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| Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) dilisena Hettiarachchi & Gibbs, 2024 |
Abstract
A problematic species complex within Lasioglossum subgenus Sphecodogastra with unusual metallic reflections on the mesosoma is described from North America. Three new species in this complex are described and illustrated: Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) iridescens sp. nov., Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) dilisena sp. nov., and Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) silveirai sp. nov. Our study addresses the challenge of diagnosing Lasioglossum subgenera within North America. We present an updated key for the North American Lasioglossum subgenera.
Key words: Apoidea, classification, cryptic species, new species, taxonomy
Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) iridescens sp. nov.
Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the iridescent colouration of the new species.
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| Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) dilisena sp. nov. , ♀, holotype. A. Dorsal habitus. b. Face. C. Lateral habitus. D.Metasoma. Scale bars = 1 mm. |
Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) dilisena sp. nov.
Etymology. The specific epithet ‘dilisena’ is derived from the Sinhala word ‘dilisena’ දිලිසෙන, which means ‘shining’, but is used here as a noun in apposition. This name was chosen because all three species described in this paper have an unusual metallic reflection on the mesosoma that is not seen in other known North American species in the subgenus Sphecodogastra. The first author is also a native speaker of Sinhala from Sri Lanka. Sinhala language is one of the official and national languages of Sri Lanka and the mother tongue of the majority people of Sri Lanka. Through this naming choice, we hope to honour all the linguistic and cultural diversity of the world.
Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) silveirai sp. nov.
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| Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) silveirai sp. nov., ♀, holotype. A. Dorsal habitus. b. Face. C. Lateral habitus. D. Metasoma. Scale bars = 1 mm. |
Etymology. This species is named in honour of the late Fernando Silveira (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) for his contributions to bee taxonomy and his warm, jovial spirit, which made it a delight to attend international conferences on pollinators.
Thilina Hettiarachchi and Jason Gibbs. 2024. A Problematic Species Complex of Lasioglossum Subgeneric Diagnostics in North America (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). Zootaxa. 5404(1); 206-235. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5404.1.13
