Lasioglossum (Dialictus) leviense (Mitchell)

Gibbs, Jason, 2011, Revision of the metallic Lasioglossum (Dialictus) of eastern North America (Hymenoptera: Halictidae: Halictini), Zootaxa 3073, pp. 1-216 : 131-135

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) leviense (Mitchell)

( Figures 145–148 )

Dialictus leviensis Mitchell, 1960: 403 . Ƥ.

Holotype. Ƥ USA, Florida, Levy Co., 13.ix.1955, on Polygonum hydropiperoides, (R.A. Morse) ; [ FSCA]

Taxonomy. Krombein, 1967: Lasioglossum (Dialictus) leviense , p. 464 (catalogue); Hurd, 1979: Dialictus leviensis , p. 1968 (catalogue); Moure and Hurd, 1987: Dialictus leviensis , p. 110 (catalogue).

Diagnosis. Female L. leviense can be recognised by the shape of the clypeus, which has the distal margin beyond the preapical fimbriae extending laterally making it noticeably wider than the preapical margin ( Figs. 21 B, 145B). The distal portion of the clypeus has a rectangular appearance as a result. They may be further distinguished by the following combination: head round (length/width ratio = 0.95–0.97); mesoscutum weakly tessellate, punctures moderately dense between parapsidal lines (i=1–2d) ( Fig. 146 ); mesepisternum rugulose; tegula pale; tibiae with extensive brownish yellow; and T1 acarinarial fan with dorsal opening ( Fig. 146 ). They are most similar to L. mitchelli and L. weemsi , both of which have a similarly shaped clypeus. Female L. mitchelli do not have a dorsal opening on the T1 acarinarial fan. Female L. weemsi have less pale colouration on the legs and slightly wider heads (length/width ratio = 0.93–0.96).

Male L. leviense can be recognised by the combination of clypeus with distal margin yellow; mesoscutum imbricate, punctation sparse between parapsidal lines (i=1–2.5d) ( Fig. 148 ); mesepisternum finely rugulose-imbricate; tegula pale yellow; tibiae with yellow on anteroventral surface; metasomal terga without tomentum, apical impressed areas impunctate; and S4–S5 with apicolateral hairs. They are most similar to L. apopkense which are larger, more coarsely rugulose on mesepisternum, and tibiae more extensively brownish yellow.

Redescription. FEMALE. Length 3.81–4.54 mm; head length 1.22–1.39 mm; head width 1.28–1.44 mm; forewing length 3.09–3.33 mm.

Colouration. Head and mesosoma green with faint bluish reflections to mostly blue. Clypeus with apical half blackish brown. Antenna dark brown, flagellum with ventral surface brownish yellow. Tegula amber to pale yellow. Wing membrane subhyaline, venation and pterostigma pale brownish yellow. Legs brown, except tibiae basally and apically, protibial anterior surface, metatibial dorsal surface, and tarsi amber to brownish yellow. Metasoma dark brown, terga and sterna with apical margins translucent brownish yellow.

Pubescence. Dull white. Moderately sparse. Head and mesosoma with moderately sparse woolly hairs (1–2 OD), longest on genal beard, metanotum, and mesopleuron (2–2.5 OD). Paraocular area with moderately sparse tomentum, partially obscuring surface. Gena with sparse tomentum. Propodeum with moderately dense plumose hairs on lateral and posterior surfaces (2–2.5 OD). Metasomal terga with moderately sparse, fine hairs. T1 acarinarial fan with wide dorsal opening. T2–T3 basolaterally and T4 entirely with sparse tomentum. T2 apicolateral and T3–T4 apical margins with sparse fringes.

Surface sculpture. Face imbricate, punctation fine. Clypeus with apical half polished, punctation sparse (i=1–3d). Supraclypeal area with punctation moderately sparse (i=1–2.5d). Lower paraocular area punctation dense (i≤d). Antennocular area punctation moderately dense (i=1–1.5d). Upper paraocular area and frons punctate-reticulate. Ocellocular area obscurely punctate (i≤d). Gena lineolate. Postgena imbricate. Mesoscutum weakly tessellate, punctation moderately dense between parapsidal lines (i=1–2d), dense laterad of parapsidal line (i≤d), contiguous on anterolateral portion. Mesoscutellum similar to mesoscutum, submedial punctation sparse (i=2–5d). Axilla minutely punctate. Metanotum imbricate. Preëpisternum rugulose. Hypoepimeral area imbricate. Mesepisternum dorsal half rugulose, ventral half ruguloso-imbricate, shiny. Metepisternum with dorsal third carinulate and ventral portion imbricate. Metapostnotum incompletely carinulate, posterior margin imbricate. Propodeum with dorsolateral slope and lateral surface imbricate, posterior surface tessellate. Metasomal terga polished, weakly coriarious on apical impressed areas, punctation distinct on basal half (i=1–1.5d), apical impressed areas with very obscure punctures.

Structure. Head very wide (length/width ratio = 0.95–0.97). Eyes convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio = 1.22– 1.28). Clypeus ½ below suborbital tangent, apicolateral angle subparallel. Antennal sockets close (IAD/OAD <0.5). Frontal line carinate, ending 2–2.5 OD below median ocellus. Gena narrower than eye. Inner metatibial spur pectinate with 3–4 branches. Metapostnotum moderately truncate (MMR ratio = 1.25–1.42), posterior margin rounded onto posterior surface. Propodeum with oblique carina absent, lateral carina not reaching dorsal margin.

MALE. Similar to female except for the usual secondary sexual characters and as follows. Length 3.13–3.63 mm; head length 1.16–1.19 mm; head width 1.18–1.23 mm; forewing length 2.81–3.09 mm.

Colouration. Labrum, mandible, and distal margin of clypeus brownish yellow. Flagellum with ventral surface brownish yellow. Tegula pale yellow. Legs brown, except tarsi and anteroventral portion of tibiae pale brownish yellow.

Pubescence. Face below eye emargination with moderately dense tomentum partially obscuring surface, denser on lower paraocular area. Metasomal sterna sparsely pubescent, S4–S5 with apicolateral tufts (1.5 OD).

Surface sculpture. Mesoscutum imbricate, punctation sparse between parapsidal lines (i=1–2.5d) and dense laterad of parapsidal line (i≤1d). Metapostnotum with longitudinal carinae, reaching posterior margin. Propodeal dorsolateral slope rugose. T2 apical impressed area impunctate.

Structure. Head wide (length/width ratio = 0.97–0.99). Eyes strongly convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio = 1.67–1.72). Clypeus 2/3 below suborbital tangent, apicolateral margins weakly convergent. Antennal sockets distant (IAD/OAD> 1.5). Frontal line carinate, ending 1.5 OD below median ocellus. Pedicel shorter than F1. F2 length 1.7–1.8X F1. F2–F10 elongate (length/width ratio = 1.56–1.60). Metapostnotum moderately elongate (MMR ratio = 1.15–1.17), posterior margin sharply angled onto posterior propodeal surface. Terminalia . Not examined.

Range. South-eastern USA. ( Fig. 149 ). USA: FL, GA, MS.

Additional material examined. USA: FLORIDA: 33ƤƤ333 Leon Co., Apalachicola National Forest, " ant heaven", N30.31687 W084.50008, 20–27.vi.2005 (Ronquist Lab); 6ƤƤ Leon Co., Apalachicola National Forest, " ant heaven", N30.31687 W084.50008, 5–11.vii.2005 (Ronquist Lab), 23ƤƤ Leon Co., Apalachicola National Forest, " ant heaven", N30.31687 W084.50008, 11–18.vii.2005 (Ronquist Lab); [ AMNH]; 3ƤƤ paratypes Levy Co., 13.ix.1955 (R.A. Morse); [ CUIC]; 2ƤƤ paratypes Levy Co., 13.ix.1955 (R.A. Morse); [ NCSU]; 1Ƥ paratype Silver Springs, 5.iv.1953 (K.V. Krombein); [ NMNH]; 2ƤƤ Wakulla Co., Apalachicola N.F., FS 366, N30˚19.751ʹ W084˚30.309ʹ, 8– 15.v.2005 (Ronquist lab); 2 ƤƤ Wakulla Co., Apalachicola N.F., FS 366, N30˚19.751ʹ W084˚30.309ʹ, 5–13.vi.2005 (Ronquist lab); 1Ƥ Wakulla Co., Apalachicola N.F., FS 366, N30˚19.751ʹ W084˚30.309ʹ, 13–20.vi.2005 (Ronquist lab); 9ƤƤ Wakulla Co., Apalachicola N.F., FS 366, N30˚19.751ʹ W084˚30.309ʹ, 5–11.vii.2005 (Ronquist lab); 1Ƥ Wakulla Co., Apalachicola N.F., FS Rd. 390, N30˚21.696ʹ W084˚40.399ʹ, 11–18.vii.2005 (Ronquist lab); 1Ƥ Wakulla Co., Apalachicola N.F., Post Office Bay, N30˚3.565ʹ W084˚59.051ʹ, 13–20.vi.2005 (Ronquist lab); 1Ƥ Wakulla Co., Apalachicola N.F., Post Office Bay, N30˚3.565ʹ W084˚59.051ʹ, 27.vi–5.vii.2005 (A. Vanderby); [ PCYU]; 12ƤƤ Taylor Co., Rt 98 & Ecolina Riv., 1.iv.1993 (S.M. Fullerton); [ UCFC]; GEORGIA: 1Ƥ paratype Pine Park, 17.iii.1939 (P.W. Fattig); [ NCSU]; MISSISSIPPI: 1Ƥ Hattiesburg, 2.vii.1944 (C.D. Michener); [ AMNH]; 3ƤƤ Jackson Co., N30.3957 W088.7939, 4–5.vi.2005 (S.W. Droege); [ PCYU].

Floral records. APIACEAE : Zizia ; POLYGONACEAE : Polygonum hydropiperoides .

DNA Barcode. Available. Multiple sequences. DNA barcodes of L. leviense show little to no difference from L. mitchelli .

Comments. Uncommon.

Figures

FIGURE 21. Margin of clypeus (A) L. admirandum, (B) L. mitchelli.

FIGURE 145. Lasioglossum leviense (Mitchell) female, (A) lateral habitus, (B) face. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 146. Lasioglossum leviense (Mitchell) female, dorsal view of mesosoma.

FIGURE 147. Lasioglossum leviense (Mitchell) male, (A) lateral habitus, (B) face. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 148. Lasioglossum leviense (Mitchell) male, dorsal view of mesosoma.

FIGURE 149. Distribution map of Lasioglossum leviense (circles) and L. longifrons (stars).