Halictus (Protohalictus) hedini Blüthgen, 1934

Murao, Ryuki & Gibbs, Jason, 2019, Halictus hedini hedini (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) newly recorded from Japan, revealed by DNA barcoding and morphology, Journal of Melittology 2019 (84), pp. 1-8 : 3-4

Halictus (Protohalictus) hedini Blüthgen, 1934

( Figs. 1–4 )

Halictus hedini Blüthgen, 1934: 5 .

DIAGNOSIS: Halictus hedini hedini is morphologically similar to its consubgener H. rubicundus . It is separated from H. rubicundus by the male flagellum ventrally with a fringe of short hairs 0.3–0.5× as long as flagellomere diameter and first metasomal tergum with coarse and deep punctures in both sexes ( Fig. 3 ). In contrast, H. rubicundus has the male flagellum ventrally without a distinct fringe and the first metasomal tergum with fine and shallow punctures in both sexes ( Fig. 4 ) ( Pesenko, 2005). The dark legs of the female separate H. hedini hedini from the subspecies H. hedini hebeiensis Pesenko & Wu, 1997 , which was described from China.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED: [ JAPAN]: Hokkaido: 15♀♀, Shiretoko-goko ~ Ohashi, Shiretoko , 15.vi.1984 [15 June 1984] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; Shotoshibetsu , Rikubetsu , 4♀♀, 27.v.1984 [27 May 1984] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; 24♀♀, 13.vi.1984 [13 June 1984] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; 1♂, 9.viii.1984 [9 August 1984] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; 1♀, Utoro, Shiretoko , 2.vi.1975 [2 June 1975] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; Akan-ko , Kushiro Prov ., 1♀, 21.v.1984 [21 May 1984] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; 1♀, 30.vi.2013 [30 June 2013] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; Kussharo-ko , Teshikaga , 10♀♀, 26.v.1984 [26 May 1984] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; 49♀♀, 14.vi.1984 [14 June 1984] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; Kyushu University Forests , Ashoro , 6♀♀, 6.vi.1984 [6 June 1984] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; 3♀♀, 9.vi.1984 [9 June 1984] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; 4♀♀, 22.vi.1984 [22 June 1984] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; 1♀, Ashoro, Ashoro-ko , 2.vii.2013 [2 July 2013] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; 1♀, Ashoro , 2.vi.2010 [2 June 2010] (O. Tadauchi, WRME) ; 1♀, Nishiashoro ( Tokachi ), 9.viii.1958 [9 August 1958] (Y. Hirashima, cMur) ; 1♀, 2♂♂, Oketo, Kitami Prov. , 21.viii.1969 [21 August 1969] ( T. Kawamichi, ELKU); Tokachimitsumata, Kamiashoro , 1♀, 12.vi.1984 [12 June 1984] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; 2♀♀, 30.vi.1984 [30 June 1984] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; 2♀♀, 27.viii.1984 [27 August 1984] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; 1♂, 11.ix.1984 [11 September 1984] (O. Tadauchi ELKU) ; 1♀, Hobetsu, Honbetsu-cho , 1.vii.2013 [1 July 2013] (O. Tadauchi, ELKU) ; 1♂, Akaigawa , 17.ix.1976 [17 September 1976] (M. Usui, ELKU) ; 1♀, Pe-pan river, Asahikawa , 7.vi.1987 [7 June 1987] ( T. Inaoka, ELKU). Honshu: 1♀, Sennin Pass , Iwate Pref., 31.viii.1980 [31 August 1980] (Y. Maeta, SULE) .

DNA BARCODE ( Table 1 ): Most publicly available COI sequence data for H. rubicundus comes from other primer sets that overlap only partially with the DNA barcode fragment ( Soucy & Danforth, 2002). Our results show a 2.9% genetic distance over 429 bp shared with H. rubicundus sequences. A single downstream sequence of 863 bp was compared to 39 published H. rubicundus COI sequences and was found to have a minimum of 3.0% genetic distance, consistent with the DNA barcode fragment.

DISTRIBUTION: Eastern to Central Asia: Japan (Hokkaido and northern to central Honshu), China, Mongolia, Russian Far East, Siberia, Kazakhstan ( Pesenko, 2005).

FLIGHT RECORDS IN JAPAN: Female: May to August. Male: August to September ( Tadauchi & Murao, 2014, as Halictus rubicundus ).

FLORAL RECORDS IN JAPAN: Halictus hedini hedini has been recorded from the following 12 plant species in four families in Japan. Asteraceae : Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers., Crepidiastrum denticulatum (Houtt.) J.H.Pak et Kawano , Hieracium umbellatum L., Leucanthemum vulgare Lam. , Picris hieracioides L. subsp. japonica (Thunb.) Krylov , Solidago gigantea Aiton subsp. serotina (Kuntze) McNeill , Sonchus brachyotus DC. , Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F.H.Wigg. , Taraxacum sp. Brassicaceae : Barbarea vulgaris R.Br. Fabaceae : Trifolium repens L. Salicaceae : Salix caprea L.

Figures

Figures 1–4. Photographs of Halictus hedini hedini Blüthgen and H. rubicundus (Christ). 1–2. Lateral habitus of H. hedini hedini (1 female, 2 male). 3–4. 1st metasomal tergum of female (3 H. hedini hedini, 4 H. rubicundus).