Lasioglossum (Dialictus) batya Gibbs

Gibbs, Jason, 2011, Revision of the metallic Lasioglossum (Dialictus) of eastern North America (Hymenoptera: Halictidae: Halictini), Zootaxa 3073, pp. 1-216 : 60-63

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) batya Gibbs , new species

( Figures 69–73 )

Holotype. Ƥ USA: SOUTH CAROLINA: Chesterfield Co., N 34.5789 W080.2334, 18.v.2006 (S.W. Droege); [ PCYU].

Diagnosis. Female L. batya can be recognised by the following diagnostic combination: head elongate (length/width ratio = 1.03–1.07), clypeus and supraclypeal area flat and polished ( Fig. 69 B), mesoscutal punctation dense (i<d) ( Fig. 70 ), metasomal terga brown with moderately sparse tomentum ( Fig. 69 A), and apical impressed areas with deep and distinct punctation. They are most similar to L. raleighense , which has head shorter (length/width ratio = 1.00–1.03) and supraclypeal area imbricate and dull.

Male L. batya can be recognised by the following diagnostic combination: clypeus yellow distally ( Fig. 70 B), supraclypeal area polished, flagellomeres short (F2–F10 length/width ratio = 1.13–1.18), mesoscutal punctures contiguous ( Fig. 72 ), and metasomal terga with apical impressed areas deeply and distinctly punctate. They are most similar to L. raleighense , which has the supraclypeal area imbricate and dull.

Description. FEMALE. Length 4.38–4.96 mm; head length 1.44–1.49 mm; head width 1.39–1.42 mm; forewing length 3.12–3.15 mm.

Colouration. Head and mesosoma pale green to bluish green. Clypeus with apical half reddish brown. Supraclypeal area bronze. Antenna dark brown, flagellum with ventral surface reddish brown to orange-yellow. Tegula amber. Wings faintly dusky, venation and pterostigma reddish brown. Legs brown, except medio- and distitarsi reddish brown. Metasomal terga golden brown with narrow reddish rim, sterna brown, apical margins pale, translucent yellow.

Pubescence. Dull white. Head and mesosoma with moderately dense woolly hairs (1–1.5 OD), longest on genal beard, metanotum, and mesopleuron (2–2.5 OD). Paraocular area and gena with subappressed tomentum partially obscuring surface. Propodeum with moderately dense plumose hairs on lateral and posterior surfaces (2–2.5 OD). Metasomal terga with moderately dense, fine hairs. T1 acarinarial fan complete. T1 dorsolateral portion with sparse tomentum. T2–T3 laterally and T4 entirely with sparse tomentum not obscuring surface. T2 apicolateral and T3–T4 apical margins with sparse fringes.

Surface sculpture. Face tessellate-imbricate, punctation fine. Clypeus polished, imbricate basally, punctation evenly spaced (i=1–2d). Supraclypeal area polished distally, punctation moderately sparse (i=1–3d). Lower paraocular and antennocular areas with punctation dense (i≤d). Upper paraocular area, frons and ocellocular area punctate-reticulate. Gena and postgena lineolate. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum tessellate, punctation dense throughout (i≤d). Axilla punctate-reticulate. Metanotum imbricate. Preëpisternum rugose. Hypoepimeral area reticulate-rugulose. Mesepisternum reticulate-rugulose, weakly rugulose posteriorly. Metepisternum with dorsal half rugoso-carinulate, ventral half imbricate. Metapostnotum with weak rugae poorly defined amidst tessellate interstices, posterior margin tessellate-granular. Propodeum with dorsolateral slope tessellate, lateral surface and posterior rugulose-imbricate. Metasomal terga polished, apical impressed areas weakly coriarious, punctation dense and distinct throughout (i=1–1.5d).

Structure. Head elongate (length/width ratio = 1.03–1.07). Eyes strongly convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio = 1.44– 1.48). Clypeus ½ below suborbital tangent, apicolateral margins weakly convergent. Antennal sockets close (IAD/OAD <0.5). Frontal line carinate, ending 2OD below median ocellus. Gena narrower than eye. Inner metatibial spur pectinate with 4 branches. Metapostnotum truncate (MMR ratio = 1.30–1.42), lateral margin distinct, posterior margin weakly angled onto posterior surface. Propodeum with oblique carina fine, lateral carina not reaching dorsal margin.

MALE. Similar to female except for the usual secondary sexual characters and as follows. Length 4.17 mm; head length 1.39 mm; head width 1.30 mm; forewing length 2.90 mm.

Colouration. Labrum, mandible and distal margin of clypeus brownish yellow. Flagellum with ventral surface brownish yellow. Legs brown, except tibial bases and apices and tarsi brownish yellow.

Pubescence. Paraocular area below eye emargination with tomentum obscuring surface. S2–S4 with moderately elongate woolly hairs (1.5–2 OD).

Surface sculpture. Clypeus and supraclypeal area polished, punctation moderately dense (i=1–1.5d). Mesepisternum reticulate-punctate dorsally. T1 anterior surface with minute punctures closely spaced ventrally (i=1–2d), larger and sparser punctures subdorsally (i=2–4d).

Structure. Head elongate (length/width ratio = 1.07). Eyes strongly convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio = 1.67). Clypeus 2/3 below suborbital tangent, apicolateral margins subparallel. Antennal sockets distant (IAD/OAD = 1.0). Frontal line carinate, ending 2 OD below median ocellus. Pedicel subequal to F1. F2 length 1.0X F1. F2–F10 short (length/ width ratio = 0.90–1.18). Metapostnotum moderately truncate (MMR ratio = 1.50), posterior margin rounded onto posterior surface.

Terminalia . S7 with median lobe clavate, apex rounded ( Fig. 73 ). S8 with apicomedial margin weakly convex ( Fig. 73 ). Genital capsule as in Fig. 73 . Gonobase with ventral arms narrowly separated. Volsella short, nearly round. Gonostylus small, dorsal setae elongate. Retrorse lobe elongate, attenuated apically.

Range. South Carolina south to Florida ( Fig. 74 ). USA: FL, GA, NC, SC.

Allotype. 3 USA: FLORIDA: Alachua Co., Gainesville, DPI, 18–27.v.1987 (D.B. Wahl); [CNC].

Paratypes. USA: FLORIDA: 2ƤƤ Larkins, 14.ix.1921 (S. Graenicher); 1Ƥ S. Miami, 24.vi.1930 (S. Graenicher); [NCSU]; 1Ƥ Orange Co., Apopka, Wekima Springs St. Pk., 30.x.1993 (Z. Prusak); 10ƤƤ Orange Co., Orlando, 24.v.1996, 10.v.1996, 29.ix.1995, 2.x.1997, 12.x.1995, 30.x.1996, 30.x.1997 (S.M. Fullerton); 1Ƥ Orange Co., Wekima Sp. St. Pk., 18.xi.2001 (P. Russell, S. Fullerton); 13 Orange Co., Wekima Sp. St. Pk., 4.xi.2001 (P. Russell, S. Fullerton); [UCFC]; GEORGIA: 1Ƥ Thomasville, 12.v.1915 (C.S. Spooner); [CUIC]; 1Ƥ Zebulon, 12.iv.1938 (P.W. Fattig); 1Ƥ Zebulon, 19.iv.1938 (P.W. Fattig); [NMNH]; 1Ƥ Liberty Co., St. Catherine’s Isl., N31˚40.9ʹ W081˚8.8ʹ, 23–28.vi.1996 (A. Sharkov); [PCYU]; NORTH CAROLINA: 1Ƥ Wayne Co., 23.v.1954 (T.B. Mitchell); [CUIC]; SOUTH CAROLINA: 1Ƥ Dillon, 25.iv.1923 “F4677A”; [AMNH]; 1Ƥ Chesterfield Co., N34.5789 W080.2334, 18.v.2006 (S.W. Droege); [PCYU].

Etymology. The specific epithet is named in honour of Barbara Bronfman in recognition of the Bronfman family’s generous donations to the David Suzuki Foundation. The name is treated as a noun in apposition and is derived from her Hebrew name meaning ‘daughter of god’.

DNA Barcode. Available. Multiple sequences.

Comments. Uncommon.

DNA barcodes from two specimens of L. batya are identical. Three sequences from the similar species L. raleighense have a sequence divergence of more than 2.3% from the L. batya sequences. The level of DNA barcode divergence between these two is similar to adjacent clusters of other L. ( Dialictus ) ( Gibbs 2009a). The morphological characters that separate these two species are small though distinct.

Figures

FIGURE 69. Lasioglossum batya Gibbs female, (A) lateral habitus, (B) face. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 70. Lasioglossum batya Gibbs female, dorsal view of mesosoma.

FIGURE 71. Lasioglossum batya Gibbs male, (A) lateral habitus, (B) face. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 72. Lasioglossum batya Gibbs male, dorsal view of mesosoma.

FIGURE 73. Lasioglossum batya Gibbs, new species male terminalia, (A) ventral view, (B) dorsal view, (C) S 8, (D) S 7. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 74. Distribution map of Lasioglossum batya (stars), L. ceanothi (circles) and L. cephalotes (squares).