This is an uncommon genus that superficially resembles the more widely distributed Elaphropoda Lieftinck, species which are often more reddish in color. Unlike Elaphropoda the third submarginal cell is about as wide anteriorly as it is posteriorly (the cell is wider posteriorly in Elaphropoda); the clypeus is only moderately convex and not greatly protuberant, extending only about one-half the compound eye width, or less, in front of the compound eye when viewed in profile (except in the new species); male hind leg unmodified, metatrochanter lacking a rounded projection (hind leg of male enlarged, metatrochanter with broadly rounded projection in Elaphropoda); and tergum VII and sternum VI of the male not attenuate, apex of tergum VI of male with apical truncation weakly emarginate medially, and sternum VII of male with disc broader than long and lacking an apical process (tergum VII and sternum VI somewhat attenuate, tergum VI not emarginate, and sternum VII slightly broader than long and with apical process present in Elaphropoda) (Michener 2007; Engel 2018). Table 1 gives a summary of species currently included in Habrophorula, including species treated in this study, and with information on the known sexes and distribution.

Recently, Orr et al. (2022) treated the monotypic Varthemapistra Engel, 2008 as a synonym of Habrophorula. However, such a decision seems ill-advised at present, especially given that representatives of all anthophorine genera were included in the analysis with the exception of Varthemapistra, the sole specimen of which was also never examined by the authors. Engel (2018) did note that Varthemapistra might eventually be considered a subgenus of Habrophorula but in the absence of cladistic evidence for its placement as within or sister to Habrophorula or even a more inclusive clade of Habrophorula and other genera, any decision regarding its ultimate classification should await the discovery of additional specimens, particularly the currently unknown male. The simple female mandible of Varthemapistra edentata Engel, 2018 is not the result of wear as is easily evident from the holotype (which also does not show other signs of usual wear) and that both mandibles are identical (refer to Engel 2018: fig. 4 and discussion therein). The simple mandible is unique among anthophorines and, as such, while distinctive, is an autapomorphy. Varthemapistra was distinguished from Habrophorula and other anthophorines not only on the autapomorphic absence of mandibular teeth but also characters of the clypeus, metatibia, and especially forewing. It therefore seems groundless and unwarranted to place V. edentata in Habrophorula without cladistic evidence indicating the former renders the latter paraphyletic. Thus, given its unique suite of characters, its unique biogeographic occurrence relative to species of Habrophorula, and the possibility that it may be sister to Habrophorula (in which case its recognition as a genus or a distinctive subgenus serves to emphasize its unique characters and distribution), we retain the genus as distinct from Habrophorula.

This species can be distinguished from among its congeners by the clypeus and supraclypeal area rather convex, extending in front of the compound eye almost as much as the compound eye width in profile, in this respect resembling the genus Elaphropoda (but can be distinguished from this genus by all of the other aforementioned characters). It could be easily confused with other species of Habrophorula, if ignoring the more protuberant clypeus, which have black legs and black apical margins of the metasomal terga, but differs in the fine clypeal markings of the female, the setal coloration of the male, and the male terminalia (Figs 18–21). Males could be confused with H. nigripes Wu except for the clypeal markings and setal coloration (vide key, infra) and, most notably, in the differences of the terminalia (cf. Wu 2000: fig. 186), particularly the forms of the hidden sterna. The terminalia somewhat resemble those of H. nubilipennis except in the new species sternum VII is narrower, sternum VIII is deeply concave medioapically, and the gonostylar setae are denser and more elongate.

Holotype. Vietnam: ♀, Cao Bang, Nguyen Binh, Phan Thanh, Salmon Station 2, Phia Oac−Phia Den National Park, 22°35′28′′N, 105°51′20′′E, alt. 1046 m, 2.vi.2023 [2 June 2023], NT Tran leg. (IEBR). Paratypes. Vietnam: 23♀♀, same data as holotype (IEBR, 2♀♀ AMNH); 2.vii.2022 [2 July 2022]; 1♀, Cao Bang, Nguyen Binh, Phan Thanh, Phia Oac-Phia Den NP, 22°35′03′′N, 105°51′40′′E, alt. 944 m, 9.vi.2020 [9 June 2020], LX Truong, LTP Nguyen, CQ Nguyen, HD Nguyen, NT Tran, TV Mai, UTP Tran leg.; 8♂♂, Nguyen Binh, Phan Thanh, Ca My Station of Resources Protection, Phia Oac−Phia Den National Park, 22°38′30′′N, 105°50′59′′E, alt. 1009 m, 7.vi.2020 [7 June 2020], LX Truong, LTP Nguyen, CQ Nguyen, HD Nguyen, NT Tran, TV Mai, UTP Tran leg. (IEBR, 2♂♂ AMNH); 18♂♂, alt. 1009 m, 3.vi.2023 [3 June 2023], NT Tran leg.

♀: Total body length 12 mm, forewing length 9 mm.

Structure. Head broader than long, about 1.4× as broad as long, head length 3.1 mm, width 4.4 mm (Fig. 3); compound eyes about 2× genal width; mandible with three teeth (as preserved, teeth relatively worn apically, and preapical tooth nearly completely worn) (Fig. 7); clypeus broader than long, about 1.5× as broad as long; clypeus and supraclypeal area rather convex, extending in front of compound eye almost as much as compound eye width in profile (unique to genus); labrum apically with small median emargination; scape slender, about 3.5× as long as broad, pedicel approximately 1.1× as broad as long and about 0.4× length of F1, F1 longer than broad and approximately 2× length of F2, F3–9 ascending in length, F3–5, F6–7, and F8–9 subequal in length, F10 longest flagellomere, about 1.4× as long as broad (Fig. 8). Mesosoma approximately as broad as long; mesoscutellum short and with apical margin rounded, not overhanging metanotum (Fig. 2). Forewing with three submarginal cells, first and third submarginal cells broader than second submarginal cell, 1m-cu entering near apex of second marginal cell (Fig. 9). Metabasitibial plate large (Fig. 1). Metasoma rather heart-shaped (Fig. 2); pygidial plate large, rounded apically (Fig. 10).

Figures 1, 2. 

Habrophorula belladeceptrix sp. nov., female 1 habitus, lateral view 2 habitus, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figures 3–6. 

Facial marks variation of Habrophorula belladeceptrix sp. nov., female 3 holotype 4–6 paratypes. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figures 7–10. 

Habrophorula belladeceptrix sp. nov., female 7 mandible, latero-dorsal view 8 left antenna 9 left forewing 10 pygidial plate, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (7, 8); 1 mm (9, 10).

Sculpturing and texture. Clypeus and supraclypeal area with dense, coarse punctures, such punctures becoming elongate apically to give surface a wrinkled appearance (Fig. 3); paraocular area below antennal torulus with punctures similar to elongate punctures of clypeus except shallow and more spaced; frons and vertex with small, round, dense punctures separated by less than a puncture width, such punctures in ocellocular area becoming sparse, integument between punctures smooth; gena with dense, elongate punctures. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with large, round, dense punctures separated by much less than a puncture width; metanotum with punctures similar to mesoscutellum except smaller, such punctures becoming fainter mesally and integument more imbricate; pleura with punctures similar to mesoscutum except contiguous; basal area of propodeum wholly vertical, scarcely differentiated from posterior surface, with punctures similar to mesoscutellum on basal area and lateral and posterior surfaces. Metasomal terga with small, round, punctures separated by a puncture width, integument between smooth and matte, such punctures denser in apical marginal zones and progressively so laterally on each tergum and on more apical terga; sterna with coarser punctures than those of terga, separated by less than a puncture width, smaller and denser toward apical marginal zones, narrow apical margins impunctate, pregradular surfaces impunctate and imbricate.

Color. Labrum brown, except yellowish mark medially (Fig. 3); mandible with yellow mark basally, then brown to black on remainder (Fig. 7); paraocular area with yellowish marking extending along inner margin to level of antennal toruli, except black spot on upper side of clypeus; clypeus black, except inverted yellowish T-shaped mark medially and apically, and brown mark apically; supraclypeal area with small yellowish mark medially (Fig. 3). Yellowish marks of labrum, clypeus and paraocular area variety in paratypes (Figs 4–6). Remainder of integument black.

Pubescence. Clypeus with some short, yellowish setae intermixed with black setae latero-apically; paraocular area with short, yellowish setae intermixed with sparse black setae; scape with long, brownish black setae; face above antennal torulus with yellowish tuft of setae (Fig. 3); vertex with long, blackish setae; occiput with long, yellowish, dense setae. Mesosoma with long, dense, yellowish setae intermixed with blackish setae anteriorly and yellowish setae laterally (Figs 1, 2), such setae sparse to absent on disc. Coxae and trochanters with dense, yellowish setal tufts ventrally; outer surface of mesotibia and mesobasitarsus with long, yellowish-orange setae, inner surface of mesobasitarsus with short, dense, orange setae; outer surface of metatibia and metabasitarsus with yellowish-orange scopal setae. Apical margins of metasomal T1–3 with short, yellowish setal bands, interrupted medially; T4 with short setal band apically; T5 with long, dense, orange setae (Fig. 2); T6 covered with orange setae lateral to pygidial plate (Fig. 10); S2–4 apical margins with long, sparse, yellowish-orange setae; S5 apical margin with long, dense, orange setae; S6 apically with orange setal tufts.

♂: Total body length about 10 mm, forewing length 9 mm. Head in facial view with yellowish marks as in Figs 13–15; mandible with three teeth, prominent preapical tooth and two long apical teeth (Fig. 14); antenna with scape about 2.5× as long as broad, F1 approximately 0.8× length of F2, F3–10 subequal in length, F11 longest flagellomere (Fig. 15); forewing as in Fig. 16; T7 with apical margin concave medially to form short, broad, paramedial lobes (Fig. 17). Male terminalia as in Figs 18–21.

Sculpturing as described for female (vide supra) except coarse punctures of sterna sparser.

Integument black except mandible largely yellow with black apex, labrum yellow with basolateral ovals of semitranslucent brown; clypeus with large, inverted-T-shaped yellow marking; paraocular area below antennal torulus pale yellow to off-white, somewhat diaphanous; venter of scape with yellow longitudinal stripe.

Metasomal T1 basally and laterally with relatively long, yellowish-orange setae; T1–T5 apically with short, yellowish-orange to yellowish setal bands, broadly interrupted medially (Figs 11, 12).

Figures 11, 12. 

Habrophorula belladeceptrix sp. nov., male 11 habitus, lateral view 12 habitus, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figures 13–17. 

Habrophorula belladeceptrix sp. nov., male 13 head, facial view 14 labrum and mandible, dorsal view 15 left antenna. 16 right forewing 17 metasomal tergum VII, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (14, 17); 1 mm (13, 15, 16).

Figures 18–21. 

Habrophorula belladeceptrix sp. nov., male terminalia 18 metasomal sternum VII 19 metasomal sternum VIII 20 genitalia, dorsal view 21 genitalia, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

The specific epithet is a combination of the Latin adjectives bellā, meaning, “beautiful”, and dēceptrix, meaning, “she who deceives”.

This species was collected exclusively from Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park, Cao Bang Province (Figs 22, 25). Females were collected from flowers of Saurauia roxburghii Wall. (Fig. 23) and Saurauia napaulensis DC. (Actinidiaceae) (Fig. 24), which are relatively common on the sides of roads. Its associated sex was recorded from flowers of Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) (Fig. 26).

Figures 22–26. 

Habitat and floral associations of Habrophorula belladeceptrix sp. nov. in Vietnam 22 habitat where females were found 23 flowers of Saurauia roxburghii Wall. (Actinidiaceae) at which females were collecting 24 flowers of Saurauia napaulensis DC. (Actinidiaceae) at which females were collected 25 habitat where males were found 26 flowers of Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae).