Lasioglossum (Capalictus), 2012

Pauly, Alain, Gibbs, Jason & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2012, Capalictus, a new subgenus of Lasioglossum Curtis, 1833 from South Africa, with description of three new species (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Halictidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 28, pp. 1-28 : 3

Lasioglossum (Capalictus) subgen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D6B54F16-5465-4163-BCCE-C89B76E04C3C

Type species

Halictus mosselinus Cockerell, 1945 .

Description

Capalictus is distinct from other African subgenera of the Hemihalictus series by the combination of following characters: small size (length 6-7.5 mm). Body black, non-metallic, metasoma red in some species (this red colouration is unique in African subgenera of the Hemihalictus series, with the exception of the kleptoparasitic L. ereptor ). Metasomal terga without patches of tomentum. Mesoscutum smoothshiny, without tessellate surface. Lower paraocular area shiny and sparsely punctate. Propodeum posterior surface weakly carinate in females, not carinate in males. The carina in females not extending medially across upper margin ( Fig. 1F ). Clypeus and mandibles of males black. Inner metatibial spur in females with about five short teeth, the one in males without teeth. Gonocoxite of males without retrorse lobe, gonostyli pointed, half as long as gonocoxite ( Fig. 15 ). Apex of marginal cell pointed, ending on wing margin ( Fig. 1C, E ).

Differential diagnosis

The new South-African subgenus Capalictus belongs to the Hemihalictus series (sensu Michener 2007) of the genus Lasioglossum Curtis, 1833 , which is characterized by weak cross-submarginal veins 1rsm and 2rs-m of forewing ( Fig. 1 C-E). Capalictus is morphologically close to the Holarctic subgenera Evylaeus Robertson, 1902 and Dialictus Robertson, 1902, and to the African subgenera Sellalictus Pauly, 1980 and Afrodialictus Pauly, 1984 (see classification of Pauly 1999). From Sellalictus it differs by the absence of a patch of tomentum on the metasomal terga (males of Sellalictus bear a very characteristic large patch of tomentum on base of tergum 2 while females have small baso-lateral spots of tomentum on T2-T4). Capalictus also differs by the apex of the marginal cell close to wing margin ( Fig. 1 C-E) (in Sellalictus the apex of the marginal cell is minutely separated from the wing margin and minutely appendiculate as in Fig. 1D ). From Afrodialictus, the new subgenus differs by the lack of microtessellate texture on the body (microtessellate surface sculpture is characteristic on head, mesoscutum and propodeum of Afrodialictus; in Capalictus , mesoscutum is polished and shiny), lower part of paraocular area shiny and with some punctation ( Fig. 1A ) (with Afrodialictus the lower parts of the paraocular area has a different dull, frosted-like and completely impunctate surface as in Fig. 1B ) and posterior face of propodeum with a very weak carina in the female ( Fig. 1F ) (carina entirely lacking in Afrodialictus). Capalictus can be separated from the African subgenus Mediocralictus Pauly, 1984 by the inner metatibial spur of the males without teeth (pectinate in males of Mediocralictus ). Females of Mediocralictus can be separated by the peculiar shape of the propodeal carina ( Pauly et al. 2001: 121, fig. 36). Capalictus can be separated from most Palaearctic species of the Hemihalictus series by the gonocoxites of males without retrorse lobe. Palaearctic Evylaeus lacking a retrorse lobe can be easily distinguished from Capalictus by the carinate propodeum (male Capalictus lack distinct propodeal carinae) and metasomal sterna with very sparse, and short setae (ṠOD) (sternal hairs sometimes long (2–2.5 OD) and plumose in Capalictus ).

Figures

Fig. 1. — Lasioglossum (Capalictus) mosselinum (Cockerell, 1945). A. Head showing lower paraocular area. C, E. Wing venation showing apex of marginal cell and weak veins of submarginal cells. C. ♀. E. Ƌ. F. ♀, propodeum and metapostnotum (dls = dorso- lateral slopes). — Lasioglossum (Afrodialictus) sp. B. Head showing lower paraocular area. — Lasioglossum (Sellalictus) sp. D. ♀, wing venation showing apex of marginal cell and weak veins of submarginal cells. Scale line = 0,5 mm.

Fig. 15. Ƌ genitalia, dorsal view. — A. Lasioglossum (Capalictus) mosselinum (Cockerell, 1945). — B. Lasioglossum (Capalictus) timmermanni sp. nov. — C. Lasioglossum (Capalictus) hantamense sp. nov. — D. Lasioglossum (Capalictus) tigrinum sp. nov. Scale line = 0,25 mm.