Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) quebecense (Crawford 1907)

Gibbs, Jason, Packer, Laurence, Dumesh, Sheila & Danforth, Bryan N., 2013, Revision and reclassification of <i> Lasioglossum </ i> (<i> Evylaeus </ i>), <i> L. </ i> (<i> Hemihalictus </ i>) and <i> L. </ i> (<i> Sphecodogastra </ i>) in eastern North America (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae), Zootaxa 3672 (1), pp. 1-116 : 89-91

Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) quebecense (Crawford 1907)

( Figs. 5O , 43F , 44F , 45F , 46F , 65 , 66 , 79E , 81C , 87C )

Halictus quebecensis Crawford 1907b, p. 189

Lectotype. ♀ USA, Quebec , Montreal Island, 21.v.1904 ( CF Baker); [ NMNH: 12047]. Designated herein by JG.

( Labels read ‘ Montreal Isl. Que. 21.V.04 [date handwritten]/4801 [handwritten]/ ♀ Type No. 12047 U.S. N.M. [partially handwritten on red label]/ Halictus quebecensis Type Cwfd [handwritten on black-bordered red label]) .

Evylaeus quebecensis (in Mitchell 1960: redescription, key ♂; Hurd 1979: catalogue; Moure & Hurd 1987: catalogue) Lasioglossum (Evylaeus) quebecense (in Michener 1951: catalogue; Krombein 1967: catalogue)

Diagnosis. Female L. quebecense can be recognised by the combination of head long (L/W ratio = 1.00–1.03) ( Fig. 43F ); mesepisternum finely rugulose (as in Fig. 76D ); inner metatibial spur pectinate, teeth longer than width of rachis ( Fig. 5O ); propodeum with lateral carina distinct, extending to dorsal margin, oblique carina strong ( Fig. 79E ); T1 dull due to microsculpture; and T1–T3 usually with dense apicolateral fimbriae ( Fig. 81C ). In the east, L. quebecense are most similar to L. boreale , L. comagenense , and L. seillean , which all lack dense apicolateral fimbriae on T1–T3 ( Figs. 81A, 81B, 81D ). Lasioglossum boreale and L. comagenense have short teeth on the inner metatibial spur, not exceeding the width of the rachis ( Figs. 5M, 5N ) and T1 polished due to lack of microsculpture ( Figs. 81A, 81B ). Lasioglossum comagenense has a noticeably shorter head (L/W ratio = 0.93–0.96) ( Fig. 43C ). The female of L. boreale has fine propodeal carinae ( Fig. 79C ). Lasioglossum quebecense is nearly indistinguishable from L. seillean but averages larger in size (6.5–7.0 mm vs. 5.8–6.5 mm).

Male L. quebecense can be recognised by the combination of clypeus with yellow on distal half ( Fig. 44F ); mandible short, not extending much beyond opposing clypeal angle; F2 long subequal to scape; propodeal lateral carina strong; metasomal sterna nearly bare, hairs present but very short (as in Fig. 85A ); S2–S3 with sparse punctures (as in Fig. 88A ); base of metatibia brown or with small yellow spot; and all basitarsi bright yellow ( Fig. 66 ). Male L. quebecense often has the mesoscutum scabriculous-reticulate throughout, whereas in L. boreale , L. comagenense , and L. seillean the mesoscutum is distinctly punctate medially, with well-defined interspaces. Males of L. boreale and L. comagenense have a large yellow patch on the metatibial base ( Figs. 54 , 57 ). The unique shape of the retrorse lobe ( Figs. 87C, 87E ), which is long, and strongly attenuated apically, is the most reliable character for distinguishing L. quebecense males from those of L. boreale , L. comagenense , and L. seillean ( Figs. 87A, 87B, 87D, 87F ).

Redescription. FEMALE. Length 6.5–7.0 mm. Head length 1.82–1.95 mm. Head width 1.80–1.93 mm. Wing length 5.2–5.7 mm. (n=5)

Colour. Head and mesosoma black. Antenna black, except ventral surface of flagellum reddish brown. Tegula dark reddish brown. Legs dark brown, except medio- and distitarsi reddish brown. Wing membrane hyaline, faintly dusky. Pterostigma testaceous. Metasomal terga black-brown, apical margins pale brown-testaceous.

Structure. Head long (L/W ratio = 1.00–1.03). Clypeus ¾ below suborbital line. Eyes convergent below (UOD: LOD = 1.05–1.07). Gena subequal to eye width. Ocelli normal. Pronotum smoothly rounded. Protibial spur with serrations as long as width of malus. Inner metatibial spur pectinate, teeth 3–7, basal teeth longer than width of rachis. Propodeal lateral carina reaching dorsal margin, oblique carina high, separating dorsolateral slope from posterior surface.

Surface sculpture. Supraclypeal area weakly polished medially, punctures sparse (i=1–3d). Gena lineolate, postgena smoother. Mesoscutum imbricate, reticulate anterolaterally; punctures dense (≤d), except medially (i=1– 1.5d). Mesepisternum finely rugulose, smoother ventrally. Metapostnotum carinate-rugose. Propodeum imbricatetessellate. Metasomal terga mostly coriarious, T1 weakly coriarious; punctures dense, sparser posteromedially, T2 apical impressed area impunctate medially.

Pubescence. Head and mesosoma with sparse plumose hairs. Metafemoral scopa with dense plumose hairs. Metasomal terga with relatively dense, medially-interrupted apical fimbriae. T1 with sparse, erect plumose hairs. T2–T4 basally with sparse, tomentum. Metasomal sterna with plumose scopa.

MALE. Length 5.9–8.6 mm. Head length 1.67–2.13 mm. Head width 1.61–1.98 mm. Wing length 4.8–5.9 mm. (n=7)

Colour. Head and mesosoma black. Clypeus yellow apical half. Mandible brown. Labrum yellow. Antenna black, except ventral surface of flagellum orange, less so on F10–F11. Legs dark brown, except tarsi yellow, bases and apices of tibiae sometimes yellow, anterior surface of protibia sometimes yellow-testaceous. Wing membrane hyaline. Pterostigma orange-brown. Metasomal terga dark brown, pale brown apically; T1–T3 occasionally yellow-orange.

Structure. Head long (L/W ratio = 1.03–1.08). Mandible short, reaching opposing clypeal angle. Flagellomeres, except F1 elongate, F2 longer than F1 and pedicel combined. Eyes strongly convergent below (UOD:LOD = 1.24–1.48). Gena clearly narrower than eye. Pronotum smoothly rounded. Propodeal lateral carina reaching dorsolateral slope, contiguous with strong oblique carina.

Surface sculpture. Supraclypeal area imbricate, with relatively sparse punctures (i=1–1.5d). Gena and postgena lineolate. Mesoscutum reticulate; punctures usually contiguous throughout, sometimes separated medially (i≤d). Mesepisternum rugulose, weakly so ventrally. Metapostnotum anastomosingly rugose. Propodeum rugulose, posterior surface rugose. Metasomal terga polished; punctures deep, close basally. T3–T6 apical impressed areas impunctate.

Pubescence. Head and mesosoma with sparse plumose hairs. Face below antennal sockets with dense tomentum, lower paraocular area obscured, supraclypeal area and clypeus partially obscured, clypeus bare on distal half. Propodeum largely bare, with scattered plumose hairs. Metasomal terga nearly bare, with neither apical fimbriae nor evident tomentum. Metasomal sterna nearly bare, with sparse, short, plumose hairs (≤1 OD).

Terminalia . As shown in Figs. 45F , 46F , 87C, 87E . Gonostylus small, with short setae. Retrorse lobe longer than gonostylus, apex narrow, pointed ( Fig. 87E ).

Taxonomic notes. Lasioglossum quebecense belongs to the fulvicorne-fratellum species-group ( Ebmer 1974; Svensson et al. 1977). Until recently, L. quebecense was only considered to be present in the eastern states and provinces. Morphological and molecular studies support a much larger range extending northwest to the Yukon Territory. The more western populations lack the dense apical fimbriae present in eastern individuals.

Crawford (1907b) did not designate a holotype for Halictus quebecensis . The type series includes specimens from Montreal, Quebec and North Saugus, Michigan. Since L. quebecense belongs to a difficult species group it is appropriate to designate a lectotype to fix the name to a single specimen. The specimen from Montreal seems most suitable given the specific epithet and is designated as the lectotype.

Biology. Lasioglossum quebecense is a polylectic, ground-nesting species. Multiple nests of L. quebecense were excavated by the late G. C. Eickwort near Ithaca, New York and were all found to be solitary (pers. comm. to LP). Sphecodes levis Lovell and Cockerell (1907) is a cleptoparasite of L. quebecense (Eickwort pers. comm. in Michener 1978).

DNA barcodes. Forty specimens were sequenced from across the expanded known range (maximum intraspecific p-distance: 1.7%). The minimum interspecific p-distance separating L. quebecense from L. comagenense is 2.5%. Lasioglossum quebecense differs from the other fulvicorne-fratellum group species included here by five fixed substitutions: 45(C), 204(C), 270(C), 414(A), and 435(C) (see Table 2).

Range. Fig. 67 .

Material examined. 762 (575 females, 187 males). Deposited in ACNS, AMNH, ANSP, BBSL, CAS, CMNH, CNC, CUIC, EMEC, IRCW, MSUC, NMNH, PCYU, PMAE, PMNH, UCDC, UCMC , and UCRC.

CANADA. ALBERTA: Division 11: Wagner Natural Area, 6 km W of Edmonton; Division 15: Barrier Lake, U. of Calgary field station; BRITISH COLUMBIA: Bulkley-Nechako Reg. Dist.: Fort Babine, Morrison Lake; Cariboo Reg. Dist.: Hanceville, Fletcher Lk.; Greater Vancouver Reg. Dist.: Pitt Meadows, peat bog; Richmond; NEWFOUNDLAND: Division No. 1: Colliers; Division No. 7: Terra Nova N.P.; NORTHWEST TERRITORIES: Yellowknife; NOVA SCOTIA: Inverness Co.: Whycocomagh; Kings Co.: West Black Rock; Richmond Co.: Cape Breton, Salem Rd., pit; ONTARIO: Algoma Dist. : Kabinakagami R.; Cochrane Dist.: Hearst; Iroquois Falls; Greater Sudbury Co.: Sudbury; Hastings Co.: Madoc; Kenora Dist.: Vermilion Bay; Leeds Co.: Brown’s Bay P.P.; Peel Reg.: Forks of Credit; Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Cos.: Iroquois; Rainy River Dist.: Quetico Pk.; Thunder Bay Dist.: Saganaga Lk.; Upsala; Timiskaming Dist.: Kenabeek; York Reg.: Purpleville; PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: Kings Co.: Bridgetown; St. Patricks Rd.; West St. Peters; Queens Co.: Belle River; St. Andrews; QUEBEC: St. Margaret R.; Abitibi-Témiscamingue Reg.: Laniel; Montreal Reg.: Montreal; Montreal Is.; Côte-Nord Reg.: Forestville; Minganie: Anticosti Is., Ellis Bay; Montérégie Reg.: Hemmingford; Mt. St. Bruno; Rougemont; YUKON TERRITORY: Rampart House.

USA. CONNECTICUT: Fairfield Co.: Easton; Litchfield Co.: Colebrook; New Haven Co.: Guilford, 8 mi N.; GEORGIA: Rabun Co.: Rabun Bald; MAINE: Kennebec Co.: Waterville; Lincoln Co.: Southport; York Co.: Old Orchard; Saco; MARYLAND: Allegany Co.: Flintstone, 6 mi. E; Anne Arundel Co.: Patuxent Wildlife Ref.; Montgomery Co: Colesville; Pr. George’s Co.; MASSACHUSETTS: Bristol Co.: Attleboro, N.; Essex Co.: North Saugus; Franklin Co.: Hawley; Hampden Co.: Chester; Holyoke; Hampshire Co.: Granby, nr. Pitchawam Swamp; Skinner S.P., Mt. Holyoke; Middlesex Co.: Lincoln; Sherborn; Waltham; Norfolk Co.: Brookline; Needham; Wellesley; Suffolk Co.: Forest Hills; Worcester Co.: Petersham; MICHIGAN: Cass Co.: Volinia Twp.; Cheboygan Co.: Burt Lake; Colonial Pk.; Clare Co.: Harrison, 10 mi. N; Crawford Co.: Grayling, 10 mi. E; Dickinson Co.: Channing; Keweenaw Co.: Isle Royale; Marquette Co.: Negaunee; Witch Lk.; Osceola Co. : Tustin; Oscoda Co.: Luzerne; Schoolcraft Co.: Thompson; Wexford Co.; MINNESOTA: Wabasha Co.: Wabasha, 5 mi. W; NEW HAMPSHIRE: Belknap Co.: Meredith; Meredith Ctr.; Grafton Co.: Bethlehem; NEW JERSEY: Morris Co. : Hopatcong S.P.; Union Co.: Westfield; NEW YORK: Albany Co.: Rensselaerville, Huyck Preserve; Cayuga Co. : Fillmore Glen S.P.; Moravia; Cortland Co.: Labrador Lake; Essex Co.: Heart Lake; Keene Valley; Lewis Co.; Onondaga Co. ; Oswego Co.: Granby Center; Otsego Co.: nr. Oneonta; Schuyler Co.: Hector Land Use Area, nr. Reynoldsville; Watkins Glen; Tompkins Co.: Dawes Hill, 2 mi SSW West Danby; Enfield, Teeter Rd.; Freeville; Ithaca; Ithaca, Beebe Lake; Ithaca, Bool’s Backwater; Ithaca, Buttermilk Falls S.P.; Ithaca, Cornell U.; Monkey Run; Ringwood; Van Natta’s Dam, Ithaca; Westchester Co.: Ardsley; NORTH CAROLINA: Mt. Graybeard; Avery Co.: Grandfather Mt.; Buncombe Co.: Black Mt.; Graham Co.: Robbinsville; Haywood Co.; Jackson Co.: Cashiers, 8.2 mi. S; Macon Co.: Highlands; Highlands Biol. Sta.; McDowell Co.: Blue Ridge Pkwy.; Blue Ridge Pkwy, 10 km N Asheville; Wilkes Co.: Scenic Hwy.; Yancey Co.: Black Mts.; Mt. Mitchell; PENNSYLVANIA: Clinton Co.: Gleasonton; Monroe Co.: Tobyhanna S.P.; Pike Co.: Milford; Westmoreland Co.: Linn Run S.P.; Powdermill N.R.; TENNESSEE: Scott Co.: Big South Fork River, Leatherwood Ford; Sevier Co.: Goshen Prong; Twin Peaks; VIRGINIA: Fairfax Co.; Giles Co.: Salt Pond Mt.; WEST VIRGINIA: Hampshire Co.; WISCONSIN: Crawford Co.; Dodge Co.; Green Co.; Shawano Co.; Sheboygan Co.: Kettle Moraine S.F.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Drawings of inner metatibial spurs of female Lasioglossum subgenera Hemihalictus (A-K), Evylaeus (L), and Sphecodogastra (M-Q). (A) L. birkmanni. (B) L. fedorense. (C) L. foxii. (D) L. inconditum. (E) L. lustrans. (F) L. macoupinense. (G) L. nelumbonis. (H) L. pectinatum. (I) L. pectorale. (J) L. sopinci. (K) L. swenki. (L) L. cinctipes. (M) L. boreale. (N) L. comagenense. (O) L. quebecense. (P) L. seillean. (Q) L. truncatum. See McGinley (2003) figures 61, 62, and 65 for images of inner metatibial spurs of L. lusorium, L. oenotherae, and L. texanum.

FIGURE 43. Faces of female Lasioglossum subgenera Evylaeus (A) and Sphecodogastra (B-I) in frontal view. (A) L. cinctipes. (B) L. boreale. (C) L. comagenense. (D) L. lusorium. (E) L. oenotherae. (F) L. quebecense. (G) L. seillean. (H) L. texanum (I) L. truncatum. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 44. Faces of male Lasioglossum subgenus Evylaeus (A) and Sphecodogastra (B-I) in frontal view. (A) L. cinctipes. (B) L. boreale. (C) L. comagenense. (D) L. lusorium. (E) L. oenotherae. (F) L. quebecense. (G) L. seillean. (H) L. texanum (I) L. truncatum. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 45. Genital capsules of male Lasioglossum subgenera Evylaeus (A) and Sphecodogastra (B-I) in dorsal view. (A) L. cinctipes. (B) L. boreale. (C) L. comagenense. (D) L. lusorium. (E) L. oenotherae. (F) L. quebecense. (G) L. seillean. (H) L. texanum (I) L. truncatum. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 46. Genital capsules of male Lasioglossum subgenus Evylaeus (A) and Sphecodogastra (B-I) in ventral view. (A) L. cinctipes. (B) L. boreale. (C) L. comagenense. (D) L. lusorium. (E) L. oenotherae. (F) L. quebecense. (G) L. seillean. (H) L. texanum (I) L. truncatum. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 54. Lateral habitus of male Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) boreale (Svensson, Ebmer & Sakagami). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 57. Lateral habitus of male Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) comagenense (Knerer & Atwood). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 65. Lateral habitus of female Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) quebecense (Crawford). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 66. Lateral habitus of male Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) quebecense (Crawford). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 67. Distribution map of Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) quebecense (Crawford). Heat map indicates predicted suitable range based on maximum entropy niche-modelling. Black circles indicate actual geo-referenced specimen records.

FIGURE 76. Mesepisternum of female Lasioglossum. (A) L. inconditum showing weak, rugulose sculpture. (B) L. pectinatum showing punctation. (C) L. pectorale showing coarse, rugose sculpture throughout. (D) L. comagenense showing weak, rugulose sculpture. (E) L. lusorium showing appressed pubescense. (F) L. truncatum showing rugose sculpture becoming rugulose anterior to mesocoxa.

FIGURE 79. Propodeum and metapostnotum of female Lasioglossum (Evylaeus) and L. (Sphecodogastra). (A) L. cinctipes showing coarse, rugose sculpture. (B) L. truncatum showing coarse, rugose sculpture. (C) L. boreale showing fine sculpture and weak propodeal carinae. (D) L. comagenense showing fine sculpture and distinct propodeal carinae. (E) L. quebecense showing fine sculpture and distinct propodeal carinae. (F) L. seillean showing fine sculpture and distinct propodeal carinae.

FIGURE 81. Metasomal terga of female Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) in the fulvicorne-fratellum species-group. (A) L. boreale. (B) L. comagenense. (C) L. quebecense showing distinct apicolateral fimbriae. (D) L. seillean.

FIGURE 85. Metasomal sterna of male Lasioglossum (Spheocodagastra) with arrows indicating pubescence and S6 medial area. (A) L. boreale showing short, sparse hairs and normal S6. (B) L. oenotherae showing long, dense hairs and concave S6.

FIGURE 87. Lateral view of gonostylus and retrorse lobe of Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) in the fulvicorne-fratellum species-group. (A) L. boreale. (B) L. comagenense. (C) L. quebecense. (D) L. seillean. Ventral view of retrorse lobe. (E) L. quebecense. (F) L. seillean. Arrows indicate apex of retrorse lobe.

FIGURE 88. False colour image of metasomal sterna of Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) in the fulvicorne-fratellum speciesgroup. (A) L. comagenense showing few distinct punctures. (B) L. boreale showing many distinct punctures.