3. Halictus basalis Smith, 1857

Fig. 3

Halictus basalis Smith, 1857: 43, ♂.

Type material examined

Holotype

SINGAPORE • ♂; Sing. 43a [Singapore]; [either 25 Sep.–17 Oct. 1854 or 10–17 Feb. 1856]; OUMNH, ENT-HYME2473.

Type locality

Singapore.

Notes

Baker (1993: 192) placed this species in combination with the genus Lipotriches and wrote the following:

“The HOLOTYPE of Halictus basalis Smith, 1857 [not Nomia basalis Smith, 1875, a species of Pseudapis] is a ♂ in the UMO type collection labelled ‘SING. 43a.’ [white disc] and ‘ Halictus basalis Smith’ [blue paper, Smith].

The LECTOTYPE of Halictus ceratinus Smith, 1857, by present designation, is a ♂ in the UMO type collection labelled ‘Sarawak’ [white disc] and ‘ Halictus ceratinus Smith’ [blue paper, Smith]. A second ♂ in the same collection, labelled ‘SAR.’ [white disc] and ‘ Halictus ceratinus Smith’ [blue paper, similar to label on lectotype but, from slight variations in script, not written at the same time] has been labelled as paralectotype (this specimen is in rather cleaner condition, but the head has at some time been re-attached and the mesosoma is distorted by the pinning). These ♂♂ are apparently conspecific with basalis, agreeing particularly in the armature of sternum 5, and probably represent a darker, Bornean form. While ample material of basalis from peninsular Malaysia is available, recent Bornean material is not, and the precise status of ceratina [this name has page precedence] remains to be decided”.

Pauly (2009) examined both types, and synonymised L. basalis under L. ceratina, thus acting as first reviser.

Current status

Lipotriches (Lipotriches) ceratina (Smith, 1857) (Pauly 2009) .

Distribution

India, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, China, Japan, Korean Peninsula, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia (Peninsula, Borneo), Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia (Kalimantan, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi) (Pauly 2009; Ascher & Pickering 2024).