Lasioglossum (Dialictus) versans (Lovell)

Gibbs, Jason, 2010, Revision of the metallic species of Lasioglossum (Dialictus) in Canada (Hymenoptera, Halictidae, Halictini) 2591, Zootaxa 2591 (1), pp. 1-382 : 337-341

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) versans (Lovell)

( Figures 228A–D , 229A–F )

Halictus versans Lovell, 1905 a: 39 . ♀ (♂ misdet.).

Lectotype. ♀ USA, Maine, Waldoboro (J.H. Lovell); [ NMNH: 71573] by T. B. Mitchell. Examined.

Halictus (Chloralictus) consonus Sandhouse, 1924: 30 . ♂.

Holotype. ♂ USA, Connecticut, Colebrook, 1–7.ix, (W.M. Wheeler); [ NMNH: 26429]. Examined.

Halictus (Chloralictus) brevibasis Cockerell, 1938a: 3 . ♂. [new synonymy]

Holotype. ♂ CANADA, Saskatchewan, Lake Waskesiu, beginning of portage to Heart Lakes , 31.viii.1936 ( T. & W. Cockerell); [ AMNH]. Examined.

Taxonomy. Lovell, 1908: Halictus versans ♂, p. 38 (description); Michener, 1951: Lasioglossum (Chloralictus) brevibase , p. 1112, L. (C.) consonum , p. 1113, L. (C.) versans , p. 1118 (catalogue); Krombein, 1958: Lasioglossum (Chloralictus) brevibase , p. 230, Mitchell, 1960: Dialictus versans ♂, p. 427 (redescription, synonymy); Knerer and Atwood, 1962: D. rohweri ♂, p. 1230 (description); Krombein, 1967: Lasioglossum (Dialictus) versans , p. 466 (catalogue); Hurd, 1979: Dialictus brevibasis , p. 1964, D. versans , p. 1972 (catalogue); Moure & Hurd, 1987: Dialictus versans , p. 137, D. brevibasis , p. 92 (catalogue).

Diagnosis. Females of L. versans and L. ruidosense may be distinguished by their very dull metallic colour, metapostnotum with striations on the base extending about halfway to posterior margin ( Fig. 228D ), and T1 acarinarial fan absent but declivitous surface with erect woolly hairs medially. Female L. versans lack punctures on the apical impressed areas of the metasomal terga and have the posterior margin of the metapostnotum distinctly convex ( Fig. 228D ). Female L. ruidosense typically have distinct punctation on the apical impressed areas of the metasomal terga and have the posterior margin of the metapostnotum straight.

Males of L. versans and L. ruidosense both have the posterior margin of the metapostnotum smooth ( Fig. 229D ) and a distinctive dorsal crest on the penis valve ( Fig. 229E ). The striations of the metapostnotum are nearly complete in L. versans ( Fig. 229D ) but only reach halfway to the posterior margin in L. ruidosense .

Redescription. FEMALE. Length 4.51–6.10 mm; head length 1.34–1.63 mm; head width 1.37–1.70 mm; forewing length 3.60–5.06 mm.

Colouration. Head and mesosoma very faintly metallic golden green, nearly brown on parts of face, mesepisternum, and propodeum. Clypeus with apical half blackish brown and basal half, and supraclypeal area brownish bronze. Antenna dark brown, flagellum with ventral surface brown to reddish brown. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, and metanotum golden green. Tegula dark reddish brown. Wing membrane dusky, venation and pterostigma reddish brown. Legs dark brown, tarsi reddish brown. Metasoma dark brown, terga and sterna with apical margins translucent reddish brown.

Pubescence. Sparse. Dull white. Head and mesosoma with moderately dense woolly hairs (1–1.5 OD), longest on genal beard, metanotum and mesopleuron (2–2.5 OD). Lower paraocular area and gena without subappressed tomentum. Propodeum with moderately dense plumose hairs on lateral and posterior surfaces (2–2.5 OD). Metasomal terga with moderately dense, fine setae. T1 acarinarial fan absent, declivitous surface with sparse, erect hairs only (1.5 OD). T2–T3 with tomentum basolaterally. T4 with scattered tomentum, not obscuring surface.

Surface sculpture. Face tessellate-imbricate, punctation moderately fine, shallow. Clypeus polished, basal margin imbricate, punctation sparse (i=1–3.5d). Supraclypeal area with punctation sparse (i=1–3d). Lower paraocular area punctation moderately sparse (i=1–2d). Antennocular area punctation sparse (i=1–3d). Upper paraocular area, frons and ocellocular area punctate-reticulate. Gena lineolate. Postgena imbricate. Mesoscutum tessellate-imbricate, punctation fine, shallow, moderately sparse between parapsidal lines (i=1–2d), dense laterad of parapsidal lines (i≤d), contiguous on anterolateral portions. Mesoscutellum polished, submedial punctation sparse (i=2–4d). Axilla punctate. Metanotum imbricate. Preëpisternum rugulose. Hypoepimeral area weakly rugulose. Mesepisternum with dorsal half rugulose, ventral half weakly ruguloso-imbricate. Metepisternum with dorsal half striate, ventral half imbricate. Metapostnotum longitudinally, incompletely striate, not extending much more than halfway to posterior margin, weakly imbricate posteriorly. Propodeum with dorsolateral slope weakly imbricate, lateral and posterior surfaces weakly polished, imbricate-tessellate. Metasomal terga polished except apical impressed margins weakly coriarious, punctation on basal halves fine and shallow (i=1.5–2d), apical half impunctate (except along premarginal line).

Structure. Head wide to round (length/width ratio = 0.96–1.00). Eyes convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio = 1.18–1.21). Clypeus 2/3 below suborbital tangent, apicolateral margins strongly convergent. Antennal sockets close (IAD/OAD <0.5). Frontal line carinate, ending 2.5 OD below median ocellus. Gena narrower than eye. Inner metatibial spur pectinate with 3–4 short teeth. Metapostnotum moderately elongate (MMR ratio = 1.25–1.33), posterior margin medial portion distinctly rounded onto posterior surface, projecting posteriorly beyond adjacent dorsal areas. Propodeum with oblique carina weak, virtually absent, lateral carina short, reaching less than halfway to dorsal margin.

MALE. Similar to female except for the usual secondary sexual characters and as follows. Length 5.31– 6.04 mm; head length 1.51–1.58 mm; head width 1.49–1.56 mm; forewing length 4.03–4.21 mm.

Colouration. Flagellum with ventral surface reddish brown to rusty red.

Pubescence. Lower paraocular area with sparse tomentum, partially obscuring surface. Supraclypeal area with scattered tomentum, not obscuring surface. T3 basolaterally with very sparse, scattered tomentum. S4– S5 apically with medially directed hair patches (1–2 OD).

Surface sculpture. Metapostnotum nearly completely rugoso-striate, posterior margin smooth. T1 dorsal surface and T2–T3 punctation moderately sparse (i=1.5–2d). T4–T5 punctation sparse (i=3–5d). Apical impressed areas impunctate.

Structure. Head moderately elongate (length/width ratio = 1.00–1.03). Eyes strongly convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio = 1.32–1.60). Clypeus 1/2 below suborbital tangent, apicolateral margins subparallel. Antennal sockets distant (IAD/OAD = 1.0). Frontal line carinate, ending 2 OD below median ocellus. IOD subequal to OOD. Pedicel shorter than F1. F2 length 1.6–1.7 times longer than F1. F2–F10 moderately elongate (length/width ratio = 1.43–1.75). Metapostnotum moderately elongate (MMR ratio = 1.17–1.30), posterior margin rounded onto posterior surface.

Terminalia . S7 with median lobe wide, acuminate, apex rounded ( Fig. 229E ). S8 with apicomedial margin strongly convex ( Fig. 229E ). Genitalia as in Fig. 229E–F . Gonobase with ventral rim very widely separated. Gonostylus moderately large, setae elongate directed medially. Retrorse lobe short, narrow, strongly attenuated apically, apical setae elongate. Penis valve with strong inner crest.

Range. Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, west to Alberta, south to North Carolina ( Fig. 230 ).

Additional material examined. CANADA: ALBERTA: 1♀ Fort MacLeod, Oldman Riv. , cpgd., 14.vi.1984 ( T. Spanton); [ PMAE] ; MANITOBA: 2♀ Macdonald , 21.vi.1968 ( T. Harcus); [ PCYU] ; NEW BRUNSWICK: 1♀ Charters Settlement , N45°50.557´W066°43.682´, 22.vi.2004 (Goulet, Boudreault & Badiss) ; NOVA SCOTIA: 1♀ Cape Breton Is., River Denys Mtn. Rd. , 24.viii.1985 (L. Packer) ; 1♀ Sydney ( CB), N46°08.712´W060°10.962´(Goulet, Boudreault & Badiss) ; ONTARIO: 1♀ 3 km NE of Almonte , N45.2507 W076.1377, 24.v.2008 (P.M. Catling) ; 1♀ Haliburton Highlands, Plowright Farm , 29.v.1982 (L. Packer) ; 8♀ Manestar Tract , St. Williams Co., N42°43´W80°26´, 1–11.vi.1992 (L. Packer) ; 1♀ Wentworth Co., 15.vi.2006 ( V. MacPhail) ; PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: 1♀ Queens Co., 4.vii.2006 ( V. MacPhail) ; 2♀ Queens Co., 7.vii.2006 ( V. MacPhail); [ PCYU] ; USA: COLORADO: 1♀ Jefferson Co., N39.7433 W105.2365, 22.viii.2001 (S.W. Droege) ; MAINE: 1♂ Aroostook Co., Allagash River Waterway , 16.viii.2006 (M.F. Veit) ; 1♂ Piscataquis Co., N45°29.895´W068°56.846´, 14.viii.2006 (M.F. Veit) ; 3♂♂ Somerset Co., Starks, field nr. Sandy Riv. , 13.viii.2006 (M.F. Veit) ; MARYLAND: 1♀ 2.ix.2003 (S.W. Droege); MASSA- CHUSETTS: 1♀ Middlesex Co., Harvard: Delany WMA, 28.v.2006 (M.F. Veit) ; NEW HAMPSHIRE: 1♀ Carroll Co., Fen , 2.4 mi N of Ossipee, 22.vi.2006 (M.F. Veit); [ PCYU] ; 1♀ Nelsen , vi.1907 [ ANSP] ; NEW YORK: 1♀ Orange Co., Cornwall, Black Rock Forest , 18- N4584267 E582416, 18.v.2003 ( V. Giles & J.G. Rozen); [ AMNH] ; 1♀ Steuben Co., N42.3682 W077.3326, 30.vi.2004 (S.W. Droege); [ PCYU] ; 1♀ Tompkins

Co., Mervin, Trumansburg, 8.v.2009 (M.G. Park); 1♀ Tompkins Co., Mervin, Trumansburg, 8.v.2009 (B.N. Danforth); 1♀ Wayne Co., Endress, Sodus Pt., 15.v.2009 (M.G. Park); [ CUIC]; NORTH CAROLINA: 1♀ Grandfather Mtn., N36.08942 W081.83699, 13.viii.2006 (J. Gibbs); 1♀ Swain Co. , N35.5917 W083.0602, 2.iv.2002 (H. W. Ikerd); [ PCYU]; 1♀ Swain Co. , Great Smoky Mountain N.P., Andrew’s Bald , N35.53964 W083.4942, 6.viii.2006 (J. Gibbs); [ GSNP]; 1♀ N of Doughton Park, N36.44752 W081.02898, 14.viii.2006 (J. Gibbs); TENNESSEE: 5♀ Blount Co. , N35.7742 W083.2126, 1–2.iv.2002 (H.W. Ikerd); VERMONT: 1♀ Essex Co., Nulhegan NWR , Brighton, 2.vii.2006 (M.F. Veit); VIRGINIA: 1♀ Fairfax Co., N38.967 W077.1687, 11–12.iv.2005 (B. Steury); [ PCYU] .

Floral records. ASTERACEAE : Anaphalis , Epilobium , Gnaphalium , Hieracium , Lactuca , Solidago , Taraxacum , BRASSICACEAE : Barbarea , HYDRANGEACEAE : Hydrangea , ERICACEAE : Ledum , FABACEAE : Melilotus , Trifolium , PLANTAGINACEAE : Plantago , RANUNCULACEAE : Ranunculus , ROSACEAE : Amelanchier , Aruncus , Fragaria , Prunus virginiana , Rosa , Rubus , SALICACEAE : Salix .

Biology. Evans & Lin, 1959: (predator); Evans, 1964: (predator).

Comments. Common.

Figures

FIGURE 228. Lasioglossum versans (Lovell). Female (A) lateral habitus; (B) dorsal habitus; (C) face; (D) metapostnotum. Scale bars, A–C = 1 mm.

FIGURE 229. Lasioglossum versans (Lovell). Male (A) lateral habitus; (B) dorsal habitus; (C) face; (D) metapostnotum; (E) ventral view of genital capsule, S7, S8; (F) dorsal view of genital capsule. Scale bars, A–C = 1 mm, F = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 230. Distribution of Lasioglossum versans (light grey) and L. versatum (dark grey).