9. Megachile tuberculata Smith, 1857

Fig. 8

Megachile tuberculata Smith, 1857: 46, ♀.

Type material examined

MALAYSIA • 1 ♀; Sar. [Sarawak]; [29 Oct. 1854 – 10 Feb. 1856]; OUMNH, ENT-HYME2770 (lectotype indicated by Baker 1993, de facto lectotype by present designation).

Other material examined

INDONESIA • 1 ♂; Mentawai, Siberut N; 3 Apr. 2005; S. Jakl leg.; S. Risch det.; SRC • 4 ♀♀; Kalimantan, Kembang Djangut; 30 Sep.–24 Nov. 1956; A.M.R. Wegner leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 1 ♀; Kalimantan, Nunukan; 1–31 Dec. 1953; R. Heurig leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 1 ♀; Kalimantan, Samarinda, Muara Kaman; 1–30 Nov. 1950; A.M.R. Wegner leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 1 ♀; Kalimantan, Tabang, Bongen River; 24 Nov. 1956; A.M.R. Wegner leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 1 ♀; Kalimantan, Balikpapan, Moan River; 1–30 Nov. 1950; M.S. Walsh leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 2 ♀♀; Sumatra, Medan; 6 Mar. 1939; v.d. Laan leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 1 ♂; Sumatra, SE-Küste, Laut Tador; 90 m a.s.l.; 28 Mar. 1958; R. Straatman leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 1 ♂; Sumatra, P. Weh, Sabang; 25 Sep. 1938; M.A. Lieftinck leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 3 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; Sumatra, Oosthaven [Bandar Lampung]; 29 Mar. 1937; J.v.d. Vecht leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 2 ♀♀; Banka, Soengerliat [Sunga Liat]; 22 Mar. 1931; J.v.d. Vecht leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 1 ♀; Mentawai Islands, Siberut; 15 Sep. 1924; H.H. Karny leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 2 ♀♀; W Java, Mt Pannggerango, Tjisaroen z. [Cisarua]; 6 Jun. 1948; M.A. Lieftinck leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 1 ♂; W Java, Gunung Megamendoeng; 19 Mar. 1919; M.A. Lieftinck leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 1 ♀; W Java, Bogor, Mimanggu; 22 Mar. 1956; Hamann leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 1 ♂; Java, Bogor; 16 Nov. 1952; J.v.d. Vecht leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 1 ♀; Java, Buitenzorg; 14 Apr. 1940; M.A. Lieftinck leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 1 ♀; C Java, res. Kedoe Mt Tetamojo, Pagergoenoeng; 1000 m a.s.l.; 30 Oct. 1939; M.A. Lieftinck leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH.

MALAYSIA • 3 ♀♀; Sabah, Road Ranau-Telupid; 11 Feb. 2010; S. Risch leg.; S. Risch det.; SRC • 1 ♀; Sabah, Road Kota Marudu-Serinsim; 3 Apr. 1999; P. Hartmann leg.; S. Risch det.; SRC • 1 ♀; Sabah, 60 km W Lahad Datu, Danum Valley field Centre; 150 m a.s.l.; 20 Oct. 1987; A.M.R. Wegner leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH • 1 ♀; Penang Island, Feringgi Batu; 28 Feb. 1963; M.A. Lieftinck leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH.

THAILAND • 1 ♀; Koh Samui, Mae Nam; 7–16 Feb. 2006; S. Risch leg.; S. Risch det.; SRC • 1 ♀; Pattaya, 150 km SE Bangkok; A.C.J. Buroers leg.; S. Risch det.; RMNH.

Type locality

Borneo (Sarawak).

Notes

In the material examined, we give here only specimens matching the yellow-winged form, i.e., M. tuberculata s. str. We treat Megachile clotho Smith, 1860 as a junior synonym, see Section 58, and examined specimens displaying black wings (i.e., M. clotho) are listed under that species.

Baker (1993: 195) wrote the following:

“ Two ♀♀ of this taxon, both from Saunders’ collection, are present in the UMO type collection. One, labelled ‘Java’, confused with Chalicodoma (Eumegachilana) monticolum (Smith, 1853), can have no type status and has been so labelled. The second, labelled ‘SAR.’ [white disc] and ‘ Megachile tuberculata Smith’ [blue paper, Smith]. bears also a note making the extraordinary statement: ‘This is not the type - does not fit description - Type in B.M. Mitchell - 1956’. The specimen in fact agrees exactly in every detail with Smith’s description, and, further (vide introduction to this section, 5.9.5, with footnote 3, and comment under 5.9-5), since Smith was specifically describing material in W.W. Saunders’ collection, the type was primarily to be sought in that collection, given that syntypes might be found elsewhere (scil., in Smith’s own and the B.M. collections). [It may be noted here that a wider dispersal of original series is generally unlikely: Wallace appears rarely, if ever, to have taken more than a very few specimens of any species of bee (a common experience for nonspecialist collectors in Malesia). Any specimens remaining in Stevens’ hands after Saunders’, Smith’s and the B.M.’s purchases would have been few in number and, since, in general, purchasers would have provided their own labels (cf. 5.9.4), usually limited to localities, and probably now unrecognizable.] In the present instance, a syntype similarly labelled ‘SAR.’ does exist in NHM (B.M. Type Hym. 17 a 2840), but preference in the selection of a lectotype must be accorded the Saunders/ UMO specimen. The latter is now formally designated as LECTOTYPE of Megachile tuberculata Smith, 1857, and has been labelled accordingly; the NHM specimen has been labelled as a paralectotype [22 Sep 84]”.

The OUMNH specimen indicated by Baker was not labelled as the lectotype; this has now been rectified, and we formally publish this designation. The OUMNH specimen is favoured as it bears one of Smith’s blue handwritten labels. The NHMUK was equally not labelled by Baker as a paralectotype, but it may be considered as such.

Current status

Megachile (Callomegachile) tuberculata Smith, 1857 (Ascher & Pickering 2024).

Distribution

India, Bhutan, Thailand, Malaysia (Peninsula, Borneo), Singapore, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, North Maluku, Maluku, Papua s. lat.), Philippines, Papua New Guinea (Baltazar 1966; Baker 1993; Ascher et al. 2022; Ascher & Pickering 2024; current study). This includes Megachile clotho Smith, 1860 as a junior synonym, see Section 58.