Lasioglossum (Dialictus) indagator Gardner & Gibbs 2023, sp. nov.

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) indagator sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D5070EC1-B6A9-49D4-9C68-7D03A6BE5BCD

Figs 36–38, 76I, 84B, 105B

Diagnosis

Females of L. indagator sp. nov. have the tegula relatively small (reaching but not exceeding posterior margin of mesoscutum in dorsal view), with inner posterior margin weakly concave, with a gentle S-shaped curve and blunt posterior angle, and moderately sparsely punctate laterally at midlength (IS = 1–3 PD); mesoscutum lateral and posterior margins, metanotum, and pleura with abundant tomentum; mesoscutum, scutellum, and mesepisternum shiny and densely punctate (IS ≤1 PD) (mesoscutum becoming tessellate and more sparsely punctate anteromedially (IS = 1–2 PD)); metapostnotum with subparallel rugae not reaching posterior margin; T1 anterior slope coriarious; gena subequal to or slightly wider than eye in lateral view; and tegula and metasoma red-orange.

Females of L. indagator sp. nov. are most similar to those of L. diabolicum sp. nov., L. ellisiae, L. gaudiale, and L. gloriosum sp. nov., all of which (except L. gloriosum) have the mesoscutum, metanotum, and pleura with tomentum sparse or absent, and all except L. gaudiale have the metapostnotum rugae reaching the posterior margin. In addition, females of L. gaudiale have the T1 anterior slope shiny and scutellum often sparsely punctate (IS = 1–2 PD). Females of L. gloriosum have the tegula larger (exceeding posterior margin of mesoscutum in dorsal view) and densely punctate (IS ≤ 1 PD). Females of L. diabolicum have the gena slightly narrower than the eye in lateral view.

Males of L. indagator sp. nov. have the tegula relatively small (at most slightly exceeding posterior margin of mesoscutum in dorsal view), with inner posterior margin weakly concave and a blunt posterior angle, and usually moderately sparsely punctate in part (IS = 1–2 PD); face broad (length/width ratio ≤0.83) and covered with very dense tomentum up to the median ocellus; mesoscutum usually moderately densely punctate (IS = 1–2 PD) and fringed with tomentum; pleura with extensive tomentum; metapostnotum shiny with strong, short rugae not reaching the posterior margin; T2–T3 with extensive basolateral tomentum; and head and mesosoma usually blue to blue-green. They are most similar to those of L. gaudiale and L. gloriosum sp. nov. See the diagnosis for L. gaudiale for a comparative diagnosis between these three species.

Etymology

The specific epithet ʻ indagator ʼ is a noun derived from the Latin verb ʻ indago ʼ (to hunt, chase) and the suffix ʻ -ator ʼ (implying action or agency). It means ʻhunterʼ and refers to the fact that most specimens were identified as L. hunteri in the past.

Material examined

Holotype UNITED STATES – Arizona • ♀; Cochise Co., St. David Cienega; 31.8465° N, 110.2275° W; 4 Apr. 2016; C.M. Delphia & J.B. Runyon leg.; MTEC (to be placed on permanent loan to CAS).

[Verbatim label: ARIZONA: Cochise Co. / St. David Cienega / N 31°50.79′ W 110°13.65′ / 04 April2016 / CMDelphia&JBRunyon // BOLD / DLIII 123-18 / gard0059-AZ // CMDC // HOLOTYPE / Lasioglossum (Dialictus) indagator Gardner and Gibbs]

Paratypes

MEXICO – Sonora • 1 ♀; 30 km E of Agua Prieta, Quarry, roadside E; 31.31996° N, 109.26848° W; 18Aug. 2003; A. Nelson leg.; RLM SBV035655 • 1 ♀; Rancho San Bernardino; 31.3183° N, 109.2689° W; 31 Aug. 2001; R. Minckley leg.; RLM SBV138341.

UNITED STATES – Arizona • 4 ♀♀; Cochise Co., 3.45 mi. S by E of Willcox; 32.2262° N, 109.7822° W; elev. 1273 m; 1 Sep. 2009; Terry L. Griswold leg.; BBSL985340, BBSL985382, BBSL985406, BBSL985439 • 3 ♀♀; ibid.; 1 Sep. 2009; Terry L. Griswold leg.; WRME BBSL985389, BBSL985437, BBSL985440 • 2 ♀♀; Cochise Co., 4 mi. E of Willcox; [32.25° N, 109.76° W]; 11–18 Aug. 1987; K. V. Krombein leg.; USNM • 1 ♀; ibid.; 27 Aug. 2007; PCYU • 1 ♀; Cochise Co., 6.4 km SE of Willcox on Blue Sky Road; 32.2275° N, 109.7814° W; elev. 1250 m; 25 Aug. 2001; R. W. Brooks leg.; SEMC SM0270737 • 3 ♀♀; Cochise Co., Dry Lake, 4 mi. SE of Willcox, sand dunes; 32.2271° N, 109.7812° W; 27 Aug. 2013; Terry L. Griswold leg.; BBSL878989, BBSL881054, BBSL881055 • 1 ♂; Cochise Co., roadside outside of Willcox; 32.2392° N, 109.7716° W; 10 May 2017; T. McMahon leg.; WRME 518968 • 1 ♀; Cochise Co., San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge; 31.3386° N, 109.2719° W; 8 Aug. 2003; A. Romero leg.; RLM SBV033848 • 1 ♀; La Paz Co., Bouse, along Bouse Avenue, Bouse Wash; 33.9318° N, 114.0131° W; 10 May 2012; Z.M. Portman leg.; ex Prosopis sp.; BBSL813796 • 1 ♂; Maricopa Co., Phoenix; [33.4° N, 112.1° W]; 10 May 1934; R. H. Crandall leg.; UAIC • 1 ♀; Pima Co., Greaterville Road; 31.7864° N, 110.8231° W; elev. 1320 m; 8 Jul. 2010; Douglas Yanega leg.; ex Condalia; UCRC ENT 275913 • 1 ♀; Pima Co., Sabino Canyon, Santa Catalina Mountains; [32.33° N, 110.8° W]; 26 Mar. 1962; M.L. Noller leg.; ex Phacelia; UAIC • 1 ♀; Pima Co., Santa Rita Range Reserve; [31.83° N, 110.85° W]; 27 May 1958; G.D. Butler, F.G. Werner leg.; ex mesquite; UAIC • 1 ♀; ibid.; 2 Jun. 1958; G.D. Butler leg.; ex mesquite; UAIC • 2 ♂♂; Pima Co., Silver Bell Bajada, Int. BioL. Program; [32.4° N, 111.5° W]; J.L. Neff leg.; CUIC • 1 ♀; Pima Co., Tucson; [32.2° N, 110.9° W]; 4 Mar. 1934; Bryant leg.; CAS CASENT 8416762 • 1 ♀; ibid.; 16 May 1954; G.D. Butler leg.; UAIC • 1 ♀; ibid.; 9 Apr. 1955; G.D. Butler leg.; UAIC • 1 ♂; ibid.; 6 Jul. 1962; G.D. Butler leg.; ex cotton; UAIC • 1 ♀; ibid.; 23 Jun. 1963; F.D. Parker leg.; UCDC • 2 ♀♀; 10 mi. E of Nogales; [31.34° N, 110.77° W]; 26 Mar. 1955; G.D. Butler, F.G. Werner leg.; UAIC • 1 ♀; 21 mi. N of Pearce; [32.25° N, 109.84° W]; 8 Jul. 1955; G.D. Butler, F.G. Werner leg.; UAIC • 1 ♀; Arivaca; [31.58° N, 111.33° W]; 13 Jul. 1950; Jerome G. Rozen leg.; SEMC • 1 ♀; ibid.; 13 Jul. 1950; R. H. Beamer leg.; SEMC • 1 ♂; Avra Valley; [32.44° N, 111.32° W]; 6 Jul. 1955; G.D. Butler, F.G. Werner leg.; ex Solanum elaeagnifolium; CUIC • 1 ♂; ibid.; 6 Jul. 1955; G.D. Butler, F.G. Werner leg.; ex alfalfa; UAIC • 1 ♀; ibid.; 5 Jul. 1957; G.D. Butler leg.; ex cotton; UAIC • 1 ♀; Catalina Mountains; [32.4° N, 110.8° W]; 8 Apr. 1955; G.D. Butler leg.; UAIC • 1 ♀; Continental; [31.85° N, 110.97° W]; 14 Jun. 1955; G.D. Butler leg.; ex mesquite; UAIC • 1 ♂; Maricopa Mountains; [33° N, 112.5° W]; 13 Apr. 1947; H. Townes, M. Townes leg.; SEMC • 1 ♀; Randolph; [32.92° N, 111.51° W]; 18 Jul. 1956; C. Williams leg.; ex alfalfa; UAIC • 2 ♀♀; Sahuarita; [31.96° N, 110.96° W]; 11 Apr. 1947; H. Townes, M. Townes leg.; SEMC • 1 ♀; ibid.; 9 Jul. 1952; R.H. Beamer, L.D. Beamer, W.E. LaBerge, Cheng Liang leg.; SEMC • 1 ♂; ibid.; 5 Jul. 1956; G.D. Butler leg.; UAIC • 1 ♀; Santa Rita Mountains; [31.8° N, 110.8° W]; 10 Jul. 1950; R. H. Beamer leg.; ex Sphaeralcea laxa; SEMC • 1 ♀; Superior, Boyce Thompson Arboretum; [33.28° N, 111.16° W]; 23 Jul. 1955; G.D. Butler leg.; UAIC. – California • 1 ♀; San Bernardino Co., Ontario, near I-15; 34.0478° N, 117.5456° W; elev. 280 m; 31 Aug. 1999; Douglas Yanega leg.; ex Eriogonum fasciculatum; UCRC ENT 00030189. – New Mexico • 1 ♀; Chaves Co., Mescalero Sands; [32.94° N, 103.95° W]; 3 Jun. 1974; H.E. Evans leg.; CSUC • 1 ♀; Doña Ana Co., Las Cruces; [32.32° N, 106.76° W]; 25 Apr. 1954; L.D. Beamer leg.; ex Salix; SEMC • 1 ♀; ibid.; 25 Apr. 1954; R. H. Beamer leg.; ex Salix; SEMC • 1 ♀; Hidalgo Co., Rodeo vicinity; [31.84° N, 109.03° W]; 11–12 Jun. 1987; Bryan N. Danforth leg.; ex Berlandiera; SEMC • 16 ♀♀; ibid.; 11 Jun. 1987; Bryan N. Danforth leg.; ex Euphorbia; SEMC • 1 ♀; 10 mi. W of Roswell; [33.39° N, 104.7° W]; 22 Jul. 1952; Cheng Liang, W.E. LaBerge, R.H. Beamer, L.D. Beamer leg.; SEMC • 1 ♀; Rest Stop, garden; 32.2268° N, 108.087° W; elev. 1353 m; 15 Aug. 2011; Biobus 2011 leg.; DEBU. – Texas • 3 ♀♀; Brewster Co., Big Bend National Park, Castolon; [29.133° N, 103.514° W]; 19 Jun. 1999; Sam W. Droege leg.; BBSL430411, BBSL430430, BBSL430454 • 2 ♀♀; Brewster Co., Elephant Mountain WMA, Calamity Creek; 30.0371° N, 103.5653° W; 22–23 Apr. 2011; E.G. Riley leg.; TAMU-ENTO X0611953, X0612279 • 1 ♀; Brewster Co., Elephant Mountain WMA, campground & vicinity; 30.0482° N, 103.5698° W; 22–23 Apr. 2011; E.G. Riley leg.; TAMU-ENTO X0611835 • 1 ♂; Hockley Co., 2 mi. S of Anton; [33.78° N, 102.16° W]; 9 Sep. 1982; D.A. Dean leg.; ex cotton; TAMU-ENTO X1417025 • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; Hudspeth Co., McNary; [31.25° N, 105.8° W]; 31 May 1974; H.E. Evans leg.; ex Chilopsis; CSUC • 1 ♀; Big Bend National Park, Santa Elena Canyon; [29.165° N, 103.612° W]; 26 Aug. 1967; R. C. Gardner, C. R. Kovacic leg.; UCDC • 1 ♀; ibid.; 20 Mar. 1968; D.S. Horning Jr. leg.; UCDC.

Description

Female

COLOURATION. Head and mesosoma blue-green to olive green; clypeus apex black; labrum black; mandible orange with black base and red apex; flagellum black dorsally, reddish brown ventrally. Pronotal lobe orange; legs brown; tegula orange; wing membrane hyaline, veins with subcosta dark brown, otherwise light brown to pale amber. Metasoma orange with dark spiracular spots on T2–T4 (small on T2) and rims of terga and sterna broadly translucent yellow.

PUBESCENCE. Body pile colour white. Tomentum dense on paraocular area, gena, pronotal collar and lobe, space between pronotal lobe and tegula, metanotum medially, metepisternum, and T2–T3 basolaterally; sparse on mesoscutum lateral and posterior margins, preëpisternum, and T4. Mesoscutum pubescence moderately to densely plumose. Wing setae dark with light intermixed basally, short and dense.Acarinarial fan complete, dense. T2 fringes sparse, T3 fringes sparse.

SURFACE SCULPTURE. Clypeus shiny, with punctures dense in basal third (IS ≤ 1 PD), large and irregularly spaced apically (IS <2 PD); supraclypeal area shiny, with punctures dense marginally (IS ≤ 1 PD), moderately dense medially (IS = 1–2 PD); paraocular area shiny, with punctures crowded (IS = 0 PD); frons shiny, with punctures crowded (IS = 0 PD); vertex shiny, with punctures dense laterally (IS <1 PD), sparse medially (IS = 1–3 PD); gena shiny, with punctures fine, moderately dense (IS = 1–2 PD); postgena imbricate. Tegula punctures dense (IS <1 PD), becoming sparse mediolaterally (IS = 1–3 PD); mesoscutum shiny, becoming tessellate anteromedially, with punctures dense (IS <1 PD), becoming sparse anteromedially (IS = 1–3 PD); scutellum shiny, with punctures dense (IS <1 PD); metapostnotum finely reticulate, with rugae weak, subparallel, not reaching posterior margin; preëpisternum rugulosopunctate; hypoepimeron shiny, with punctures crowded (IS = 0 PD); mesepisternum shiny, with punctures dense (IS <1 PD); metepisternum lineolate; propodeum lateral surface tessellate, posterior surface weakly tessellate. T1 anterior slope coriarious, disc weakly coriarious, with punctures minute, moderately sparse (IS = 1–3 PD), absent on rim and in large subapicolateral boss; T2 disc weakly coriarious, with punctures minute, moderately dense (IS = 1–3 PD), apical rim weakly coriarious, with punctures minute, very sparse (IS = 2–6 PD), obscure.

STRUCTURE. Face length/width ratio 0.78 (± 0.02 SD); clypeus apicolateral denticles rounded obtuse points; gena/eye width ratio 0.9 (± 0.13 SD). Pronotal angle obtuse; intertegular span 0.77 (± 0.04 SD) mm; mesoscutum length / width ratio 0.9 (± 0.03 SD); mesoscutum / scutellum length ratio 2.85 (± 0.18 SD); scutellum/metanotum length ratio 1.74 (± 0.14 SD); metanotum/metapostnotum length ratio 0.84 (±0.12 SD); forewing with 3 submarginal cells; tegula enlarged, reaching posterior margin of mesoscutum in dorsal view; inner posterior margin weakly concave; tegula length 0.41 (± 0.02 SD) mm, width 0.21 (± 0.01 SD) mm; propodeum lateral carinae not reaching dorsal margin; oblique carina very weak, straight. T2 depressed apical rim less than 50% of tergum. (n = 10)

VARIATION. The clypeus apical margin, labrum, and flagellum ventral surface can vary from black to orange, the mesoscutum and mesepisternum can vary from shiny to weakly tessellate or imbricate, and the metapostnotum microsculpture can vary from shiny to finely reticulate.

Male

COLOURATION. Head and mesosoma blue to blue-green; clypeus apex reddish brown; labrum orange; mandible orange with black basal spot and red apex; flagellum reddish brown dorsally, orange-brown ventrally. Pronotal lobe orange-brown; legs reddish brown; tegula orange-brown; wing membrane hyaline, veins with subcosta brown, otherwise light brown. Metasoma black with depressed apical rims of terga and sterna translucent brown, downcurved lateral areas of terga becoming translucent yellow.

PUBESCENCE. Body pile colour white. Tomentum dense on face below lateral ocelli, gena, pronotal angle and lobe, space between pronotal lobe and tegula, metepisternum, and T2–T3 basally; sparse on scutum, preëpisternum, mesepisternum, and T4 basally. Mesoscutum pubescence mostly densely plumose with sparse simple setae medially. Wing setae light with dark intermixed apically, short and sparse. Sterna pubescence short (0.5–1 OD), simple to moderately plumose, sparse.

SURFACE SCULPTURE. Clypeus shiny, with punctures dense (IS <1 PD); supraclypeal area shiny, with punctures dense (IS ≤ 1 PD); paraocular area shiny, with punctures fine, dense (IS <1 PD); frons shiny, with punctures fine, crowded (IS = 0 PD); vertex shiny, with punctures dense laterally (IS <1 PD), moderately dense medially (IS = 1–2 PD); gena shiny, with punctures dense (IS ≤ 1 PD); postgena shiny to lineate. Tegula punctures dense (IS <1 PD), becoming moderately dense laterally (IS = 1–2 PD); mesoscutum shiny, with punctures moderately dense (IS = 1–2 PD); scutellum shiny, with punctures dense (IS <1 PD); metanotum shiny and finely, densely punctate (IS <1 PD) to rugulose; metapostnotum shiny to weakly tessellate, with rugae strong, subparallel, not reaching posterior margin; preëpisternum areolate; hypoepimeron shiny, with punctures crowded (IS = 0 PD); mesepisternum shiny, with punctures dense (IS <1 PD); metepisternum finely areolate, becoming smooth dorsally; propodeum lateral surface shiny to weakly tessellate, with punctures dense (IS <1 PD), posterior surface shiny and densely punctate (IS <1 PD). T1 anterior slope shiny, disc shiny, with punctures dense (IS ≤ 1 PD), becoming moderately sparse laterally and on apical rim (IS = 1–2 PD), very sparse and fine in small subapicolateral boss (IS = 2–4 PD); T2 disc shiny, with punctures dense (IS ≤1 PD), apical rim shiny, with punctures absent.

STRUCTURE. Face length/width ratio 0.81 (± 0.43 SD); gena/eye width ratio 0.76 (± 0.4 SD). Pronotal angle obtuse; intertegular span 0.67 (± 0.04 SD) mm; mesoscutum length/width ratio 0.9 (± 0.47 SD); mesoscutum/scutellum length ratio 2.69 (±1.42 SD); scutellum/metanotum length ratio 1.71 (± 0.17 SD); metanotum/metapostnotum length ratio 0.75 (± 0.4 SD); forewing with 3 submarginal cells; tegula enlarged, reaching posterior margin of mesoscutum in dorsal view; inner posterior margin weakly concave; tegula length 0.36 (± 0.03 SD) mm, width 0.2 (± 0.01 SD) mm; propodeum lateral carinae not reaching dorsal margin; oblique carina absent. (n = 9)

GENITALIA. As in Fig. 76I. Gonocoxite about 1.8 times as broad as gonostylus. Gonostylus rounded on outer margin with no concavities, with sparse long setae dorsally and in middle of inner margin, and short setae apically and along inner margin. Penis valves parallel, with sparse short setae laterally. Retrorse lobe rounded, nearly 3 times as long as broad, with sparse short setae in apical half.

VARIATION. The metapostnotal rugae can occasionally reach the posterior margin, the terga punctures can vary from dense (IS ≤ 1 PD) to moderately dense (IS = 1–2 PD), and the tegula and pronotal lobe colour can vary from orange-brown to very dark brown.

Range

California and Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts (Fig. 38).

Floral hosts

ASTERACEAE: Berlandiera • BIGNONIACEAE: Chilopsis • BORAGINACEAE: Phacelia • EUPHORBIACEAE: Euphorbia • FABACEAE: Medicago: M. sativa • Prosopis • MALVACEAE: Gossypium • Sphaeralcea: S. laxa Wooton & Standl. • POLYGONACEAE: Eriogonum: E. fasciculatum • RHAMNACEAE: Condalia Cav. • SALICACEAE: Salix • SOLANACEAE: Solanum: S. elaeagnifolium.

DNA barcodes

Three confirmed sequences available (BOLD process IDs: BBHYA1505-12, DLII1076-07, DLIII123-18). There is a small amount of divergence within these sequences (0.15% maximum intraspecific p-distance). They are closest in terms of p-distance to L. helianthi (1.4% minimum interspecific p-distance). One fixed nucleotide substitution distinguishes L. indagator sp. nov. from all other Nearctic L. gemmatum complex species: 315(G) (Supp. file 2).