Epeolus minimus (Robertson, 1902)

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 : 114-118

33. Epeolus minimus (Robertson, 1902) Figs 69, 70, 101

Triepeolus minimus Robertson, 1902. Entomol. News 13: 81 (♀).

Argyroselenis minima Robertson, 1903. Can. Entomol. 35: 284.

Epeolus beulahensis Cockerell, 1904. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 13: 40 (♀).

Epeolus lutzi Cockerell, 1921. Am. Mus. Novit. 23: 16 (♂).

Epeolus lutzi dimissus Cockerell, 1921. Am. Mus. Novit. 23: 16 (♀).

Epeolus arciferus Cockerell (in Cockerell and Sandhouse, 1924). Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4) 13: 319 (♀).

Epeolus pilatei Cockerell (in Cockerell and Sandhouse, 1924). Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4) 13: 320 (♀).

Epeolus eastwoodae Cockerell, 1937. Pan-Pac. Entomol. 13: 149 (♂).

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. minimus apart from all other North American Epeolus except E. banksi and E. olympiellus : in females, F2 is at least 1.2 × as long as wide; the mesoscutum has distinct, evenly broad paramedian bands that may be joined posteriorly; the axilla is small to intermediate in size, not extending much beyond the midlength of the mesoscutellum (extending to <2/3 its length) but the free portion is more than 1/4 as long as the entire medial length of the axilla, and the axilla (except sometimes the tip) and mesoscutellum are black; the mesopleuron is closely (most i<1d) and evenly punctate; T1 has a quadrangular discal patch, in dorsal view the longitudinal band is at least half as wide as the breadth of the apical fascia; and the T2 fascia has lobe-like anterolateral extensions of tomentum. Whereas in E. banksi the mesoscutum and metasomal terga have bands of gray short appressed setae, in E. minimus the mesoscutum and metasomal terga have bands of off-white to pale yellow short appressed setae. In this respect, E. minimus more closely resembles E. olympiellus , but in E. olympiellus the T3 and T4 fasciae are broken or at least narrowed laterally, as well as medially, whereas in E. minimus the T3 and T4 fasciae are not broken laterally, and are complete or narrowly interrupted medially. Epeolus minimus is also similar to E. axillaris , but in E. axillaris the metanotum has a distinct posteromedial depression (as opposed to being flat) and the axilla is more elongate, extending well beyond the midlength of the mesoscutellum but not as far back as its posterior margin.

Redescription.

This species was recently redescribed ( Onuferko 2017).

Distribution.

Widely distributed across Canada and the United States, although apparently more common in the west; not known to occur in parts of northeastern North America or the high arctic (Fig. 70). Also, the single (perhaps mislabelled) examined specimen from Florida is an extreme outlier, and given the lack of other examined material from the Southern United States the record should be treated with some skepticism.

Ecology.

HOST RECORDS: Graenicher (1906) associated E. minimus (as A. minima ) with C. eulophi Robertson based on detailed observations of a female of the former inspecting and entering the nest of a female of the latter in Lake Woods, Wisconsin, USA. However, according to Stephen (1954) Graenicher’s record of C. eulophi in Wisconsin is based on observations of C. kincaidii . Epeolus minimus has been collected with C. kincaidii in Birds Hill Provincial Park and Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada where no C. eulophi were collected or observed (J. Gibbs, personal communication, 2017), so the association between E. minimus and C. kincaidii seems likely.

FLORAL RECORDS: See Onuferko (2017). Floral associations are also indicated in Suppl. material 1, which includes newly discovered associations with Ericameria nauseosa var. nauseosa and Medicago L. ( Leguminosae ) based on labels of examined voucher specimens.

Discussion.

In Onuferko (2017), E. minimus is said to be similar to a Californian species yet to be formally recognized, which herein is formally described under the name Epeolus axillaris . Detailed morphological and taxonomic remarks about this species are given in Onuferko (2017). Epeolus minimus is among the most widespread and commonly collected Epeolus species in North America.

Material studied.

Type material. Primary: USA: California: Cuyler’s Cove (San Miguel Island), 27.vii.1937, T.D. Cockerell ( E. eastwoodae holotype ♂ [CAS, catalog number: 04651]); Pacific Grove (Monterey County), ix.1920, F.E. Blaisdell ( E. arciferus holotype ♀ [CAS, catalog number: 01614]); San Pedro, 25.x.1909, G.R. Pilate ( E. pilatei holotype ♀ [CAS, catalog number: 01615]); Colorado: Leadville, 03-05.viii.1919 ( E. lutzi dimissus holotype ♀ [AMNH, catalog number: 25099]); Walsenburg, 14.vi.1919 ( E. lutzi holotype ♂ [AMNH, catalog number: 25098]); Illinois: Carlinville (Macoupin County), C.A. Robertson ( T. minimus holotype ♀ [INHS, catalog number: 62276]); New Mexico: Beulah, 11.vii.????, T.D. Cockerell ( E. beulahensis holotype ♀ [USNM, catalog number: 534040]).

DNA barcoded material with BIN-compliant sequences.

Available. BOLD:AAD3554. Specimens examined and sequenced.-Canada: Alberta: 2♂ (PCYU); British Columbia: Haynes’ Lease Ecological Reserve (49.0930°N; 119.5200°W), 29.vi.-01.vii.2011, G.A. Gielens (1♀, RSKM); Manitoba: Spruce Woods Provincial Park (49.6630°N; 99.2790°W) (Spirit Sands, Division 7), 07.vii.2017, J. Gibbs and Nozoe (1♀, 1♂, JBWM); Ontario: 1♀, 1♂ (PCYU); Saskatchewan: 3♂ (PCYU); Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park (50.6950°N; 107.9030°W), 03.vii.2013, A. Fortney and M. Anderson (1♂, RSKM); Yukon: 1♂ (RSKM).

USA: California: 1♂ (EMEC); Colorado: 2♀ (PCYU); Morrison (39.6677°N; 105.1968°W) (SE Red Rocks Amphitheatre), 16.vi.2017, T.M. Onuferko (1♂, PCYU); Idaho: 2♀, 1♂ (BBSL, PCYU); Utah: 1♀ (BBSL).

Non-barcoded material examined.

Mexico: Baja California: San Vicente, 08.vii.1963, J. Powell (3♂, EMEC).

Canada: Alberta: 15♀, 10♂ (CNC); British Columbia: 16♀, 1♂ (CNC, ROM); Manitoba: 4♀, 7♂ (CNC, DEBU, ROM); Birds Hill Provincial Park (50.0100°N; 96.9100 °W) (Division 12), 15.vii.2017, J. Gibbs and Nozoe (1♂, JBWM); Erickson, 03.viii.1983, D.H. Pengelly (1♀, JBWM); Fort Whyte (Winnipeg), 20.vi.1991, B.G. Elliot (1♂, JBWM), 13.vii.1991, B.G. Elliot (1♂, JBWM); Portage la Prairie, 29.vi.1976, T.D. Galloway (1♀, JBWM); Spruce Woods Provincial Park (49.6630°N; 99.2790°W) (Spirit Sands, Division 7), 07.vii.2017, J. Gibbs and Nozoe (1♂, JBWM); Winnipeg, 21.vi.1979, T.D. Galloway (1♂, JBWM), 06.vii.1991, B.G. Elliot (1♂, JBWM); Winnipeg Beach, 15.vii.1989, T.D. Galloway (1♀, JBWM), 15.vii.1989, T.D. Galloway (2♂, JBWM); Northwest Territories: 7♀ (CNC); Ontario: 9♀, 6♂ (CNC, PCYU, ROM); Caledon (Forks of the Credit Provincial Park), 25.vii.1968, P. MacKay (1♂, PCYU); Quebec: 3♂ (CNC); Saskatchewan: 9♀, 10♂ (CNC, PCYU); Borden Bridge, 01.viii.1976, T.D. Galloway (1♀, JBWM); Ernfold, 05.vii.1984, T.D. Galloway (1♀, JBWM); Sands Hills (7 km W Piapot), 26.vii.2003, D. Larson (1♂, PCYU); Yukon: 2♀ (CNC).

USA: California: 4♀, 4♂ (EMEC, UCR); 2 mi S Asilomar (Monterey County), 26.ix.1959, C.W. O’Brien (1♂, AMNH); Antioch (Contra Costa County), 20.ix.1958, J.R. Powers (1♀, AMNH), 28.viii.1976, N.J. Smith (1♀, UCBME); Bodega Head (Sonoma County), 14.v.1977, W.M. Oldham (1♂, UCBME); Carnelian Bay (Lake Tahoe), 29.vii.1962, R.M. Bohart (1♀, UCBME); Carson Pass (Alpine County), 13.vii.1966, R.M. Bohart (1♂, UCBME), 16.vii.1968, R.M. Bohart (1♂, UCBME), 16.vii.1968, W.W. Harberts (1♂, UCBME); Chipmunk Flat (Tuolumne County), 09.viii.1960, C.A. Toschi (1♀, AMNH); Dune Lakes (3 mi S Oceano, San Luis Obispo County), 01.vi.1972, J. Powell (1♂, EMEC), 03-04.x.1972, J. Powell (18♂, EMEC), 07.vi.1973, J. Powell (1♂, EMEC), 11.vii.1973, R. Coville (1♂, EMEC), 12.vii.1973, J. Powell (2♂, EMEC), 02.v.1974, J. Powell (1♂, EMEC); Holcomb Valley (San Bernardino County) (1♂, BBSL); Hot Creek (8 air mi E Mammoth Lakes, Mono County), 24.viii.1977, J. Powell (2♂, EMEC); Inglenook Fen (5 mi N Fort Bragg, Mendocino County), 27.v.1976, R. Coville (1♀, 3♂, EMEC); Inglenook Fen (Mendocino County), 22.vii.1972, E.I. Schlinger (1♂, EMEC); Lanphere-Christensen Dunes Preserve (4 mi W Arcata, Humboldt County), 26.vii.1975, M.E. Buegler and E.I. Schlinger (1♂, EMEC); Lobos Creek (San Francisco County), 10.v.1979, J. Powell (1♀, 3♂, EMEC), 15.vi.1960, G.I. Stage (1♀, AMNH); Mad River Beach (Humboldt County), 26.vi.1969, J. Powell (1♀, EMEC); McClures Beach (Marin County), 27.vi.1969, R.W. Thorp (1♀, UCBME); North Beach (Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County), 10.v.1980, K. Standow (1♀, EMEC), 30.viii.1974, P.A. Opler (2♀, 1♂, EMEC); North Fork, Del Puerto Creek (Del Puerto Canyon, Stanislaus County), 25.v.1974, E. Schlinger (1♂, EMEC); Point Reyes National Seashore (Marin County), 03.iii.1968, R.W. Thorp (1♀, UCBME), 23.vii.1974, P.A. Opler (1♀, EMEC); San Bruno Mountain (San Mateo County), 23.v.1961, G.I. Stage (1♀, AMNH), 23.v.1961 (1♀, AMNH), 23.viii.1960, G.I. Stage (1♂, AMNH); San Francisco Bay Salt Marshes, viii.1907?, Thompson (3♂, EMEC); San Francisco Sand Dunes, 25.vi.1954, J.G. Rozen (1♂, EMEC), 25.vi.1954, P.D. Hurd (1♀, EMEC); Santa Cruz Island (Christi Beach, Santa Barbara County), 23.ix.1968, R.W. Thorp (1♀, UCBME); Sierra Valley (Sierra County), 06.vii.1972, R.M. Bohart (1♀, UCBME); Simonton Cove (San Miguel Island, Santa Barbara County), 11.vii.1970, A.A. Grigarick and R.C. Schuster (1♀, UCBME); Toms Place (Mono County), 01.ix.1965, A.J. Slater (1♀, EMEC); Yuba Pass (Sierra County), 11.viii.1978, R.M. Bohart (1♂, KUNHM); Colorado: Rock Creek Park (Colorado Springs), 19.viii.1937 (1♀, 1♂, AMNH); Florida: 1♀ (PCYU); Idaho: 1♀ (PCYU); Daniels Reservoir (Oneida County), 11.vii.1997, F.D. Parker (3♂, BBSL); Illinois: 1♂ (FMNH); Minnesota: Detroit, 26.viii.1924, O.A. Stevens (1♀, AMNH); Montana: 1♀ (KUNHM); 11 mi SE Ennis (Madison County), 18.viii.1966, D.R. Miller (1♀, UCBME); Nebraska: Cedar Point Biological Station (8 mi N Ogallala, Keith County), 11-18.vii.1988, J.G. Rozen and E. Quinter (1♀, AMNH); Fort Robinson (Dawes County), 11.viii.1971, J.G., B.L., and K.C. Rozen (3♀, AMNH), 12.viii.1971, J.G., B.L., and K.C. Rozen (2♀, AMNH), 09-11.viii.1972, J.G. Rozen, K.C. Rozen, and R. McGinley (2♀, 4♂, AMNH); Warbonnet Canyon (Sioux County), 24.vii.1968, R.R. Snelling (1♂, LACM); Nevada: Fallon, 01.vi.1930, E.L. Bell (1♀, AMNH), 06.vi.1930, E.L. Bell (1♀, AMNH), 10.vi.1930, E.L. Bell (1♀, AMNH); Mount Rose Summit (Washoe County), 09.vii.1964, R.M. Bohart (1♀, UCBME); New Mexico: Santa Fe, 09.vi.1931, F.E. Lutz (1♀, 1♂, AMNH); North Dakota: Gascoyne, 19.vi.1918, O.A. Stevens (1♀, AMNH); Jamestown, 16.viii.1913, O.A. Stevens (1♀, AMNH); Marmarth, 04.vii.1949, O.A. Ste vens (3♂, AMNH); McKenzie, 05.viii.1913, O.A. Stevens (1♀, AMNH); Monango, 03.vii.1913, O.A. Stevens (1♀, AMNH); Pleasant Lake, 11.viii.1913, O.A. Stevens (1♀, AMNH); Washburn, 23.vii.1926, O.A. Stevens (3♀, 2♂, AMNH); Williston, 09.viii.1915, O.A. Stevens (1♂, AMNH); Oregon: 1♂ (KUNHM); South Dakota: 1♀ (BIML); Utah: Indian Canyon (Duchesne County), 18.vii.1965, G.F. Knowlton (1♀, UCBME); NE Ruby’s Inn (Garfield County), 17.viii.1995, V.J. Tepedino and F.D. Parker (2♀, BBSL).