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Idendtification Summary: Moderate sized; Florida; golden green; mesepisternum punctate; dorsal surface of propodeum with striations limited to basal portion; similar to L. gundlachii from Cuba.
Reprinted with permission from: Mitchell, T.B. 1960 Bees of the Eastern United States. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin No. 141.
FEMALE—Length 4 mm.; head and thorax metallic green, abdomen brownish-piceous; pubescence short, thin, entirely pale; length and breadth of head subequal; clypeus convex, projecting about one-half below suborbital line; supraclypeal area much broader than long, considerably shorter than clypeus; eyes convergent below; lateral ocelli subequally distant from eyes and each other; cheeks subequal to eyes in width; face below ocelli rather dull, punctures rather deep and distinct, but very fine and close, becoming rather sparse on vertex; cheeks above somewhat shining, punctures very obscure, hardly visible, becoming rather smooth and substriate below; hypostomal carinae parallel, apical angle narrowly rounded; lower half of face finely tessellate, punctures fine, rather well separated laterad of antennae, but becoming somewhat more deep, distinct and close below, those on supraclypeal area fine and well separated, rather close and fine on upper half of clypeus but becoming more coarse, deep and somewhat more widely separated toward apical margin; scutum and scutellum somewhat shining, punctures minute, well separated medially, becoming rather close but still distinctly separated between notaulices and tegulae (much as in weemsi, fig. 99); pleura somewhat shining, punctures fine but rather deep and distinct, rather close and coarse above, becoming finer and more widely separated below; dorsal area of propodeum smooth and shining medially, with a basal obscure fringe of very short striae and a few more nearly complete striae at extreme sides, lateral surfaces smooth and shining; wings hyaline, veins and stigma brownish; tegulae brownish, becoming hyaline anteriorly; basal segments of legs brownish, tibiae reddish testaceous at base and apex, tarsi entirely reddish-testaceous; abdominal terga shining, basal tergum impunctate, terga 2 and 3 with exceedingly minute, well separated punctures across base, becoming more sparsely and still more obscurely punctate apically, apical margins slightly and rather broadly impressed, only the extreme, apical, narrow rim yellowishhyaline.
MALE—Length 4 mm.; head and thorax green, abdominal terga piceous, impressed margins testaceous; pubescence very short and thin, entirely white, somewhat more dense on face; length and breadth of head subequal; clypeus narrow and convex, projecting about one-half below suborbital line, supraclypeal area much shorter; eyes strongly convergent below; lateral ocelli slightly nearer eyes than to each other; antennae subequally distant from eyes and each other, basal segment of flagellum about as broad as long, following segments about one and a half times this length, dull brownish-testaceous beneath, piceous above; labrum and mandibles testaceous; cheeks slightly narrower than eyes; face below ocelli dull, densely rugoso-punctate, vertex shining, punctures minute and well separated; cheeks above rather dull, somewhat more shining and very finely substriate below; hypostomal carinae parallel; lower half of face somewhat shining, punctures fine and quite close but deep and distinct, those on supraclypeal area and upper portion of clypeus more minute and more widely separated, these becoming somewhat deeper and more distinct on clypeus apically; scutum and scutellum shining, punctures fine but deep and distinct, rather sparse on scutum medially, becoming somewhat closer laterally, those on scutellum well separated but hardly sparse; pleura shining, punctures deep, distinct and well separated; dorsal area of propodeum broad, rather smooth and somewhat shining, with a few irregular striations along basal margin, hind margin rounded, lateral faces quite dull; wings hyaline, veins and stigma brownish-testaceous; tegulae yellowish-hyaline; legs piceous basally, mid and hind tibiae brownish, but yellowish at base and apex, tarsi entirely yellow; abdominal terga shining, punctures exceedingly minute, rather close toward base of each disc, the impressed apical area impunctate, these quite strongly yellowish; sternum 4 broadly incurved apically, with a dense tuft of pubescence at each extreme side; apical margin of sternum 5 deeply incurved, with lateral tufts of pubescence; median lobe of sternum 7 slightly narrowed apically, apex rounded; gonostylus of armature (fig. 102) rounded, with a finger-like inner lobe, short setose except for an apical tuft of elongate hairs, retrorse lobe very short, much narrowed apically.
TYPE S—Holotype: Female, Everglades Nat. Pk., Dade Co., Fla., Mar. 10, 1955 (H.
A. Denmark, on Flaveria linearis) [Fla. Plant Board]. Allotype: topotypical, Mar. 15, 1955 (H. A. Denmark, on Lyonia manana) [Fla. Plant Board]. Paratypes (all FLORIDA): 7 , topotypical, Mar. 10 & 11, 1955 (H. A. Denmark, on Flaveria linearis); 1female, topotypical, Mar. 9, 1955 (Denmark, on Mikinia, sp.); 1 female, Everglades Nat. Pk., Monroe Co., Mar. 14, 1955 (Denmark, on Achyranthes mercantifolia) ; 1 female, Everglades Nat. Pk., Apr. 5, 1958 (H. V. Weems, Jr.); 4 females, Paradise Key, Apr. 6, 1951 (H. & M. Townes); 1female, Matheson Hammock, Apr. 8, 1955 (Mitchell); 1female, 1 male, Paradise Key, Mar. 22, 1954; 2 females
2 males, Cape Sable, Mar. 25, 1954 (taken on salt flats) (both K. V. Krombein).
Paratypes are in collections of the Florida Plant Board, the U. S. National Museum, H. K. Townes, and the author.
Extracted from Jason Gibbs. 2011. Revision of the metallic Lasioglossum (Dialictus) of eastern North America (Hymenoptera: Halictidae: Halictini.) Zootaxa.
Lasioglossum (Dialictus) flaveriae (Mitchell)
Dialictus flaveriae Mitchell, 1960: 393. ♀ ♂.
Holotype. ♀ USA, Florida, Dade Co., Everglades Nat. Pk., 10.iii.1955 on Flaveria linearis (H.A. Denmark); [FSCA].
Examined.
Dialictus tahitensis Mitchell, 1960: 421. ♀. [new synonymy]
Holotype. ♀ USA, Florida, Dade Co., Tahiti Beach, 29.v.1927 (S. Graenicher); [NCSU]. Examined.
Taxonomy. Krombein, 1967: Lasioglossum (Dialictus) flaveriae, p. 463, L. (D) tahitense, p. 466 (catalogue); Moure and
Hurd, 1987: Dialictus flaveriae, p. 100, D. tahitensis, p. 132 (catalogue).
Diagnosis. Both sexes of L. flaveriae can be recognised by the following diagnostic combination: metapostnotum
smooth, rugae not extending more than halfway to posterior margin (Figs. 99, 101); mesepisternal punctures deep and
distinct; gena narrower than eye; and lower paraocular area with sparse tomentum. Males can also be recognized by the
elongate S5–S6 hairs visible as two posteriorly directed tufts in dorsal view. They are most similar to the Caribbean species
L. gundlachii (Baker) which has the surface of the mesoscutum and mesepisternum duller due to microsculptu
Redescription. FEMALE. Length 4.11–4.66 mm; head length 1.16–1.25 mm; head width 1.18–1.32 mm; forewing
length 2.78–3.27 mm.
Colouration. Head and mesosoma pale green to blue. Clypeus with apical half blackish brown. Antenna dark brown,
flagellum with ventral surface brownish yellow. Tegula reddish brown. Wing membrane subhyaline, venation and
pterostigma yellowish brown. Legs brown except tarsi, and apical and basal portions of tibiae brownish yellow. Metasoma
reddish brown, terga and sterna with apical margins translucent brownish yellow.
Pubescence. Dull white. Moderately sparse. Head and mesosoma with moderately sparse woolly hairs (1–2 OD),
longest on genal beard, metanotum, and mesopleuron (2–2.5 OD). Paraocular area and gena with sparse subappressed
tomentum. Propodeum with moderately dense plumose hairs on lateral and posterior surfaces (2–2.5 OD). Metasomal
terga with moderately sparse, fine hairs. T1 acarinarial fan limited to small lateral area, dorsal opening wider than lateral
patches. T1–T6 without tomentum. T2 apicolateral and T3–T4 apical margins with sparse apical fringes.
Surface sculpture. Face imbricate, punctation very fine. Clypeus with apical half polished, punctation moderately
sparse apically (i=1–2d), denser basally (i≤d). Supraclypeal area with punctation moderately sparse (i=1–2d), denser laterally.
Lower paraocular area punctation dense (i≤d). Antennocular area punctation moderately dense (i=1–1.5d). Upper
paraocular area and frons very finely punctate. Ocellocular area punctate (i=1–1.5d). Gena lineolate. Postgena imbricate.
Mesoscutum weakly imbricate, polished submedially, punctation moderately sparse between parapsidal lines (i=1–2.5d),
dense laterad of parapsidal line (i≤d), contiguous on anterolateral portion. Mesoscutellum similar to mesoscutum, submedial
punctation sparse (i=1.5–3d). Axilla minutely punctate. Metanotum imbricate. Preëpisternum rugulose. Hypoepimeral
area imbricate-punctate (i=1–1.5d). Mesepisternum weakly imbricate, distinctly punctate (i=1–2d). Metepisternum
with upper half carinulate and ventral portion imbricate. Metapostnotum with short rugae not extending halfway to posterior
margin, posterior margin weakly imbricate. Propodeum with dorsolateral slope imbricate, lateral and posterior surfaces
tessellate-imbricate. Metasomal terga polished, punctation moderately sparse basally (i=1–2d), more widely spaced
apically (i=1–2.5d), T2 apical impressed area impunctate.
Structure. Head moderately wide (length/width ratio = 0.95–0.99). Eyes convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio = 1.27–
1.30). Clypeus 1/2–2/3 below suborbital tangent, apicolateral angle convergent. Antennal sockets close (IAD/OAD <
0.5). Frontal line carinate, ending 2–2.5 OD below median ocellus. Gena narrower than eye. Inner metatibial spur pectinate
with 3–4 branches. Metapostnotum moderately elongate (MMR ratio = 1.10–1.20), posterior margin rounded onto
posterior surface. Propodeum with oblique carina absent, lateral carina not reaching dorsal margin.
MALE. Similar to female except for the usual secondary sexual characters and as follows. Length 3.63–3.93 mm;
head length 1.25–1.28 mm; head width 1.22–1.26 mm; forewing length 3.15–3.21 mm.
Colouration. Flagellum with ventral surface reddish brown. Legs brown, except tibial bases and apices, and tarsi
brownish yellow, pro- and mesotibiae sometimes infused with brownish yellow.
Pubescence. S2–S4 apical halves with moderately dense hairs (1.5 OD), S5–S6 lateral portions with medially
directed elongate hairs (3–4 OD).
Surface sculpture. Punctation coarser. Metasomal terga with apical impressed areas impunctate.
Structure. Head moderately elongate (length/width ratio = 1.02). Eyes strongly convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio =
1.45–1.48). Clypeus 2/3 below suborbital tangent, apicolateral margins convergent. Antennal sockets distant (IAD/OAD
> 1.1). Frontal line carinate, ending 2 OD below median ocellus. Pedicel subequal to F1. F2 length 1.3–1.4X F1. F2–F10
short (length/width ratio = 1.15–1.30). Metapostnotum moderately elongate (MMR ratio = 1.20), posterior margin
rounded onto posterior surface. Propodeum with oblique carina absent.
Terminalia. Gonostylus posteriorly directed, very long setae emerging from base. Retrorse lobe short.
Range. Bahamas, Florida (Fig. 102).
Additional material examined. BAHAMAS: Gorda Cay, N26°05′ W77°32′, 14–20.vi.1998 (S. Glasscock);
[UCFC]; USA: FLORIDA: 2♀♀ Flamingo, Everglades N.P., 1–5.xii.1961 (Munroe, Holland & Chillcott); [CNC]; 1♀
paratype Dade Co., Everglades Nat. Pk., 10.iii.1955 (H.A. Denmark); 1♀ paratype Dade Co., Everglades Nat. Pk.,
11.iii.1955 (H.A. Denmark); 2♂♂ paratypes Cape Sable, Everglades N.P., 25.iii.1954 on salt flats (K.V. Krombein); 3♀♀
paratypes Paradise Key, 6.iv.1951 (H. & M. Townes); [CUIC]; 1♀ Mahogany Hammock, Everglades N.P., 4.xii.1970 (J.
Powell); [EMEC];1♂ allotype, Dade Co., Everglades Nat. Pk., 17.iii.1955 on Lyonia mariana (H.A. Denmark); [FSCA];
1♂ paratype Cape Sable, Everglades N.P., 25.iii.1954 on salt flats (K.V. Krombein); 4♀♀ paratypes Dade Co., Everglades
Nat. Pk., 11.iii.1955 (H.A. Denmark); 1♀ paratype Matheson Hammock, 8.iv.1955 (T.B. Mitchell); 3♀♀ paratypes
Paradise Key, 6.iv.1951 (H. & M. Townes); [NCSU]; 1♀ paratype, Cape Sable, Everglades N.P., 25.iii.1954 on salt
flats (K.V. Krombein); 1♂ paratype, Paradise Key, Everglades N.P., 22.iii.1954 (K.V. Krombein); [NMNH]; 1♀ Lee Co.,
N26.4479 W082.0407, 5.vi.2007 (S.W. Droege); 1♀ Lee Co., N26.4419 W082.0803, 5.vi.2007 (S.W. Droege); 1♀ Martin
Co., N27.0863 W080.1248, 4.vi.2007 (S.W. Droege); [PCYU].
Floral records. AMARANTHACEAE: Achyranthes “mercantifolia”; ASTERACEAE: Flaveria linearis, Mikania,
Sartwellia flaveriae; ERICACEAE: Lyonia mariana.
DNA Barcode. Available. Multiple sequences.
Comments. Uncommon.
The holotype specimens of Dialictus flaveriae and D. tahitensis differ only in size and colouration. Neither of these
characters is reliable for delimiting Dialictus species and colour is often affected by preservation. Both holotypes have
brownish orange metasomata but this might be an artefact. Paratypes and recently collected material have the metasoma
reddish brown.
The West Indian species L. gundlachii is very similar to L. flaveriae both morphologically and based on DNA barcodes.
Several Floridian species also occur in Cuba and islands of the West Indies (e.g. L. eleutherense discussed above
and L. halophitum below). Jamaican specimens of L. gundlachii were found to have more microsculpture on the mesosoma
than does L. flaveriae. These two species show affinities to mainland Neotropical species (see Danforth et al. 2003).
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