Megachile (Megachiloides) manifesta Cresson, 1878

Megachile manifesta Cresson, 1878: 122. Drons 2012: 58.

Megachile (Xeromegachile) manifesta; Mitchell 1937a: 352. Butler 1965: 8. Hurd 1979: 2064.

Megachile (Megachiloides) manifesta; Raw 2002: 18. Scott et al. 2011: 55. Sheffield et al. 2011: 55.

Diagnosis. The female of M. manifesta can be identified by its 4-toothed mandibles with an asymmetrical emargination between the 3 rd and 4 th teeth that is deepest nearer the 4 th tooth (Fig. 7C), black scopal setae on S6 and at least the apical part of S5, the basal portion with white scopal setae, and T5 surface matte to shiny with punctures ≤ 1 diameter apart medially. Females are closest to M. nevadensis, which has all white scopal setae on S5, and M. wheeleri, which has the surface of T5polished and shiny with punctures 2–4 diameters apart medially (see Taxonomic Challenges). The male of M. manifesta can be identified by its wide and spatulate procoxal spine without a setae patch at the base (Fig. 8I), triangular metatarsomeres (viewed laterally) (Fig. 8F), and a smooth, rounded carina on the ventral mesepisternum (viewed ventrally, directly posterior to the procoxal spine). The male of M. manifesta is most similar to M. wheeleri, which differs in having quadrate metatarsomeres (viewed laterally) (Fig. 8G).

Notes. This species, in general occurring in the western U.S. and Canada, is found in drier areas of eastern and south-central Montana (Fig. 1S). Photographs, a full morphological description, and notes on the biology of this species can be found in Sheffield et al. (2011).