Lasioglossum (Habralictellus) rufopanticis ( Engel, 2001 )

Gibbs, Jason, 2018, Bees of the genus Lasioglossum (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) from Greater Puerto Rico, West Indies, European Journal of Taxonomy 400, pp. 1-57 : 43-46

Lasioglossum (Habralictellus) rufopanticis ( Engel, 2001)

Figs 27–29

Habralictellus rufopanticis Engel, 2001b: 33 , fig. 1 (holotype, ♀, deposited in LACM, examined).

Habralictellus rufopanticis – Moure 2007: 858 (catalogue).

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) rufopantex – Genaro & Franz 2008: 6 (incorrect subsequent spelling, distribution). — Gibbs 2016: 19 (taxonomy, incorrect subsequent spelling).

Lasioglossum rufopanticis – Genaro & Franz 2008: 3 (figure legend).

Etymology

Engel (2001b) named this species for its reddish abdomen using the Latin words rufus and pantex. The specific epithet ‘ rufopanticis ’ is a compound noun and therefore not required to match the gender of the genus group name (see ICZN (1999) article 31.2.1).

Diagnosis

Both sexes of L. rufopanticis have the head and mesosoma iridescent green, head round, mesoscutum shiny and sparsely punctate, and submarginal cells two. They are easily distinguished from L. eickwortellum by the shape of the head (see above). They are similar to L. eleutherense , but that species has the mesosoma very dull due to distinct microsculpture and the female has distinct integumental banding on the metasoma.

Material examined

PUERTO RICO: Fajardo: 2 ♀♀, Bahia Las Cabezas , 1–9 Feb. 1967, H.E. Evans leg. ( NMNH). – Guánica: 3 ♀♀, paratypes, 27 Apr. 1991, J.A. Torres leg. ( LACM) ; 2 ♀♀, Jul. 1999, J.A. Genaro leg. (JAGC); 1 ♀, paratype, Guánica Forest, 27 Oct. 1991, R.R. Snelling and J.A. Torres leg. ( LACM). – Maricao: 1 ♀, A77, 18°08.626 ʹ N, 66°58.798 ʹ W, Malaise trap, 18 Jul.–15 Aug. 2014, S.G. Prado leg. ( NCSU). – Mayagüez: 1 ♂, paratype, Mona Island , road above Uvero, 11 Nov. 1992, R.R. Snelling and J.A. Torres leg. ( LACM) ; 1 ♂, near Playa Pajaros , 18 May 2008, N. Franz leg. ( JAGC) ; 1 ♂, near Playa Pajaros , 30 m a.s.l., 16°03ʹ52ʹʹ N, 67°52ʹ06ʹʹ W, 18 May 2008, N. Franz leg. ( JAGC). – Luquillo: 2 ♀♀, Balneiro de Luquillo , 13 May 1985, G.C. Eickwort leg. ( CUIC) ; 1 ♀, same collection data as preceding, 14 May 1985 (CUIC); 1 ♀, [El Yunque] National Forest , 18 Nov. 1925, s. coll. ( AMNH). – Quebradillas: 2 ♀♀, El Túnel de Guajataca , 30 May 2006, J.A. Genaro leg. ( PCYU).

BRITISHVIRGIN ISLANDS: Guana Island : 4♀♀, paratypes, hotel area, ex Capparis cynophallophora , 7 Oct. 1992, R.R. Snelling leg. ( LACM) ; 14 ♀♀, paratypes, same collection data as preceding, 13–14 Oct. 1992 (LACM); ♀, holotype, 14 ♀♀, paratypes, hotel area, ex Schaefferia frutescens, 26–27 Oct. 1992, R.R. Snelling leg. (LACM); 5 ♀♀, paratypes, White Beach, 18°28.7ʹ N, 64°34ʹ W, ex Casine xylocarpus [sic], 2 Jul. 1993, R.R. Snelling leg. (LACM).

Distribution

British Virgin Islands (Guana Island), Puerto Rico (including Mona Island) ( Fig. 29 ), U.S. Virgin Islands (St. John).

DNA barcodes

Two sequences are available (BOLD Process IDs: DIAL659-06 and DIAL658-06).

Biology

Observed nesting in vertical banks at Guánica and El Túnel de Guajataca, Quebradillas ( Genaro & Franz 2008). Specimens from Guana Island were collected from Capparis cynophallophora L. ( Capparaceae ), Schaefferia frutescens Jacq. ( Celastraceae ) and Cassine xylocarpa Vent. (Celastraceae) ( Engel 2001b; Snelling 2005).

Species removed from the checklist of Puerto Rican bees

After examination of a large amount of material, no specimens belonging to the following three species have been seen from Greater Puerto Rico. A list of examined material for each species is provided to provide clarity on their confirmed range.

Figures

Fig. 27. Lasioglossum rufopanticis (Engel, 2001), ♀. A. Face. B. Lateral habitus. C. Dorsal habitus. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 28. Lasioglossum rufopanticis (Engel, 2001), ♂. A. Face. B. Lateral habitus. C. Dorsal habitus. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 29.Distribution mapfor Lasioglossum rufopanticis (Engel, 2001) in Puerto Rico.