Lasioglossum (Dialictus) arenisaltans, Gardner & Gibbs, 2020

Gardner, Joel & Gibbs, Jason, 2020, The ‘ red-tailed’ Lasioglossum (Dialictus) (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) of the western Nearctic, European Journal of Taxonomy 725, pp. 1-242 : 16-22

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) arenisaltans sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2DAFB486-B93D-48D9-BE7C-AE0B5FB7C47D

Figs 3B , 8–10 , 90A , 100A , 110B , 113B

Diagnosis

Females of Lasioglossum arenisaltans sp. nov. can be recognized by the frons and mesepisternum punctures crowded and indistinct, scutum very densely punctate (i <1 pd), face relatively long (length/ width ratio ~0.85), supraclypeal area dull, gena and postgena lineate, metapostnotum with strong anastomosing rugae and weak microsculpture, T2–4 with dark spiracular spots, and apical margin of the clypeus sometimes orange. They are most similar to L. pictum ( Crawford, 1902) , the southeastern US species L. nymphale , and worn specimens of L. vierecki ( Crawford, 1902) . Females of L. pictum have the face slightly shorter (length/width ratio ~0.82), scutum punctures sparser in part (i ≤ 1 pd), and apical margin of the clypeus never orange. Females of L. nymphale have T1 anterior surface lacking any appressed hairs or acarinarial fan. Females of L. vierecki have the metapostnotum with strong microsculpture and weak rugae, metasomal terga more densely punctate (i ≤ 1 pd), and T2 lacking dark spiracular spots.

Males of L. arenisaltans sp. nov. can be recognized by the face being relatively long (length/width ratio ~0.89), frons punctures crowded and indistinct (i=0 pd), hypoepimeron and mesepisternum densely punctate (i ≤ 1 pd), propodeum dorsolateral slope rugulose, flagellomeres long (F2 about 1.5 times as long as broad and 1.75 times as long as F1), rims of T1–3 with punctures usually not reaching the apical margin, scutum and metasoma mostly lacking tomentum, clypeus apical margin orange, and legs often entirely orange. They are most similar to L. lilianae sp. nov., L. festinum sp. nov., and L. pictum . Males of L. lilianae sp. nov. have the flagellomeres relatively short (F2 about 1.25 times as long as broad and 1.5 times as long as F1), scutum and metasoma with dense tomentum, and propodeum dorsolateral slope smooth. Males of L. festinum sp. nov. have the face slightly shorter (length/width ratio ~0.86) and rims of T1–3 punctate to the apical margin without change in sculpture across the premarginal line. Males of L. pictum lack extensive orange colouration of the clypeus apical margin, legs, and metasoma.

Etymology

The specific epithet arenisaltans is formed from the Latin noun ‘ arena ’ (‘sand’) and the present participle ‘ saltans ’ (‘hopping’). It refers to this species’ distribution in small, widely scattered sandy habitats, in which it seems to hop from place to place. An appropriate translation would be the sand-hopping sweat bee.

Material examined

Holotype

UNITED STATES – Texas • ♀; Bailey Co., Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge, Grassland 1; 33.963° N, 102.7282° W; 13 May 2013; S.J. Galdek leg.; BBSL.

[Verbatim label: USA:TX Bailey Co. Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge, Grassland1 N33.9630 W102.7282 13 May 2013 S.J. Galdek / Pantrap, fluor. Blue 1 (Row) / BBSL916563 // U.S.A. TX, Bailey County / MNWR-GR1 / N33.962972 W102.728167 / May 13, 2013 / S. Galdek USFWS // BOLD / gard0139-TX / DLIII163-19 // HOLOTYPE / Lasioglossum (Dialictus) arenisaltans Gardner and Gibbs ]

Paratypes

MEXICO – Chihuahua • 1 ♀; 6 km S of Samalayuca; [31.28° N, 106.48° W]; 30 Aug. 1991; R.Ayala leg.; SEMC • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 30 Aug. 1991; J.G. Rozen leg.; SEMC .

UNITED STATES – Arizona • 3 ♀♀; 20 mi. N of Flagstaff; [35.51° N, 111.55° W]; 3 Jul. 1952; C. Liang, W. LaBerge, R.H. and L.D. Beamer leg.; SEMC • 1 ♀; Forestdale ; [34.13° N, 110.1° W]; 20 Jun. 1957; G. Butler and F. Werner leg.; UAIC . – Colorado • 1 ♀; Weld Co., 11 mi. N of Roggen, jct. Rd 386 and Empire Intake Canal , swale with willow in rolling dunes ; 40.2751° N, 104.2902° W; 7–9 Jul. 1998; M.E. Irwin and S. Fitzgerald leg.; CSUC • 3 ♀♀; Roggen ; [40.17° N, 104.37° W]; 26 Aug. 1935; C.D. Michener leg.; SEMC . – Kansas • 1 ♀; 2 mi. S of Garden City; [37.94° N, 100.87° W]; 3 Sep. 1951; C.D. Michener and W.E. LaBerge leg.; ex Helianthus petiolaris ; SEMC • 1 ♀; 7 m. E of Garden City; [37.97° N, 100.74° W]; 12 Jun. 1952; Wille and Michener leg.; SEMC • 3 ♀♀; same location as for preceding; 12 Jun. 1952; Wille and Michener leg.; ex Monarda ; SEMC • 1 ♀; 8 mi. E of Burdett; [38.19° N, 99.38° W]; 12 Jun. 1952; Wille and Michener leg.; ex Melilotus officinalis ; SEMC • 8 ♀♀; 9 mi. S of Garden City; [37.84° N, 100.87° W]; 12 Jun. 1952; Wille and Michener leg.; ex Melilotus officinalis ; SEMC • 1 ♀; Williamsburg ; [38.48° N, 95.47° W]; 13 Jun. 1952; Wille and Michener leg.; ex Rhus glabra ; SEMC . – Nebraska • 1 ♀; F. Crow Ranch, 25 mi. SW of Valentine; [42.7° N, 100.9° W]; 3 Sep. 1959; W.E. LaBerge leg.; ex Helianthus petiolaris ; UNSM . – New Mexico • 2 ♀♀; DeBaca Co., 10 mi. S of Ft Sumner; [34.32° N, 104.25° W]; 19 May 1969; Brothers, Krueger and Michener leg.; ex Gaillardia ; SEMC • 2 ♀♀; Quay Co., Logan ; [35.36° N, 103.41° W]; 19 May 1969; Brothers, Krueger and Michener leg.; SEMC • 3 ♀♀; Chaves Co., Mescalero Sands ; [32.94° N, 103.95° W]; 3 Jun. 1974; H.E. Evans leg.; CSUC • 1 ♀; Roosevelt Co., nr Boone Draw , 14 mi. SW of Portales; [34.05° N, 103.52° W]; 26 May 1972; Saul Frommer and N. Jorgrnsen leg.; UCRC • 1 ♀; Socorro Co., Sevilleta NWR; [34.3° N, 106.8° W]; 17 Jun.–1 Jul. 2003; K. Wetherill leg.; PCYU . – Texas • 1 ♂; Hall Co., 6 mi. SE of Turkey; [34.33° N, 100.97° W]; 18 Jun. 1970; C.W. O’Brien leg.; LACM • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; 8 mi. E of Monahans; [31.59° N, 102.75° W]; 2 Jun. 1974; H.E. Evans leg.; CSUC • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; Childress Co., Buck Creek , 19 mi. N of Childress; [34.69° N, 100.19° W]; 29 May 1969; J. and J. Tenorio leg.; LACM • 1 ♀; Bastrop Co., Camp Swift (Site D); 30.284° N, 97.323° W; 1 May 2003; J.L. Neff leg.; ex Hymenopappus artemisiifolius ; CTMI • 2 ♀♀; Bastrop Co., Camp Swift Nat. Gd , 8.6 km N of Bastrop; [30.19° N, 97.31° W]; 21 Mar.–4 Apr. 2003; J.C. Abbott leg.; CTMI • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 17–31 Oct. 2003; J. C. Abbott leg.; CTMI • 1 ♂; Bastrop Co., Camp Swift TNG ; 30.28° N, 97.323° W; 7 May 2004; A. Hook leg.; CTMI • 1 ♂; Dimmit Co., 12 mi. E of Catarina, Chaparral Wildlife Management Area ; [28.3193° N, 99.4045° W]; 13 Jun. 1992; J.L. Neff and A. Hook leg.; ex Helianthus petiolaris ; CTMI • 1 ♂; Dimmit Co., Chaparral W. M. A. ; [28.3193° N, 99.4045° W]; 20–21 Apr. 1991; A.W. Hook leg.; CTMI • 1 ♂; Dimmit Co., Chaparral W.M.A. ; 28.3193° N, 99.4045° W; 13 Apr. 2001; A. R. Hook leg.; ex Acacia greggii ; CTMI • 2 ♀♀; Gillespie Co., Fredericksburg ; [30.28° N, 98.87° W]; 19 Apr. 1981; Richard S. Peigler leg.; LACM • 4 ♀♀, 1 ♂; Giddings ; [30.18° N, 96.94° W]; 9 May 1954; R.H. Beamer leg.; ex Monarda ; SEMC • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 9 May 1954; R.H. Beamer leg.; ex Brazoria truncata ; SEMC • 1 ♂; same location as for preceding; 9 May 1954; R.H. Beamer leg.; ex Opuntia ; SEMC • 1 ♀; Ward Co., Monahans ; [31.59° N, 102.89° W]; 24 Jul. 1976; ex Mentzelia strictissima ; LACM • 1 ♀; Ward Co., Monahans Sandhills State Park ; 31.64° N, 102.819° W; 17 Jun. 2006; J.L. Neff leg.; ex Hymenopappus flavescens ; CTMI • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 22 Apr. 2006; J.L. Neff and A. Hook leg.; ex Phacelia integrifolia ; CTMI • 1 ♀; Ward Co., Monahans Sandhills S.P. ; 31.64° N, 102.819° W; 832 m a.s.l.; 16 Sep. 2005; J.L. Neff and A. Hook leg.; ex Euphorbia missurica ; CTMI • 1 ♀; Ward Co., Monahans Sandhills S.P. campground area ; 31.6367° N, 102.8169° W; 13 Jun. 1998; J.A. LaFuente leg.; CTMI • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 13 Jun. 1998; E.B. Atarod, C.R. Nelson and Field Ent. class leg.; CTMI • 1 ♀; same location as for holotype; 14 May 2013; S.J. Galdek leg.; BBSL • 2 ♀♀; same location as for holotype; 30 Apr. 2013; S.J. Galdek leg.; BBSL • 1 ♀; same location as for holotype; 29 Apr. 2013; S.J. Galdek leg.; BBSL • 1 ♀; Bailey Co., Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge, Grassland 2; 33.9302° N, 102.4861° W; 13 May 2013; S.J. Galdek leg.; BBSL • 1 ♂; Victoria ; [28.81° N, 97° W]; 16 May 1913; J.D. Mitchell leg.; ex Stillingia ; LACM .

Description

Female

COLOURATION. Head and mesosoma blue to golden-green; clypeus apical colour black, reddish brown, or orange; labrum black, reddish brown, or orange; mandible orange with black basal spot or band and red tip; flagellum black to reddish brown dorsally, brown to orange ventrally; pronotal lobe reddish brown to orange; metasoma red to orange with dark spiracular spots on T3–4 and usually T2, T1–5 sometimes partially or entirely dark brown; legs reddish brown to orange; tegula orange; wing membrane hyaline or lightly infuscated, veins with subcosta dark brown, otherwise pale amber to brown.

PUBESCENCE. Body hair colour golden to white. Tomentum dense on paraocular area, gena, pronotal collar and lobe, metepisternum, metanotum anterior margin, T1 laterally, T2 basolaterally, T3 throughout except medially, and T4 throughout; sparse on face below eye emargination, preëpisternum, hypoepimeron,

and mesepisternum. Scutum hair thin to moderately plumose. Wing hairs dark or light, short and dense. Acarinarial fan complete, sparse. T2 fringes sparse, T3 fringes sparse.

SURFACE SCULPTURE. Clypeus punctures irregularly sparse (i <3 pd), sculpture shiny in apical half or more, tessellate basally; supraclypeal area punctures moderately dense to sparse (i=1–4 pd), sculpture tessellate; paraocular area punctures crowded (i=0 pd), slightly sparser around antenna socket (i ≤ 1 pd), sculpture shiny, becoming tessellate around antenna socket; frons punctures crowded (i=0 pd), sculpture shiny; vertex punctures crowded laterally (i =0 pd), sparse between ocelli (i=1–3 pd), sculpture shiny, sometimes weakly rugulose laterally; gena punctures moderately dense (i= 1–2 pd), sculpture shiny, becoming lineate posteriorly and ventrally; postgena sculpture lineate, sometimes becoming smooth and shiny anteriorly; tegula punctures absent; scutum punctures dense (i <1 pd), sculpture tessellate, sometimes becoming shiny posterolaterally; scutellum punctures dense marginally and on median line (i <1 pd), sparse submedially (i=1–3 pd), sculpture shiny to tessellate; metanotum sculpture shiny and finely, densely punctate (i <1 pd), becoming rugulose laterally; metapostnotum rugae strong, anastomosing, nearly reaching margin, sculpture imbricate; preëpisternum sculpture areolate-rugose; hypoepimeron punctures crowded (i=0 pd), sculpture shiny or imbricate; mesepisternum punctures crowded (i =0 pd), sometimes becoming distinctly separated ventrally, sculpture shiny or imbricate; metepisternum sculpture lineate dorsally, ruguloso-punctate medially, imbricate ventrally; propodeum lateral face sculpture tessellate; propodeum posterior face sculpture tessellate; T1 anterior face sculpture shiny to coriarious; T1 dorsal surface punctures moderately dense, becoming sparse medially (i =1–4 pd), absent or very sparse in large apicolateral oval patches, sculpture shiny to coriarious; T2 disc punctures moderately dense (i =1–3 pd), disc sculpture shiny to coriarious, rim punctures fine, sparse (i =1–4 pd), sometimes obscure, rim sculpture shiny to coriarious.

STRUCTURE. Face length/width ratio 0.85 (± 0.02 SD). Clypeus projecting ~67% below suborbital tangent; clypeal area length/width ratio 0.46 (± 0.02 SD); apicolateral denticles very low rounded knobs; supraclypeal area length/width ratio 0.89 (± 0.09 SD). Forewing with 3 submarginal cells; pronotal angle right-angled or nearly so; tegula shape normal. Intertegular distance 1.06 (± 0.06 SD) mm. Scutum length/width ratio 0.8 (± 0.02 SD); scutum/scutellum length ratio 3.03 (± 0.14 SD); scutellum/metanotum length ratio 1.82 (± 0.15 SD); metanotum/metapostnotum length ratio 0.62 (± 0.05 SD). Propodeum lateral carinae not reaching dorsal margin; oblique carina weak (sometimes virtually absent), straight. T2 depressed apical rim length about 50% of segment. (n=10)

Male

COLOURATION. Head and mesosoma blue-green to golden-green; clypeus apical colour orange; labrum orange; mandible orange with black basal spot and red tip; flagellum reddish brown dorsally, orange ventrally; pronotal lobe orange; metasoma orange to reddish brown with dark spiracular spots on T2–4; legs orange to reddish brown; tegula orange; wing membrane hyaline, veins with subcosta dark brown, otherwise orange to dark brown.

PUBESCENCE. Body hair colour white. Tomentum dense on paraocular area, pronotal angle and lobe, and space between pronotal lobe and tegula; sparse on clypeus, supraclypeal area, gena, and episterna. Scutum hair thin to moderately plumose. Sterna hair short (0.75–1.25 OD), densely plumose, dense and erect. Wing hairs dark or light, short and dense.

SURFACE SCULPTURE. Clypeus punctures sparse (i= 1–4 pd), sculpture shiny; supraclypeal area punctures dense (i ≤ 1 pd) to sparse (i=1–5 pd), sculpture shiny to tessellate; paraocular area punctures dense (i ≤ 1 pd) to crowded (i= 0 pd), sculpture shiny; frons punctures crowded (i=0 pd), sculpture shiny; vertex punctures dense (i ≤ 1 pd), sometimes sparse medially (i=1–4 pd), sculpture shiny, sometimes weakly rugulose medially; gena punctures moderately sparse (i=1–3 pd), sculpture shiny, becoming ruguloso-lineate posteriorly and ventrally; postgena sculpture lineolate; tegula punctures absent; scutum punctures dense to moderately sparse (i≤ 2 pd), becoming slightly sparser submedially (i ≤ 3 pd), sculpture shiny, becoming tessellate anteromedially; scutellum punctures dense marginally and on median line (i <1 pd), moderately sparse submedially (i =1–2 pd), sculpture shiny to tessellate; metanotum sculpture rugulose, sometimes becoming shiny and densely punctate medially (i <1 pd); metapostnotum rugae strong, subparallel, reaching margin, sculpture shiny to weakly imbricate; preëpisternum sculpture rugose; hypoepimeron punctures crowded (i= 0 pd), sculpture shiny to weakly imbricate; mesepisternum punctures dense (i ≤ 1 pd), often becoming crowded dorsally (i= 0 pd), sculpture shiny to weakly imbricate; metepisternum sculpture ruguloso-lineate dorsally, areolate ventrally; propodeum lateral face punctures obscure, sculpture imbricate to rugose; propodeum posterior face sculpture shiny to weakly tessellate, becoming ruguloso-punctate laterally; T1 anterior face sculpture shiny; T1 dorsal surface punctures dense to moderately dense (i ≤ 2 pd), sparse in small apicolateral oval patches (i= 1–4 pd), and absent on apical rim medially, sculpture shiny; T2 disc punctures dense to moderately dense (i ≤ 2 pd), disc sculpture shiny, rim punctures moderately dense (i=1–3 pd), absent apicomedially, rim sculpture shiny.

STRUCTURE. Face length/width ratio 0.89 (± 0.02 SD). F1:pedicel length ratio 1.19 (± 0.14 SD); F2:F1 length ratio 1.77 (± 0.25 SD); F2 length/width ratio 1.44 (± 0.13 SD); F9 length/width ratio 1.19 (± 0.11 SD). Forewing with 3 submarginal cells; pronotal angle obtuse; tegula shape normal. Intertegular distance 1.04 (± 0.03 SD) mm. Scutum length/width ratio 0.78 (± 0.02 SD); scutum/scutellum length ratio 2.93 (± 0.24 SD); scutellum/metanotum length ratio 1.56 (± 0.19 SD); metanotum/metapostnotum length ratio 0.66 (± 0.06 SD). Propodeum lateral carinae not reaching dorsal margin; oblique carina absent. (n =10)

GENITALIA. As in Fig. 90A . Gonocoxite short, truncate. Gonostylus acutely pointed apically, with very few, very short hairs. Retrorse lobe broad, ovoid, covered in sparse short hairs.

Range

Sand dunes of the western Great Plains east to the Mississippi River, north to the Nebraska sand hills, south to the Rio Grande River, and west to northern Arizona ( Fig. 10 ).

Floral records

ANACARDIACEAE R.Br. Rhus L. R. glabra L. • ASTERACEAE Giseke : Gaillardia • Helianthus : H. petiolaris Nutt. • Hymenopappus : H. artemisiifolius DC. • H. flavescens A.Gray • BORAGINACEAE Juss. Phacelia Juss. P. integrifolia Torr. • CACTACEAE Juss. Opuntia Mill. • EUPHORBIACEAE Juss. Euphorbia L. E. missurica Raf. • Stillingia Garden • FABACEAE Juss. Acacia : A. greggii A. Gray • Melilotus : M. officinalis (L.) Pall. • LAMIACEAE Martinov : Brazoria Engelm. & A.Gray : B. truncata (Benth.) Engelm. & A.Gray • Monarda L. • LOASACEAE Juss. Mentzelia L. M. strictissima (Wooton & Standl.) J. Darl.

DNA barcodes

Two sequences available (BOLD process IDs: DLIII163-19, DLIII164-19; BIN: BOLD:AEA1246). Lasioglossum arenisaltans sp. nov. differs from all other western red-tailed L. ( Dialictus ) by one fixed substitution: 150(C) (Supplementary file 4).

Remarks

Lasioglossum arenisaltans sp. nov. is apparently a sand dune specialist. All collection localities are in or near sand, some of them quite small and isolated. It has been collected as far west as Coconino County, Arizona, but is apparently rare west of the Rocky Mountains.

Figures

Fig. 3. Clypeus apicolateral denticles. A. Lasioglossum (D.) minckleyi sp. nov., acute points. B. L. (D.) arenisaltans sp. nov., low knobs.

Fig. 8. Lasioglossum (D.) arenisaltans sp. nov., ♀. A. Dorsal habitus. B. Face. C. Lateral habitus. D. Propodeum. E. Metasoma. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 9. Lasioglossum (D.) arenisaltans sp. nov., ♂. A. Dorsal habitus. B. Lateral habitus. C. Face. D. Propodeum. E. Metasoma. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 10. Georeferenced collection records of Lasioglossum (D.) arenisaltans sp. nov. (black squares) and predicted distribution by maximum entropy ecological niche modeling in Maxent (colour shading). Warmer colours indicate higher cloglog probability of occurrence.

Fig. 90. Male genitalia. A. Lasioglossum (D.) arenisaltans sp. nov. B. L. (D.) clastipedion sp. nov. C. L. (D.) clematisellum (Cockerell, 1904). D. L. (D.) hudsoniellum (Cockerell, 1919). E. L. (D.) julipile sp. nov. F. L. (D.) lilianae sp. nov. G. L. (D.) mesillense (Cockerell, 1898). H. L. (D.) meteorum sp. nov. I. L. (D.) miltolepoides sp. nov. J. L. (D.) minckleyi sp. nov. K. L. (D.) pallidellum (Ellis, 1914). L. L. (D.) pictum (Crawford, 1902). M. L. (D.) rufornatum sp. nov. N. L. (D.) spivakae sp. nov. O. L. (D.) testaceum (Robertson, 1897).P. L. (D.) vierecki (Crawford, 1904). Q. L. (D.) zephyrus (Smith, 1853). Genitalia are illustrated in dorsal view and positioned such that the gonostylus is parallel to the plane of vision. Retrorse lobes are also illustrated separately to the bottom left of each figure in lateral view, positioned parallel to the plane of vision.

Fig. 100. Forewings. A. Lasioglossum (D.) pallidellum (Ellis, 1914), ♂, with white hair, pale veins, and hyaline membrane. B. L. (D.) decorum sp. nov., ♀, with dark hair, dark veins, and lightly infuscated membrane. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 110. Mesoscutum punctures. A. Lasioglossum (D.) vierecki (Crawford, 1904), ♂, all interspaces less than 1 puncture diameter. B. L. (D.) arenisaltans sp. nov., ♂, numerous interspaces of 1 puncture diameter or more. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Fig. 113. Clypeus. A. Lasioglossum (D.) miltolepoides sp. nov., ♂, sparsely punctate and entirely metallic. B. L. (D.) arenisaltans sp. nov., ♂, with dense punctures and yellow-orange apical rim. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.