Nomada alpha alpha Cockerell 1905

Gibbs, Jason, Ascher, John S., Rightmyer, Molly G. & Isaacs, Rufus, 2017, The bees of Michigan (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), with notes on distribution, taxonomy, pollination, and natural history, Zootaxa 4352 (1), pp. 1-160 : 55

Nomada alpha alpha Cockerell 1905 (ruficornis group) (New state record)

(not N. sphaerogaster var. α Cockerell, 1905b, see below)

County records: Iron, Marquette.

Notes. This species described from Fort Collins, Larimer Co., Colorado and its two valid subspecies N. alpha dialpha Cockerell 1921 and N. alpha paralpha Cockerell 1921 (both from Walden, Colorado) are currently only known from that state ( Cockerell 1905 a, 1921; Swenk 1912; Hurd 1979). The close proximity of the type localities (within approximately 100 km) for all the subspecies, including two from near Walden, Jackson Co., Colorado, does not fit the standard concept of subspecies as being geographically separated populations. There seems to be a close affinity with N. obliterata Cresson , although that species is unusual for having only two submarginal cells and differs from N. alpha in several respects, such as clypeal sculpture, hind tibial setae, and color. As is the case for many Nomada species as currently recognized, N. alpha and its putative subspecies requires additional study. Note that N. alpha was described by Cockerell (1905a) with the epithet alpha spelled in letters whereas the infrasubspecific name of N. sphaerogaster described by Cockerell (1905b) in that same year from Wisconsin was designated originally with a symbol α. We regard the former as valid and the latter as an unavailable name (see N. sphaerogaster below).

Material examined. Iron Co. : T44N R131 W Sec. 13, 1 Jun. 1983, M. Arduser (1 ♀ MSUC) ; Marquette Co.: Huron Mountain Club , 19 Jun. 1983, D.C.L. Gosling (1 ♀ UMMZ) .