Epeolus americanus (Cresson, 1878)

Onuferko, Thomas M., 2018, A revision of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Epeolus Latreille for Nearctic species, north of Mexico (Hymenoptera, Apidae), ZooKeys 755, pp. 1-185 : 11-13

2. Epeolus americanus (Cresson, 1878) Figs 6, 7, 92K

Phileremus americanus Cresson, 1878. Trans. Am. Entomol. Soc. 7: 83 (♀, ♂); Cresson, 1916. Mem. Am. Entomol. Soc. 1: 111 (♀) [lectotype designation].

Phileremus montanus Cresson, 1878. Trans. Am. Entomol. Soc. 7: 83 (♂).

Epeolus lanhami Mitchell, 1962. N. C. Agric. Exp. Stn. Tech. Bull. 152: 450 (♀).

Diagnosis.

The following morphological features in combination (excluding any that are specific to the opposite sex of the one being diagnosed) can be used to tell E. americanus apart from all other North American Epeolus except E. asperatus and E. barberiellus : in females, F2 is not more than 1.1 × as long as wide; the mesoscutum has distinct paramedian bands; the axilla is small to intermediate in size, not extending beyond the midlength of the mesoscutellum and the free portion is less than 1/4 as long as the entire medial length of the axilla, and like the mesoscutellum black; the mesopleuron is closely (i≤1d) and evenly punctate; T1 has a quadrangular discal patch, in dorsal view the longitudinal band is at least as wide as the breadth of the apical fascia; and the T1 and T2 apical fasciae are interrupted or at least greatly narrowed medially. Whereas in E. barberiellus the pronotal lobe and legs, at least from the tibiae to tarsi (sometimes the trochanters and femora as well), are reddish orange, in E. americanus the pronotal lobe and legs are brown or black. Epeolus americanus is also very similar to E. asperatus , but in E. asperatus the mesopleuron has much denser punctures ventrolaterally (most i<1d) than that of E. americanus and the T3 and T4 fasciae are never complete but broken or at least greatly narrowed laterally, as well as medially into separated or narrowly connected oval patches.

Redescription.

This species was recently redescribed ( Onuferko 2017).

Distribution.

Widely distributed across Canada and the United States, including Alaska; not known to occur in parts of northeastern North America, the southeastern United States, or the high arctic (Fig. 7).

Ecology.

See Onuferko (2017) for host and floral records. Floral associations are also indicated in Suppl. material 1, which includes newly discovered associations with Leucanthemum vulgare (Vaill.) Lam. ( Compositae ), Plagiobothrys Fisch. & C.A. Mey. ( Boraginaceae ), Salix exigua Nutt. ( Salicaceae ), and S. interior Rowlee based on labels of examined voucher specimens.

Discussion.

Detailed morphological and taxonomic remarks about this species are given in Onuferko (2017).

Material studied.

Type material. Primary: USA: Colorado: H.K. Morrison ( P. americanus lectotype ♀ [ANSP, catalog number: 2235]); Michigan: Near Saline, 26.vi.1954, U.N. Lanham ( E. lanhami holotype ♀ [CUM, catalog number: 0000041]); Nevada: H. Edwards ( P. montanus holotype ♂ [ANSP, catalog number: 2231]).

Secondary: USA: Michigan: Near Saline, 26.vi.1954, U.N. Lanham ( E. lanhami allotype ♂ [CUM, catalog number: 0000042]).

DNA barcoded material with BIN-compliant sequences.

Available. BOLD:AAB9110. Specimens examined and sequenced. Canada: Quebec: 1♂ (RSKM); Yukon: 12♀, 2♂ (PCYU).

USA: Colorado: 2♀ (PCYU); Utah: 1♀ (BBSL).

Non-barcoded material examined.

Canada: Alberta: 1♂ (CNC); British Columbia: 1♀, 2♂ (CNC); Manitoba: 1♀ (CNC); Adam Lake (Turtle Mountain Provincial Park), 27.vi.1987, T.D. Galloway (1♀, JBWM); Beaver Creek (Lake Winnipeg), 21.vi.1962, J.A. Garland (1♀, JBWM); Ontario: 6♀, 2♂ (CAS, CNC); Quebec: 1♀ (USNM); Saskatchewan: 2♀ (CNC); Yukon: 5♀, 1♂ (PCYU, RSKM).

USA: Alaska: 2♀, 3♂ (CNC); California: 1♂ (PCYU); 2 mi S Hilmar (Merced County), 14.iv.1961, R.R. Snelling (1♂, LACM); 3 mi SW Ash Creek (Siskiyou County), 16.vi.1974, D. Green (1♀, EMEC); Ash Creek Ranger Station (9 mi E McCloud, Siskiyou County), 07-09.vi.1974, J. Powell (1♂, EMEC), 10-12.vi.1974, R. Coville (4♀, 1♂, EMEC); Hayfork Ranger Station (Trinity County), 19.v.1973, J. Doyen (1♂, EMEC), 23.v.1973, J. Powell (1♀, EMEC); Independence Lake (Sierra County), 24.iv.1974, R.M. Bohart (1♂, UCBME); Lone Pine (Inyo County), 13.v.1969, J.A. Chemsak (1♀, EMEC); Sagehen Creek (Nevada County), 04.vii.??62, R.L. Westcott (1♀, LACM), 01.vii.??70, M.G. Axtman (1♂, LACM), 22.vi.1972, R.M. Bohart (1♀, 1♂, UCBME), 19.vi.1974, R.M. Bohart (4♀, UCBME), 23.vi.1976, N.J. Smith (1♀, UCBME), 23.vi.1976, R.M. Bohart (3♀, 2♂, UCBME), 23.vi.1976, R.M. Giblin (3♀, 1♂, UCBME), 23.vi.1976, R.E. Otondo (1♂, UCBME), 23.vi.1976, G.M. Streett (2♂, UCBME), 23.vi.1976, C.M. Bortfeid (1♂, UCBME), 30.vi.1976, N.J. Smith (1♀, UCBME), 14.vii.1976, R.M. Bohart (1♀, UCBME), 28.vi.1978, D.R. Smart (1♂, UCBME), 28.vi.1978, L.S. Kimsey (2♀, UCBME), 16.vii.1980, R.M. Bohart (1♀, UCBME); Colorado: 4♀ (PCYU); vi.1917 (1♀, AMNH); Cirque Meadows (Larimer County), 01.vii.1978, S. Hart (1♂, EMEC); Davenport Camp, 02.vii.1967, F., P., and M. Rindge (1♀, AMNH); Electra Lake, 28.vi.-01.vii.1919 (1♀, AMNH); Longmont (40.1507°N; 105.0385°W) (Weld County), 23.v.2012, V. Scott (1♂, CUM); Near Wolf Creek (37.4999°N; 106.7692°W) (Mineral County), 28.vii.2007, J. Gibbs and C. Sheffield (2♀, PCYU); Ouray (Summit road), 13.vii.1919 (1♂, AMNH); Idaho: 1♂ (USNM); Nevada: Reno, v.1940, U.N. Lar (1♀, CUM); Utah: 2♀ (PCYU); Virginia: 1♀ (USNM); Wyoming: 13 mi SE Cooke City, 27.vii.1962, F., P., and M. Rindge (1♀, AMNH); Yellowstone River (between Knowles Falls and Gardiner, Yellowstone National Park), 24.vi.1979, R.E. Dietz (1♂, EMEC).