Epeolus autumnalis 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 : 26-28

7. Epeolus autumnalis Robertson, 1902 Figs 16, 17

Epeolus autumnalis Robertson, 1902. Entomol. News 13: 81 (♀, ♂). Webb, 1980. Ill. Nat. Hist. Surv. Bull. 32: 108 (♀) [lectotype designation (by W.E. LaBerge)].

Diagnosis.

The following morphological features in combination can be used to tell E. autumnalis apart from all other North American Epeolus : the axilla is large, with the tip extending well beyond the midlength of the mesoscutellum but not as far back as its posterior margin, dilated laterally, and like the mesoscutellum black; the mesopleuron is closely (i≤1d) and evenly punctate; the T1 discal patch is so wide that the longitudinal band is barely visible in dorsal view; and the T2 fascia lacks lobe-like anterolateral extensions of tomentum, although a few sparsely scattered pale hairs are sometimes present. Epeolus autumnalis is similar to E. scutellaris in terms of surface sculpture and the patterns of pubescence on the mesosoma and metasoma, but in E. scutellaris at least the axilla is partially to entirely ferruginous (as is often the mesoscutellum), and the axilla is more elongate, extending to or beyond the band of pale tomentum along the posterior margin of the mesoscutellum.

Redescription.

This species was recently redescribed ( Onuferko 2017).

Distribution.

Eastern North America (Fig. 17).

Ecology.

See Onuferko (2017) for host and floral records. Floral associations are also indicated in Suppl. material 1.

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 (lectotype ♀ [INHS, catalog number: 44381]).

Secondary: USA: Illinois: Carlinville (Macoupin County), C.A. Robertson (lectoallotype ♂ [INHS, catalog number: 44382]).

DNA barcoded material with BIN-compliant sequences.

Available. BOLD:AAF2361. Specimens examined and sequenced. Canada: Nova Scotia: 2♀, 1♂ (PCYU, RSKM); Ontario: 1♀ (PCYU).

USA: New York: 1♀ (AMNH).

Non-barcoded material examined.

Canada: Nova Scotia: 2♀ (PCYU, RSKM); Avonport (45.1189°N; 64.2634°W) (Kings County), 27.viii.2000, C. Sheffield (1♂, PCYU); Ontario: 14♀, 24♂ (DEBU, PCYU, ROM); King (44.0410°N; 79.5060°W), 23.viii.2000, V. Kushnir (1♂, PCYU); King (44.0430°N; 79.3100°W), 28.viii.2002, V. Kushnir (1♂, PCYU); King (44.0430°N; 79.5410°W), 06.ix.2003, J. Grixti (1♂, PCYU).

USA: Maryland: 2♂ (BIML); Massachusetts: 1♀, 2♂ (AMNH, BIML); New York: 1♀, 1♂ (AMNH, CAS); Lime Hollow (42.5650°N; 76.2550°W) (Cortland County), 03.ix.2011, J. Gibbs (1♂, JBWM); Virginia: Glencarlyn, 06.ix.???? (1♂, CUM).