|
Reprinted with permission from: Rightmyer, M.G. A Review of the Cleptoparasitic Bee Genus Triepeolus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) TRIEPEOLUS MITCHELLI HURD
(Fig. 131)
Triepeolus sublunatus Mitchell 1962: 483–484 [nec Cockerell] [Holotype: U. S. National Museum of Natural History (on indefinite loan from North Carolina State University); male, Marion (McDowell Co.), North Carolina; 27 July 1924; Coreopsis stelista].
Triepeolus mitchelli Hurd 1979: 2094 [replacement name].
Description.—Length ca. 11 mm; ITW 1.9 mm. Integument black; dorsum of mesosoma and metasoma with bands of pale gray to white setae. Clypeus with strong midline, mostly covered with white setae. Paramedian band barely contiguous with diffuse, weak area of white setae on anterior margin of mesoscutum. Scutellum moderately bigibbous; axillar spine triangular, reaching scutellar midpoint. Mesepisternum lacking erect, simple setae; with dense, white, branched setae on dorsal third (excluding hypoepimeron), less dense on anterior surface of mesepisternum, relatively sparse on rest of lateral surface; with punctures nearly contiguous to spaced up to three puncture diameters apart, integument between relatively flat. T1 discal patch relatively small, subtriangular/subovate. T2 with LLB forming 90 degree angle with ATB. Female: Unknown. Male: Pygidial plate of moderate size, with distinct basal transverse ridge; S2–S3 with apical bands of white setae; S4–S5 with brown apical fringes plus white setae laterally on S4.
Comments.—This species is very similar to T. georgicus Mitchell, due to the white setal banding on the black body, the clypeus of normal length with strong midline, the mesepisternum lacking erect, simple setae and the shining integument which is moderately punctate and smooth (unlike T. atripes Mitchell, which it also superficially resembles). It differs from T. georgicus by the broader metasomal banding and the triangular T1 discal patch; however this is based on the male specimen, and it is not particularly rare to find male specimens with greatly expanded areas of pale setae on the metasoma in Triepeolus. Additionally, the scutellum is not nearly as biconvex in T. mitchelli as in T. georgicus, although this character also can also vary within a species. Of note is the wide spacing of the mesepisternal punctures in T. mitchelli, which is rare among male specimens of Triepeolus species (particularly those with pale gray to white banding). More specimens of T. georgicus and/or T. mitchelli, especially from more northerly localities, may provide further evidence on whether the species should be synonymized.
Distribution.—USA: North Carolina.
Floral Records.—Coreopsis major stellata [= Coreopsis major Walt.].
Seasonal Records.—27 July.
Specimens examined.—1 male (WASHINGTON D.C.).
| 
