Lasioglossum (Dialictus) abundipunctum Gibbs, 2010

Gibbs, Jason, 2010, Revision of the metallic species of Lasioglossum (Dialictus) in Canada (Hymenoptera, Halictidae, Halictini) 2591, Zootaxa 2591 (1), pp. 1-382 : 46-49

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) abundipunctum Gibbs , new species

( Figure 60A–C )

Holotype. ♀ CANADA, Alberta, 15 km S Three Hills, Hwy 21, N51.49484 W113.23214, 702 m, 15.vi.2007 (Gibbs & Sheffield), PYU-1619 [ PCYU]

Diagnosis. Females of L. abundipunctum can be recognised by the diagnostic combination of a wide head (length/width ratio = 0.92–0.93), smooth and shining integument with coarse, moderately sparse punctures (i=1–2d) on the mesoscutum and mesepisternum, posterior margin of dorsolateral slope and metapostnotum smooth, metasomal terga weakly metallic, and apical impressed areas of the metasomal terga polished with deep and distinct punctures. Lasioglossum abundipunctum is most similar to, L. punctatoventre and L. dashwoodi which both have the posterior margins of the dorsolateral slope and metapostnotum rugulose. Female L. punctatoventre have the apical impressed areas of the metasomal terga distinctly coriarious with fine, relatively obscure punctures. Female L. dashwoodi have the metasomal terga strongly metallic with relatively abundant pubescence on T3–T4. Lasioglossum reasbeckae is also similar but is golden green with a purplish supraclypeal area and has obscure punctures on the apical impressed areas of the metasomal terga which are not metallic.

Male unknown.

Description. FEMALE. Length 5.43–5.98 mm; head length 1.56–1.61 mm; head width 1.66–1.73 mm; forewing length 4.33–4.58 mm.

Colouration. Head and mesosoma blue-green with brassy reflections. Clypeus with apical 4/5 blackish brown, basal 1/5 and supraclypeal area brassy. Antenna dark brown, F7–F10 with ventral surface reddish. Tegula dark, reddish brown. Wing membrane subhyaline, venation and pterostigma amber. Legs brown, medio- and distitarsi brownish red. Metasoma dark brown, terga and sterna with apical margins translucent yellow.

Pubescence. Dull white. Mostly sparse. Head and mesosoma with moderately sparse woolly hairs (1–2 OD), longest on genal beard, metanotum and mesopleuron (2–2.5 OD). Lower paraocular area and gena with sparse subappressed tomentum. Propodeum with plumose hairs on lateral and posterior surfaces (2–2.5 OD). Metasomal terga with very sparse, fine setae. T1 acarinarial fan sparse, complete dorsally. T2 basolaterally and T3 basally with tomentum. T3–T4 entirely with scattered tomentum. T2 apicolaterally and T3–T4 apical margins with very sparse fringes.

Surface sculpture. Face polished, weakly imbricate, punctation strong. Clypeal punctation moderately sparse (i=1–3d). Supraclypeal area with punctation moderately sparse (i=1–2d). Lower paraocular area punctation dense (i≤d). Antennocular area punctation moderately dense (i<1.5d). Upper paraocular area and frons punctate-reticulate. Ocellocular area minutely punctate (i=d). Gena shining, faintly lineolate. Postgena polished, coarsely punctate. Mesoscutum polished, anteromedial portion weakly imbricate, punctation coarse, moderately sparse between parapsidal lines (i=1–2d), closer but not dense on anterolateral portion or laterad of parapsidal lines (i=1d). Mesoscutellum similar to mesoscutum, submedial punctation sparse (i=2–4d), medial punctation minute, sparse (i=2d). Axilla punctate. Metanotum polished, obscurely punctate. Preëpisternum reticulate-punctate. Hypoepimeral area polished, punctate (i=1–1.5d). Mesepisternum polished and shining, coarsely punctate (i=1–1.5d). Metepisternum with dorsal half finely ruguloso-striate, ventral half obscurely punctate. Metapostnotum longitudinally rugose, posterior margin smooth. Propodeum with lateral surface imbricate-rugulose, posterior surface tessellate. Metasomal terga polished, punctation strong throughout (i=1–2d).

Structure. Head wide (length/width ratio = 0.92–0.93). Eyes weakly convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio = 1.08–1.13). Clypeus ½ below suborbital tangent, apicolateral margins strongly convergent. Antennal sockets close (IAD/OAD <0.5). Frontal line carinate, ending 2.5 OD below median ocellus. Gena narrower than eye. Inner metatibial spur pectinate with 3–4 teeth. Metapostnotum moderately elongate (MMR ratio = 1.15–1.21), posterior margin smoothly rounded onto posterior surface. Propodeum with oblique carina weak, obscure, lateral carina not reaching margin of dorsal surface.

MALE. Unknown.

Range. Alberta south to southern Utah and Nevada ( Fig. 61 ).

Paratypes. USA: CALIFORNIA : 1♀ Inyo Co., Panamint Mts. , 30.v.1937 (N.W. Frazier); [ AMNH]; NEVADA : 1♀ Clark Co., 2.2 mi SSW Mormon Well , 11S E668922 N4053788, 6588 ft., 2.vi.2004 (D. Skandilis); [ BBSL]; UTAH : 1♀ Kane Co., Cougar Knoll , 1.28 mi SW, 12S N4127971 E486075, 16.vi.2002 (K. T. Huntzinger) ; 1♀ Kane Co., Cougar Knoll , 1.28 mi SW, 12S N4127971 E486075, 5.vi.2005 (L. Topham) ; 1♀ Kane Co., nr. Pool Hollow , 12S N4125534 E488801, 23.v.2002 (C. Davidson) ; 1♀ Tooele Co., Dugway P.G., 6 km N of Wig Mt. , N40°22´05´´ W113°03´16´´, 28.v.1998 ( T. Toler) ; 1♀ Washington Co. , 0.4 mi NE Spendlove Kn., 12S N4134751 E313691, 2.vi.2006, (F. Nicklen & B. Hays) ; 1♀ Washington Co. , 0.73 mi SE Firepit Kn., 12S N4134751 E314678, 5.vii.2006, wpt (F. Nicklen & B. Hays); [ BBSL] .

Etymology. The specific epithet is a combination of the Latin terms “abundo” and “punctum” which refers to this species’ distinct and abundant punctation.

Floral records. ASTERACEAE : Ericameria nauseosa , BRASSICACEAE : Descurainia pinnata , FABACEAE : Astragalus flavus , Dalea searlsiae , HYDROPHYLLACEAE : Phacelia hastata , MALVA- CEAE: Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia .

Comments. Uncommon. For additional comments see L. punctatoventre below.

Figures

FIGURE 60. Lasioglossum abundipunctum new species. Female (A) lateral habitus; (B) dorsal habitus; (C) face. Scale bars, A–C = 1 mm.

FIGURE 61. Distribution of Lasioglossum abundipunctum (light grey) and L. achilleae (dark grey).