Revision of the Nearctic species of the Lasioglossum (Dialictus) gemmatum species complex (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)
Author
Gardner, Joel
AA15FE6E-921A-46D6-BC67-88E067F283D9
Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, 12 Dafoe Rd., Winnipeg, R 3 T 2 N 2, Manitoba, Canada.
clickbeetle3364@gmail.com
Author
Gibbs, Jason
BA42A49F-3EBC-4679-8F03-A58E798106B1
Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, 12 Dafoe Rd., Winnipeg, R 3 T 2 N 2, Manitoba, Canada.
jason.gibbs@umanitoba.ca
text
European Journal of Taxonomy
2023
2023-02-10
858
1
1
222
http://zoobank.org/d760cf56-dda7-4a35-9a2b-bf1f7e59f313
journal article
265947
10.5852/ejt.2023.858.2041
53d813c3-9674-4b65-9cdc-2ec09ecc445c
2118-9773
7629347
D760CF56-DDA7-4A35-9A2B-BF1F7E59F313
Lasioglossum
(
Dialictus
)
diabolicum
sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:
2E554E7E-C8BF-49C4-AC08-2EB5886A18E3
Figs 15–17
,
76D
,
87B
,
97B
,
98A
,
99B
,
100A
,
117B
,
119B
,
120B
Diagnosis
Females of
L. diabolicum
sp. nov.
have the tegula relatively small (barely reaching posterior margin of mesoscutum in dorsal view if at all), inner posterior margin straight, with a blunt posterior angle or small bump, and mediolateral area usually somewhat sparsely punctate (IS ≥1 PD); mesepisternum punctures usually larger and slightly sparser than hypoepimeron punctures; mesoscutum and mesepisternum sometimes shiny; metapostnotum usually dull with anastomosing rugae; mesoscutum with dense erect pubescence (each seta less than its length from the next nearest one with intervening setae short but having measurable length up to 0.5 OD); and tegula and metasoma often red-orange.
Females of
L. diabolicum
sp. nov.
are most similar to those of
L. deludens
sp. nov.
,
L. ellisiae
, and
L. perparvum
. Females of
L. deludens
have the tegula impunctate medially, mesoscutum punctures finer in comparison to mesepisternum, and metasoma black to brown. Females of
L. ellisiae
have the mesepisternum punctures as fine and dense as on hypoepimeron, tegula slightly larger (reaching posterior margin of mesoscutum in dorsal view) with inner posterior margin sinuous, and metapostnotum usually shiny with subparallel rugae. In red-tailed forms,
L. diabolicum
usually have the basal half of T1 dark brown, while in
L. ellisiae
it is entirely red. Females of
L. perparvum
have the mesoscutum with much shorter, sparser pubescence (each long erect seta about its length from the next nearest one, with intervening setae no more than stubble), mesoscutum and mesepisternum dull, and metasoma dark brown to black.
Males of
L. diabolicum
sp. nov.
have the tegula relatively small (as in the female); mesoscutum usually shiny and coarsely and moderately sparsely punctate (IS = 1–2 PD); mesepisternum usually densely punctate (IS ≤ 1 PD); T1–T2 with discs finely and moderately sparsely punctate (IS = 1–2 PD) and apical rims impunctate; and mesoscutum with numerous long plumose setae (as in the female).
Males of
L. diabolicum
sp. nov.
are most similar to those of
L. ellisiae
,
L. helianthi
, and
L. perparvum
. Males of
L. ellisiae
have the mesoscutum more evenly and densely punctate (IS ≤1 PD between parapsidal lines) and disc of T2 sometimes more deeply and densely punctate in basal half (IS ≤1 PD). Males of
L. helianthi
have the mesoscutum entirely densely punctate (IS ≤ 1 PD) and T1–T2 more deeply and densely punctate (IS ≤ 1 PD) including apical rims in part. Males of
L. perparvum
have the mesoscutum usually tessellate, more finely and densely punctate (IS ≤1 PD), and with sparse erect setae (with gaps 0.5 OD or more visible in lateral view) appearing simple at 40 × magnification.
Some other species in the
L. stictaspis
species complex can also be very similar in both sexes, but have the tegula slightly larger (reaching or exceeding posterior margin of mesoscutum in dorsal view) and inner posterior margin concave with a distinct, rounded posterior projection.
Etymology
The specific epithet ʻ
diabolicum
ʼ is a Latin adjective meaning ʻdevilishʼ. It is a reference to this species’ close relationship to
L. angelicum
sp. nov.
and its variable morphology and DNA barcodes which make delimitation and identification very difficult.
Material examined
Holotype
UNITED STATES
–
Utah
•
♀
;
Garfield Co.
,
The Gulch
;
37.8494° N
,
111.313° W
;
14 Aug. 2001
;
S. Messinger
leg.; ex
Melilotus officinalis
subsp.
alba
;
BBSL409921
.
[Verbatim label:
USA
UT
Garfield Co. / The Gulch, 12S E4772461 N4189153 //
Melilotus alba
//
14 August 2001
/ S. Messinger // NativeBeeSurvey /
USDA
,Logan,
Utah
/
BBSL
409921 //
BOLD
/
BHTT
023-09 / B03750811-
UT
//
HOLOTYPE
/
Lasioglossum
(
Dialictus
)
diabolicum
Gardner and Gibbs
]
Paratypes
UNITED STATES
–
Arizona
•
1 ♀
;
Yuma
; [
32.69° N
,
114.63° W
];
26 Jun. 1951
;
L.A. Carruth
leg.;
UAIC
•
1 ♀
; ibid.;
Jun. 1954
;
J. Ellington
leg.;
NMSU
•
1 ♀
; ibid.;
13 Apr. 1955
;
G.D. Butler
,
F.G. Werner
leg.; ex
Pluchea
;
UAIC
•
1 ♀
; ibid.;
4 Jun. 1955
;
G.D. Butler
leg.; ex
Solanum
“
elaegnif
-”;
UAIC
.
–
California
•
2 ♂♂
;
Imperial Co.
,
Algodones Dunes
,
Roadrunner Campground
;
32.9° N
,
115.1167° W
; elev.
66 m
;
11–15 Nov. 2007
;
R.B. Kimsey
,
L. Kimsey
,
T.J. Zavortink
leg.;
UCDC
•
1 ♀
;
Needles
; [
34.85° N
,
114.61° W
]; “II.
III 1922
”;
J.A. Kusche
leg.;
CAS
CASENT 8416761
.
–
Colorado
•
2 ♀♀
;
Mesa Co.
,
1.34 mi.
ESE of
Clifton
;
39.0832° N
,
108.4269° W
;
6 Aug. 2015
;
S.J. Burrows
leg.;
BBSL983351
,
BBSL983354
•
1 ♀
;
Mesa Co.
,
Colorado National Monument
,
0.5 mi.
inside E entrance
; [
39.03° N
,
108.63° W
]; elev.
1524 m
;
6 May 1987
;
U.N. Lanham
,
M.S. Weissman
leg.; ex
Lepidium
;
UCMC
.
–
Nevada
•
1 ♀
;
Clark Co.
,
8 mi.
S of
Overton
; [
36.42° N
,
114.45° W
];
27 Apr. 1972
;
George E. Bohart
,
F.D. Parker
,
P.F. Torchio
leg.; ex
Sphaeralcea
;
BBSL510025
•
1 ♀
;
Clark Co.
,
Las Vegas Valley Water District
;
36.1756° N
,
115.1904° W
; elev.
651 m
;
10 Jun. 2004
;
S. Higbee
,
L. Saul
leg.;
BBSL537650
•
3 ♀♀
;
Clark Co.
,
Mesquite
; [
36.81° N
,
114.07° W
];
13 Aug. 1951
;
E.L. Kessel
leg.;
CAS
•
2 ♀♀
;
Clark Co.
,
Spring Mountain Ranch
; [
36.07° N
,
115.45° W
];
May–Jul. 1988
;
M.J. Verchick
leg.;
BBSL700770
,
BBSL700773
•
2 ♀♀
;
Las Vegas
,
8930 Lansberry Court
;
36.1072° N
,
115.2863° W
; elev.
780 m
;
1–20 Jul. 2014
;
K. Ribardo
leg.;
UCRC
ENT 480495
,
480579
.
–
Utah
•
1 ♀
;
Emery Co.
,
Bell Canyon
,
San Rafael Reef
; [
38.589° N
,
110.808° W
]; elev.
1524 m
;
26 Jul. 1983
;
F.D. Parker
,
A. Parker
,
Terry L. Griswold
leg.;
BBSL
FaunalSurvey No. 000039439
•
1 ♂
; ibid.;
26 Jul. 1983
;
F.D. Parker
,
A. Parker
,
Terry L. Griswold
leg.;
BBSL
FaunalSurvey No. 000039446
•
2 ♀♀
,
1 ♂
; ibid.;
26 Jul. 1983
;
F.D. Parker
,
A. Parker
,
Terry L. Griswold
leg.;
CUIC
•
1 ♀
;
Emery Co.
,
Buckskin Spring
, north of
Goblin Valley
; [
38.62° N
,
110.67° W
]; elev.
1554 m
;
21 Apr. 1986
;
Terry L. Griswold
leg.;
BBSL
FaunalSurvey No. 000130265
•
2 ♀♀
;
Emery Co.
,
Buckskin Spring
, north of
Goblin Valley
; [
38.62° N
,
110.67° W
]; elev.
1570 m
;
28 Jul. 1981
;
F.D. Parker
,
Terry L. Griswold
,
D.F. Veirs
leg.;
BBSL
FaunalSurvey No. 000039440, FaunalSurvey No. 000039441
•
1 ♀
;
Emery Co.
,
Castle Dale
; [
39.21° N
,
111.02° W
];
10 Aug. 1957
;
Charles D. Michener
leg.; ex
Cleome serrulata
;
SEMC
•
3 ♀♀
;
Emery Co.
,
Wild Horse Creek
north of
Goblin Valley
; [
38.57° N
,
110.82° W
]; elev.
1494 m
;
21–23 Jul. 1981
;
D.F. Veirs
,
F.D. Parker
,
Terry L. Griswold
leg.;
BBSL
FaunalSurvey No. 000039442, FaunalSurvey No. 000039443, FaunalSurvey No. 000039444
•
2 ♀♀
; ibid.;
21–23 Jul. 1981
;
D.F. Veirs
,
F.D. Parker
,
Terry L. Griswold
leg.;
CUIC
•
1 ♀
; ibid.;
25–28 Jul. 1983
;
Parkers
,
Terry L. Griswold
leg.;
BBSL
FaunalSurvey No. 000039445
•
2 ♂♂
; ibid.;
25–28 Jul. 1983
;
Parkers
,
Terry L. Griswold
leg.;
CUIC
•
1 ♀
;
Garfield Co.
,
2.3 mi.
S of
Hot Canyon
;
37.8506° N
,
111.3551° W
;
19 May 2003
;
B. Hanson
leg.;
BBSL516270
•
1 ♀
;
Garfield Co.
,
Calf Creek
; [
37.8° N
,
111.41° W
];
29 Aug. 1985
;
F.D. Parker
leg.;
BBSL700742
•
1 ♀
;
Garfield Co.
,
Capitol Reef National Park
,
Sulfur Creek
; [
38.3° N
,
111.3° W
];
26 Jul. 1978
;
Lindahl
leg.;
BBSL700743
•
1 ♀
;
Garfield Co.
,
Escalante River
,
1.3 mi.
W of
Death Hollow
junction;
37.7787° N
,
111.5326° W
;
13 May 2002
;
J. Richmond
leg.; ex
Melilotus officinalis
;
BBSL437534
•
1 ♀
;
Garfield Co.
,
Escalante River
,
1.3 mi.
W of
Death Hollow
junction;
37.7808° N
,
111.5353° W
;
13 May 2001
;
C. Davidson
leg.; ex
Tamarix
sp.
;
BBSL438836
•
1 ♀
; ibid.;
24 Aug. 2001
;
C. Davidson
leg.; ex
Melilotus alba
;
BBSL419411
•
1 ♀
; ibid.;
15 Jul. 2002
;
O.I. Messinge
leg.; ex
Tamarix
sp.
;
BBSL451103
•
1 ♀
;
Garfield Co.
,
Shootering Canyon
; [
37.76° N
,
110.7° W
];
28 Jul. 1979
;
Debby Vogt
leg.;
BBSL700741
•
1 ♀
;
Grand Co.
,
3 mi.
E of
Bartlett Flat
; [
38.64° N
,
109.78° W
]; elev.
1524 m
;
5 May 1989
;
Terry L. Griswold
leg.;
BBSL
FaunalSurvey No. 000130266
•
1 ♂
;
Grand Co.
,
Moab Highway 128
,
2 mile
marker roadside
; [
38.6117° N
,
109.5513° W
];
15 Aug. 1992
;
Laurence Packer
leg.;
PCYU
•
1 ♀
;
Kane Co.
,
0.22 mi.
N of
Mudhole Spring
;
37.346° N
,
111.2135° W
;
6 Aug. 2001
;
K. Moredock
leg.; ex
Sphaeralcea
sp.
;
BBSL410597
•
1 ♀
;
Kane Co.
,
0.72 mi.
NE of
Sunset Natural Arch
;
37.3822° N
,
111.0374° W
;
25 Apr. 2001
;
Terry L. Griswold
leg.; ex
Streptanthella longirostris
;
BBSL409348
•
1 ♀
;
Kane Co.
,
2 mi.
NNW of
Duffy Mesa
;
37.8507° N
,
111.3544° W
;
10 May 2001
;
C. Davidson
leg.; ex
Salix exigua
;
BBSL401313
•
1 ♂
;
Kane Co.
,
Paradise Canyon
;
37.4048° N
,
111.6497° W
;
18 Aug. 2003
;
Terry L. Griswold
leg.; ex
Chrysothamnus greenei
;
BBSL488442
•
1 ♀
;
Millard Co.
,
Oak Creek Canyon
; [
39.35° N
,
112.26° W
];
27 May 1958
;
G.F. Knowlton
leg.; ex
Salix
sp.
;
SEMC
•
1 ♀
;
San Juan Co.
,
Canyonlands
,
Box hanging garden
; [
38.2° N
,
109.9° W
];
11 Jul. 1993
;
J.F. Fowler
leg.;
BBSL700706
•
2 ♀♀
;
San Juan Co.
,
Glen Canyon
,
Camp hanging garden
; [
37.1° N
,
110.9° W
];
26 Jun. 1992
;
J.F. Fowler
leg.;
BBSL700843
,
BBSL700853
•
1 ♀
; ibid.;
26 Jun. 1992
;
J.F. Fowler
leg.;
CUIC
•
1 ♂
;
San Juan Co.
,
Glen Canyon
,
Hardwood hanging garden
; [
37.1° N
,
110.9° W
];
27 Jul. 1991
;
J.F. Fowler
leg.; ex
Thelypodium integrifolium
;
BBSL700845
•
1 ♀
; ibid.;
31 Jul. 1991
;
J.F. Fowler
leg.;
BBSL700849
•
1 ♀
;
San Juan Co.
,
Glen Canyon
,
Hook hanging garden
; [
37.1° N
,
110.9° W
];
11 Jun. 1992
;
J.F. Fowler
leg.; ex
Cirsium rydbergii
;
BBSL700847
•
1 ♀
;
San Juan Co.
,
Glen Canyon
,
Iceberg Canyon
; [
37.31° N
,
110.74° W
];
16 May 1992
;
J.F. Fowler
leg.;
CUIC
•
4 ♀♀
;
San Juan Co.
,
Glen Canyon
,
Pyro hanging garden
; [
37.1° N
,
110.9° W
];
26 Jun. 1992
;
J.F. Fowler
leg.;
BBSL700848
,
BBSL700851
,
BBSL700852
,
BBSL700854
•
1 ♀
;
Washington Co.
,
0.24 mi.
SSW of
Angels Landing
;
37.266° N
,
112.9487° W
;
15 May 2006
;
B. Hays
leg.; ex
Tamarix
sp.
;
BBSL
ZION25451
•
1 ♂
;
Washington Co.
,
5 mi.
Leeds Canyon
; [
37.31° N
,
113.43° W
];
8 Jun. 1964
;
G.F. Knowlton
leg.;
SEMC
•
1 ♀
;
Washington Co.
,
Beaver Dam Wash
; [
37.1° N
,
114.02° W
];
10–24 Jun. 1987
;
BBSL700661
•
2 ♂♂
; ibid.;
10–24 Jun. 1987
;
BBSL700819
,
BBSL700825
•
1 ♀
; ibid.;
10–24 Jun. 1987
;
WRME
BBSL700669
•
2 ♂♂
; ibid.;
10–24 Jun. 1987
;
WRME
BBSL700821
,
BBSL700832
•
2 ♀♀
;
Washington Co.
,
Hurricane
; [
37.17° N
,
113.29° W
];
29 Apr. 1964
;
G.F. Knowlton
leg.;
SEMC
•
1 ♂
;
Washington Co.
,
Leeds
; [
37.24° N
,
113.36° W
];
19 Jul. 1963
;
G.F. Knowlton
leg.;
BBSL700841
•
1 ♀
; ibid.;
28 Apr. 1964
;
G.F. Knowlton
leg.; ex mustard;
SEMC
•
1 ♀
;
Washington Co.
,
Mouth E. Virgin River
; [
37.16° N
,
113.016° W
];
8–17 Sep. 1982
;
C.R. Nelson
leg.;
BBSL700675
•
1 ♀
;
Washington Co.
,
Oak Creek Canyon
;
37.2113° N
,
112.9961° W
;
4 May 2006
;
O.I. Messinge
,
Terry L. Griswold
leg.;
BBSL
ZION25804
•
2 ♀♀
; ibid.;
15 May 2006
;
B. Hays
leg.; ex
Penstemon humilis
;
BBSL
ZION25478
,
ZION25479
•
1 ♂
;
Washington Co.
,
Shivwits Indian Reservation
; [
37.19° N
,
113.73° W
];
16 Jun. 1978
;
Hanson
,
G.F. Knowlton
leg.;
BBSL700836
•
1 ♀
;
Washington Co.
,
St. George
; [
37.1° N
,
113.57° W
];
28 Jun. 1945
;
G.F. Knowlton
leg.;
UMSP
•
2 ♂♂
; ibid.;
9 Jun. 1962
;
G.F. Knowlton
leg.;
BBSL700839
,
BBSL700840
•
1 ♂
; ibid.;
9 Jun. 1962
;
G.F. Knowlton
leg.;
WRME
BBSL700649
•
1 ♀
; ibid.;
8 Jun. 1968
;
G.F. Knowlton
leg.;
WRME
BBSL700677
•
1 ♀
;
Washington Co.
,
Zion National Park
,
Birch Creek
; [
37.32° N
,
112.88° W
];
28 Jul. 1965
;
W.J. Hanson
leg.;
BBSL700688
•
3 ♀♀
;
Washington Co.
,
Zion National Park
, slide area; [
37.3° N
,
113° W
];
19–31 Aug. 1982
;
C.R. Nelson
leg.;
BBSL700678
,
BBSL700679
,
BBSL700680
•
1 ♂
;
Washington Co.
,
Zion
,
Snail hanging garden
; [
37.3° N
,
113° W
];
5 Aug. 1991
;
J.F. Fowler
leg.;
BBSL700844
•
1 ♀
;
Wayne Co.
,
Capitol Reef National Park
,
Freemont River
,
south of
Krueger Orchard
;
38.2886° N
,
111.2373° W
;
24 Jun. 2002
;
S. Messinger
leg.; ex
Melilotus officinalis
;
BBSL440041
•
2 ♂♂
; ibid.;
24 Jun. 2002
;
S. Messinger
leg.; ex
Melilotus officinalis
;
BBSL440021
,
BBSL440040
•
1 ♂
;
Green River
; [
39° N
,
110.16° W
];
14 Jun. 1945
;
G.F. Knowlton
leg.;
UMSP
•
1 ♀
;
Sutherland
; [
39.39° N
,
112.64° W
];
6 May 1958
;
G.F. Knowlton
leg.;
SEMC
•
1 ♀
,
1 ♂
;
Zion National Park
; [
37.3° N
,
113° W
];
13 Aug. 1929
;
Paul W. Oman
leg.;
SEMC
.
Fig. 15.
Lasioglossum
(
D
.)
diabolicum
sp. nov.
, ♀, holotype (BBSL409921).
A
. Dorsal habitus.
B
. Lateral habitus.
C
. Face.
D
. Metasoma. Scale bars = 1 mm.
Fig. 16.
Lasioglossum
(
D
.)
diabolicum
sp. nov.
, ♂ (BBSL488442).
A
. Dorsal habitus.
B
. Lateral habitus.
C
. Face.
D
. Metasoma and propodeum. Scale bars = 1 mm.
Other material excluded from
paratypes
MEXICO
–
Sonora
•
1 ♀
; Municipio de
Agua Prieta
;
31.2776° N
,
109.0013° W
;
28 Apr. 2000
;
Robert L. Minckley
leg.;
RLM
SBV000588
.
UNITED STATES
–
Arizona
•
1 ♀
;
Apache Co.
,
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
; [
36.13° N
,
109.47° W
];
10 Nov. 1968
;
UCDC
•
3 ♀♀
;
Maricopa Co.
,
Phoenix
,
Cotton Research Center
; [
33.404° N
,
111.988° W
];
20–21 Sep. 1979
;
G.D. Butler
leg.; ex cotton;
UAIC
•
1 ♀
;
Pinal Co.
,
10 km
W of
Maricopa
; [
33.05° N
,
112.15° W
];
23 Mar. 1990
;
Robert L. Minckley
,
R. Gyuro
leg.;
SEMC
•
2 ♀♀
;
3 mi.
W of
Palo Verde
; [
33.35° N
,
112.73° W
];
21 Feb. 1961
;
J.C. Bequaert
leg.; ex
Dithyrea wislizeni
;
UAIC
•
1 ♀
;
Arlington
; [
33.33° N
,
112.76° W
];
9 Jun. 1955
;
G.D. Butler
leg.; ex alfalfa;
UAIC
•
1 ♀
;
Cottonwood
; [
34.74° N
,
112.01° W
];
27 Jun. 1957
;
F.G. Werner
,
G.D. Butler
leg.; ex alfalfa;
UAIC
•
1 ♀
;
Gillespie Dam
,
5 mi.
S of
Arlington
; [
33.25° N
,
112.76° W
];
21 Feb. 1961
;
J.C. Bequaert
leg.; ex
Lycium fremontii
;
UAIC
.
–
Nevada
•
2 ♀♀
;
Nye Co.
,
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
, alkali seep/
Devils Hole Road
;
36.4126° N
,
116.284° W
; elev.
701 m
;
23 Apr. 2014
;
Casey M. Delphia
leg.;
MTEC
•
1 ♀
;
Nye Co.
,
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
,
Longstreet Spring
;
36.4675° N
,
116.3263° W
;
23 Apr. 2014
;
J.B. Runyon
leg.;
MTEC
•
1 ♀
;
Nye Co.
,
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
,
North Entrance
;
36.4883° N
,
116.3429° W
;
26 Mar. 2008
;
D.A. Tanner
leg.;
BBSL
.
–
Utah
•
1 ♂
;
Emery Co.
,
2 air mi. W of
Little Gilson Butte
; [
38.59° N
,
110.64° W
];
15–17 Sep. 1980
;
F.D. Parker
leg.;
BBSL
FaunalSurvey No. 000039448
•
1 ♀
;
Utah Co.
,
Provo
; [
40.23° N
,
111.66° W
];
14 Aug. 1950
;
G.F. Knowlton
leg.;
BBSL700686
•
1 ♂
;
Washington Co.
,
Zion National Park
, slide area; [
37.3° N
,
113° W
];
19–31 Aug. 1982
;
C.R. Nelson
leg.;
BBSL700838
.
Description
Female
COLOURATION. Head and mesosoma olive green; clypeus apex black; labrum reddish brown; mandible orange with black base and red apex; flagellum dark brown dorsally, lighter brown ventrally. Pronotal lobe dark brown; legs brown; tegula brown; wing membrane lightly infuscated, veins with subcosta dark brown, otherwise light brown. Metasoma black to reddish brown with rims of terga and sterna narrowly translucent yellow.
PUBESCENCE. Body pile colour white to pale yellow. Tomentum dense on pronotal angle and lobe, space between pronotal lobe and tegula, and T2–T3 basolaterally; sparse on gena, metepisternum, and T4. Mesoscutum pubescence moderately to densely plumose. Wing setae dark, short and dense. Acarinarial fan complete, dense. T2 fringes sparse, T3 fringes dense.
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 (IS ≤ 1 PD); paraocular area weakly imbricate around antenna socket, otherwise shiny, with punctures crowded (IS = 0 PD), irregularly sparser around antenna socket (IS <2 PD); frons reticulate, with punctures crowded (IS = 0 PD); vertex shiny, with punctures crowded laterally (IS = 0 PD), moderately sparse and obscure medially (IS = 1–2 PD); gena shiny, becoming lineolate posteriorly and ventrally, with punctures fine, moderately dense (IS = 1–2 PD); postgena lineolate. Tegula punctures dense (IS <1 PD), becoming sparse medially (IS = 1–3 PD); mesoscutum tessellate, with punctures dense (IS <1 PD), becoming moderately sparse anteromedially (IS = 1–2 PD); scutellum shiny, with punctures dense (IS ≤ 1 PD); metapostnotum finely reticulate, with rugae strong, anastomosing, reaching posterior margin; preëpisternum ruguloso-punctate; hypoepimeron shiny, with punctures crowded (IS = 0 PD); mesepisternum imbricate, with punctures dense (IS <1 PD); metepisternum finely rugulose; propodeum lateral surface tessellate, posterior surface tessellate. T1 anterior slope coriarious, disc shiny, with punctures fine, moderately sparse (IS = 1–3 PD), absent in large subapicolateral boss and on rim; T2 disc shiny, with punctures fine, moderately dense (IS = 1–2 PD), apical rim weakly coriarious, with punctures minute, sparse (IS = 2–4 PD), obscure.
STRUCTURE. Face length /width ratio 0.83 (±0.02 SD); clypeus apicolateral denticles low rounded knobs; gena/eye width ratio 0.88 (± 0.07 SD). Pronotal angle obtuse; intertegular span 0.93 (± 0.08 SD) mm; mesoscutum length /width ratio 0.86 (± 0.04 SD); mesoscutum/scutellum length ratio 2.83 (± 0.25 SD); scutellum/metanotum length ratio 1.61 (± 0.16 SD); metanotum/metapostnotum length ratio 0.66 (±0.06 SD); forewing with 3 submarginal cells; tegula enlarged, reaching posterior margin of mesoscutum in dorsal view; inner posterior margin straight; tegula length 0.41 (± 0.03 SD) mm, width 0.23 (±0.02 SD) mm; propodeum lateral carinae not reaching dorsal margin; oblique carina strong, straight. T2 depressed apical rim less than 50% of tergum. (n = 10)
VARIATION. The tegula punctures can vary from sparse (IS = 1–3 PD) to entirely dense (IS <1 PD), the mesoscutum punctures can vary from moderately sparse (IS = 1–2 PD) to dense (IS <1 PD), the mesoscutum and mesepisternum are usually dull and strongly tessellate or imbricate but can be somewhat shiny; the metapostnotum can vary from shiny with coarse rugae to dull with fine rugae, and the tegula and metasoma can vary from dark brown to bright orange.
Male
COLOURATION. Head and mesosoma blue to blue-green; clypeus apex black; labrum black; mandible orange with black base and red apex; flagellum dark reddish brown dorsally, light brown ventrally. Pronotal lobe dark reddish brown; legs dark reddish brown with femur-tibia joints and tarsi becoming light brown; tegula reddish brown; wing membrane hyaline, veins dark brown. Metasoma black with depressed apical rims of terga and sterna reddish brown, downcurved lateral areas of terga becoming translucent brown.
PUBESCENCE. Body pile colour white. Tomentum dense on face below eye emargination, pronotal collar and lobe, and space between pronotal lobe and tegula; very sparse on gena, preëpisternum, and T2–T3 basolaterally. Mesoscutum pubescence simple to moderately plumose. Wing setae dark, short and dense. Sterna pubescence short (~1 OD), moderately plumose, sparse.
SURFACE SCULPTURE. Clypeus shiny, with punctures dense (IS <1 PD); supraclypeal area shiny to weakly imbricate, with punctures dense (IS <1 PD) with impunctate median line 1 PD or more wide; paraocular area shiny, with punctures dense (IS <1 PD); frons reticulate, with punctures crowded (IS = 0 PD); vertex shiny, with punctures dense laterally (IS <1 PD), moderately dense medially (IS = 1–2 PD); gena shiny, with punctures fine, moderately sparse (IS = 1–2 PD); postgena shiny to weakly lineate. Tegula punctures dense (IS <1 PD), becoming fine and moderately sparse laterally (IS = 1–2 PD); mesoscutum shiny, becoming weakly tessellate anteromedially, with punctures dense (IS ≤ 1.5 PD), becoming crowded marginally (IS = 0 PD); scutellum shiny, with punctures dense (IS ≤1.5 PD), becoming crowded marginally (IS = 0 PD); metanotum shiny to weakly imbricate and densely punctate (IS ≤1 PD); metapostnotum shiny to finely reticulate, with rugae strong, anastomosing, reaching posterior margin; preëpisternum areolate; hypoepimeron shiny, with punctures crowded (IS = 0 PD); mesepisternum shiny, with punctures dense (IS <1 PD); metepisternum areolate; propodeum lateral surface areolate to rugulose, with punctures crowded (IS = 0 PD), posterior surface shiny with crowded punctures (IS = 0 PD), becoming areolate laterally. T1 anterior slope shiny, disc shiny, with punctures fine, moderately sparse (IS = 1–3 PD), absent in small subapicolateral boss and on rim; T2 disc shiny, with punctures fine, moderately sparse (IS = 1–2 PD), apical rim shiny, with punctures absent.
STRUCTURE. Face length/width ratio 0.85 (±0.03 SD); gena/eye width ratio 0.67 (± 0.06 SD). Pronotal angle obtuse; intertegular span 0.68 (± 0.05 SD) mm; mesoscutum length/width ratio 0.95 (± 0.03 SD); mesoscutum/scutellum length ratio 2.68 (± 0.09 SD); scutellum/metanotum length ratio 1.84 (±0.13 SD); metanotum/metapostnotum length ratio 0.7 (± 0.07 SD); forewing with 3 submarginal cells; tegula enlarged, nearly reaching posterior margin of mesoscutum in dorsal view; inner posterior margin weakly concave; tegula length 0.35 (±0.02 SD) mm, width 0.19 (± 0.01 SD) mm; propodeum lateral carinae not reaching dorsal margin; oblique carina absent. (n = 10)
GENITALIA. As in
Fig. 76D
. Gonocoxite nearly 2 times as broad as gonostylus. Gonostylus rounded, slightly concave on outer margin, with sparse long setae dorsally and short setae along inner margin. Penis valves parallel. Retrorse lobe rounded, about 3 times as long as broad, with sparse short setae on basal half and apical margin.
VARIATION. The tegula can sometimes be entirely densely punctate (IS <1 PD), the mesoscutum punctation can vary from mostly dense (IS ≤1 PD) to sparse (IS = 1–3 PD), the metapostnotum can vary from shiny with strong rugae to dull with fine rugae, and the head and mesosoma can vary from blue to golden-green.
Range
Western
Colorado
,
Utah
, and southern
Nevada
, south along the
Colorado
River valley and east along the Gila River valley to Phoenix,
Arizona
(
Fig. 17
).
Floral hosts
ASTERACEAE
:
Chrysothamnus
Nutt.
:
C. greenei
(A.Gray) Greene
•
Cirsium
Mill.
:
C. rydbergii
Petr.
•
Pluchea
Cass.
•
BRASSICACEAE
:
Dimorphocarpa
Rollins
:
D. wislizeni
(Engelm.) Rollins
•
Lepidium
•
Streptanthella
Rydb.
:
S. longirostris
(S.Watson) Rydb.
•
Thelypodium
Endl.
:
T. integrifolium
(Nutt.)
Endl. •
CLEOMACEAE
:
Cleome
L.:
C. serrulata
Pursh
•
FABACEAE
:
Medicago
:
M. sativa
•
Melilotus
:
M. officinalis
:
M. o.
subsp.
alba
•
MALVACEAE
:
Gossypium
•
Sphaeralcea
•
PLANTAGINACEAE
:
Penstemon
:
P. humilis
Nutt. ex A.Gray
•
SALICACEAE
:
Salix
:
S. exigua
Nutt.
•
SOLANACEAE
:
Lycium
L.:
L. fremontii
A.Gray
•
Solanum
L.:
S. elaeagnifolium
Cav.
•
TAMARICACEAE
:
Tamarix
.
DNA barcodes
Eleven confirmed sequences available, three haplotypes (BOLD process IDs: BHTT023-09, DLII890-07, DLII1067-07, DLII1099-07, DLII1232-08, DLII1233-08, DLII1694-09, DLII1696-09 (haplotype 1); DLII940-07, DLII1677-09 (haplotype 2); DLIII124-18 (haplotype 3)). There is a large amount of divergence within these sequences (2.29% maximum intraspecific p-distance). They are closest in terms of p-distance to the
L. stictaspis
species complex (0% minimum interspecific p-distance). No fixed nucleotide substitutions distinguish all
L. diabolicum
sp. nov.
from all other Nearctic species of the
L. gemmatum
complex, but three fixed substitutions distinguish haplotype 1: 33(G), 111(C), and 588(C) (Supp. file 2).
Comments
Some specimens with the tegula slightly larger and more densely punctate than usual are extremely difficult to separate from
L. stictaspis
, and are therefore excluded from
paratype
status. These specimens may be hybrids or a separate, cryptic species. The barcoded haplotype
3 specimen
is one such specimen, but the haplotype
2 specimens
are morphologically indistinguishable from haplotype 1 (which includes the
holotype
). It is thought that haplotype 1 is the ʻnaturalʼ barcode sequence of
L. diabolicum
sp. nov.
, and the additional haplotypes are a result of introgression or incomplete lineage sorting.