Lasioglossum (Dialictus) zophops (Ellis)

Gibbs, Jason, 2010, Revision of the metallic species of Lasioglossum (Dialictus) in Canada (Hymenoptera, Halictidae, Halictini) 2591, Zootaxa 2591 (1), pp. 1-382 : 368-372

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) zophops (Ellis)

( Figures 245A–D , 246A–G )

Halictus zophops Ellis, 1914: 97 . ♀. Holotype. ♀ USA, Colorado, Boulder , 13.iv.1913, (M.D. Ellis); [UCMC]. Examined.

Taxonomy. Michener, 1951: Lasioglossum (Chloralictus) zophops , p. 1118 (catalogue); Hurd. 1979: Dialictus zophops , p. 1973 (catalogue); Moure & Hurd, 1987: Dialictus zophops , p. 142 (catalogue).

Diagnosis. Females of L. zophops can be recognised by the diagnostic combination of a large size (6.1– 7.1 mm), wide head (length/width ratio = 0.92–0.94), imbricate-tessellate mesoscutum with sparse punctures on centre of disc, rugulose mesepisternum with obscure punctures on ventral portion, metapostnotum distinctly truncate, T1 acarinarial fan complete dorsally and brown metasomal terga with distinct punctures on the apical impressed areas. They are most similar to L. laevissimum and L. versatum . Female L. laevissimum have the apical halves of the metasomal terga impunctate. Female L. versatum have the T1 acarinarial fan incomplete dorsally.

Males of L. zophops are similar to females and may be further distinguished by the moderately wide head (length/width ratio = 0.95–0.99), distinct mesepisternal punctures, relatively polished mesoscutum, obtuse dorsolateral angles of the pronotum and scattered punctures on the apical impressed margins of the metasomal terga. They are most similar to L. obscurum and the Eastern USA species L. wheeleri . Male L. obscurum have elongate heads (length/width ratio = 1.02–1.05) and no punctures on the apical impressed areas of the metasomal terga. Male L. wheeleri have acute dorsolateral angles of the pronotum and no punctures on the apical impressed areas of the metasomal terga.

Redescription. FEMALE. Length 6.10–7.10 mm. head length 1.56–1.82 mm. head width 1.68–1.87 mm. forewing length 4.76–5.25 mm.

Colouration. Head and mesosoma greenish blue. Clypeus with apical half blackish brown and basal half, and supraclypeal area golden. Antenna dark brown, F8–F10 with ventral surface dark reddish brown. Tegula reddish brown to amber. Wing membrane subhyaline, venation and pterostigma brownish yellow. Legs brown, medio- and distitarsi reddish brown. Metasoma blackish brown, terga and sterna with apical margins reddish brown.

Pubescence. Dull white. Mostly sparse. 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 with sparse subappressed tomentum. Propodeum with moderately dense plumose hairs on lateral and posterior surfaces (2–2.5 OD). Metasomal terga moderately dense, fine setae. T1 acarinarial fan complete dorsally. T2–T3 basolaterally with dense tomentum obscuring surface. T4 with scattered tomentum across disc, partially obscuring surface. T2 apicolateral and T3–T4 apical margins with weak apical fringe.

Surface sculpture. Face imbricate, punctation moderately strong. Clypeus polished, punctation sparse (i=1–2.5d). Supraclypeal area with punctation moderately dense (i=1–1.5d). Lower paraocular area punctation dense (i≤d). Antennocular area punctation moderately dense (i<1.5d). Upper paraocular area and frons reticulate-punctate. Ocellocular area minutely punctate (i≤d). Gena polished. Postgena imbricate. Mesoscutum tessellate on disc, weakly imbricate adjacent to parapsidal lines, punctation moderately sparse between parapsidal lines (i=1–2.5d), dense mesad and laterad of parapsidal line (i≤d), contiguous on anterolateral portions. Mesoscutellum polished, submedial punctation moderately sparse (i=1–2d). Axilla punctate. Metanotum imbricate. Preëpisternum rugulose. Hypoepimeral area imbricate. Mesepisternum dorsal half rugulose, ventral half imbricate, obscurely punctate below (i=1–1.5d). Metepisternum with dorsal half rugoso-striate, ventral half imbricate. Metapostnotum longitudinally striate, not reaching posterior margin; lateral areas plicate. Propodeum with dorsolateral slope rugulose, lateral and posterior surfaces imbricate. Metasomal terga weakly coriarious, punctation on basal halves moderate dense (i=1–2d), sparse on apical halves (i=2–4d).

Structure. Head wide (length/width ratio = 0.92–0.94). Eyes convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio = 1.16– 1.19). Clypeus 1/2–2/3 below suborbital tangent, apicolateral margins convergent. Antennal sockets close (IAD/OAD <0.5). Frontal line carinate, ending 2 OD below median ocellus. Gena width subequal to eye. Inner metatibial spur pectinate with 3–4 teeth. Metapostnotum moderately elongate (MMR ratio = 1.16–1.20), posterior margin weakly angled onto posterior surface. Propodeum with oblique carina moderately strong, lateral carina moderately strong, reaching dorsal margin.

MALE. Similar to female except for the usual secondary sexual characters and as follows. Length 4.94– 5.00 mm; head length 1.49–1.51 mm; head width 1.54–1.56 mm; forewing length 4.21–4.39 mm.

Colouration. Flagellum with ventral surface yellowish brown. Pterostigma reddish brown. Tarsi pale brownish yellow.

Pubescence. Face below eye emargination with moderately dense tomentum, partially obscuring surface. Lower paraocular area with dense tomentum, obscuring surface. Gena with virtually no tomentum. S3–S5 apicolateral portions with dense plumose hairs (1–1.5 OD).

Surface sculpture. Clypeal punctation moderately dense (i=1–2d). Metanotum rugulose. Mesepisternum with dorsal portion ruguloso-punctate and ventral portion distinctly punctate (i=1–2d). Metapostnotum coarsely rugoso-striate, reaching posterior margin. Propodeum with dorsolateral slope rugose, lateral surface rugulose, posterior surface rugose. Metasomal terga polished, punctation distinct throughout (i=1–2d), except apical impressed areas with only scattered punctures basally.

Structure. Head moderately wide (length/width ratio = 0.95–0.98). Eyes strongly convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio = 1.48). Clypeus 2/3 below suborbital tangent, apicolateral margins weakly convergent. Antennal sockets distant (IAD/OAD> 1.3). Frontal line carinate, ending 1.5 OD below median ocellus. Pedicel shorter than F1. F2 length 1.9X F1. F2–F10 (length/width ratio = 1.57–1.73). Metapostnotum moderately elongate (MMR ratio = 1.15), posterior margin sharply angled onto posterior surface.

Terminalia . S7 with median lobe wide, strongly clavate, apex rounded ( Fig. 246G ). S8 with apicomedial margin strongly convex ( Fig. 246G ). Genitalia as in Fig. 246D–F . Gonobase with ventral arms narrowly separated. Gonostylus small, dorsal setae elongate. Retrorse lobe elongate, weakly attenuated apically.

Range. Southern Ontario, south to Maryland and west to Colorado ( Fig. 244 ).

Additional material examined. CANADA: ONTARIO: 8♀ Ancaster , 13–14.iv.1969 (J.E.H. Martin); [ CNC] ; 1♀ Guelph , 7.v–4.vi.1982 (K.N. Barber) ; 1♀ 2♂♂ Metcalf , 29.vii.1983 (B.E. Cooper); [ PMAE] ; 1♀ Norfolk , N42°38.997´W080°33.988´, 18.ix.2007 (A. Taylor); [ PCYU] ; QUEBEC: 2♀ Gatineau Pk., Mountain Rd. , 12.vii.1965 (P.S. Corbet); [ PMAE] : USA: COLORADO: 11♀ Larimer Co., N40.6833 W105.3975, 11–12.v.2004 (S.W. Droege); [ PCYU] ; GEORGIA: 1♀ Oglethorpe Co., Oconee N.F., Scull Shoals Exp. For., 15.iii.2007 (J. Hanula & S. Horn); [ JHRC] ; ILLINOIS: 1♀ Kankakee Co., Hooper Branch , 11.iv.2003, 15:15, ( R. P. Jean) ; INDIANA: 1♀ Starke Co., Ober , 3.iv.2003, 15:00, ( R. P. Jean) ; KANSAS: 1♀ Douglas Co., Welda prairie, 7.vi.2004 (J. Hopwood) ; 1♀ Wabaunsee Co., K–4 Highway mi. 306–307, N38°57.828´W096°1.067´, 8.vi.2005 (J. Hopwood) ; MARYLAND: 1♀ Pr. George’s Co., N38.9002 W076.674, 20.iv.2002 (S.W. Droege); [ PCYU] ; MICHIGAN: 1♀ Barrien Co., 3 mi W Benton Harbor , 23.v.2007 (J.K Tuell et al.) ; 1♀ Clinton Co., Westphalia Twp. , 10.vii.2005 (J.K Tuell et al.) ; 1♀ Ingham Co., 3.1 mi SE Lansing , 31.viii.2007 (J.K Tuell et al.) ; 1♀ Ottawa Co., Port Sheldon , 30.vi.2005 (J.K Tuell et al.) ; 1♀ Ottawa Co., Pine Creek , 29.vi.2005 (J.K Tuell et al.) ; MISSOURI: 1♀ Warren Co., Little Lost Crk. , 2.iv.2003 (Arduser) ; SOUTH CAROLINA: 1♀ Chesterfield Co., N34.5834 W080.2448, 29–30.v.2007 (S.W. Droege) ; 1♂ Chesterfield Co., N34.6412 W080.2483, 29–30.v.2007 (S.W. Droege) ; VIRGINIA: 1♀ Fairfax Co., N38.9614 W077.1472, 29– 30.iii.2005 (J. Olson) ; WEST VIRGINIA: 1♀ Hampshire Co., N39.4597 W078.5123, 7.vii.2002 (S.W. Droege); [ PCYU] : WISCONSIN: Madison , 1910 (J.G. Sanders) ; 1♀ Dane Co., Westport Drumlin , 11.vii.1996 ( R. A. Henderson); [ IRCW] .

Floral records. PORTULACACEAE : Claytonia virginica , ROSACEAE : Potentilla , Prunus , SALI- CACEAE: Salix humilis .

Comments. New record for Canada. First description of male. Until recently this species was only known from Colorado ( Moure & Hurd 1987, see also Tonietto & Ascher 2009).

Figures

FIGURE 244. Distribution of Lasioglossum zephyrum (light grey) and L. zophops (dark grey).

FIGURE 245. Lasioglossum zophops (Ellis). Female (A) lateral habitus; (B) dorsal habitus; (C) face. Scale bars, A–C = 1 mm.

FIGURE 246. Lasioglossum zophops (Ellis). Male (A) lateral habitus; (B) dorsal habitus; (C) face; (D) ventral view of genital capsule; (E) dorsal view of genital capsule; (F) apical view of genital capsule (G) S7, S8. Scale bars, A–C = 1 mm, G = 0.5 mm.