Lasioglossum (Dialictus) sagax (Sandhouse)

Gibbs, Jason, 2011, Revision of the metallic Lasioglossum (Dialictus) of eastern North America (Hymenoptera: Halictidae: Halictini), Zootaxa 3073, pp. 1-216 : 175-176

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) sagax (Sandhouse)

Halictus (Chloralictus) sagax Sandhouse, 1924: 25 .

Holotype. 3 USA, Colorado, Boulder, 28.vii.1908 (S.A. Rohwer); [ NMNH: 26422]. Examined. Halictus (Chloralictus) accentus Sandhouse, 1924: 38 .

Holotype. 3 USA, Colorado, Boulder, University of Colorado Campus, 1.viii.1908 (S.A. Rohwer); [ NMNH: 26442].

Examined.

Taxonomy. Michener, 1951: Lasioglossum (Chloralictus) accentum , p. 1111, L. (C.) sagax , p. 1117 (catalogue); Hurd, 1979: Dialictus accentus , p. 1963, D. sagax , p. 1971 (catalogue); Moure & Hurd, 1987: Dialictus accentus , p. 87, D. sagax , p. 128 (catalogue); Gibbs, 2010b: Lasioglossum (Dialictus) sagax Ƥ3, p. 286 (redescription, key, synonymy).

Diagnosis. Female L. sagax can be recognised by the following diagnostic combination: supraclypeal area densely punctate; mesoscutum imbricate, punctures moderately sparse and deep between parapsidal lines (i=1–2d); mesepisternum rugulose; metapostnotum coarsely rugose, reaching posterior margin; T1 polished; acarinarial fan with dorsal opening; T1 dorsally and T2 apicomedially with sparse punctures; metasomal terga brown; T2 basolaterally and T3–T4 entirely with moderately abundant tomentum; and T3–T4 with dense apical fringes. They are most similar to L. admirandum and L. ephialtum . Female L. admirandum have distinct punctures on dorsal surface of T1 and apicomedial portion of T2. Female L. ephialtum have moderately sparse apical fringes on T3–T4 and mesoscutal punctures shallow between parapsidal lines.

Male L. sagax are similar to females but may be further distinguished by clypeus with distal yellow maculation, facial pubescence dense obscuring the surface below, tibiae and tarsi mostly brownish yellow, mesoscutum moderately polished due to lack of microsculpture, and metasomal terga brown with apical halves impunctate. They are most similar to L. admirandum , which has the mesoscutum dull due to microsculpture.

Range. Nova Scotia, west to Alberta, south to Colorado ( Fig. 201 ). USA: CO, WI. CANADA: AB, BC, MB, NS, SK.

DNA Barcode. Available. Multiple haplotypes.

Comments. Common. Recorded in the eastern United States from Wisconsin (Wolf & Ascher 2009). This species belongs to the L. viridatum species-group. DNA barcodes suggest L. sagax may be a species-complex but additional study is required.

Figures

FIGURE 201. Lasioglossum surianae (Mitchell) female, dorsal view of mesosoma.