Lasioglossum lampronotum McGinley 1986

Lasioglossum lampronotum

TYPE MATERIAL.—The holotype female of Lasioglossum lampronotum is deposited in the Snow Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence. The specimen is an excellent condition and is labeled.

21 mi. S.W. Prescott, [Yavapai County] Ariz.[ona] VII [July]-17-1950 C.D. Michener/Taken on Mentzelia pumila/HOLOTYPE Lasioglossum lampronotum R.J. McGinley [redlabel].

Sixty-three female paratypes and 10 male paratypes listed in the “Specimens Examined” section are designated.

ETYMOLOGY.—The specific epithet is derived from the Greek lampros (bright, brilliant) plus notos (back), a reference to the shiny mesoscutum characteristic of this species.

DISTRIBUTION (Figure 485).—Lasioglossum lampronotum is known from Arizona, southern California, Nevada, and Utah.

DIAGNOSIS.—Lasioglossum lampronotum can be recognized by the combination of its pale yellowish orange tarsi and hind tibiae, its short head (Figure 486), complete pronotal lateral carina, and shiny mesoscutum with dense but distinct punctures (Figure 490). It is most similar to L. heterorhinum but differs in having a polished clypeus (conspicuously granulate basally in L. heterorhinum), different mesoscutal punctation (L. heterorhinum mesoscutum dull, granuloso-punctate anteriorly, Figure 463) and pale leg color (legs entirely dark in L. heterorhinum). Lasioglossum rupticristum is also similar but differs in having an incomplete pronotal lateral carina as well as having entirely dark legs. See L. heterorhinum “Diagnosis” for further details.

DESCRIPTION.—FEMALE: (1) Length 7.8–9.6 mm (x = 8.7, n = 15); (2) wing length 2.4–2.8 mm (x = 2.6, n = 15); (3) abdominal width 2.4–2.8 (x = 2.7, n = 15).

Structure: (4) Head short (Figure 486; length/width ratio 0.76–0.88, = 0.81, n = 15). (7) Supracylpeal area evenly rounded, (8) very weakly protuberant. (9) Clypeus projecting approximately 0.65 of its length below lower margin of eyes; (11) surface without median longitudinal sulcation. (14) Distance between lateral ocelli subequal to distance between lateral ocellus and eye. (23) Flagellomere 1 slightly shorter than 2 along dorsal surface. (24) Labrum as in Figure 488; (27) distal keel broad as seen in frontal view, slightly widest basally; (28) distal lateral projections well developed, triangular, and sharply pointed; (29) fimbrial setae acutely pointed.

(32) Pronotal lateral angle narrowly obtuse; (33) pronotal lateral ridge complete (broad lateral sulcus reaching ridge but not distinctly interrupting it); (34) lower portion of lateral ridge sharply edged. (35) Mesoscutal lip weakly bilobed, (36) moderately elevated from pronotum. (40) Dorsal surface of propodeum about 0.78 the length of scutellum and about 1.4 times the length of metanotum, (40) slightly depressed centrally, (42) posterior margin broadly rounded; (43) propodeal triangle weakly defined, evident medially as a low, inconspicuous, V-shaped elevation, lateral rims absent; (44) lateral carinae extending at most to midpoint of posterior surface. (45) Tibial spur as in Figure 37.

(45) Lateral edge of metasomal tergum II weakly sinuate, nearly straight.

Sculpture: (47) Face shiny, (48) densely punctate below ocelli, punctures contiguous, becoming only slightly less dense near antennae. (51) Supraclypeal area weakly granulate, (52) uniformly and densely punctate, punctures separated by their width. (53) Clypeus polished, obscurely granulate basally; (54) punctures separated by less than their width basally and medially to apex, sparsely punctate apicolaterally. (56) Mesoscutum very shiny; (57) punctation as in Figure 490, punctures very dense laterally, nearly contiguous, becoming granuloso-punctate along anterior edge, only slightly less dense centrally, punctures at most 2 times their width apart. (58) Scutellum nearly uniformly punctate, punctation similar to that of mesoscutum. (63) Dorsal surface of propodeum ruguloso-striolate laterally, becoming mostly rugulose medially (similar to that of L. heterorhinum, Figure 462); (64) surface obscurely alveolated. (65) Metasomal tergum I moderately shiny; (66) punctation fine, dense, punctures slightly less than their width apart.

Coloration: (71) Wing membrane hyaline. (72) Unlike most species, mid and hind tarsi, hind tibiae and distal quarter of mid tibiae usually pale yellowish orange (see “Remarks” section).

Vestiture: (74) Pubescence of head white. (75) Pubescence of thorax white to yellowish white; (76) mesoscutal hairs moderately dense and plumose. (77) Hind tibial hairs concolorous, yellowish white. (78) Anterior hairs of metasomal tergum I and (79) basal hair bands of terga II–IV white. (80) Acarinarium absent, elongate hairs scattered over anterior surface of tergum I.

MALE: Similar to female except as follows: (1) length 7.0–7.8 mm (x = 7.4, n = 2); (2) wing length 2.0–2.1 mm (x = 2.1, n = 2); (3) abdominal width 1.8–1.9 mm (x = 1.9, n = 2). (4) Head as in Figure 487 (length/width ratio 0.82, x = 0.82, x = 0.82, n = 2). (5) Gena narrower than eye, (6) strongly produced posteriorly, angulate. (10) Clypeal surface shallowly depressed ventrally. Labrum as in Figure 489; (24) distal process developed as an elongate, acute projection: (25) basal area only moderately depressed medially; (26) basal lateral depressions moderately developed. (30) Mandible moderately elongate, reaching just beyond opposing clypeal angle. (53) Clypeus polished; (54) punctures well formed and dense basally, apical two-thirds sparsely punctate with mixture of very fine and larger, poorly defined punctures. (69) Flagellum paler on venter than on dorsal surface. (72) Tarsi yellowish white. Vestiture and terminalia as described for L. heterorhinum.

FLIGHT RECORDS.—Lasioglossum lampronotum females have been collected from March through August. The one female taken in March was from Cochise County, Arizona; the one April record was from Mohave County, Arizona. The three known males were taken in July, August, and September.

FLOWER RECORDS.—Females (26): Solanaceae 38%; Loasaceae 31% Rosaceae 12%. Male (1): Compositae 100%. Total: 27 in 8 families, 10 genera as follows:

Agave 1; Astragalus 1; Baccharis 1; Cowania 3; *Mentzelia 8(8); Nicotiana 1; Phacelia 1; Salvia 1; Senecio 1; Solanum 9.