J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2015: Vol.

29 (2):373-375
(373) ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

DESCRIPTION OF BRAUNSAPIS CHANDRAI A NEW SPECIES OF GENUS

BRAUNSAPIS MICHENER (HYMENOPTERA, APOIDEA, APIDAE: XYLOCOPINAE:
ALLODAPINI) FROM SUNDERBANS IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA
Rajiv K Gupta1, *Gaurav Sharma and *P. Girish Kumar
Department of Zoology, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur 342005, India
*Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata 700053, India
[Corresponding author E-mail1: beesind@gmail.com]
Received: 01-09-2015 Accepted: 07-10-2015
Braunsapis chandraia new species of genus Braunsapis Michener (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Apidae: Xylocopinae: Allodapini),
collected from the Sunderbans (West Bengal), India has been described. There are ninety six species of this genus known from
all over World as on today. Out of which twenty one species were described from oriental region. The description of new species
follows its comparison with many related species of the genus.

Reyes while making revision of genus Braunsapis Michener
for the oriental region consolidated 19 species including 08
species described as new1. Later Michener & Borges (2003)
and Jobiraj (2004) added one each from southern part of India2.
These 21 oriental species were grouped as -breviceps group
: (3 spp.) B. breviceps (Cockerell), B. kaliago Reyes &
Sakagami and B. bislensis Michener & Borges; -mixta
group:(8 spp.):B. mixta (Smith), B. picitarsis (Cameron), B.
philippinensis (Ashmead), B.hewitti (Cameron), B. flaviventris
Reyes, B. palavanica (Cockerell), B. malliki Reyes, B. arabica
Engel and Dathe; - puangensis group: (1 spp.) B. puangensis
(Cockerell); - cupulifera group (10 spp.): B. cupulifera (Vachal),
B. clarihirta Reyes, B. apicalis Reyes, B. lateralis Reyes, B.
reducta (Cockerell), B. reversa (Cockerell), B. signata Reyes,
B.aurantipes Reyes, B. indica Reyes and B. engeli Jobiraj3.
Braunsapis aurantipes narendrani Jobiraj, 2004 was
considered as a synonym to B. aurentipes Reyes by Engel,et
al.3
This paper presents for the first time, a new species of this
genus Braunsapis chandrai collected from Sunderbans in West
Bengal (in India).
Braunsapis chandrai sp. nov. Gupta, Rajiv K. &
Sharma, Gaurav
Male(Plate 1, Figs 1 to 6) -
Measurements (in mm): Total length 6.20; Head - median
length (mid-ocellus to clypeal apical margin & maximum width
(between outer margins of eyes as in front view) 1.80 &1.6;
maximum width and median length of eye 1.76 & 0.6; scutum-
median length & maximum width 1.2 & 1.6; total length of
fore wing 5.0, - of submarginal cell 1.2.
Integument: Face with coarse, shallow but sparse punctures,
thorax with fine - close and abdomen with very fine and close
punctures; black with slight redness on scape, margin of
clypeus, mandibles, propodeum, basal part of abdomen and
fine tergal margin lines. Pubescence distinct and plumose at
genae, vertex, on lateral surface of pronotum, lateralo-apical
angle of scutum, metanotum, first tergal apical rim lateral
surface; short erect and white on general body surface; T6
and 7 with simple black discal bristles.
Morphological description: Black in general punctured;
legs, posterior region of thorax and abdomen with slight
redness; apex of fore wings little fuscous near apex and with
longitudinal stripes of pale, green and pink shades (Fig.-4);
paraocular area, clypeus, pronotum, tegulae, legs variegated
with pale-yellow maculations.Head longer than its maximum
width; pale integumental maculation on nearly anterior area
of the clypeus, shaped as in fig.- 01; paraocular area almost
completely, excluding small upper area, extending below upto
the laterad of the clypeal apical margin pale maculated; clypeus
flat, with distinct punctures, so as supraclypeal area; mid
facial area with carinaebeginning from below the median ocellus
slightly converging below up to antennal sockets; scape of
antenna slightly broader on apex; first flagellar segment
integment pale (not maculated), rest of segments brownish
with a fine pile of pubescence.Mandibular margin black, surface
brownish-red without any pale maculation; labrum brownish.
Transverse linear pronotal maculation broadly-interrupted at
middle, quite close to scutum basal margin, itslateral
extenstion with almost triangled maculation (Figs.-2,3); tegular

NAAS Rating (2016)-4.20

 DESCRIPTION OF BRAUNSAPIS CHANDRAIA NEW SPECIES (374)

Braunsapis chandrai Gupta & Sharma sp. nov.; Holotype – Male

Figure-1. Face (yellowish background is due to light Figure-2. Thorax & base of abdomen DV
reflected by mirror of comp. microscope)

Figure-3. Head LV & base of thorax Figure-4. Fore wing

Figure-5. Tarsi in ventral view Figure-6. Basal part of Abdomen DV

(375) GUPTA, SHARMA AND KUMAR
maculation towards anterior surface; scutum surface with fine-
shallow and closely placedpunctures; propodeal triangle
posterio-laterally carinate with a smooth shinning preceeding
area before the carinae (Fig.-2), integument with redness;
fore tibial outer surface as well as adjacent metatarsi
completely maculated; base of middle tibia and adjacent
metatarsi maculated except apex of metatarsi; middle tibial
spur translucent and rest black with slight redness;hind tibia
basally not swollen, slight so as normal feature (Fig.-5).
Abdomen black; basal tergite with redness; tergal margins
shining red;first tergal disc with few laterally confined plumost
hairsbefore dorsal surface laterally and near apical rim area
(Fig.-6); rest of the terga with few scattered simple hairs;
gonostyli of penis slightly broader at apexeach with four
bristles branched at apices.
Female: Not known
Material examined: Holotype: Male: Dabanki, S-24 Pargana
Distt., Sunderbans B. R.; West Bengal; 03.viii.2013; Coll.
Gaurav Sharma; [Holotype male shall be placed at the National
Museum of Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata].
No more Paratypes.
Etymology: Named to recognize work of Dr. Kailash Chandra,
Scientist F andthe Director, Zoological Survey of India, H.Q.
Kolkata, a well known entomologist and a very old friend of
the first author.
REMARKS
The new species described above is very much different from
the known species from oriental region. The median length
(from median ocellus to apical margin of clypeus) of head is
greater than maximum width (between outer margins of eyes
as seen in front view). This feature distinctly distinguish B.
chandrai from all the rest of species known. Hind femur basally
not swollen, is another feature that differentiate it from less
wider head bearing east Asian species such as B. palavanica,
B. hewetti. Other Indian species which have black mandibles
are B. picitarsis and B. mixta, however, their parocular marks
have verly much different shapes; apices of gonosyli each
with four bristles branched at apices.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors thank the Head, Department of Zoology, JNV
University, Jodhpur for the provided laboratory facilities.The
photographs of holotype were shot using Leica Compound
Microscope attached Microphotographic Instrument by curtsey
of Prof. (Dr.) R. K. Kaul at Central Arid Zone Research Institute
(CAZRI), Jodhpur. The University Grants Commission, New
Delhi is thanked for the provided financial assistance through
its Project No. 41-158/ 2012 (SR) sanctioned to the First
Author.
REFERENCES
1. Reyes, S. G. (1991). In: University of Kansas Science Bulletin
54: 179.
2. Michener, C. D. et. al., (2003). Journal of the Kansas
Entomological Society 76(3): 518.
3. Engel, M. S., et. al., (2014). In: American Museum Novitates
3801: 1.