A revision of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Epeolus Latreille for Nearctic species, north of Mexico (Hymenoptera, Apidae)
Author
Onuferko, Thomas M.
text
ZooKeys
2018
755
1
185
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.755.23939
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.755.23939
1313-2970-755-1
AADE14787C914355B776C4AEF28347BF
33
.
Epeolus minimus (Robertson, 1902)
Figs 69, 70, 101
Triepeolus
minimus
Robertson, 1902. Entomol. News 13: 81 (♀).
Argyroselenis minima
Robertson, 1903. Can. Entomol. 35: 284.
Epeolus beulahensis
Cockerell, 1904. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 13: 40 (♀).
Epeolus lutzi
Cockerell, 1921. Am. Mus. Novit. 23: 16 (♂).
Epeolus lutzi dimissus
Cockerell, 1921. Am. Mus. Novit. 23: 16 (♀).
Epeolus arciferus
Cockerell (in Cockerell and Sandhouse, 1924). Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4) 13: 319 (♀).
Epeolus pilatei
Cockerell (in Cockerell and Sandhouse, 1924). Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4) 13: 320 (♀).
Epeolus eastwoodae
Cockerell, 1937. Pan-Pac. Entomol. 13: 149 (♂).
Diagnosis.
The following morphological features in combination (excluding any that are specific to the opposite sex of the one being diagnosed) can be used to tell
E. minimus
apart from all other North American
Epeolus
except
E. banksi
and
E. olympiellus
: in females, F2 is at least 1.2
x
as long as wide; the mesoscutum has distinct, evenly broad paramedian bands that may be joined posteriorly; the axilla is small to intermediate
in
size, not extending much beyond the midlength of the mesoscutellum (extending to <2/3 its length) but the free portion is more than 1/4 as long as the entire medial length of the axilla, and the axilla (except sometimes the tip) and mesoscutellum are black; the mesopleuron is closely (most i<1d) and evenly punctate; T1 has a quadrangular discal patch, in dorsal view the longitudinal band is at least half as wide as the breadth of the apical fascia; and the T2 fascia has lobe-like anterolateral extensions of tomentum. Whereas in
E. banksi
the mesoscutum and metasomal terga have bands of gray short appressed setae, in
E. minimus
the mesoscutum and metasomal terga have bands of off-white to pale yellow short appressed setae. In this respect,
E. minimus
more closely resembles
E. olympiellus
, but in
E. olympiellus
the T3 and T4 fasciae are broken or at least narrowed laterally, as well as medially, whereas in
E. minimus
the T3 and T4 fasciae are not broken laterally, and are complete or narrowly interrupted medially.
Epeolus minimus
is also similar to
E. axillaris
, but in
E. axillaris
the metanotum has a distinct posteromedial depression (as opposed to being flat) and the axilla is more elongate, extending well beyond the midlength of the mesoscutellum but not as far back as its posterior margin.
Figure 69.
Epeolus minimus
A female, lateral habitus (scale bar 3 mm) B female, dorsal habitus (scale bar 3 mm) C male, lateral habitus (scale bar 3 mm), and D female axillae and mesoscutellum, dorsal view (scale bar 0.5 mm; blue lines indicate the posterior extent of the axilla relative to the length of the mesoscutellum; red lines indicate the extent of the free portion of the axilla relative to its entire medial length).
Redescription.
This species was recently redescribed (
Onuferko 2017
).
Distribution.
Widely distributed across Canada and the United States, although apparently more common in the west; not known to occur in parts of northeastern North America or the high arctic (Fig. 70). Also, the single (perhaps mislabelled) examined
specimen
from Florida is an extreme outlier, and given the lack of other examined material from the Southern United States the record should be treated with some skepticism.
Figure 70. Approximate geographic range of
E. minimus
(orange) based on occurrence records known to the author (yellow circles).
Ecology.
HOST RECORDS:
Graenicher (1906)
associated
E. minimus
(as
A. minima
) with
C. eulophi
Robertson based on detailed observations of a female of the former inspecting and entering the nest of a female of the latter in Lake Woods, Wisconsin, USA. However, according to
Stephen (1954)
Graenicher's
record of
C. eulophi
in Wisconsin is based on observations of
C. kincaidii
.
Epeolus minimus
has been collected with
C. kincaidii
in Birds Hill Provincial Park and Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada where no
C. eulophi
were collected or observed (J. Gibbs, personal communication, 2017), so the association between
E. minimus
and
C. kincaidii
seems likely.
FLORAL RECORDS: See
Onuferko (2017)
. Floral associations are also indicated in Suppl. material 1, which includes newly discovered associations with
Ericameria nauseosa var. nauseosa
and
Medicago
L. (
Leguminosae
) based on labels of examined voucher specimens.
Discussion.
In
Onuferko (2017)
,
E. minimus
is said to be similar to a Californian species yet to be formally recognized, which herein is formally described under the name
Epeolus axillaris
. Detailed morphological and taxonomic remarks about this species are given in
Onuferko (2017)
.
Epeolus minimus
is among the most widespread and commonly collected
Epeolus
species in North America.
Material studied.
Type material. Primary: USA: California:
Cuyler's
Cove (San Miguel Island), 27.vii.1937, T.D. Cockerell (
E. eastwoodae
holotype ♂ [CAS, catalog number: 04651]); Pacific Grove (Monterey County), ix.1920, F.E. Blaisdell (
E. arciferus
holotype ♀ [CAS, catalog number: 01614]); San Pedro, 25.x.1909, G.R. Pilate (
E. pilatei
holotype ♀ [CAS, catalog number: 01615]); Colorado: Leadville, 03-05.viii.1919 (
E. lutzi dimissus
holotype ♀ [AMNH, catalog number: 25099]); Walsenburg, 14.vi.1919 (
E. lutzi
holotype ♂ [AMNH, catalog number: 25098]); Illinois: Carlinville (Macoupin County), C.A. Robertson (
T. minimus
holotype ♀ [INHS, catalog number: 62276]); New Mexico: Beulah, 11.vii.????, T.D. Cockerell (
E. beulahensis
holotype ♀ [USNM, catalog number: 534040]).
DNA barcoded material with BIN-compliant sequences.
Available. BOLD:AAD3554. Specimens examined and sequenced.-Canada: Alberta: 2♂ (PCYU); British Columbia:
Haynes'
Lease Ecological Reserve (
49.0930°N
;
119.5200°W
), 29.vi.-01.vii.2011, G.A. Gielens (1♀, RSKM); Manitoba: Spruce Woods Provincial Park (
49.6630°N
;
99.2790°W
) (Spirit Sands, Division 7), 07.vii.2017, J. Gibbs and Nozoe (1♀, 1♂, JBWM); Ontario: 1♀, 1♂ (PCYU); Saskatchewan: 3♂ (PCYU); Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park (
50.6950°N
;
107.9030°W
), 03.vii.2013, A. Fortney and M. Anderson (1♂, RSKM); Yukon: 1♂ (RSKM).
USA: California: 1♂ (EMEC); Colorado: 2♀ (PCYU); Morrison (
39.6677°N
;
105.1968°W
) (SE Red Rocks Amphitheatre), 16.vi.2017, T.M. Onuferko (1♂, PCYU); Idaho: 2♀, 1♂ (BBSL, PCYU); Utah: 1♀ (BBSL).
Non-barcoded material examined.
Mexico: Baja California: San Vicente, 08.vii.1963, J. Powell (3♂, EMEC).
Canada: Alberta: 15♀, 10♂ (CNC); British Columbia: 16♀, 1♂ (CNC, ROM); Manitoba: 4♀, 7♂ (CNC, DEBU, ROM); Birds Hill Provincial Park (50.0100°N;
96.9100
°W) (Division 12), 15.vii.2017, J. Gibbs and Nozoe (1♂, JBWM); Erickson, 03.viii.1983, D.H. Pengelly (1♀, JBWM); Fort Whyte (Winnipeg), 20.vi.1991, B.G. Elliot (1♂, JBWM), 13.vii.1991, B.G. Elliot (1♂, JBWM); Portage la Prairie, 29.vi.1976, T.D. Galloway (1♀, JBWM); Spruce Woods Provincial Park (
49.6630°N
;
99.2790°W
) (Spirit Sands, Division 7), 07.vii.2017, J. Gibbs and Nozoe (1♂, JBWM); Winnipeg, 21.vi.1979, T.D. Galloway (1♂, JBWM), 06.vii.1991, B.G. Elliot (1♂, JBWM); Winnipeg Beach, 15.vii.1989, T.D. Galloway (1♀, JBWM), 15.vii.1989, T.D. Galloway (2♂, JBWM); Northwest Territories: 7♀ (CNC); Ontario: 9♀, 6♂ (CNC, PCYU, ROM); Caledon (Forks of the Credit Provincial Park), 25.vii.1968, P. MacKay (1♂, PCYU); Quebec: 3♂ (CNC); Saskatchewan: 9♀, 10♂ (CNC, PCYU); Borden Bridge, 01.viii.1976, T.D. Galloway (1♀, JBWM); Ernfold, 05.vii.1984, T.D. Galloway (1♀, JBWM); Sands Hills (7 km W Piapot), 26.vii.2003, D. Larson (1♂, PCYU); Yukon: 2♀ (CNC).
USA: California: 4♀, 4♂ (EMEC, UCR); 2 mi S Asilomar (Monterey County), 26.ix.1959, C.W.
O'Brien
(1♂, AMNH); Antioch (Contra Costa County), 20.ix.1958, J.R. Powers (1♀, AMNH), 28.viii.1976, N.J. Smith (1♀, UCBME); Bodega Head (Sonoma County), 14.v.1977, W.M. Oldham (1♂, UCBME); Carnelian Bay (Lake Tahoe), 29.vii.1962, R.M. Bohart (1♀, UCBME); Carson Pass (Alpine County), 13.vii.1966, R.M. Bohart (1♂, UCBME), 16.vii.1968, R.M. Bohart (1♂, UCBME), 16.vii.1968, W.W. Harberts (1♂, UCBME); Chipmunk Flat (Tuolumne County), 09.viii.1960, C.A. Toschi (1♀, AMNH); Dune Lakes (3 mi S Oceano, San Luis Obispo County), 01.vi.1972, J. Powell (1♂, EMEC), 03-04.x.1972, J. Powell (18♂, EMEC), 07.vi.1973, J. Powell (1♂, EMEC), 11.vii.1973, R. Coville (1♂, EMEC), 12.vii.1973, J. Powell (2♂, EMEC), 02.v.1974, J. Powell (1♂, EMEC); Holcomb Valley (San Bernardino County) (1♂, BBSL); Hot Creek (8 air mi E Mammoth Lakes, Mono County), 24.viii.1977, J. Powell (2♂, EMEC); Inglenook Fen (5 mi N Fort Bragg, Mendocino County), 27.v.1976, R. Coville (1♀, 3♂, EMEC); Inglenook Fen (Mendocino County), 22.vii.1972, E.I. Schlinger (1♂, EMEC); Lanphere-Christensen Dunes Preserve (4 mi W Arcata, Humboldt County), 26.vii.1975, M.E. Buegler and E.I. Schlinger (1♂, EMEC); Lobos Creek (San Francisco County), 10.v.1979, J. Powell (1♀, 3♂, EMEC), 15.vi.1960, G.I. Stage (1♀, AMNH); Mad River Beach (Humboldt County), 26.vi.1969, J. Powell (1♀, EMEC); McClures Beach (Marin County), 27.vi.1969, R.W. Thorp (1♀, UCBME); North Beach (Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County), 10.v.1980, K. Standow (1♀, EMEC), 30.viii.1974, P.A. Opler (2♀, 1♂, EMEC); North Fork, Del Puerto Creek (Del Puerto Canyon, Stanislaus County), 25.v.1974, E. Schlinger (1♂, EMEC); Point Reyes National Seashore (Marin County), 03.iii.1968, R.W. Thorp (1♀, UCBME), 23.vii.1974, P.A. Opler (1♀, EMEC); San Bruno Mountain (San Mateo County), 23.v.1961, G.I. Stage (1♀, AMNH), 23.v.1961 (1♀, AMNH), 23.viii.1960, G.I. Stage (1♂, AMNH); San Francisco Bay Salt Marshes, viii.1907?, Thompson (3♂, EMEC); San Francisco Sand Dunes, 25.vi.1954, J.G. Rozen (1♂, EMEC), 25.vi.1954, P.D. Hurd (1♀, EMEC); Santa Cruz Island (Christi Beach, Santa Barbara County), 23.ix.1968, R.W. Thorp (1♀, UCBME); Sierra Valley (Sierra County), 06.vii.1972, R.M. Bohart (1♀, UCBME); Simonton Cove (San
Miguel
Island, Santa Barbara County), 11.vii.1970, A.A. Grigarick and R.C. Schuster (1♀, UCBME); Toms Place (Mono County), 01.ix.1965, A.J. Slater (1♀, EMEC); Yuba Pass (Sierra County), 11.viii.1978, R.M. Bohart (1♂, KUNHM); Colorado: Rock Creek Park (Colorado Springs), 19.viii.1937 (1♀, 1♂, AMNH); Florida: 1♀ (PCYU); Idaho: 1♀ (PCYU); Daniels Reservoir (Oneida County), 11.vii.1997, F.D. Parker (3♂, BBSL); Illinois: 1♂ (FMNH); Minnesota: Detroit, 26.viii.1924, O.A. Stevens (1♀, AMNH); Montana: 1♀ (KUNHM); 11 mi SE Ennis (Madison County), 18.viii.1966, D.R. Miller (1♀, UCBME); Nebraska: Cedar Point Biological Station (8 mi N Ogallala, Keith County), 11-18.vii.1988, J.G. Rozen and E. Quinter (1♀, AMNH); Fort Robinson (Dawes County), 11.viii.1971, J.G., B.L., and K.C. Rozen (3♀, AMNH), 12.viii.1971, J.G., B.L., and K.C. Rozen (2♀, AMNH), 09-11.viii.1972, J.G. Rozen, K.C. Rozen, and R. McGinley (2♀, 4♂, AMNH); Warbonnet Canyon (Sioux County), 24.vii.1968, R.R. Snelling (1♂, LACM); Nevada: Fallon, 01.vi.1930, E.L. Bell (1♀, AMNH), 06.vi.1930, E.L. Bell (1♀, AMNH), 10.vi.1930, E.L. Bell (1♀, AMNH); Mount Rose Summit (Washoe County), 09.vii.1964, R.M. Bohart (1♀, UCBME); New Mexico: Santa Fe, 09.vi.1931, F.E. Lutz (1♀, 1♂, AMNH); North Dakota: Gascoyne, 19.vi.1918, O.A. Stevens (1♀, AMNH); Jamestown, 16.viii.1913, O.A. Stevens (1♀, AMNH); Marmarth, 04.vii.1949, O.A. Ste
vens
(3♂, AMNH); McKenzie, 05.viii.1913, O.A. Stevens (1♀, AMNH); Monango, 03.vii.1913, O.A. Stevens (1♀, AMNH); Pleasant Lake, 11.viii.1913, O.A. Stevens (1♀, AMNH); Washburn, 23.vii.1926, O.A. Stevens (3♀, 2♂, AMNH); Williston, 09.viii.1915, O.A. Stevens (1♂, AMNH); Oregon: 1♂ (KUNHM); South Dakota: 1♀ (BIML); Utah: Indian Canyon (Duchesne County), 18.vii.1965, G.F. Knowlton (1♀, UCBME); NE
Ruby's
Inn (Garfield County), 17.viii.1995, V.J. Tepedino and F.D. Parker (2♀, BBSL).