Lasioglossum (Dialictus) vierecki (Crawford, 1904)

Figs 88, 90P, 92A, 110A, 111A

Halictus vierecki Crawford, 1904: 97 (holotype, ♀, deposited in ANSP, examined).

Halictus Vierecki – Graenicher 1910: 158 (description of male).

Halictus (Chloralictus) vierecki – Viereck et al. 1916: 707 (key).

Lasioglossum (Chloralictus) vierecki – Michener 1951: 1118 (catalog).

Dialictus vierecki – Mitchell 1960: 429, figs 101–102 (key, redescription). — Hurd 1979: 1973 (catalog). — Moure & Hurd 1987: 139 (catalog).

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) vierecki – Wolf &Ascher 2009: 144 (checklist). — Gibbs 2010: 346, figs 233a– d, 234a–e (key, redescription); 2011: 207 (key). — Gibbs et al. 2017: 87 (checklist).

Diagnosis

Females of Lasioglossum vierecki are readily identified by the head and mesosoma covered in very short, dense, thickly plumose, golden yellow hair and very dense punctures (i <1 pd), face relatively long (length/width ratio ~0.87), metapostnotum dull and finely reticulate with weak rugae, metasomal terga with dense tomentum, and T2 without dark spiracular spots. Unworn specimens are not likely to be confused with any other species, but worn specimens can resemble L. arenisaltans sp. nov. Females of L. arenisaltans sp. nov. have the metapostnotum shiny with strong rugae, scutum with slightly sparser punctures (but still very dense), and T2 with dark spiracular spots.

Males of L. vierecki can be recognized by the scutum very densely punctate (all punctures touching with no distinct interspaces), metasomal terga uniformly densely punctate (i ≤ 1 pd), wings lightly infuscated, head and mesosoma golden-green with yellowish hair, and gonostylus short and broad with long hair. They are most similar to L. cactorum sp. nov. and L. spivakae sp. nov. Both of these species have the scutum more sparsely punctate (i=1–3 pd), wings hyaline, and head and mesosoma blue-green with white hair. In addition, males of L. cactorum sp. nov. have T1–4 rims strongly downcurved.

Etymology

Crawford (1904) dedicated this species to H.L. Viereck.

Material examined

Holotype

UNITED STATES – New Jersey • ♀; Clementon; [39.81° N, 74.98° W]; ANSP.

Other material

CANADA – Manitoba • 1 ♀; Spirit Sands, SWPP (stabilized dune); 49.664° N, 99.2951° W; 30 May 2019; T.M. Onuferko leg.; CMNC. – Quebec • 1 ♂; CMN (Natural Heritage Campus), Gatineau; 45.4462° N, 75.8131° W; 113 m a.s.l.; 17 Jul. 2018; T.M. Onuferko leg.; CMNC.

UNITED STATES – Georgia • 1 ♀; Richmond Co., Augusta; [33.47° N, 82.01° W]; 6 Apr. 1959; R.R. Snelling leg.; LACM • 1 ♂; Richmond Co., Ft. Gordon; [33.42° N, 82.14° W]; 23 May 1958; R.R. Snelling leg.; LACM. – Kansas • 6 ♀♀; Reno Co., 5 mi. SE of Hutchinson; [38.01° N, 97.87° W]; 2 Sep. 1951; C.D. Michener and W.E. LaBerge leg.; ex Euphorbia; UNSM. – Minnesota • 1 ♀; Anoka Co., Bunker Hills Reg. Park; 45.2037° N, 93.2792° W; 278 m a.s.l.; 8 Jun. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 20 Jul. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 10 Aug. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Anoka Co., Bunker Hills Reg. Park; 45.2059° N, 93.2777° W; 277 m a.s.l.; 10 Aug. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Liatris punctata; UMSP • 4 ♀♀; Anoka Co., Bunker Hills Reg. Park; 45.2105° N, 93.2877° W; 274 m a.s.l.; 8 Jun. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; UMSP • 2 ♀♀; same location as for preceding; 1 Jul. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 20 Jul. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Anoka Co., Bunker Hills Reg. Park; 45.2145° N, 93.28° W; 278 m a.s.l.; 10 Aug. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Dalea villosa; UMSP • 1 ♀; Anoka Co., Bunker Hills Reg. Park; 45.2159° N, 93.2848° W; 277 m a.s.l.; 20 Jul. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Amorpha canescens; UMSP • 1 ♀; Anoka Co., Bunker Hills Reg. Park; 45.2177° N, 93.2903° W; 274 m a.s.l.; 20 Jul. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Solidago speciosa; UMSP • 2 ♀♀; Anoka Co., Bunker Hills Reg. Park; 45.2179° N, 93.2916° W; 8 Jun. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Lithospermum canescens; UMSP • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 8 Jun. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Berteroa incana; UMSP • 1 ♀; Anoka Co., Bunker Hills Reg. Park; 45.2126° N, 93.2865° W; 274 m a.s.l.; 21 May 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Barbarea vulgaris; UMSP • 1 ♀; Anoka Co., Bunker Hills Reg. Park; 45.21524° N, 93.28744° W; 276 m a.s.l.; 21 May 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Prunus virginiana; UMSP • 4 ♀♀; Anoka Co., Bunker Hills Reg. Park; 45.21632° N, 93.28838° W; 275 m a.s.l.; 21 May 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Maianthemum stellatum; UMSP • 2 ♀♀; Anoka Co., Bunker Hills Reg. Park; 45.21637° N, 93.284° W; 277 m a.s.l.; 21 May 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Arabis x divaricarpa; UMSP • 1 ♀; Anoka Co., Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve; 45.399° N, 93.1832° W; 280 m a.s.l.; 22 Jul. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Solidago speciosa; UMSP • 2 ♀♀; Anoka Co., Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve; 45.4029° N, 93.1993° W; 278 m a.s.l.; 12 Jun. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; UMSP • 4 ♀♀; same location as for preceding; 6 May 2016; J. Gardner leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Anoka Co., Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve; 45.40267° N, 93.19917° W; 255 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2015; E. Evans leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Anoka Co., Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve; 45.43096° N, 93.18936° W; 247 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2015; E. Evans leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Benton Co., Rice; [45.75° N, 94.22° W]; 2 Aug. 1958; R.R. Snelling leg.; LACM • 2 ♀♀; Houston Co., 1.5 mi. north Houston; [43.785° N, 91.56° W]; 18 May 1967; J.R. Powers leg.; EMEC • 3 ♀♀; Isanti Co., Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve; 45.4323° N, 93.1894° W; 281 m a.s.l.; 12 Jun. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; UMSP • 6 ♀♀; same location as for preceding; 22 Jul. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Isanti Co., Irving and John Anderson Co. Park; 45.4614° N, 93.0675° W; 285 m a.s.l.; 21 May 2015; E. Evans leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Isanti Co., Irving and John Anderson Co. Park; 45.462° N, 93.061° W; 261 m a.s.l.; 10 Jun. 2015; E. Evans leg.; UMSP • 5 ♀♀; same location as for preceding; 20 Jul. 2015; E. Evans leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Isanti Co., Irving and John Anderson Co. Park; 45.462° N, 93.0537° W; 236 m a.s.l.; 10 Jun. 2015; E. Evans leg.; ex Rosa arkansana; UMSP • 1 ♀; Isanti Co., Irving and John Anderson Co. Park; 45.4663° N, 93.0542° W; 248 m a.s.l.; 10 Jun. 2015; E. Evans leg.; UMSP • 3 ♀♀; Isanti Co., Irving and John Anderson Co. Park; 45.4614° N, 93.06754° W; 285 m a.s.l.; 20 Jul. 2015; E. Evans leg.; UMSP • 4 ♀♀; Isanti Co., Irving and John Anderson Co. Park; 45.46627° N, 93.05422° W; 248 m a.s.l.; 20 Jul. 2015; E. Evans leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Ramsey Co., Bald Eagle Otter-Lks Reg. Park; 45.1005° N, 93.0371° W; 268 m a.s.l.; 5 Jun. 2015; E. Evans leg.; ex Trifolium repens; UMSP • 1 ♀; Sherburne Co., Uncas Dunes Scientific and Natural Area; 45.3951° N, 93.6658° W; 258 m a.s.l.; 29 Apr. 2015; E. Evans leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Sherburne Co., Uncas Dunes Scientific and Natural Area; 45.4183° N, 93.7014° W; 262 m a.s.l.; 29 Apr. 2015; E. Evans leg.; UMSP • 1 ♂; Sherburne Co., Uncas Dunes Scientific and Natural Area; 45.4208° N, 93.7007° W; 264 m a.s.l.; 1 Sep. 2015; E. Evans leg.; ex Liatris punctata; UMSP • 1 ♀; Sherburne Co., Uncas Dunes Scientific and Natural Area; 45.4219° N, 93.6935° W; 271 m a.s.l.; 29 Jun. 2015; E. Evans leg.; UMSP • 4 ♀♀; Wabasha Co., Weaver Dunes; 44.27746° N, 91.93892° W; 28 May 2015; M.J. Hatfield leg.; ex Ceanothus herbaceus; UMSP • 2 ♀♀; Wabasha Co., McCarthy Lake; 44.27413° N, 91.94863° W; 17 Jul. 2015; M.J. Hatfield leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Washington Co., Belwin Conservancy; 44.924° N, 92.79° W; 247 m a.s.l.; 14 Aug. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Washington Co., Belwin Conservancy; 44.9248° N, 92.7911° W; 260 m a.s.l.; 26 Jun. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Rudbeckia hirta; UMSP • 2 ♀♀; Washington Co., Belwin Conservancy; 44.9248° N, 92.7905° W; 221 m a.s.l.; 9 Jun. 2015; E. Evans leg.; ex Achillea millefolium; UMSP • 1 ♀; Washington Co., St. Croix Savanna Scientific and Natural Area; 44.9952° N, 92.7784667° W; 235 m a.s.l.; 21 Jul. 2015; E. Evans leg.; UMSP • 1 ♀; Washington Co., St. Croix Savanna Scientific and Natural Area; 44.9953° N, 92.7799° W; 193 m a.s.l.; 4 Sep. 2015; E. Evans leg.; ex Solidago canadensis; UMSP • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; Washington Co., St. Croix Savanna Scientific and Natural Area; 44.9955° N, 92.7788° W; 192 m a.s.l.; 21 Jul. 2015; E. Evans leg.; ex Verbena stricta; UMSP • 1 ♀; Washington Co., St. Croix Savanna Scientific and Natural Area; 44.9957° N, 92.7803° W; 223 m a.s.l.; 30 Apr. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; UMSP • 6 ♀♀; Washington Co., St. Croix Savanna Scientific and Natural Area; 44.9971° N, 92.7805° W; 262 m a.s.l.; 23 Jul. 2015; J. Gardner leg.; ex Dalea candida; UMSP. – Nebraska • 2 ♀♀; McPherson Co., Sandhills Ag Lab; [41.62° N, 100.83° W]; 28 Jun.–10 Aug. 1972; UNSM • 1 ♀; same location as for preceding; 15 Jul. 1972; UNSM. – Oklahoma • 1 ♀; Marshall Co.; [34° N, 96.8° W]; 1 Jul. 1981; Pat Terry leg.; ex Aphanostephus skirrhobasis; UNSM. – South Carolina • 1 ♀; Barnwell Co., Savannah River Site; 33.1607° N, 81.5072° W; 23 May 2016; S. Breland leg.; WRME. – Texas • 1 ♂; Bastrop Co., 6 mi. E of Bastrop; [30.11° N, 97.21° W]; 19 Jun. 1983; W.J. Pulawski leg.; CAS • 2 ♀♀; same location as for preceding; 12–13 Jun. 1983; W.J. Pulawski leg.; CAS • 1 ♀; Bastrop Co., Camp Swift (Post Oak); 30.285° N, 97.287° W; 20 May 2004; J.L. Neff leg.; ex Ceanothus americanus; CTMI • 3 ♀♀; Caldwell Co., 3–5 mi. S of Delhi; 29.772° N, 97.402° W; 6 Oct. 2008; A.W. Hook and J.L. Neff leg.; CTMI • 1 ♀; Hemphill Co., 8 mi. NE of Canadian; [35.99° N, 100.28° W]; 23 Jun. 1970; L. and C.W. O’Brien leg.; LACM • 1 ♂; Smith Co.; [32.3° N, 95.3° W]; 16 May 1948; A.R. Barr leg.; UMSP.

Description

See Gibbs (2010) for a complete redescription and figures.

Range

Sand dunes across southern Canada and the United States, east of about 100° longitude (Fig. 88).

Floral records

ASPARAGACEAE Juss. Maianthemum F.H. Wigg. M. stellatum (L.) Link • ASTERACEAE Giseke: Achillea: A. millefolium L. • Aphanostephus: A. skirrhobasis (DC.) Trel. ex Coville & Branner • Aster (G10) • Euthamia: E. graminifolia (L.) Nutt. (G10) • Helianthus (G10) • Liatris: L. punctata Hook. • Rudbeckia: R. hirta L. • Solidago: S. canadensis L. • S. speciosa A.Gray • BORAGINACEAE Juss. Lithospermum L. L. canescens (Michx.) Lehm. • BRASSICACEAE Burnett: Arabis L. A. x divaricarpa A. Nelson (pro sp.) • Barbarea W.T. Aiton: B. vulgaris R.Br. • Berteroa DC. B. incana (L.) DC. • Lepidium L. (G10) • CAMPANULACEAE Juss. Specularia Heist. ex A. DC. (G10) • CISTACEAE Juss. Crocanthemum Spach. C. canadense (L.) Britton (G10) • EUPHORBIACEAE Juss. Euphorbia L. • FABACEAE Juss. Amorpha: A. canescens Pursh • Dalea: D. candida Willd. • D. villosa (Nutt.) Spreng. • Melilotus (G10) • Trifolium: T. repens L. • HYDRANGEACEAE Dumort. Hydrangea L. (G10) • LAMIACEAE Martinov: Monarda L. M. punctata L. (G10) • RHAMNACEAE Juss. Ceanothus L. C. americanus L. • C. herbaceus Raf. • ROSACEAE Juss. Prunus L. P. virginiana L. • Rosa L. R. arkansana Porter • Rubus L. R. flagellaris Willd. (G10) • VERBENACEAE J. St. -Hil. Verbena L. V. stricta Vent.

DNA barcodes

Thirteen sequences available (BOLD process IDs: BWTWO1088-10, DLII314-07, DLII471-07, DIAL033-06, DIAL034-06, DIAL035-06, DIAL121-06, DIAL358-06, DIAL370-06, DIAL479-06, DIAL480-06, DIAL484-06, DIAL915-06; BIN: BOLD:AAB4651). No unique fixed substitutions distinguish L. vierecki from all other western red-tailed L. (Dialictus).

Remarks

Lasioglossum vierecki is a primarily eastern species, but it occurs sympatrically with several western species at the western edge of its range. It is believed to be a bivoltine solitary species (Knerer 1969; Packer 1993) and a sand habitat specialist.