Augochloropsis (Paraugochloropsis) fulgida (Smith) Portman & Arduser & Lane & Cariveau, 2022

Portman, Zachary M., Arduser, Mike, Lane, Ian G. & Cariveau, Daniel P., 2022, A review of the Augochloropsis (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) and keys to the shiny green Halictinae of the midwestern United States, ZooKeys 1130, pp. 103-152 : 103

Augochloropsis (Paraugochloropsis) fulgida (Smith) stat. nov.

Augochlora fulgida Smith, 1853: 79 ♀. Holotype: ♀ USA, Florida, St. John’s Bluff, East Florida [NHMUK014024970]. Images examined by ZP and MA (Fig. 23 ). Online record: https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/f5102905-1ee6-44fe-81f5-df87a97b4033 (Labels read "Type / H.T. [circle with red border] // B.M. TYPE / HYM / 14.a.1231 // B.M. TYPE / HYM / augochlora / fulgida / Smith 1853 // fulgida / Type Sm. // E. Doubleday / St. John’s Bluff, / E. Florida. // NHMUK 014024970 [label with QR code]").

Augochlora fulgida (in Cockerell 1905: taxonomy).

Augochloropsis cuprea (in Sandhouse 1937 [in part]: key).

Comments.

We define Augochloropsis fulgida differently than previous workers because examination of the type specimen (Fig. 23 ) revealed that it does not match the species concept used for Augochloropsis metallica fulgida by Mitchell (1960). Even though Mitchell (1960) examined the type, it does not key out correctly in his key or match his description. As it stands, the type of Augochloropsis fulgida does not match any Augochloropsis species we are familiar with. The type female, from St. John’s Bluff Florida (Fig. 18 ), is most similar to Augochloropsis anonyma in that it has erect dark hairs on the metasoma (Fig. 23C, D ), but it differs in having a larger and more tessellate propodeal triangle (Fig. 23C ) compared to the narrow and shining propodeal triangle in Augochloropsis anonyma (Fig. 17E ), and the hair fringe on T2 of Augochloropsis fulgida appears to be slightly more prominent than in Augochloropsis anonyma .

More work is needed to clarify this species as it is currently only known from the type and the male is unknown. However, we have not performed a dedicated search for more material that could match Augochloropsis fulgida . It is also a possibility that the type of Augochloropsis fulgida is mislabeled and not from Florida or even the United States. However, a more likely explanation is that any Augochloropsis fulgida material has been misidentified as Augochloropsis anonyma due to the presence of black pubescence on the metasoma.

Figures

Figure 17. Augochloropsis female propodea A Augochloropsis humeralis B Augochloropsis metallica C Augochloropsis viridula D Augochloropsis sumptuosa E Augochloropsis anonyma F Augochloropsis sp. (likely undescribed species from Eastland, Texas). Scale bars: 1 mm, all images at the same scale.

Figure 18. Map of specimens or observations examined for this study from the species Augochloropsis humeralis, Augochloropsis anonyma, and Augochloropsis fulgida.

Figure 23. Augochloropsis fulgida holotype female A lateral view B head C rear dorsal view D metasoma. Scale bars: 5 mm (A); 1 mm (B). Images provided by Dr. Joseph Monks (NHMUK).