Sherub Doenme: The Research Journal of Sherubtse College 2021, Vol. 14 1-4 New record of cornutaGribodo, 1891(: ) in Bhutan Tshering Nidup1*, Sonam Tobgay2, Karma Wangchuck3, Wim Klein4 & Phurpa Dorji5 1,2,3Centre for Science and Environmental Research, Sherubtse College 4Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The Netherlands 5Gross National Happiness Commission, Thimphu *corresponding email: [email protected] Received: 15 November 2020, Accepted: 15 January 2021, Published Online: 21 February 2021 ©Sherubtse College 2021

Abstract Through the study of 11 specimens, Ctenoplectra cornutaGribodo, 1891 is described from Bhutan for the first time. This is also the first report from the South Asian region. C. cornuta is collected from Thladiantha cordifolia and were seen pollinating from the month of June-November. Some of the specimens were collected from the orchid species, Dendrobium nobile and its role as pollinator in this particular and other orchid species’ needs further investigation. Bhutan needs to accelerate the documentation of the fauna while the world is in the record of declining the bee diversity. Key words: Bhutan, Ctenoplectra, bee, pollination

Introduction Species’ of Ctenoplectra are recorded from The tribe Ctenoplectrini is under the different countries of , Australia and subfamily of Family Apidae (Michener, . Countries that reported Ctenoplectra 2007). Ctenoplectrini originated in Africa in in Asia are Bangladesh, Indonesia (Engel, Early Eocene and the genus Ctenoplectra Kirby 2007), China, Malaysia, Philippines, Russia dispersed twice from Africa to Asia in the Late (Michener, 2007), Myanmar (Bingham, 1897), Eocene, where one species reached Australia Taiwan and Vietnam (Sung, Dubitzky, Eardley via Indonesia and New Zealand (Schaefer & & Yamane, 2009). However, C. cornutaGribodo, Renner, 2008).Ctenoplectrini comprise of two 1891, is reported only from Asian countries of genera, Ctenoplectra Kirby and Ctenoplectrina Myanmar, China and Taiwan (Bingham, 1897; Cockerell (Michener 2007), with nine species Sung, Dubitzky, Eardley & Yamane, 2009). in tropical Africa and ten in Asia and Australia. There exist no report of this genus and species Six Ctenoplectra species are found in Africa, from South Asian countries of Bhutan, India, nine in Asia and single species in Australia Nepal and Sri Lanka. (Engel, 2007; Schaefer & Renner 2008). Ctenoplectrina Cockerell comprise of only two The specimens were collected as part of species and are presumably cleptoparasitic invertebrate documentation project which genus whereas the females of the genus was funded by Bhutan Trust for Environmental CtenoplectraKirby (ca. 24 species’ in this Conservation (BTFEC). Specimens were genus) is oligolectic (floral oil collector) mainly collected using sweep net and euthanized collecting oil from the plants of with ethyl acetate. Collected specimens were family, with the help of various morphological mounted, dried and preserved in the modification (Engel, 2007; Schaefer & Renner, box in the dry environment. Photographs 2008). Floral oils are mainly used for the nest were taken with the NIKON3200 with attached cell lining (Schaefer & Renner, 2008). macro 40mm lens. Total body length (TBL) was measured from anterior part of head to tip

Short Communication 1 Sherub Doenme: The Research Journal of Sherubtse College 2021, Vol. 14 1-4 of the metasoma. Measurements were done dense sternal fringes (not prominent in male using digital Vernier caliper to two decimal of C. cornuta) (figure 1, D), apical margins of points. Identifications were based on Gribodo fourth and fifth sternum deeply emarginate (1891), Bingham (1897). (Michener, 2007).

Results and Discussion Diagnosis: Female (figure 1, A): Through the study of 6 males and 5 females, Black; head narrower than thorax and finely Ctenoplectra cornutaGribodo, 1891 is but densely punctate; paraocular protuberance described from Bhutan for the first time. This prominent (figure 1, B); shiny abdomen; larger is also the first report from the South Asian than males; measurement: mean=8.87mm, region. C. cornuta is collected from Thladiantha SD=0.31mm. Male (figure 1, E): black, similar cordifolia orchid species, Dendrobium nobile. to female; tibial spur not lunate; smaller than female; measurement: 7.85mm, SD=0.64mm. Ctenoplectra cornutaGribodo, 1891 (Figure 1, C.cornuta is differentiated from other Asiatic A-F) species’, C. apicalis, C. chalybea and C. elsei, by Ctenoplectra cornutaGribodo, 1891, p. 102; having black metasomal terga and small size Bingham, 1897, p. 462; Wu, 1965, p. 44; Wu, (5-9mm), rather than metallic blue or bluish 2000, p. 367; Scrapter tuberculiceps Strand, purple and medium size (8.9mm-17mm). It is 1913, p. 36; Ctenoplectra tuberculiceps Strand: also differentiated from black species, C. davidi, Popov, 1936, p. 80; Popov, 1956, p. 969; Vogel, by having prominent praraocular protuberance 1990, p. 134; Ctenoplectra cockerelli Popov, in female (Engel, 2007; Sung, Dubitzky, Eardley Popov and Guiglia, 1936, p. 281. syn. nov. & Yamane, 2009). These paraocular (two) protuberance under each antennae next to the Ctenoplectra Kirby is different from clypeus are short but robust in the shape of Ctenoplectrina Cockerell in having scopa horizontal horns, somewhat diverging (figure of long simple hairs, hind tibial spur long 1, B) (Gribodo, 1891). Ventral segments ciliated and lunate with its margin finely comb-like with fuscous hairs (figure 1, D); wings hyaline in females (figure 1, C); hind tibia triangular but nervures fuscous (Bingham, 1897). and broadest at apex. Females also has long

Table 1: Measurements of C. cornuta in millimeters (mm) Specimen reference No. Sex Host plant TBL NBCB00324 T. cordifolia 7.59 NBCB00325 D. nobile 9.02 NBCB00326 D. nobile 7.53 NBCB00327 D. nobile 6.94 NBCB00328 D. nobile 8.15 NBCB00321 Unknown 7.92 NBCB00318 Unknown 9.03 NBCB00319 Unknown 8.27 NBCB00320 Unknown 8.95 NBCB00322 T. cordifolia 9.17 NBCB00323 T. cordifolia 8.95

Short Communication 2 Sherub Doenme: The Research Journal of Sherubtse College 2021, Vol. 14 1-4 Materials examined thorax. They are found to be very possessive NBCB00318, NBCB00319, 26.x.2015, 2 female, of their territory and often seen in combat Kapatapsa, Wangdi Phodrang (N27o42’39” & trying to defend the flower. They are very swift E89o45’54”, 1476m), coll. Phurpa Dorji & Wim flying bee. Since four males were collected Klein; NBCB00320, 06.viii.2016, 1 female, from orchid species, Dendrobium nobile, its Mabisa, Chhukha (N27o04’09” & E89o33’37”, role as pollinator in the particular species and 1799m), leg. Tshering Nidup & Wim Klein; other orchids needs to be studied. NBCB00321, 15.iv. 2016, 1 male, Panbang, Zhemgang (N26o50’36” & E90o59’34”, 390m), Conclusion leg. Phurpa Dorji, Thinley Gyeltshen & Tshering C. cornuta is reported from three Asian Nidup; NBCB00322, NBCB00323, 2 females, countries of Myanmar (Shan hill), China and NBCB00324, 1 male, Kanglung, Trashigang Taiwan (Bingham, 1897; Sung, 2009). This (N27o17’14.5’’ E91o31’18.6’’, 1823m), leg. paper reports Ctenoplectra cornuta for the Tshering Nidup from Sherubtse Gene Park first time in Bhutan from Wangdi Phodrang, from Thladiantha cordifolia; NBCB00325, Chhukha, Zhemgang and Trashigang districts. NBCB00326, NBCB00327, NBCB00328, 4 This is also the first report of C. cornuta from males, Kanglung, Trashigang (N27o17’14.5’’ South Asia. C. cornuta is found to pollinate E91o31’18.6’’, 1823m), leg. Tshering Nidup T. cordifolia however, its role as pollinator from the private orchid garden from the orchid in orchid species need further study. This Dendrobium nobile. is the preliminary report on this type of bee and warrants further study to document the Pollination congeneric species and other bee fauna in The documentation of this bee is important Bhutan keeping in mind the benefits of bee to because Thladiantha species, like T. cordifolia, human through the pollination services. T. hookeri, T. pustulatavar. pustulata, T. punctate and T. nudiflora are mainly pollinated Acknowledgement by C.cornuta in the month of June and July The authors would like to thank National (Sung, 2009) where in some parts of the world Biodiversity Center, Bhutan Trust Fund for fruits and leaves are used as vegetable (Misra Environmental conservation and Sherubtse &S ahoo, 2014) including Bhutan although it is College management for the logistics. not documented. Remarkably T. cordifolia, the Himalayan golden creeper, is found growing References luxuriantly in warm broad-leaved forest Bingham, C.T. (1897). The Fauna of British of Chhukha, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar, India including Ceylon and Burma–Hyme- Punakha (Grierson & Long, 1991), Thomang noptera–Volume I. Wasps and . Taylor drak (Phuntsho, 2016) and Threulpang (Rinzin, and Francis, London 2017), in Trongsa, Tingtibi in Zhemgang Cockerell, T. D. A. (1930). African bees of the (Wangchuk, 2016), Kanglung in Trashigang, family Ctenoplectridae from the Belgian districts of Bhutan, distributed from 1500m Congo and Liberia ( Apoidea). - 2300m (Grierson &Long, 1991). In the Gene Rev. Zool. Bot. Africa, 18: 358–363. Park maintained by Sherubtse College, T. Duba, D. (2018, April 26). Bhutan Biodiver- cordifolia is very abundant and flowers from sity Portal. Retrieved from https://biodi- June to November. During the flowering versity.bt/observation/show/59276?spe- season of the T. cordifolia, C. cornuta were cies%3DThladiantha%20cordifolia on Sep- seen abundantly hopping from one flower to tember, 2019. another, even during the rainy days. They are spotted carrying pollens on the mesonotum of Engel, M.S. (2007). A new Ctenoplectrine bee

Short Communication 3 Sherub Doenme: The Research Journal of Sherubtse College 2021, Vol. 14 1-4 from Sulawesi (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Rinzin, S. (2017). Bhutan Biodiversity Portal. Acta Entomol. Slov. 15 (1): 31–46. Retrieved from https://biodiversity.bt/ob- Gribodo, G. (1891) Contribuzioniimenottero- servation/show/49255?species%3DTh- logiche, Sopraalcune specie nuove, o po- ladiantha%20cordifoliaon September 7, coconosciute, di imenotteriantofili (Gener- 2019. iCtenoplectra, Xylocopa, Centris, Psithyrus, Schaefer, H. & Renner, S.S. (2008). A phyloge- Trigona, e Bombus). BolletinodellaSoci- ny of the oil bee tribe Ctenoplectrini (Hyme- etàEntomologicaItaliana (Florence) 23, noptera: Anthophila) based on mitochon- 102–119. (In Italian.) drial and nuclear data: Evidence for Early Grierson, A.J.C. & Long, D.G. (1991). Flora of Eocene divergence and repeated out-of-Af- Bhutan. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, rica dispersal. Molecular Phylogenetics 2(1): 251-252. and Evolution, 47: 799–811. Michener, C.D. (2007). The Bees of the World Sung, H., Dubitzky, A., Eardley, C., Yamane, S. (2nd edition). John Hopkins University (2009). Descriptions and biological notes of Press, Baltimore, 953 pp. Ctenoplectra bees from Southeast Asia and Taiwan (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Ctenoplec- Misra, R.C, &Sahoo, H.K. (2014). Thladian- trini) with a new species from North Bor- tha Bunge (Cucurbitaceae): A new Genus neo. Entomological Science, 12: 324–340. from Odisha and Central India. VEGE- doi:10.1111/j.1479-8298.2009.00340.x TOS, 27(3): 274-278. DOI: 10.5958/2229- 4473.2014.00099.8 Wangchuk, T. (2016). Bhutan Biodiversity Por- tal. Retrieved from https://biodiversity.bt/ Phuntsho (2016).Bhutan Biodiversity Portal. observation/show/10005?species%3DTh- Retrieved from https://biodiversity.bt/ob- ladiantha%20cordifoliaon September 7, servation/show/12140 on September 7, 2019. 2019.

Figure 1: A-D & F- Female Ctenoplectra cornuta (A-dorsal view, B- paraocular protuberance, C-hind tibia, D- sternal fringes), E-male C. cornuta, F-female on the flower of T. cordifolia (scale: 1 division=1mm)

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