Lasioglossum athabascense (Sandhouse 1933)

Lasioglossum athabascense (Sandhouse)

Halictus athabascensis Sandhouse, 1933:78 [male, female).—Brittain and Newton, 1934:262 [flower records].

Lasioglossum athabascense.—Michener, 1951:1106 [Nearctic catalog].—Mitchell, 1960:340 [key, redescription, locality data, flower records].—Knerer and Atwood, 1962:162 [locality data, flower records, Ontario].—Hurd, 1979: 1957 [Nearctic catalog].—Hansen and Osgood, 1983:150 [flower records: Rubus].

TYPE MATERIAL.—The male holotype is labeled

70 mi. up Athabasca R[iver) Alta (Alberta]/Mer[ritt] Cary Collector/Type No. 44882 U.S.N.M. [red label]/Halictus athabascensis Sandhouse Type [handwritten].

The holotype is in excellent condition and is in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. Sandhouse designated an allotype and 38 paratypes (15 females, 23 males). The paratypes are in the collections of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH; including allotype), University of California, Riverside, and the Canadian National Collection. One female paratype from Kaslow, British Columbia, was misassociated in the original series and is actually a specimen of L. egregium (Vachal).

DISTRIBUTION (Figure 287).—This transcontinental species, which ranges from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island to the Pacific Coast, has the most northern known distribution of New World Lasioglossum. In the West it ranges from Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories (61° 46′ north latitude) south through the Cascade Range to Oregon and through the Rocky Mountains to Colorado and Utah. The most southern known eastern localities are in southern Pennsylvania. Hurd (1979), based on Mitchell (1960), reported L. athabascense from Ohio and south to North Carolina. Mitchell's records from Virginia and North Carolina are most likely based on misidentifications of L. coriaceum and L. forbesii, sensu lato.

DIAGNOSIS.—Females of this nondescript species are best characterized by the following character combination: acarinarium absent (elongate hairs scattered over anterior surface of metasomal tergum I); dorsal surface of propodeum irregularly striolate to rugulose (Figure 292); head moderately short (Figure 288, length/width ratio 0.92–0.97, x = 0.95, n = 14, Fort Simpson, N.W.T.; 0.94–0.98, x = 0.96, n = 20, Ithaca, N.Y.).

In the central and eastern portions of its range, L. athabascense females are commonly confused with those of L. coriaceum and L. forbesii (sensu lato). The presence of an acarinarium in the latter two species (Figures 72, 407–409) easily separates them from L. athabascense. Another common eastern species, L. fuscipenne, also lacks an acarinarium but can be immediately identified by its distinctive propodeum that is truncated posteriorly and uniquely sculptured (Figure 448). In the West the diagnostic character combination will separate L. athabascense from other Lasioglossum except for L. manitouellum, L. lampronotum, L. colatum, and L. anhypops. L. manitouellum is easily differentiated by its granuloso-punctate mesoscutum (Figure 510). The conspicuously wide head of L. lampronotum (Figure 486), the deeply excavated lateral margin of metasomal tergum II of L. anhypops (Figure 154), and the short, adpressed hair patches on metasomal tergum I of L. colatum (Figure 84) will readily distinguish these species from L. athabascense.

Lasioglossum athabascense males can be recognized by the distinctive hair pattern on sternum V (Figure 294): from the median line, short hairs gradually and evenly increase in length to form elongate lateral hair tufts. Other Lasioglossum males in the United States having similar hair tufts are L. egregium and L. mellipes, which differ from L. athabascense by having elongate heads (Figures 684, 698; the head of L. athabascense is short and rounded, Figure 289). In eastern United States L. athabascense males are often confused with L. forbesii and L. paraforbesii, but the yellow tarsi of the latter two species versus the dark tarsi of L. athabascense will easily differentiate these forms.

DESCRIPTION.—FEMALE: (1) Length 8.6–10.7 mm (x = 9.6, n = 20); (2) wing length 2.6–3.1 mm (x = 2.8, n = 20); (3) abdominal width 2.7–3.3 mm (x = 3.0, × = 20).

Structure: (4) Head moderately short (Figure 288; length/width ratio 0.88–1.0, x = 0.94, n = 34). (7) Supraclypeal area evenly rounded, (8) moderately protuberant. (9) Clypeus projecting approximately 0.74 its length below lower margin of eyes, (11) median longitudinal sulcation weakly developed to absent. (14) Distance between lateral ocelli subequal to distance between lateral ocellus and eye. (23) Flagellomere 1 slightly shorter than 2 along dorsal surface. Labrum as in Figure 290; (27) distal keel narrow, parallel-sided in frontal view; (28) distal lateral projections well developed, triangular; (29) fimbrial setae acutely pointed.

(32) Pronotal lateral angle narrowly obtuse; (33) pronotal lateral ridge incomplete, interrupted by oblique lateral sulcus; (34) lower portion of lateral ridge sharply edged. (35) Mesoscutal lip weakly bilobed, (36) moderately elevated. (40) Dorsal surface of propodeum about 0.88 the length of scutellum and about 1.4 times the length of metanotum, (41) slightly depressed centrally, (42) posterior margin broadly rounded; (43) propodeal triangle weakly defined, median V-shaped portion inconspicuous to weakly elevated, lateral rims absent; (44) lateral carinae extending to midpoint of posterior surface or only slightly beyond. (45) Tibial spur as in Figure 20.

(46) Lateral edge of metasomal tergum II weakly sinuate.

Sculpture: (47) Face shiny, (48) densely punctate below ocelli, punctures contiguous, becoming larger and less dense near antennae. (51) Supraclypeal area usually moderately granulate (polished towards center in some specimens), (52) punctation nearly uniform, punctures 1–2 times their width apart laterally, becoming sparsely punctate centrally. (53) Clypeus granulate basally and most of median area to apex, polished laterally; (54) punctures well formed basally, separated by less than their width, becoming larger, obscure and less dense apically, apicolateral areas largely impunctate. (56) Mesoscutum moderately shiny; (57) punctation as in Figure 293, punctures separated by their width or less laterally and anteriorly (often contiguously punctate along anterior edge), becoming more sparsely punctate centrally, punctures separated by 1–4 times their width. (58) Scutellar punctation nearly uniform, punctures finer and less dense than those of central area of mesoscutum. (63) Dorsal surface of propodeum variable in sculpture, irregularly striolate to rugulose (Figure 292); (64) surface smooth, not alveolated. (65) Metasomal tergum I moderately shiny; (66) punctation fine, moderately dense, punctures 1–1.5 times their width apart.

Coloration: (71) Wing membrane very light yellowish brown.

Vestiture: (74) Pubescence of head pale yellowish brown. (75) Pubescence of thorax mostly pale yellowish brown, white on pronotal lateral angle, pronotal lobe and metanotum; (76) mesoscutal hairs moderately sparse and plumose. (77) Hind tibial hairs concolorous, yellowish brown. (78) Anterior hairs of metasomal tergum I white to pale yellowish brown, (79) basal hair bands of terga II–IV white to yellowish white; (80) acarinarium absent, elongate hairs scattered over anterior surface of tergum I.

MALE: Similar to female except as follows: (1) length 7.4–9.2 mm (x = 8.1, n = 20); (2) wing length 2.1–2.7 mm (x = 2.4, n = 20); (3) abdominal width 2.0–2.5 mm (x = 2.2, n = 20). (4) Head as in Figure 289 (length/width ratio 0.91–1.0, x = 0.95, n = 20). (5) Gena subequal to eye in width, (6) moderately produced posteriorly. (11) Clypeal surface shallowly depressed ventrally. Labrum as in Figure 291; (24) distal process absent; (25) basal area depressed medially; (26) basal lateral depressions very weakly developed, inconspicuous, nearly flat areas. (30) Mandible short, just reaching opposing clypeal angle. (53) Clypeus polished; (54) punctures well formed along basal edge, becoming very fine and scattered over apical two-thirds. (68) Clypeal maculation present (Figure 289). Flagellum pale yellowish orange ventrally, contrasting strongly with dark dorsal surface. (72) Tarsi dark, concolorous with tibiae.

Vestiture: Sternal vestiture as in Figure 294; (82) hairs on sternum IV dense, elongate, erect; (83) sternum V with median rosette of moderately short, erect hairs that gradually become longer laterally to form erect lateral hair tufts.

Terminalia: Sterna VII–VIII as in Figure 298; (84) unlike most species, median process of sternum VII relatively broad; (85) sternum VIII with short, narrowly rounded median process. Genitalia as in Figures 295–297; (86) gonobase moderately elongate; (87) gonostylus extremely broad, apex broadly triangular; (88) retrorse membranous lobe present, (89) moderately broad, tapering apically; (90) volsella with very prominent lateral lobe.

FLIGHT RECORDS (Figure 299).—Females of L. athabascense have been collected from April through early October, with most records from late April through July. Most males have been collected in late August, with records extending from July to October.

FLOWER RECORDS.—Females (58): Rosaceae 47%; Cruciferae 16%; Compositae 12%; Salicaceae 12%. Males (3): Compositae 67%; Balsaminaceae 33%. Total: 61 in 11 families, 18 genera as follows:

Aster 1; Barbarea 7; *Brassica 2(1); Chrysothamnus 1; Eupatorium 1 ; Hackelia 1; Impatiens 1; Inula 2; Melilotus 2; Penstemon 2; Pyrus 1; *Rubus 25(18); Salix 7; Spiraea 1; Tamarix 1; Taraxacum 4; Vaccinium 1; Viola 1.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—361 (279, 82).

CANADA. ALBERTA: Athabasca River, 70 mi up, Beverly, Bilby, Calgary, 20 mi W, Edmonton, Evansburg, Fawcett, McMurray, Valleyview, Wabamun, Waterton, Waterways. BRITISH COLUMBIA. Abbotsford, Deroche, Fort Nelson, Hazelton, Kaslo, Manning Park, Mara, Nelson, Osoyoos, Salmon Arm, Steelhead Terrace. MANITOBA: Aweme, Teulon, Treesbank, Wanless. NEW BRUNSWICK: Fredericton, Saint John, 50 mi E Maine border on Route 1. NORTHWEST TERRITORIES: Fort Simpson; Fort Smith. NOVA SCOTIA: Kings County; Smith's Cove; Truro. ONTARIO: Algon Park; Belleville; Black Sturgeon Lake; Donset, Wren Lake: Kenora, 15–19 SE; Lake Superior; MacDiarmid; Moose Factory; Morpeth, S of (on Lake Erie); One Sided Lake; Ottawa; Penage Lake; Quetica Park; Toronto. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: Souris. QUEBEC: Andreville; Cap Rouge; Forestville; Laniel; Montreal. SASKATCHEWAN: above Grand Rapids; Waskesiu.

UNITED STATES. COLORADO: Delta Co.; Garfield Co.; Routt Co. CONNECTICUT: Litchfield Co.; Tolland Co. IDAHO: Bonner Co.; Clearwater Co.; Valley Co. MAINE: Washington Co. MASSACHUSETTS: Essex Co.; Middlesex Co. MICHIGAN: Cheboygan Co.; Chippewa Co.; Emmet Co.; Houghton Co.; Keweenaw Co.; Mackinac Co.; Wayne Co. MINNESOTA: Clearwater Co.; Cook Co.; Hennepin Co.; Roseau Co. MONTANA: Flathead Co. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Grafton Co.; Strafford Co. NEW YORK: Clinton Co.; Cortland Co.; Erie Co.; Essex Co.; Greene Co.; Tioga Co.; Tompkins Co. NORTH DAKOTA: Cass Co. OREGON: Linn Co. PENNSYLVANIA: Allegheny Co.; Carbon Co.; Cumberland Co.; Dauphin Co.; Lehigh Co.; Wyoming Co. UTAH: Box Elder Co.; Cache Co. VERMONT: Addison Co.; Windsor Co. WASHINGTON: King Co.; Island Co.; Pend Oreille Co.; Stevens Co. WISCONSIN: Burnett Co.; Clark Co.; Dane Co.; Manitowoc Co.; Milwaukee Co.; Polk Co.; Price Co. WYOMING: Teton Co.

Lasioglossum athabascense är en biart som först beskrevs av Sandhouse 1933. Lasioglossum athabascense ingår i släktet smalbin, och familjen vägbin. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Lasioglossum athabascense là một loài Hymenoptera trong họ Halictidae. Loài này được Sandhouse mô tả khoa học năm 1933.