Lasioglossum (Dialictus) miltolepoides, Gardner & Gibbs, 2020

Gardner, Joel & Gibbs, Jason, 2020, The ‘ red-tailed’ Lasioglossum (Dialictus) (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) of the western Nearctic, European Journal of Taxonomy 725, pp. 1-242 : 142-147

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) miltolepoides sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:93B5EE64-174D-455C-B8C2-10F6BA154B6A

Figs 61–63 , 90I , 97B , 103B , 113A

Diagnosis

Females of Lasioglossum miltolepoides sp. nov. can be recognized by the acarinarial fan absent, T1 anterior surface with sparse erect hairs, mesepisternum rugulose, metasoma partially or entirely reddish brown, and ocelli normal. They are most similar to Lasioglossum microlepoides ( Ellis, 1914) and L. eophilus . Females of L. microlepoides have the metasoma metallic green, scutum with stronger dull microsculpture, and metasomal terga with less extensive tomentum. Females of L. eophilus have the ocelli enlarged (separated by about 0.5 OD), mesepisternum strongly rugose, acarinarial fan sparse but present, and metasomal terga with more extensive tomentum.

Males of L. miltolepoides sp. nov. can be recognized by the clypeus shiny and sparsely punctate (i =1–4 pd) and without a non-metallic apical band, face entirely lacking tomentum, mesepisternum often dull or rugulose, T1 anterior surface with abundant erect hair and sparse appressed hair, metasomal sterna with relatively short hair (1–1.5 OD), and metasoma mostly dark. They are most similar to L. microlepoides , L. rufornatum sp. nov., and L. minckleyi sp. nov. Males of L. microlepoides have the metasoma metallic green. Males of L. rufornatum sp. nov. have the metasomal sterna with long hair (2–4 OD), face and metasomal terga with dense tomentum, T1 anterior surface with erect hair limited to lateral margins, and metasomal terga metallic at least in part. Males of L. minckleyi sp. nov. have the face below eye emargination covered in dense tomentum, clypeus apical margin reddish brown to orange and not metallic, and T1 anterior surface with erect hair limited to lateral margins.

Etymology

The specific epithet miltolepoides is formed from the Greek adjective ‘ miltos ’ (‘red earth’), the noun ‘ lepas ’ (‘rock’), and the suffix ‘- oides ’ (indicating resemblance). The first part of the name is a reference to the earthy-red colour of the metasoma and the rocks typical of this species’ habitat. The latter part of the name is a reference to the very similar species, Lasioglossum microlepoides ( Ellis, 1914) , of unknown etymology but probably similar to that given here. An appropriate translation would be the red rock sweat bee.

Material examined

Holotype

UNITED STATES – Utah • ♀; Kane Co., Tibbet Canyon , nr JCS; 37.1606° N, 111.5392° W; 26 Jun. 2002; J. Wilson leg.; ex Tamarix sp.; PCYU.

[Verbatim label: USA UT Kane Co. / Tibbet Cyn 12S E452127 N4112825 nr JCS // Tamarix sp. // 26 June 2002 / J. Wilson // 2374A09 // NativeBeeSurvey / USA,Logan, Utah / BBSL439722 // HOLOTYPE / Lasioglossum (Dialictus) miltolepoides Gardner and Gibbs ]

Paratypes

UNITED STATES – Arizona • 1 ♀; Grand Canyon Mile 0; [36° N, 112° W]; 5 Jun. 1953; G.D. Butler leg.; UAIC • 2 ♀♀; Grand Canyon Mile 20.4 ; [36° N, 112° W]; 6 Jun. 1953; G.D. Butler leg.; UAIC. – California • 1 ♀; Inyo Co., 5 mi. W of Big Pine; [37.16° N, 118.38° W]; 15 Jun. 1999; J.S. Ascher leg.; AMNH • 1 ♂; San Bernardino Co., Helendale; [34.74° N, 117.33° W]; 24 Oct. 1967; J.C. Hall leg.; ex Chrysothamnus ; UCRC • 1 ♀; Twentynine Palms; [34.14° N, 116.05° W]; 4 Aug. 1933; Timberlake leg.; ex Wislizenia refracta ; UCRC • 1 ♂; Victorville; [34.54° N, 117.29° W]; 28 Sep. 1938; Timberlake leg.; ex Baccharis salicina ; UCRC. – Nevada • 4 ♀♀; Clark Co., Lee Canyon ; 36.4476° N, 115.5097° W; 1252 m a.s.l.; 7 Sep. 2004; S. Higbee and T. Griswold leg.; BBSL • 1 ♀; 4 mi. E of Glendale; [36.66° N, 114.49° W]; 20 Jun. 1939; Timberlake leg.; ex Baileya pauciradiata ; UCRC. – Utah • 1 ♀; Grand Co., 8 mi. SE of Emery; [38.84° N, 111.14° W]; 19 May 1980; D.B. Wahl leg.; SEMC • 1 ♀; Kane Co., Tibbet Canyon, nr JCS; 37.1606° N, 111.5392° W; 26 Jun. 2002; S. Higbee leg.; ex Tamarix sp.; BBSL • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; PCYU • 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂; San Juan Co., 10 mi. NNW of Mexican Hat, Moki Dugway , nr base; 37.27817° N, 109.94357° W; 1637 m a.s.l.; 20 Jun. 2000; A L. Hicks and V.L. Scott leg.; ex Stanleya sp.; UCMC • 11 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂; San Juan Co., 10 mi. NNW of Mexican Hat, Moki Dugway near base; 37.2781° N, 109.94357° W; 1637 m a.s.l.; 20 Jun. 2000; A.L. Hicks and Virginia Scott leg.; ex Stanleya ; UCMC • 1 ♀; San Juan Co., Moki Dugway, ca 10 mi. NNW of Mexican Hat; 37.27817° N, 109.94357° W; 1637 m a.s.l.; 20 Jun. 2000; A.L. Hicks and V.L. Scott leg.; ex Stanleya sp.; WRME • 1 ♀; Wayne Co., 2 mi. W of Caineville; [38.33° N, 111.06° W]; 28 Jun. 1999; L. Packer leg.; PCYU.

Description

Female

COLOURATION. Head and mesosoma blue-green to golden-green; clypeus apical colour black to reddish brown; labrum reddish brown to orange; mandible orange with black basal spot or band and red tip; flagellum reddish brown dorsally, reddish brown to orange ventrally; pronotal lobe black to reddish brown; metasoma orange to black with rims of terga and sterna broadly translucent yellow, dark spiracular spots on T2–4; legs reddish brown with femur-tibia joints, base and apex of tibiae, and tarsi orange; tegula orange to brown; wing membrane hyaline or lightly infuscated, veins with subcosta dark brown, otherwise pale amber to brown.

PUBESCENCE. Body hair colour pale yellow to white. Tomentum dense on gena, pronotal collar and lobe, space between pronotal lobe and tegula, metanotum medially, T2–3 basolaterally, and T4 throughout; sparse on paraocular area. Scutum hair thin to moderately plumose. Wing hairs dark or light, short and dense. Acarinarial fan absent. T2 fringes sparse, T3 fringes sparse.

SURFACE SCULPTURE. Clypeus punctures sparse (i= 1–3 pd), sculpture shiny, sometimes becoming tessellate basally; supraclypeal area punctures sparse (i =1–3 pd), sculpture tessellate, usually becoming shiny medially; paraocular area punctures dense (i ≤ 1 pd), sculpture tessellate to imbricate around antenna socket, otherwise shiny; frons punctures crowded (i=0 pd), often indistinct, sculpture areolaterugulose, sometimes becoming smooth and shiny dorsally; vertex punctures dense to moderately sparse laterally (i <2 pd), often indistinct, fine and sparse medially (i=1–4 pd), sculpture shiny, usually imbricate to rugulose laterally; gena punctures moderately dense (i=1–2 pd), sculpture shiny, sometimes becoming weakly rugulose posteriorly and ventrally; postgena sculpture shiny, becoming tessellate to imbricate posteriorly; tegula punctures absent; scutum punctures dense (i ≤ 1 pd), becoming moderately sparse submedially and anteromedially (i =1–3 pd), sculpture tessellate, sometimes becoming shiny posterolaterally; scutellum punctures dense marginally and on median line (i <1 pd), moderately sparse submedially (i =1–2 pd), diversopunctate, sculpture shiny to imbricate; metanotum sculpture imbricate to weakly rugulose, becoming finely, densely punctate and sometimes shiny medially; metapostnotum rugae strong or weak, anastomosing to subparallel, reaching or nearly reaching margin, sculpture imbricate to weakly tessellate; preëpisternum sculpture imbricate to rugulose; hypoepimeron punctures crowded (i=0 pd), indistinct, sculpture imbricate to rugulose; mesepisternum punctures moderately sparse (i= 1–2 pd), indistinct, sculpture imbricate to rugulose; metepisternum sculpture ruguloso-lineate dorsally, imbricate ventrally; propodeum lateral face sculpture tessellate; propodeum posterior face sculpture tessellate; T1 anterior face sculpture shiny; T1 dorsal surface punctures fine, sparse (i= 1–4 pd), absent or very sparse in large apicolateral oval patches, sculpture shiny; T2 disc punctures moderately dense (i= 1–3 pd), disc sculpture shiny, rim punctures moderately dense (i =1–3 pd), rim sculpture shiny. S TRUCTURE. Face length/width ratio 0.85 (± 0.01 SD). Clypeus projecting ~67% below suborbital tangent; clypeal area length/width ratio 0.44 (± 0.03 SD); apicolateral denticles low rounded knobs; supraclypeal area length/width ratio 0.86 (± 0.09 SD). Forewing with 3 submarginal cells; pronotal angle obtuse; tegula shape normal. Intertegular distance 0.96 (± 0.06 SD) mm. Scutum length/width ratio 0.76 (± 0.04 SD); scutum/scutellum length ratio 2.89 (± 0.1 SD); scutellum/metanotum length ratio 1.58 (± 0.13 SD); metanotum/metapostnotum length ratio 0.64 (± 0.04 SD). Propodeum lateral carinae not reaching dorsal margin; oblique carina absent. T2 depressed apical rim length less than 50% of segment. (n =10)

Male

COLOURATION. Head and mesosoma blue to olive green; clypeus apical colour concolourous with base; labrum black, reddish brown, to orange; mandible orange with black basal band and red tip; flagellum reddish brown dorsally, red to orange ventrally; pronotal lobe reddish brown; metasoma black to reddish brown with rims of terga and sterna and downcurved lateral areas of terga becoming orange to translucent yellow; legs reddish brown with femur-tibia joints, base and apex of tibiae, and tarsi orange; tegula orange; wing membrane hyaline, veins with subcosta dark brown, otherwise brown to light brown.

PUBESCENCE. Body hair colour white. Tomentum sparse on gena, pronotal angle and lobe, space between pronotal lobe and tegula, and T2–4 basolaterally. Scutum hair densely plumose. Sterna hair short (1–1.5 OD), moderately plumose, sparse and erect. Wing hairs dark or light, long and sparse.

SURFACE SCULPTURE. Clypeus punctures sparse (i= 1–4 pd), sculpture shiny; supraclypeal area punctures moderately sparse (i= 1–2 pd), sculpture shiny to imbricate; paraocular area punctures moderately dense (i =1–2 pd), sculpture imbricate around antenna socket, otherwise shiny; frons punctures crowded (i =0 pd), sculpture shiny to imbricate, becoming rugulose above antenna; vertex punctures dense laterally (i ≤ 1 pd), slightly sparser medially (i=1–2 pd), sculpture shiny, sometimes imbricate laterally; gena punctures sparse (i= 1–3 pd), sculpture shiny, becoming imbricate and weakly ruguloso-lineate posteriorly and ventrally; postgena sculpture imbricate and weakly ruguloso-lineate, sometimes becoming shiny anteriorly; tegula punctures absent; scutum punctures sparse (i =1–4 pd), becoming moderately dense marginally (i=1–2 pd), sculpture shiny, sometimes becoming tessellate anteromedially; scutellum punctures sparse (i =1–4 pd), sometimes dense marginally and on median line (i <1 pd), sculpture shiny; metanotum sculpture shiny and moderately sparsely punctate (i =1–2 pd); metapostnotum rugae strong, anastomosing, reaching margin, sculpture shiny; preëpisternum sculpture areolate to rugulose; hypoepimeron punctures dense (i <1 pd), sometimes indistinct, sculpture shiny to imbricate or rugulose; mesepisternum punctures dense (i ≤ 1 pd), sculpture shiny to imbricate to rugulose; metepisternum sculpture lineate dorsally, becoming smooth and shiny ventrally; propodeum lateral face punctures dense (i <1 pd), often obscure, sculpture imbricate, becoming rugulose posteriorly; propodeum posterior face sculpture shiny and sparsely punctate (i= 1–3 pd); T1 anterior face sculpture shiny; T1 dorsal surface punctures moderately dense (i=1–3 pd), sculpture shiny; T2 disc punctures moderately dense (i=1–3 pd), disc sculpture shiny, rim punctures sparse (i= 1–4 pd), rim sculpture shiny.

STRUCTURE. Face length/width ratio 0.87 (± 0.02 SD). F1:pedicel length ratio 1.15 (± 0.08 SD); F2:F1 length ratio 1.75 (± 0.17 SD); F2 length/width ratio 1.36 (± 0.16 SD); F9 length/width ratio 1.2 (± 0.13 SD). Forewing with 3 submarginal cells; pronotal angle obtuse; tegula shape normal. Intertegular distance 0.94 (± 0.07 SD) mm. Scutum length/width ratio 0.78 (± 0.05 SD); scutum/scutellum length ratio 2.78 (± 0.18 SD); scutellum/metanotum length ratio 1.43 (± 0.13 SD); metanotum/metapostnotum length ratio 0.72 (± 0.08 SD). Propodeum lateral carinae not reaching dorsal margin; oblique carina absent. (n =5)

GENITALIA. As in Fig. 90I . Gonocoxite broad, weakly truncate. Gonostylus large, triangular, with a few long hairs. Retrorse lobe relatively narrow, ovoid, covered with sparse short hairs.

Range

Mojave Desert of California and Nevada , east through Utah and northern Arizona ( Fig. 63 ).

Floral records

ASTERACEAE Giseke : Baccharis : B. salicina Torr. & A.Gray • Baileya : B. pauciradiata A.Gray • Chrysothamnus • BRASSICACEAE Burnett : Stanleya Nutt. • CLEOMACEAE Bercht. & J. Presl : Wislizenia Engelm. W. refracta Engelm. • TAMARICACEAE Link : Tamarix L.

DNA barcodes

Two sequences available (BOLD process IDs: DLII855-07, DLII1102-07; BIN: BOLD:AAJ1685). Lasioglossum miltolepoides sp. nov. differs from all other western red-tailed L. ( Dialictus ) by 4 fixed substitutions: 174(G), 186(C), 462(C), and 540(C) (Supplementary file 4).

Figures

Fig. 61. Lasioglossum (D.) miltolepoides sp. nov., ♀. A. Dorsal habitus. B. Lateral habitus. C. Face. D. Propodeum and metasoma. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 62. Lasioglossum (D.) miltolepoides sp. nov., ♂. A. Dorsal habitus. B. Face. C. Lateral habitus. D. Propodeum. E. Metasoma. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 63. Georeferenced collection records of Lasioglossum (D.) miltolepoides sp. nov. (black squares) and predicted distribution by maximum entropy ecological niche modeling in Maxent (colour shading). Warmer colours indicate higher cloglog probability of occurrence.

Fig. 90. Male genitalia. A. Lasioglossum (D.) arenisaltans sp. nov. B. L. (D.) clastipedion sp. nov. C. L. (D.) clematisellum (Cockerell, 1904). D. L. (D.) hudsoniellum (Cockerell, 1919). E. L. (D.) julipile sp. nov. F. L. (D.) lilianae sp. nov. G. L. (D.) mesillense (Cockerell, 1898). H. L. (D.) meteorum sp. nov. I. L. (D.) miltolepoides sp. nov. J. L. (D.) minckleyi sp. nov. K. L. (D.) pallidellum (Ellis, 1914). L. L. (D.) pictum (Crawford, 1902). M. L. (D.) rufornatum sp. nov. N. L. (D.) spivakae sp. nov. O. L. (D.) testaceum (Robertson, 1897).P. L. (D.) vierecki (Crawford, 1904). Q. L. (D.) zephyrus (Smith, 1853). Genitalia are illustrated in dorsal view and positioned such that the gonostylus is parallel to the plane of vision. Retrorse lobes are also illustrated separately to the bottom left of each figure in lateral view, positioned parallel to the plane of vision.

Fig. 97. T1–3. A. Lasioglossum (D.) cactorum sp. nov., ♀, with very narrow and abruptly downcurved apical rims and dense apical hair fringes. B. L. (D.) miltolepoides sp. nov., ♀, with broad, flat, slightly depressed apical rims and sparse apical hair fringes. Arrows point to approximate lengthwise center of apical rims. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Fig. 103. Ocelli. A. Lasioglossum (D.) eophilus (Ellis, 1914), ♀, slightly enlarged and separated by less than two thirds of one ocellar diameter. B. L. (D.) miltolepoides sp. nov., ♀, normal size, separated by more than two thirds of one ocellar diameter. Scale bar: 0.25 mm.

Fig. 113. Clypeus. A. Lasioglossum (D.) miltolepoides sp. nov., ♂, sparsely punctate and entirely metallic. B. L. (D.) arenisaltans sp. nov., ♂, with dense punctures and yellow-orange apical rim. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.