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Triepeolus subalpinus Cockerell, 1910

Properties

Scientific Name: Triepeolus subalpinus Cockerell, 1910

Common Name: Triepeolus subalpinus

Taxonomy

Triepeolus subalpinus Cockerell, 1910: 245 [♀]

     Holotype ♀.  USA, Colorado, Boulder County, Eldora, 18-19 August [no year provided], by T.D.A. Cockerell, on Grindelia (subalpina) [USNM no. 100037]

Triepeolus lestes Cockerell, 1921: 11 [♀] [synonymy by Rightmyer 2008: 117]

     Holotype ♀. USA, Colorado, Garfield County, Glenwood Springs, about 39 33’N 107 20’W, 5800 ft., 22–29 July 1919 [ANMH no. 25093]

Triepeolus stricklandi Cockerell, 1937: 86 [♀] [synonymy by Rightmyer 2008: 117]

     Holotype ♀. CANADA, Alberta, Lethbridge, 5 August 1935, by E.C. Strickland [CNC no. 4172]

 

Species Notes

This species is extremely similar to T. brittaini Cockerell (both species share the same BIN), but this species has the paramedian band present on the mesoscutum in both sexes, and the metasomal banding is broader and the mesepisternal punctation is denser than in T. brittaini. In Canada, this species is found in BC, AB, and SK, while T. brittaini is globally restricted to NB and NS. 

The DNA Barcode Index Number (BIN) for this species is BOLD:AAE8463, and is shared with T. brittaini.

 

Biology

This presumed host of this species was speculated to be Melissodes (Eumelissodes) agilis Cresson, as adults of both species were collected on the same flowers (Hurd et al. 1980).


Extent of Occurrence (EOO) in Canada (http://geocat.kew.org/): N/A

Index of Area of Occupancy (IAO) in Canada (http://geocat.kew.org/): 4 km2

 

References

Cockerell TDA (1910) Some bees from Eldora, Colorado. Psyche 17: 244–247.

Cockerell TDA (1921) The epeoline bees of the American Museum Rocky Mountain expeditions. American Museum Novitates 23: 1–16.

Cockerell TDA (1937) The bees of Alberta.—III. Canadian Entomologist 59: 86–89.

Hurd PD Jr, LaBerge WE, Linsley EG (1980) Principal sunflower bees of North America with an emphasis on the southwestern United States (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 310: 1–158.

Rightmyer MG (2008) A review of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Triepeolus (Hymenoptera: Apidae).—Part I. Zootaxa 1710: 1-170. 

Sociality: Parasitic
Nesting: Ground
Pollen Specialization: Not Applicable
Wintering Stage: Mature Larva

Crop Preference: Not Available
Non Crop Preference: Chrysothamnus sp., Grindelia squarrosa, Helianthus petiolaris, Helianthus sp., Heterotheca villosa, Epilobium brachycarpum

Distribution: Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Ecozone: Prairie

Distribution Map