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Extracted from: Onuferko TM (2018). A revision of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Epeolus Latreille for Nearctic species, north of Mexico (Hymenoptera, Apidae). ZooKeys 755: 1–185. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.755.23939
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. olympiellus apart from all other North American Epeolus except E. banksi and E. minimus: in
females, F2 is at least 1.2 × 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. olympiellus the mesoscutum and metasomal terga have bands
of off-white to pale yellow short appressed setae. In this respect, E. olympiellus more
closely resembles E. minimus, but in E. minimus the T3 and T4 fasciae are not broken
laterally, and are complete or narrowly interrupted medially, whereas in E. olympiellus the T3 and T4 fasciae are broken or at least narrowed laterally, as well as medially.
Whereas throughout most of its range E. minimus exhibits reddish-orange coloration
on the labrum, antenna, pronotal lobe, and/or legs, except foreleg, from trochanters to
tarsi, in E. olympiellus the labrum, antenna, and legs from coxae to femora are brown or
black. Epeolus olympiellus 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.
Description. This species was recently redescribed (Onuferko 2017).
Extracted from: Viereck, H.I., Cockerell, T.D.A., Titus, E.S.G., Crawford J.C., Swenk M.H. (1905). Synopsis of bees of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Vancouver. The Canadian Entomologist pp. 277 - 287.
Female. 8.5mm. Frontal keel originating as in T. paencpectoralis, but
not extending higher than the middle of the front even as a raised line,
and not connected with t he anterior ocellus by a shining line; clypeus
and suprac1ypeal space sculptured nearly like the cheeks, somewhat
shining: labrum sculptured much like the front, with two short teeth on the anterior margin. these teeth being about as far apart as the pedicellum
is wide ; scape nearly as long as the pedicellqm and first two joints of
the flagellum combined; first joint of the flagellum as long as the second;
upper part of front, vertex and occiput with less conspicuous whitish
pubescence than on the middle third of the face: dOr5ulllm with a more or
less distinct margin of appressed dirty white pubescence, somewhat tinted
with ochreous, this margin interrupted on the anterior edge of the
dorsulum, the interruption as wide as the scape is long ; on each side of
the interruption the pubescent margin is prolonged back on the dorsullum
at right angles to the anterior margin for a distance somewhat less than
the interruption cited above; pronotum, pleura, except the lower half of
the mesopleura, which is nearly hare, posterior margin of scutellllm and
postsclltellum with appressed pubescence similar to that on the dorsulllIn,
but paler, more whitish; the scutellar spines are distinctly shorter than the
convexity of the scutellum; metanotum uniformly dull, with an indistinct
median longitudinal rugulose impression; sternum uniformly pubescent
like the superior half of the mesopleura, the pubescence of the sternum
almost white.
Abdomen: The pubescence is rather rubbed off, but is nearly as
follows: Anterior face of basal segment with appressed pubescence of
much the same color as the pale pubescence on the dorsulum, this pubescent area connected by a broad band of concolorous pubescence, with the
apical band occupying the depressed portion of the segment. narrower
than the connecting band, hut also concolorous, succeeding segments with
only the apical band, which is similar to the apical band of the first segment, the penultimate segment almost uniformly covered with appressed
pubescence, otherwise the abdomeum is clothed with brownish pubescence
excepting the lunule and all of the enter but the apical segment;
pygidium rather flat, and with lateral margins
Almost entirely black; flagellum brownish, mandibles ferruginous
except at extreme base and apex, where they are blackish; legs blackish,
knees, apices of tibiae and tarsi ferruginous.
Two female. Paratype differs as follows: The frontal keel prolonged
as a raised line higher than the middle of the front, and finally connecting
with the anterior ocellus by a smooth shining line; the median longitudinal
groove on the metanotum is here a distinct shallow channel.
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