Megachile (Litomegachile) texana Cresson, 1878

Bzdyk, Emily L., 2012, A revision of the Megachile subgenus Litomegachile Mitchell with an illustrated key and description of a new species (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae, Megachilini), ZooKeys 221, pp. 31-61 : 50-52

Megachile (Litomegachile) texana Cresson, 1878

Megachile texana Cresson, 1878: 125. Holotype male, USA: Texas (ANSP).

Megachile generosa Cresson, 1878: 125. Holotype female, USA: Georgia (ANSP).

Megachile cleomis Cockerell, 1900: 13. Lectotype female (here designated), "USA: NM, E. Las Vegas, July 15 '99 Collector: A. Garlick, on Cleome" (UCMC).

Megachile pruinosa Friese, 1903: 246. Syntypes male female, (Repository?). Nec. Perez 1897.

Megachile vernonensis Cockerell, 1912: 354. Holotype male, CANADA: British Columbia (Repository?).

Diagnosis.

Megachile texana is most similar to Megachile lippiae in size and appearance. The chief differences are pubescence coloration and some structural differences in the transverse carina on T6 of the male. Megachile texana females have more black setae and pubescence apparent laterally on T2-T6 than Megachile lippiae which only has black setae on T4-T6. Megachile texana males also have black pubescence on the mesonotum and T2, while Megachile lippiae has only white pubescence. Both Megachile lippiae and Megachile texana have a transverse carina on T6 with a distinct deep medial notch and jagged projections. These carina projections tend to be shorter in Megachile texana , whereas the carina of Megachile lippiae often has long “fingerlike” projections. Megachile texana ,

Female. Body length11-14 mm. Mandible 4-toothed, with no angulation between teeth 3 and 4 (Figure 4A). T2-4 with deep transverse basal grooves. T1-5 with apical fringes of white hair covering marginal zone. T1 with black discal pubescence medially, white pubescence laterally. T2-5 with black discal pubescence and setae (Figure 5K). T6 with pale appressed pubescence and erect black setae basally. T6 deeply and evenly concave in profile and laterally in dorsal view. S1-4 with ivory setae; S5 with ivory setae basally, black setae apically; S6 with black setae (Figure 5I).

Male. Body length10-12 mm. Mandible 3-toothed.Ocellocular distance less than ocelloccipital distance (Figure 4C). Head with white pubescence, vertex with black pubescence. Mesosoma with white pubescence, scutum with black pubescence. T5 with complete apical fringe of white hair covering marginal zone. T6 with tomentum; transverse carina with distinct deep medial notch and short jagged projections; true apical margin with submedial teeth closer to lateral teeth than each other (Figure 6B). Genitalia and hidden sterna shown in Figures 7G1-G4.

Variability.

Male tergal discal pubescence variable in color. Pubescence of male mesonotum and head can vary, making it occasionally challenging to differentiate this species from Megachile lippiae . Primarily, if there is any black pubescence on the mesonotum, it is Megachile texana . If there are no black hairs in this area, it is Megachile lippiae . The females of these two species are also sometimes difficult to separate. Megachile lippiae can occasionally have black setae laterally on T4 in addition to T5, but if the black setae are present on T3 or T2, then it is Megachile texana . Megachile texana cleomis was distinguished by the presence of black setae on T3, but that form is now in synonymy under Megachile texana .

Distribution of material examined.

USA: Arizona: Cochise, Gila and Maricopa Counties (May-Aug.); California: Mariposa, Riverside, Tuolumne and Trinity Counties (Apr.-Jul.); Florida: Alachua, Putnam and Duval Counties (Jun.-Oct.); Mississippi: Oktibbeha County (May); New Mexico: Eddy County (Aug.); New York: New York County (Jun.); Nevada: Clarke, Lincoln and Washoe Counties (Jun.); South Carolina: Chesterfield and Dorchester Counties (May); Texas: Brewster County (Apr.); Utah: Cache, Garfield, Tooele and Washington Counties (Jun.-Sep.); MEXICO: Puebla. 46 females, 57 males.

Ecology.

Megachile texana utilizes existing nesting sites in the ground and under rocks ( Krombein 1970). Observations by Eickwort et al. (1981) showed that these bees also excavate their own nests. The cocoons completely fill their cells and are covered with an outer layer of reddish brown threads and an inner layer of brown threads ( Eickwort et al. 1981).

Flower records.

Arctostaphylous patula ( Ericaceae ), Asclepias speciosa ( Asclepiadaceae ), Asclepias syriaca ( Asclepiadaceae ), Baptisia sp. ( Fabaceae )., Blephilia ciliata ( Lamiaceae ), Calamintha ashei ( Lamiaceae ), Dalea pinnata ( Fabaceae ), Erigeron divergens ( Asteraceae ), Erysimum asperum ( Brassicaceae ), Hemerocallis sp. ( Liliaceae ), Dalea candida ( Fabaceae ), Marrubium vulgare ( Lamiaceae ), Medicago sativa ( Fabaceae ), Melilotus alba ( Fabaceae ), Mentzelia sp. ( Loasaceae ), Opuntia sp. ( Cactaceae ), Phacelia heterophylla ( Hydrophyllaceae ), Phaseolus limensis ( Fabaceae ), Ptelea trifoliata ( Rutaceae ), Ratibida columnaris ( Asteraceae ), Rhus glabra ( Anacardiaceae ), Streptanthus sp. ( Brassicaceae ), Tephrosia virginiana ( Fabaceae ), Trifolium hybridum ( Fabaceae ), Viguiera stenoloba ( Asteraceae ), Vitex agnus castus ( Verbenaceae ).

Comments.

Megachile cleomis is one of the synonyms of Megachile texana . It was originally described by Cockerell in 1900, based on two cotypes from a locality in New Mexico, a male and a female. The male was later found to be a male Megachile snowi . The female is herein designated as the lectotype for Megachile cleomis , which remains in synonymy with Megachile texana . This situation illustrates the importance of correctly assigning holotypes. Megachile texana is a widespread species which is found across North America (Figure 17).