Nomada sphaerogaster Cockerell 1903

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 : 63-64

Nomada sphaerogaster Cockerell 1903 (ruficornis group) (New state record)

( Fig. 14 )

= Nomada sphaerogaster var. α Cockerell 1905b (not N. alpha Cockerell 1905a )

County records: Allegan, Clinton, Ingham, Van Buren.

Notes. This poorly known species was described from a female collected Apr. 22 in Riverton, Burlington Co., New Jersey ( Cockerell 1903a), to the west of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Cockerell (1905b) subsequently described var. α from Milwaukee, Wisconsin (NMNH), although he evidently did not intend it to be a specific epithet since he appended to the descripton of the variety: “If the difference should prove constant in a long series, it ought to have a distinct name”. To our knowledge, it has not been used as a valid species group name and is therefore unvailable (ICZN art. 45.6.4). The variety α was excluded from catalogues by Hurd (1979), Alexander & Schwarz (1994), and Zuparko (2017). Furthermore, if it were valid it would be a primary homonym of N. alpha Cockerell, 1905a (see above). Nomada sphaerogaster has not been recognized subsequently from Wisconsin ( Wolf & Ascher, 2009) or from elsewhere in the Midwest. Michigan specimens were collected at the edge of a clearing in a moderately damp woodland, with sandy soil, surrounded by suburban development. The Michigan specimens are quite distinctive among vernal Nomada as both sexes are black with complete yellow bands on T2-T5 ( Fig. 14A ), in combination with wide heads with distinct darkened facial setae ( Fig. 14B ). The Michigan specimen closely matches non-type specimens of N. sphaerogaster from New Jersey in the Museum of Comparative Zoology (S. Droege, det.). The holotype apparently differs from the Michigan specimens in having bands on T3 and T4 narrowly interrupted. Cockerell (1905b) states in the description of sphaerogaster var. α that the bands are “narrowed or slightly interrupted in the middle”. The female has distinctive dark setae on the face and distinctly separated dark setae on the apex of the metatibia. Other spring Nomada , such as N. luteoloides , are superficially similar in the complete banding on the metasoma but differ in having a narrower head, lacking dark facial setae, and the apical setae of the metatibia are thicker and tightly compressed. Nomada sphaerogaster been collected during mid-April in central and southwest Michigan.

Material examined. Allegan Co.: 0.8 mi. N Fillmore, blueberry field, 16 Apr. 2005, J. Tuell et al. (1 ♀ MSUC: RI); 1.3 mi. NNE Glenn, blueberry field, 24 Apr. 2006, Tuell et al. (1 ♀ MSUC: RI) ; Clinton Co.: Bath , 6 Apr. 1963, G.C. Eickwort (1 ♂ MSUC) ; Ingham Co.: Harrison Meadows / Abbot Road Park , East Lansing, N42.7645 W84.7945, 19 Apr. 2014, on Salix, J. Gibbs (1 ♀ JBWM) ; Harrison Meadows / Abbot Road Park, East Lansing, N42.7645 W84.7945, 20 Apr. 2014, on Salix, J. Gibbs (1 ♂ JBWM) ; Harrison Meadows Park / Abbot Road , East Lansing , N42.7645 W84.7945, 60 Apr. 2014, on Salix, J. Gibbs (1 ♂ JBWM), Van Buren Co.: 2.6 mi. ESE Breedsville, blueberry field, 16 Apr. 2005, J. Tuell et al. (1 ♀ MSUC: RI).

Additional Material examined. New Jersey: Morris Co.: Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, (no date), J. Bequaert (1 ♀ Museum of Comparative Zoology, photographs).

Figures

FIGURE 14. Nomada sphaerogaster Cockerell female from Michigan. A) Dorsal habitus. B) Face. C) Lateral habitus. D) Hind tibia showing apical setae.