Epeolus lectoides Robertson, 1901

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 : 103-104

30. Epeolus lectoides Robertson, 1901 Figs 63, 64

Epeolus lectoides Robertson, 1901. Can. Entomol. 33: 231 (♀).

Epeolus semilectus Cockerell, 1907a. Entomologist 40: 136 (♂).

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. lectoides apart from all other North American Epeolus except E. glabratus : the axilla is elongate, extending well beyond the midlength of the mesoscutellum but not as far back as its posterior margin, and the free portion is distinctly hooked; the mesopleuron has sparser punctures ventrolaterally (most i>1d) than in upper half, with the interspaces shining; the metasomal terga have minute, shallow punctures; the T2-T4 fasciae are conspicuously narrowed or interrupted medially; and the pseudopygidial area of the female is distinctly campanulate with the apex <2 × the medial length. Whereas in E. glabratus the pronotal collar, axilla, mesoscutellum, and discs of T1 and T2 are ferruginous and the pale pubescence on the metasomal terga are commonly reduced to discrete lateral patches, in E. lectoides the pronotal collar is black, as are sometimes the axilla and mesoscutellum, and the metasomal terga are black and fasciate. Epeolus lectoides is also similar to E. lectus , but in E. lectus the metasomal terga have coarse, deep punctures and the T2-T4 fasciae are complete and evenly broad.

Redescription.

This species was recently redescribed ( Onuferko 2017).

Distribution.

Eastern North America (Fig. 64).

Ecology.

See Onuferko (2017) for host and floral records. Floral associations are also indicated in Suppl. material 1, which includes newly discovered associations with Aralia spinosa L. ( Araliaceae ), Castanea pumila (L.) Mill. ( Fagaceae ), Helenium amarum (Raf.) H. Rock ( Compositae ), Helianthella Torr. & A. Gray ( Compositae ), Helianthus L. ( Compositae ), Ligustrum L. ( Oleaceae ), Rudbeckia hirta L. ( Compositae ), and Vitex L. ( Lamiaceae ) 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: Illinois: Carlinville (Macoupin County), C.A. Robertson ( E. lectoides holotype ♀ [INHS, catalog number: 44383]); Virginia: Falls Church, 04.vii.????, N. Banks ( E. semilectus holotype ♂ [USNM, catalog number: 534053]).

DNA barcoded material with BIN-compliant sequences.

Available. BOLD:AAF2273. Specimens examined and sequenced.-Canada: Ontario: 2♂ (DEBU).

USA: Alabama: Tuskegee National Forest (32.4800°N; 85.6028°W) (Macon County), 24.vii.2016, C.H. Ray (1♀, 1♂, AUMNH); Nebraska: 1♂ (BIML); South Carolina: 1♀, 2♂ (PCYU).

Non-barcoded material examined.

Canada: Ontario: 15♀, 23♂ (DEBU, PCYU, ROM); Rondeau Provincial Park (42.2814°N; 81.8427°W) (Beach Access #10, near Visitor Centre), 08.viii.2017, R. Ferrari (1♀, 1♂, PCYU).

USA: Alabama: Auburn University Ornamental Horticulture Research Center (30.7018°N; 88.1454°W), 09.v.2016, Ray, Clem, and Chowdhury (2♂, AUMNH); Auburn (32.5701°N; 85.4603°W) (Lee County), 20.vi.2015, C.H. Ray (2♂, AUMNH); Autauga County (32.4757°N; 86.8597°W), 12.vi.2016, Ray and Chowdhury (2♂, AUMNH); Autauga County (32.3988°N; 86.7918°W), 12.vi.2016, Ray and Chowdhury (1♂, AUMNH); Grand Bay (30.4763°N; 88.3422°W) (Mobile County), 26.v.2010, S. Martin (1♀, AUMNH); Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve (32.6654°N; 85.4845°W), 02.vii.2016, C.H. Ray (1♀, AUMNH); Randolph County (33.1164°N; 85.5435°W), 22.v.2016, C.H. Ray (1♀, AUMNH); Tuskegee National Forest (32.4788°N; 85.5639°W) (Macon County), 28.v.2016, C.H. Ray (2♀, 2♂, AUMNH); Tuskegee National Forest (32.4816°N; 85.6129°W) (Macon County), 13.viii.2016, C.H. Ray (1♀, AUMNH); Tuskegee National Forest (32.4701°N; 85.5840°W) (Macon County), 24.vii.2016, C.H. Ray (1♀, AUMNH); Tuskegee National Forest (32.4800°N; 85.6028°W) (Macon County), 24.vii.2016, C.H. Ray (1♀, 3♂, AUMNH); Florida: Greensboro (Gadsden County), 05.vi.2006, S. Lenberger (1♂, FSCA); Liberty County, 06.vi.2006, S. Lenberger (1♂, FSCA); Shalimar (Okaloosa County), 14.vi.2015, F.W. Eliand, II (1♀, AUMNH); Suwannee River State Park, 24.vi.-14.vii.1977, J.R. Wiley (1♂, FSCA); Torreya State Park (Liberty County), 16.v.1964, H.V. Weems, Jr. (1♀, FSCA); Kansas: 2♂ (USNM); Maryland: 1♀, 1♂ (BIML, DEBU); Michigan: Rose Lake State Wildlife Research Area (42.8075°N; 84.3630°W) (Shiawassee County), 04.vii.2014, J. Gibbs (1♂, JBWM), 13.vii.2014, J. Gibbs (1♂, JBWM); Warren Dunes State Park (41.9030°N; 86.6040°W) (Berrien County), 06.vii.2014, J. Gibbs (1♀, JBWM); New Jersey: 1♀ (BIML); New York: 1♀, 2♂ (AMNH); North Carolina: 2♀ (AMNH); North Dakota: 1♀ (AMNH); 11 mi W Walcott (Richland County), 12.vii.1990, J.R. Powers (1♀, EMEC); 7 mi SE Sheldon (Ransom County), 02.vii.1988, J.R. Powers (1♀, EMEC); South Carolina: 1♀ (BIML); Virginia: 1♀, 2♂ (BIML).