Lasioglossum (Dialictus) zephyrus ( Smith, 1853 )

Gardner, Joel & Gibbs, Jason, 2020, The ‘ red-tailed’ Lasioglossum (Dialictus) (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) of the western Nearctic, European Journal of Taxonomy 725, pp. 1-242 : 204-207

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) zephyrus ( Smith, 1853)

Figs 89 , 90Q , 116A

Halictus Zephyrus Smith, 1853: 68 (holotype, ♂, deposited in NHMUK).

Halictus (Chloralictus) academicus Sandhouse, 1924: 12 (holotype, ♀, deposited in USNM, examined; synonymy by Gibbs 2010).

Halictus (Chloralictus) vintonensis Sandhouse, 1924: 22 (holotype, ♀, deposited in USNM, examined; synonymy with academicus by Michener 1951, with zephyrus by Gibbs 2010).

Halictus zephyrus – Robertson 1895: 117 (female description). — Cockerell 1905: 352 (redescription).

Chloralictus zephyrus – Robertson 1902: 248 (key).

Halictus (Chloralictus) zephyrus – Viereck et al. 1916: 706 (key). — Sandhouse 1924: 6 (key).

Lasioglossum (Chloralictus) academicum – Michener 1951: 1111 (catalog).

Lasioglossum (Chloralictus) zephyrus – Michener 1951: 1118 (catalog).

Dialictus zephyrus – Mitchell 1960: 431, figs 101–102 (key, redescription). — Hurd 1979: 1973 (catalog). — Moure & Hurd 1987: 140 (catalog).

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) zephyrum (incorrect subsequent spelling) – Batra 1964 (biology); 1965 (associates); 1966 (biology). — Krombein 1967: 467 (catalog). — Michener et al. 1971a (biology); 1971b (biology). — Michener 1974 (biology); 1990 (biology). — Wolf & Ascher 2009: 144 (checklist). — Gibbs 2010: 362, figs 242a–e, 243a–f (key, redescription); 2011: 211 (key). — Scott et al. 2011: 32 (checklist). — Dibble et al. 2017: 14 (checklist). — Gibbs et al. 2017: 88 (checklist).

Dialictus academicus – Hurd 1979: 1963 (catalog). — Moure & Hurd 1987: 87 (catalog).

Evylaeus zephyrus – Pesenko et al. 2000: 42 (review).

Lasioglossum zephyrum – Donovall & van Engeldorp 2010: 18 (checklist).

Diagnosis

Females of Lasioglossum zephyrus can be recognized by the metapostnotum smooth with rugae reaching about halfway to the posterior margin, acarinarial fan dense and often complete, mesosoma with fine and often sparse punctures (i=1–2 pd), metasoma mostly dark and often with metallic green terga, head often large with gena much broader than eye and ocelloccipital distance equal to or greater than interocellar distance, and pronotal ridge absent. They are most similar to L. kunzei and L. semibrunneum . Both of these species have the pronotal ridge carinate, acarinarial fan sparse, mesosoma very sparsely punctate (i=1–6 pd), and gena sometimes with a ventral tubercle.

Males of L. zephyrus can be recognized by the propodeum dorsolateral slope rugose and lateral face smooth and tessellate, mesosoma with fine and often sparse punctures (i=1–2 pd), paraocular area with dense tomentum, T2–5 with at least some tomentum, flagellomeres relatively long (F2 about 2 times as long as F1 and 1.75 times as long as broad), and pronotal ridge absent. They are most similar to L. testaceum , L. pictum , L. arenisaltans sp. nov., L. kunzei , and L. semibrunneum . Males of L. testaceum can be separated by the characters given in the key. Males of L. pictum and L. arenisaltans sp. nov. have the propodeum lateral face rugulose and mesosoma with larger and denser punctures (i =1–2 pd). Males of L. kunzei and L. semibrunneum have the pronotal ridge carinate, flagellomeres relatively short (F2 about 1.3 times as long as F1 and 1.25 times as long as broad), and propodeum dorsolateral slope smooth and shiny.

Etymology

It is evident from his capitalization that Smith (1853) named this species after Zephyrus, the Greek god of the west wind. As a noun, it is not declinable to zephyrum , in contrast with common past usage ( Batra 1964, 1965, 1966; Michener et al. 1971a, 1971b; Michener 1974, 1990; Wolf & Ascher 2009; Scott et al. 2011; Gibbs 2010, 2011; Dibble et al. 2017; Gibbs et al. 2017). It has almost universally been spelled zephyrum in combination with Lasioglossum with the exception of Michener (1951).

Material examined

Holotype

UNITED STATES – Florida • ♂; St. John’s Bluff ; [30.38° N, 81.5° W]; E. Doubleday leg.; NHMUK.

Other material

CANADA – Manitoba • 1 ♀; Carberry Sandhills 24 km S of Carberry; 49.4° N, 99.16° W; 340 m a.s.l.; 7 Aug. 2011; R.E. Wrigley leg.; WRME .

UNITED STATES – California • 1 ♂; Alameda ; [37.78° N, 122.28° W]; Apr. 1937; BBSL . – Colorado • 6 ♀♀; Douglas Co., 3 mi. SSW of Nighthawk; 39.332° N, 105.1804° W; 1951 m a.s.l.; 13 Jul. 2000; A.L. Hicks and Virginia Scott leg.; UCMC • 1 ♀; Mesa Co., Colorado National Monument near Visitors Center; [39.101° N, 108.735° W]; 1737 m a.s.l.; 10 May 1988; U. Lanham and M. Weissman leg.; ex Lepidium ; UCMC • 1 ♀; Otero Co., Rocky Ford ; [38.05° N, 103.72° W]; 27 Jul. 1971; J. W. Brewer leg.; ex Citrullus lanatus ; MTEC • 1 ♀; Boulder ; [40.02° N, 105.27° W]; 14 May; Irene Bleasdale leg.; USNM • 2 ♂♂; Garden of the Gods ; [38.88° N, 104.88° W]; 19 Aug. 1962; R.M. Bohart leg.; UCDC . – Idaho • 1 ♂; Ada Co., Boise ; [43.62° N, 116.2° W]; 16 Aug. 1969; Carol Musgrave leg.; NMSU • 5 ♂♂; Idaho Falls , Ammon Sand Hills ; [43.43° N, 111.91° W]; 28 Aug. 1935; H.S. Telford leg.; UMSP . – Illinois • 1 ♂; Scott Co., Bluffs ; [39.75° N, 90.54° W]; 29 Aug. 1951; A.T. McClay leg.; UCDC . – Iowa • 1 ♀; Vinton ; [42.16° N, 92.02° W]; 23 Jun. 1922; Sandhouse leg.; USNM . – Kansas • 1 ♀; Decatur Co., 1 mi. E of Oberlin State Lake ; [39.83° N, 100.46° W]; 27 Jun. 1963; N. Marston leg.; AMNH • 1 ♂; Douglas Co., Lawrence ; [38.97° N, 95.24° W]; 23 Sep. 1952; R.R. Snelling leg.; LACM • 1 ♂; Blue Rapids ; [39.68° N, 96.66° W]; 2 Oct. 1917; Edna M. Stevens leg.; ex Ageratum altissima ; AMNH . – Michigan • 1 ♀; Allegan Co., Trevor Nichol Res. Ctr. ; 42.5993° N, 86.1575° W; 12–23 May 2016; J. Gibbs leg.; WRME • 1 ♀; Allegan Co., Trevor Nichol Res. Ctr. ; 42.6° N, 86.155° W; 24–28 May 2015; J. Gibbs and Y. Nozoe leg.; WRME • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 28 May–5 Jun. 2015; J. Gibbs and Y. Nozoe leg.; WRME • 1 ♂; same location as for preceding; 26 Aug.–17 Sep. 2016; Gibbs and Nozoe leg.; WRME • 1 ♀; Ingham Co., Harrison Mds. Pk. ; 42.765° N, 84.494° W; 2 May 2015; Gibbs and Nozoe leg.; WRME • 5 ♂♂; Van Buren Co., 4 km SE of Covert; 42.263° N, 86.229° W; 31 Jul. 2015; J. Gibbs leg.; WRME . – Minnesota • 1 ♀; Ramsey Co., Battle Creek Reg. Park ; 44.9346° N, 93.0141° W; 289 m a.s.l.; 10 Jun. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Cornus sericea ; UMSP • 1 ♀; Ramsey Co., Battle Creek Reg. Park ; 44.9384° N, 92.9933° W; 295 m a.s.l.; 11 Aug. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Washington Co., Belwin Conservancy ; 44.9444° N, 92.8169° W; 219 m a.s.l.; 9 Jun. 2015; E. Evans leg.; ex Zizea aurea ; UMSP . – Missouri • 1 ♀; Boone Co., 12 mi. SW of Columbia; [38.83° N, 92.49° W]; 24 Apr. 1966; F.D. Parker leg.; UCDC . – Montana • 1 ♀; Cascade Co., Cascade ; [47.27° N, 111.7° W]; 24 Jun. 1954; R.C. Froeschner leg.; MTEC • 1 ♀; Gallatin Co., Gallatin Grown ; 45.7713° N, 111.2953° W; 30 Aug. 2013; C.M. Delphia leg.; ex Cucurbita ; MTEC • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 22 Aug. 2013; C.M. Delphia leg.; ex Helianthus ; MTEC • 1 ♂; same location as for preceding; 11 Sep. 2013; C.M. Delphia leg.; ex Cucurbita ; MTEC • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 11 Sep. 2013; C.M. Delphia leg.; MTEC • 1 ♀; Gallatin Co.; 21 May 1953; Student leg.; MTEC . – Nebraska • 1 ♂; 1 mi. E of Ravenna; [41.03° N, 98.89° W]; 24 Aug. 1958; Atyeo and Andresen leg.; UNSM • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; Franklin ; [40.1° N, 98.95° W]; 10 Aug. 1960; W.F. Rapp leg.; UNSM • 1 ♀; Lincoln ; [40.81° N, 96.7° W]; 31 Jul. 1948; R.A. Larkin leg.; ex Medicago sativa ; UNSM • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 3 Jul. 1948; R.A. Larkin leg.; ex Medicago sativa ; UNSM • 1 ♀; McCool ; [40.74° N, 97.6° W]; 29 Aug. 1940; H.E. Milliron leg.; UMSP • 2 ♂♂; Naponee ; [40.08° N, 99.14° W]; 10 Aug. 1960; W.F. Rapp leg.; UNSM . – South Dakota • 1 ♂; Vermillion ; [42.78° N, 96.93° W]; 23 Sep. 1962; D. Johnson leg.; BBSL . – Utah • 3 ♂♂; Utah Co., Provo ; [40.23° N, 111.66° W]; 21 Aug. 1985; M. Khider leg.; BBSL • 1 ♂; same location as for preceding; 4–11 Sep. 1985; BBSL • 1 ♂; Farmington ; [40.98° N, 111.89° W]; Jun. year unknown; G.S. Bohart leg.; BBSL • 1 ♀; Harrisville ; [41.28° N, 111.99° W]; 6 May 1935; G.F. Knowlton leg.; BBSL • 1 ♀; Mantua ; 41.515308° N, 111.938108° W; 14 May 2019; M.-K. Williams leg.; BBSL • 1 ♂; Morgan ; [41.04° N, 111.68° W]; 30 Aug. 1943; G.F. Knowlton and P.E. Telford leg.; BBSL • 1 ♀; Paradise ; 41.550306° N, 111.829569° W; 12 May 2019; M-K. Williams leg.; BBSL • 1 ♀; Paradise ; [41.550306° N, 111.829569° W]; 11 May 2019; MKFW leg.; BBSL • 1 ♀; Providence ; 41.694842° N, 111.826561° W; 14 May 2019; A. Anderson leg.; BBSL • 1 ♀; Salt Lake ; [41° N, 113° W]; 19 Jul. 1951; L. Dale Haws leg.; BBSL . – Washington • 1 ♀; Clark Co., Camas , 1641 NE Crown Lane; 45.591° N, 122.389° W; 62 m a.s.l.; 17 May 2012; T.J. Zavortink leg.; ex Weigela ; UCDC • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; Colfax ; [46.88° N, 117.36° W]; 9 Jul. 1925; C.L. Fox leg.; CAS . – Wisconsin • 1 ♀; Wood Co.; 44.455° N, 90.0928° W; 1–5 Jun. 2010; H. Gaines leg.; WRME .

Description

See Gibbs (2010) for a complete redescription, figures, additional floral records, and reference to biological literature.

Range

Throughout most of the United States and southern Canada, southwest to northern California and Texas ( Fig. 89 ).

Floral records

APIACEAE Lindl. Zizia W.D.J. Koch : Z. aurea Koch • ASTERACEAE Giseke : Ageratum : A. altissima (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob. • Helianthus • BRASSICACEAE Burnett : Lepidium L. • CAPRIFOLIACEAE Juss. Weigela Thunb. • CORNACEAE Bercht. ex J. Presl. Cornus L. C. sericea L. • CUCURBITACEAE

Juss. Citrullus Schrad. C. lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai • Cucurbita L. • FABACEAE Juss. Medicago : M. sativa L.

DNA barcodes

Sixteen sequences available (BOLD process IDs: ASBEE076-08, BOWGF1435-10, DLII675-07, DLII688-07, DLII702-07, DLII1512-08, DLII1519-08, DIAL070-06, DIAL071-06, DIAL606-06, DIAL725-06, DIAL952-06, DIAL1253-08, DIAL1254-08, DIAL1255-08, LASNA058-08; BIN: BOLD:AAD0272). No unique fixed substitutions distinguish L. zephyrus from all other western redtailed L. ( Dialictus ).

Remarks

Unlike other red-tailed L. ( Dialictus ), it is only the male of L. zephyrus that often has a red metasoma ( Batra 1966).

Figures

Fig. 89. Georeferenced collection records of Lasioglossum (D.) zephyrus (Smith, 1853) (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. 116. Metasomal sterna, ♂. A. Lasioglossum (D.) zephyrus (Smith, 1853), with hair concentrated in apicolateral areas of S3–5. B. Typical red-tailed Lasioglossum (Dialictus), with hair evenly distributed and S5 straight. C. L. (D.) hudsoniellum (Cockerell, 1919), with S5 concave.