Augochloropsis (Paraugochloropsis) sumptuosa (Smith)

Portman, Zachary M., Arduser, Mike, Lane, Ian G. & Cariveau, Daniel P., 2022, A review of the Augochloropsis (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) and keys to the shiny green Halictinae of the midwestern United States, ZooKeys 1130, pp. 103-152 : 103

Augochloropsis (Paraugochloropsis) sumptuosa (Smith)

Augochlora sumptuosa Smith, 1853: 82 ♀. Syntype(s?): ♀ North America. Type or types missing and presumed lost.

Augochlora lacustris Cockerell, 1922: 14 ♀ (syn. Sandhouse 1937). Holotype: ♀ USA, Florida, Lakeland [USNM Type no. 24888]. Images examined by ZP and MA. Online record: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/32a505d56-7e7d-4fea-ba47-574f3858121f (labels read: "Lakeland, Fla / Nov. 8 1911 // [red label] TypeNo. / 24888 / U.S.N.M. // Augochlora / lacustris / Ckll. TYPE // [yellow label with barcode] USNM ENT 00536780").

Augochlora floridica Cockerell, 1922: 14 ♂ (syn. Sandhouse 1937). Holotype: ♂ USA, Florida, Monticello [USNM Type no. 24889]. Images examined by ZP and MA. Online record: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3053e0fc2-b95d-49b6-9630-b55645b3e89d (labels read: "MonticelloFla / Oct. 4-8, 1914 // [red label] Type No. / 24889 / U.S.N.M // Augochlora / floridica Ckll / TYPE. // [yellow label with barcode] USNM ENT / 00536777").

Augochlora sumptuosa (in Robertson 1887: floral record).

Augochlora humeralis (in Smith 1910: biology).

Augochloropsis caerulea (in Sandhouse 1937 [in part]: key).

Augochloropsis (Paraugochloropsis) sumptuosa (in Mitchell 1960 [in part]: key, redescription; Hurd 1979 [in part]: catalog).

Diagnosis.

Augochloropsis sumptuosa is most similar to Augochloropsis humeralis (refer to the diagnosis of that species to separate them).

Comments.

We use Augochloropsis sumptuosa in a more restricted sense than previous authors because we have split it into two species: Augochloropsis sumptuosa and Augochloropsis humeralis . Now, Augochloropsis sumptuosa refers to the species occurring in the southeastern United States though the exact range is unknown at this time, and it remains to be seen to what degree, if any, the range of the two species overlaps.

The type or types of Augochloropsis sumptuosa have been lost. The type could not be located by Sandhouse (1937) or Mitchell (1960). The last report of possible types is from Cockerell (1897), who stated that "Col. C.T. Bingham" examined syntypes in the Natural History Museum (London, UK). However, there are currently no specimens in the Natural History Museum that could possibly be syntypes (J. Monks, pers. comm., Jun 2021). Despite the missing types, it is our opinion that there is not a need for a neotype because the identity of Augochloropsis sumptuosa can be determined from the original description. Specifically, the original description states "the base of the metathorax enclosed by an arched ridge, the enclosed space granulated, the sides of the truncation margined by sharp carinae." This description matches the southeastern species (which has the propodeal triangle surrounded by a weak semicircular carina; Fig. 17D ) but not the species found in the Midwest. On this basis, we are retaining the name Augochloropsis sumptuosa Smith for the southeastern species. The oldest available name for the midwestern species is Augochloropsis humeralis (Patton), the types of which were collected in western Kansas.

More work remains to be done on the taxonomy of Augochloropsis sumptuosa because we have not critically evaluated the status of two synonyms: Augochlora lacustris Cockerell and Augochlora floridica Cockerell. They were originally synonymized with Augochloropsis sumptuosa by Sandhouse (1937), and Mitchell (1960) agreed with that designation, stating "Examination of the types has failed to reveal any significant difference that would justify the recognition of either lacustris or floridica." We have examined images of the types, which are clear enough for us to tentatively agree. However, given that we have split Augochloropsis sumptuosa into two species and there is potentially a third similar species in Florida, these types should be critically reexamined as part of a reevaluation of the Florida fauna.

Figures

Figure 17. Augochloropsis female propodea A Augochloropsis humeralis B Augochloropsis metallica C Augochloropsis viridula D Augochloropsis sumptuosa E Augochloropsis anonyma F Augochloropsis sp. (likely undescribed species from Eastland, Texas). Scale bars: 1 mm, all images at the same scale.