Chenon leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1715650 • 1 ♀; Sumatra, Sipirok, Tapanuli; 19 Sep. 1992; Dr Diehl leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1715651 • 1 ♀; E Borneo, Balikpapan, Mentawir River; 50 m a.s.l.; 1–31 Oct. 1950; A.M.R. Wegner leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH, RMNH.INS.1715658. UNCLEAR • 3 ♀♀; Borneo; 30 Apr. 1903; M.C. Piepers leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH • 1 ♀; Borneo; Muller leg.; T.J. Wood det.; RMNH. Type locality Borneo (Sarawak). Notes Baker (1993: 196) wrote the following: “ Two ♂♂ standing as insularis in the UMO type collection are labelled:- a) ‘SAR.’ [white disc], ‘ Xylocopa insularis Smith’ [blue paper, Smith], ‘Lectotype’ (printed, red), ‘X. Sg, Cyaneoderes insularis F. Sm, ♂ det. M.A. Lieftinck 1958 Lectotype’ and ‘ Cyaneoderes caerulea [sic] F. var. insularis Sm. Det. M.A. Lieftinck 1958 Lectotype!’. b) ‘SAR.’ [white disc], ‘ Xylocopa insularis Smith’ [blue paper, Smith] and ‘ X. (Cyaneoderes) caeruleiformis M.W, ♂ det. M. A, Lieftinck 1958 ’. [Maa, 1939: 94, gives caeruleiformis as a synonym of coerulea.] These ♂♂ may be regarded as syntypes of insularis and Lieftinck’s choice of lectotype may be confirmed [designation not published?: Hurd & Moure give no references for Lieftinck after 1957]. The lectotype is in fair condition, the distal segments of tarsi II and R tarsus III lost”. We agree with Baker’s position that Lieftinck’s lectotype designation is unpublished, and so we formally publish it here. Baker also listed X. insularis as a junior synonym of X. caerulea (Fabricius, 1804), but did not discuss this action or mark it with a “syn. nov.”. Given the examination of the lectotype, it is necessary to discuss the status of X. insularis and its treatment in the literature. At the present time, X. insularis is treated as specifically distinct from Xylocopa caerulea, two taxa exist that differ consistently in size, and are treated as distinct in areas where they co-occur, such as Singapore (Mawdsley 2016; Ascher et al. 2022). Although X. caerulea was nominally described from New Caledonia, a territory far to the east of its known distributional range (ending in Borneo and Java, e.g., see comments to this effect as early as Cockerell 1909), the use of this name in its current form and species concept is well established (e.g., Maa 1939; Hurd 1959; Mawdsley 2016). The type is considered lost (e.g., Maa 1939) and there is no record of its location in the catalogue of Fabrician types (Zimsen 1964: 415, entry 1076). It was not recovered during searches for Fabrician bee material from the Southeast Asian region (e.g., Lieftinck 1958), and no specimens are present in the Fabricius collection housed in Copenhagen based on modern searches (L. Vilhelmsen pers. com.). Given these circumstances, particularly the questionable geographic provenance of the specimen, there is zero benefit seen in overturning the current species concept at the present time. Consequently, it is desirable to designate a neotype. In line with the conditions of article 75.3 (ICZN 1999), this neotype is needed to decisively settle the status of this name, and to decisively confirm it as the oldest name within the subgenus Cyaneoderes Ashmead, 1899, and senior to other names that have been described from the western part of the Malay Archipelago, thus preserving nomenclatural stability. The selected specimen (Fig. 14) is from the island of Java (West Java, Ujung Kulon), which is not close to the nominal terra typica of New Caledonia, but as this location does not fall within the geographic range occupied by the species to which this name has been applied, the reported terra typica is considered irrelevant. The selected specimen is a female; no sex was specified in the original description. This neotype selection allows the name X. caerulea to continue to be applied in its current manner. The neotype is deposited in the RMNH collection (unique reference number: RMNH.INS.1715657). More pressingly, the recent revision of subgenus Cyaneoderes (Mawdsley 2016) has not resolved existing issues and has introduced new problems. Mawdsley considered five species to be valid within this subgenus, namely X. abbotti (Cockerell, 1909) described from Terong in Malaysia, X. bangkaensis Friese, 1903 described from Bangka Belitung Island next to Sumatra, X. caerulea, X. insularis, and X. tumida Friese, 1903 which was also described from Bangka Belitung Island. Mawdsley gives morphological criteria which other than size are related entirely to the colour and extent of the pubescence or the pigmentation of the wings (the latter more reliable for some groups of Xylocopa). He also states that males are only known for two of the five species (X. caerulea and X. insularis), but this is not the case for X. bangkaensis as Friese (1903: 206) described the species from three females and one male. Mawdsley (2016: 56) also refers to the holotype female of X. bangkaensis (without specifying the repository), but no holotype was indicated by Friese, and to our knowledge no lectotype has been designated. Moreover, Mawdsley repeats chresonomic lists (e.g., that of Maa 1939), without re-examining types; specifically he repeats the synonymy of: 1) X. caeruleiformis Meade-Waldo, 1914 described from Sarawak and synonymised with X. caerulea (Maa 1939), whereas an examination of the type (images now available from the NHMUK data portal) shows that due to the smaller body size, hyaline wings, and lateral fringes of T2–4 blue, under Mawdsley’s (2016: table 1) criteria this taxon would be conspecific with X. tumida, 2) Xylocopa caeruleiformis var. fusca Meade-Waldo, 1916 described from Sarawak (images likewise available) and synoymised with X. caerulea by Maa (1939), but would meet X. abbotti under Mawdsley’s criteria, and 3) X. coerulea var. viridis Meade-Waldo, 1916 described from Sarawak (images likewise available) and synoymised with X. caerulea by Maa (1939), this taxon being preoccupied by X. viridis Smith, 1854 and replaced by X. meadewaldoi Hurd, 1959; this taxon meeting X. caerulea under Mawdsley’s criteria. Given the names described from Sarawak (X. insularis, X. caeruleiformis, X. caeruleiformis var. fusca, and X. meadewaldoi), that under Mawdsley’s criteria would fit four species, it is beneficial to clarify how many taxa are actually present on the island of Borneo and surroundings in order to have a robust chresonomic framework for X. insularis. Examination of Cyaneoderes material in the RMNH collection (55 specimens, partim), including careful examination of males, examination of the lectotype of X. insularis, examination of type photographs, and careful reading of the description and diagnoses of species reveals that the five taxa of Mawdsley are just three taxa. These are a large-bodied species (20–28 mm in length) which shows a flattened clypeus with no longitudinal raised and shining ridge (Fig. 15A), a small-bodied species (15–19 mm in length) which shows a conspicuous raised, polished, and shining ridge on the clypeus (Fig. 15C, E), and a small-bodied species (15–19 mm in length) with a thin but distinctly raised longitudinal ridge on the clypeus (Fig. 15F). Whilst the name of the first taxon remains X. caerulea, the earliest available name for the smaller taxon with a raised and polished clypeal ridge is actually X. tumida. Smith (1857: 48) described the male of X. insularis as measuring 11 lines in length, and with a line equalling

Authors 4

1. Thomas James Wood Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR, Leiden, the Netherlands

2. Stephan Risch
   Affiliation as printed

   Imbacher Weg 59, Leverkusen, 51379, Germany

3. Michael C. Orr

   Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart

   Affiliation as printed

   Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, 70191, Stuttgart, Germany

4. J. E. Hogan

   University of Oxford

   Affiliation as printed

   Life Collections, Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford, OX 1 3 PW, UK