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Lasioglossum tenax (Sandhouse, 1924)
Halictus (Chloralictus) tenax Sandhouse, 1924; Dialictus tenax (Sandhouse, 1924); Halictus (Chloralictus) meritus Sandhouse, 1924; Dialictus meritus (Sandhouse, 1924); Lasioglossum (Dialictus) meritum (Sandhouse, 1924); Dialictus disabanci Knerer and Atwood, 1966; Lasioglossum (Dialictus) disabanci (Knerer and Atwood, 1966)

Life   Insecta   Hymenoptera   Apoidea   Halictidae   Lasioglossum
Subgenus: Dialictus


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Overview
Retrieved from: Gibbs, J. 2010. Revision of the metallic species of Lasioglossum (Dialictus)in Canada (Hymenoptera, Halictidae, Halictini). Zootaxa; 2591, 329-333


Halictus (Chloralictus) tenax Sandhouse, 1924: 15. ♀. Holotype. ♀ USA, Colorado, Long Peak Inn, Colorado, 25.vi., (Cockerell); [NMNH: 26406]. Examined. Halictus (Chloralictus) meritus Sandhouse, 1924: 19. ♀. [new synonymy] Holotype. ♀ USA, Colorado, Halfway House, Pikes Peak, 30.v., on Fragaria, (Cockerell); [NMNH: 26415]. Examined. Dialictus disabanci Knerer and Atwood, 1966a: 882. ♀♂. [new synonymy] Holotype. ♀ CANADA, Ontario, Pearl, Thunder Bay Dist., 20.viii.1963 on Anaphalis, (G. Knerer); [ROM: 83869]. Examined.


Taxonomy. Michener, 1951: Lasioglossum (Chloralictus) meritum, p. 1115, L. (C.) tenax, p. 1118 (catalogue); Hurd, 1979: Dialictus disbanci (lapsus calami), p. 1966, D. meritus, p. 1968, D. tenax, p. 1972 (catalogue); Moure & Hurd, 1987: Dialictus disabanci, p. 99, D. meritus, p. 112, D. tenax, p. 134 (catalogue). Diagnosis. See diagnosis for L. cattellae.


Redescription. FEMALE. Length 4.94�5.80 mm; head length 1.34�1.44 mm; head width 1.42�1.49 mm; forewing length 3.66�3.84 mm.


Colouration. Head and mesosoma greenish blue. Clypeus with apical 2/3 blackish brown and basal 1/3 green. Antenna dark brown, flagellum with ventral surface reddish brown. Tegula reddish brown to amber. Wing membrane subhyaline, venation and pterostigma pale reddish brown. Legs brown, medio- and distitarsi reddish brown. Metasomal terga with very faint metallic reflections, sterna brown, apical margins reddish to translucent yellowish brown


Pubescence. Dull white. Sparse. Head and mesosoma with moderately sparse woolly hairs (1�1.5 OD), longest on genal beard, metanotum and mesopleuron (2�2.5 OD). Lower paraocular area and gena with very sparse subappressed tomentum. Propodeum with moderately sparse plumose hairs on lateral and posterior surfaces (2�2.5 OD). Metasomal terga with sparse, fine setae. T1 acarinarial fan complete, not reaching upper margin of declivitous surface. T2�T3 basolaterally and T4 entirely with sparse, scattered tomentum.


Surface sculpture. Face imbricate, punctation fine. Clypeus polished, basal margin weakly imbricate, punctation sparse (i=1�3d). Supraclypeal area with punctation sparse (i=1�3d). Lower paraocular area punctation moderately sparse (i=1�1.5d). Antennocular area punctation moderately sparse (i=1�2d). Upper paraocular area and frons reticulate-punctate. Ocellocular area finely punctate (i=1�2d). Gena lineolate. Postgena imbricate. Mesoscutum weakly imbricate, punctation fine, moderately sparse between parapsidal lines (i=1� 2d), dense laterad of parapsidal lines (i≤d), contiguous on anterolateral portion. Mesoscutellum polished, submedial punctation sparse (i=1�3d). Axilla punctate. Metanotum imbricate. Pre�pisternum rugulose. Hypoepimeral area weakly polished, minutely punctate (i≤d). Mesepisternum weakly imbricate, distinctly punctate (i=1�2d). Metepisternum with dorsal third rugoso-striate, ventral portion imbricate. Metapostnotum incompletely striate. Propodeum with dorsolateral slope and posterior surface imbricate, lateral surface imbricatetessellate. Metasomal terga polished except apical impressed areas weakly coriarious, punctation on basal halves moderately sparse (i=2�3d), apical half impunctate (except along premarginal line).


Structure. Head moderately wide (length/width ratio = 0.95�0.97). Eyes convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio = 1.16�1.23). Clypeus � below suborbital tangent, apicolateral margins convergent. Antennal sockets close (IAD/OAD < 0.5). Frontal line carinate, ending 2 OD below median ocellus. Gena narrower than eye. Inner metatibial spur pectinate with 2�3 teeth. Metapostnotum moderately elongate (MMR ratio = 1.17�1.24), posterior margin rounded onto posterior surface. Propodeum with oblique carina weak, lateral carina not reaching dorsal margin.


MALE. Similar to female except for the usual secondary sexual characters and as follows. Length 4.21� 5.12 mm; head length 1.25�1.39 mm; head width 1.22�1.42 mm; forewing length 3.36�3.90 mm.


Colouration. Flagellum with ventral surface orange-yellow, paler on basal flagellomeres. Pterostigma brown. Tarsi orange-yellow.


Pubescence. Clypeus, and supraclypeal area with sparse tomentum. Lower paraocular area width moderately dense tomentum, largely obscuring surface. Sterna with sparse, erect hairs (1�1.5 OD).


Surface sculpture. Mesepisternum obscurely to distinctly punctate. Metapostnotum completely rugosostriate. Propodeum dorsolateral slope, and lateral and posterior surfaces rugose.


Structure. Head wide to round (length/width ratio = 0.96�1.02). Eyes strongly convergent below (UOD/ LOD ratio = 1.34�1.50). Antennal sockets distant (IAD/OAD > 1.5). Pedicel shorter than F1. F2 length 1.5� 1.6X F1. F2�F10 moderately elongate (length/width ratio = 1.50�1.60). Metapostnotum truncate (MMR ratio = 1.35�1.50), posterior margin sharply angled onto posterior surface.


Terminalia. S7 with median lobe columnar, apex rounded (Fig. 224E). S8 with apicomedial margin weakly convex (Fig. 224E). Genitalia as in Fig. 224E�F. Gonobase with ventral arms widely separated. Gonostylus small, dorsal setae elongate. Retrorse lobe elongate, weakly attenuated, recurved apically.


Range. Newfoundland west to Alaska, south to Colorado, Utah (Fig. 225).


Additional material examined. CANADA: ALBERTA: 1♀ Calgary Heritage Pk., 20.v.1988 (L. Packer); 1♀ Calgary Ranchlands, 24.v.1988 (L. Packer); [PCYU]; 1♀ Dunvegan, 6�7.vii.1984 (Thormin, Spanton & Adamski); [PMAE]; 2♀♀ Waterton Lakes N.P., Cardston Ent., 3�17.viii.2000 [BDUC]; BRITISH COLUMBIA: 1♀ Cariboo Reg. Dist., Alexandria, James Lk. FSR, Moffat Lk., N52.664 W122.3822, 797 m, 13.viii.2008 (L.R. Best); NEWFOUNDLAND: 2♀♀ Colliers, 5.vii.2006 (M. Baird); 1♀ Colliers, 7.vii.2006 (M. Baird); 1♀ Colliers, 21.vii.2006 (M. Baird); NORTHWEST TERRITORIES: 1♀ S of Rae, N62.0131 W116.3047, 23.vi.2005 (C. Sheffield & A. Gunn); [PCYU]; ONTARIO: 1♂ paratype Hearst, 17.viii.1963 (G. Knerer); 1♀ paratype Pearl 20.viii.1963 (G. Knerer); [CNC]; 1♀ Hearst, 13.viii.1962 (G. Knerer); 1♂ Hearst, 17.viii.1963 (G. Knerer); 4♀♀ Kabinakagami R., 17.viii.1963 (G. Knerer); 1♂ L. Superior, 29.vi.1961 (G. Knerer); 2♂♂ Pearl, 20.viii.1963 (G. Knerer); 2♂♂ Porquis, 10.viii.1961 (G. Knerer); 1♂ Red Lake, 15.viii.1962 (G. Knerer); 1♂ Quetico Park, 26.viii.1964 (G. Knerer); 1♀1♂ Red Lake Rd., 19.viii.1963 (G.Knerer); 2♀♀ Temiskaming, 15.v.1962 (G. Knerer); 1♂ Upsala, 147.viii.1962 (G. Knerer); [ROM]; QUEBEC: 1♀ W of Normandin, N48�51�38.9�� W72�37�0.9��, 180 m, 8.vi.2009 (M. Chagnon); [PCYU]; SASKATCHEWAN: 1♀ Wood Mountain, 5.viii.1955 (C.D. Miller); [CNC]; YUKON TERRITORY: 7♀♀ Champagne (J. Taylor); 1♀1♂ Takhini Hot Springs, 22.vii.1992 (J. Taylor); 1♀5♂♂ Julie�s farm, 4.viii.1992 (J. Taylor); [PCYU]; USA: ALASKA: 1♀ Anderson, Hwy 3, N67�17.677′ W149�05.067′, 235 m, 18.vii.2009 (Goulet & Boudreault); [CNC]; NORTH CAROLINA: 1♀1♂ Swain Co., Great Smoky Mountain N.P., Andrew�s Bald, N35.5396 W083.4942, 6.viii.2006 (J. Gibbs); [GSNP]; UTAH: 1♀ San Juan Co., La Sal Mountains, Warner Lake, 9400 ft., 29.vi.1999 (L. Packer); [PCYU].


Floral records. ASTERACEAE: Anaphalis, Aster, Epilobium, Solidago, Taraxacum, ROSACEAE: Fragaria, SALICACEAE: Salix.


Biology. Packer, 1994: (solitary behaviour).


Comments. Uncommon. This seems to an alpine/boreal species with an extensive range in Canada but limited to high elevations in the contiguous USA. The holotypes of the three synonymous names do not differ and DNA barcode sequences show no variation across the continent. The similar species L. cattellae may be distinguished from L. tenax morphologically but not by DNA barcodes. The former name has priority should additional evidence show the morphological evidence is insufficient for recognising these as separate species (i.e. if it is due to caste differentiation). This seems unlikely see there is apparently little overlap in the distribution of the two putative species.


Extracted from Jason Gibbs. 2011. Revision of the metallic Lasioglossum (Dialictus) of eastern North America (Hymenoptera: Halictidae: Halictini.) Zootaxa.

Lasioglossum (Dialictus) tenax (Sandhouse)

Halictus (Chloralictus) tenax Sandhouse, 1924: 15. ♀.

Holotype. ♀ USA, Colorado, Long Peak Inn, Colorado, 25.vi.(Cockerell); [NMNH: 26406]. Examined.

Halictus (Chloralictus) meritus Sandhouse, 1924: 19. ♀.

Holotype. ♀ USA, Colorado, Halfway House, Pikes Peak, 30.v., on Fragaria, (Cockerell); [NMNH: 26415]. Examined.

Dialictus disabanci Knerer and Atwood, 1966a: 882. ♀♂.

Holotype. ♀ CANADA, Ontario, Pearl, Thunder Bay Dist., 20.viii.1963 on Anaphalis, (G. Knerer); [ROM: 83869]. Examined.

Taxonomy. Michener, 1951: Lasioglossum (Chloralictus) meritum, p. 1115, L. (C.) tenax, p. 1118 (catalogue); Hurd, 1979: Dialictus disbanci (lapsus calami), p. 1966, D. meritus, p. 1968, D. tenax, p. 1972 (catalogue); Moure & Hurd, 1987: Dialictus disabanci, p. 99, D. meritus, p. 112, D. tenax, p. 134 (catalogue); Gibbs, 2010b: Lasioglossum (Dialictus) tenax ♀♂, p. 329 (redescription, key, synonymy).

Diagnosis. Female L. tenax can be recognised by the following diagnostic combination: mesepisternal punctures distinct, mesoscutal punctures dense laterad of parapsidal line, head and mesosoma usually bluish, mesoscutal pubescence dull white, T1 acarinarial fan without dorsal opening, and apical impressed areas of metasomal terga impunctate. They are most similar to L. cattellae, which has head and mesosoma golden green and mesoscutal pubescence yellowish.

Male L. tenax can be recognised by the following diagnostic combination: head wide to round (length/width ratio =0.96�1.02); mesoscutum dull, punctures relatively coarse, sparse between parapsidal lines (i=1�2d); mesepisternum punctate or rugulose; tegula reddish brown; tarsi brownish yellow; and metasomal terga with basolateral tomentum, impunctate on apical half (except along premarginal line).

Range. Newfoundland west to Alaska, south to Colorado, Utah, and North Carolina along the Appalachian mountains. USA: AK, CO, NC, NH, UT, WI, WY. CANADA: AB, BC, NB, NF, NT, ON, PQ, SK, YT.

DNA Barcode. Available. Multiple sequences.

Comments. Rare in the eastern USA. Lasioglossum tenax has an alpine/boreal distribution.

Lasioglossum tenax is evidently a solitary species (Packer 1994).


Identification
Extracted from: Sandhouse G. A. New North American Species of Bees Belonging to the Genus Halictus (Chloralictus). No. 2532 - Proceedings U.S. National Museum. Vol. 65, Art. 19.

Lasioglossum Tenax appears in this excerpt as the now synonymized Halictus Meritus.

Female.—About 5.5-6 mm. long; head and thorax dark blue-green; abdomen black; pubescence yellowish white, sparse. Facial quadrangle longer than broad; orbits converging slightly below ; antennae entirely dark; face shining dark blue; vertex closely punctured; front with a brassy tint, sparsely punctured; supraclypeal area and upper half of clypeus somewhat brassy, rather closely punctured; clypeus shining black below, with few coarse downward-opening punctures; apex of mandibles red. Mesothorax shining, microscopically lineolate; quite closely punctured, the punctures a lit- tle more scattered on the disk; scutellum closely punctured, two smooth spots on the disk, each of these spots has two very large punctures; disk of propodeum without an inclosing rim, smooth, shining, dark blue, with a few plicae at the base of the disk only; truncation well defined laterally; tegulae dark testaceous, impunctate. Abdomen obovate, piceous, impunctate; segments 1-2 almost without hairs; segments 3-5 with sparse white hairs; apical margins of segments narrowly testaceous. Wings faintly dusky; anterior wing 4 mm, long; stigma and nervures testaceous; second submarginal cell higher than broad, receiving the first recurrent nervure near the apex; third submarginal about one and one-half times as long as second on marginal. Legs dark with yellowish white pubescence; hind spur pectinate with three moderately long teeth; tips of hind basitarsi and apical tarsi reddened.

Differs from viridatulus Cockerell by the shining mesothorax with weak punctures, not lineolate; head, mesothorax, and propodeum more brilliant blue; disk of propodeum without such strong plicae.


Names
Scientific source:

Supported by

Hosts · map
FamilyScientific name @ source (records)
Asteraceae  Antennaria @ AMNH_BEE (1)

Erigeron speciosus @ RMBL_ENT (2)
Campanulaceae  Campanula rotundifolia @ BBSL (1)
J. rykken  1060 @ JRYB__SHEN (1)

1123 @ JRYB__SHEN (2)
P. clifton  672 @ JRYB__SHEN (1)
Rosaceae  Argentina anserina @ AMNH_BEE (1)

Potentilla fruticosa @ RMBL_ENT (1)

Potentilla gracilis @ RMBL_ENT (1)

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