Lasioglossum primavera Sakagami & Maeta, 1990

Murao, Ryuki, Lee, Heung-Sik & Tadauchi, Osamu, 2015, Bees of the Lasioglossum series (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) in South Korea, with an illustrated keys to species, Zootaxa 4044 (4), pp. 511-534 : 529-530

Lasioglossum primavera Sakagami & Maeta, 1990

Figs. 3B, 3 E, 4A

Lasioglossum (Lasioglossum) primavera Sakagami & Maeta 1990: 52 –59 [Holotype: ELKU, ♂, type locality = Mori (370 m), Koshoku, Nagano Pref., Japan]; Sakagami & Tadauchi 1995: 187 –189 [♀♂, in a comparative notes of the description of L. ebmerianum Sakagami & Tadauchi 1995 ], 190 [♂, illustration]; Murao & Tadauchi 2011: 365 –366 [♀♂, diagnosis]. Lasioglossum (subgenus?) primavera: Pesenko 2006: 162 .

Diagnosis. The female of this species is similar to L. proximatum and L. sutshanicum from eastern Asia. It is separated from both species by the integument of the supraclypeus with very weak tessellation among punctures ( Fig. 3 E) and T1 medially to apically with sparse punctures (IS = 7 d in maximum; Fig. 4A ). In contrast, in L. proximatum and L. sutshanicum , the integument of the supraclypeus is distinctly tessellate among punctures ( Fig. 3 F) and T1 is medially to apically with denser PP (IS = 1.5 d in maximum; Fig. 4B ).

Specimens examined. (n = 45) [ South Korea] GW: Bougmyong-ri, Dongsan-myon, Chunchon-gun, 1♂, 24. iv. 1992 (O. Tadauchi, ELKU), 1♂, 26. iv. 1992 (O. Tadauchi, ELKU), 2♀, 22. v. 1992 (O. Tadauchi, ELKU); 1♂, Dongsang-myon, Chunchon-gun, 16. iv. 1994 (O. Tadauchi, ELKU). GG: Kwangnung, Pochon-gun, 1♂, 23. iv. 1992 (O. Tadauchi, ELKU), 2♀ 9♂, 24. iv. 1992 (T. Saigusa & O. Tadauchi, ELKU), 2♀, 19. v. 1992 (O. Tadauchi, ELKU), 1♀, 23. v. 1992 (O. Tadauchi, ELKU); 3♂, Apiary, Gwangju, 18. iv. 1997 (H.S. Lee, QIA). JB: Simwon valley, Sannae-myon, Namweon-gun, 1♀ 1♂, 13. v. 1991 (T. Saigusa & O. Tadauchi, ELKU), 5♀ 1♂, 29. iv. 1992 (T. Saigusa, ELKU). Seoul: 1♂, Mt. Bulam-san, Gongreungdong, Nowongu, 11. v. 2008 (H.S. Lee, QIA); 1♂, Mt. Gwanak-san, Sinlimdong, 4. v. 2013 (H.S. Lee, QIA). GN: 1♀, Shinwon-ri, Unmun, Chongdo-gun, 26–27. iv. 2003 (Y. Maeta, SULE); Samjeon-ri, Macheon-myon, Hamyang-gun, 2♀, 9. v. 1991 (T. Saigusa, ELKU), 1♀ 1♂, 11. v. 1991 (T. Saigusa, ELKU), 2♀, 1. iv. 1992 (O. Tadauchi, ELKU); 5♂, Tongdosa temple, Yangsan, 10. iv. 1997 (H.S. Lee, QIA).

Distribution. South Korea, Japan, China.

Flight period in South Korea. Female and male: April to May.

Flower records in South Korea. This species has been recorded from the following at least eight plant species in five families: Asteraceae : Cornus sp.; Taraxacum sp. Caprifoliaceae : Lonicera sp.; Weigela sp. Ericaceae : Rhododendron mucronulatum Turcz. Rosaceae : Crataegus spp.; Prunus sp. Theaceae : Camellia japonica L.

Comments. According to Pesenko (2006) the systematic position of this species is unclear. Surely, this species is different from both Lasioglossum (Lasioglossum) and L. (Leuchalictus) in lacking a ventral retrorse lobe of the male genitalia, which has been lost or reduced in multiple lineages of Lasioglossum , and the unique hair tuft on the male S6. Inclusion of this species in future molecular phylogenetic analyses is needed to correctly determine its systematic position.

Figures

FIGURE 3. A, B: metapostnotum of propodeum. C, D: propodeum. E, F: supraclypeus. A: Lasioglossum exiliceps (Vachal). B, E: L. primavera Sakagami & Maeta. C: L. proximatum (Smith). D, F: L. sutshanicum Pesenko. A – F: ♀.

FIGURE 4. A, B, E, F: T 1. C, D: posterior surface of propodeum. A: Lasioglossum primavera Sakagami & Maeta. B: L. sutshanicum Pesenko. C, F: L. kansuense (Blüthgen). D: L. occidens (Smith). E: L. upinense (Morawitz). A – F: ♀.