Lasioglossum blighi Walker, 2025

Walker, Kenneth L., 2025, The “ weak-veined ” Lasioglossum in Australia, New Zealand and West New Guinea, with descriptions of three new subgenera (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae), Zootaxa 5651 (1), pp. 1-94 : 52-55

Lasioglossum . ( Enigmalictus ). blighi ( Cockerell 1915) new status

( Figures 5B, 16, 17A, 28A–B, 32A, 39A–B, 40A–B, 41A–B)

Halictus blighi Cockerell 1915, p. 102 (original description); Hacker 1921, p. 135 (catalogue); Cockerell 1933, p. 303 (key);

Cockerell 1933, p. 305 (redescription). Halictus bassi Cockerell 1915, p. 102 (original description); Hacker 1921, p. 135 (catalogue); Cockerell 1933, p. 303 (key);

Cockerell 1933, p. 304 (redescription); Walker 1995, p. 76 (synonymy with H. blighi ). Halictus pertasmaniae Rayment 1953, p. 22 new synonymy. Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) blighi — Michener 1965, p. 175 (generic and subgeneric status change). Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) bassi — Michener 1965, p. 175 (generic and subgeneric status change). Lasioglossum (Austrevylaeus) pertasmaniae — Michener, 1965: 171 (generic and subgeneric status change).

Diagnosis. Females of L. blighi can be recognised by the combination of: Body length 4.55 (± 0.52 SD) mm ( Fig. 39A). ITS = 0.86 (± 0.04 SD) mm. Median ocellus width/ocellocular distance ratio [MOW:OOD ratio 0.36 (± 0.2 SD)]. Face round (FL/HW ratio 0.84 (± 0.04 SD) Fig. 40A). Head and mesosoma black (in some specimens dark brown). Metasoma T1–T6 dark brown. Mesoscutum medially evenly punctate, with moderately dense punctures (IS ≤ 1–3 PD), inner margins of parapsidal lines appear impunctate but with moderately sparse punctures (IS = 2–4 PD), in parapsidal areas with moderately sparse punctures (IS = 2–3 PD), in posterolateral corners with moderately sparse punctures (IS = 2–3 PD) and along posterior margin with moderately sparse punctures (IS = 3–4 PD) ( Fig. 28A). Metapostnotum striate rugulose, striae across entire surface ( Fig. 28B). Inner metatibial spur coarsely pectinate with five separated, apically rounded teeth, tooth length greater than twice width of rachis ( Fig. 17A).

Males of L. blighi can be recognised by the combination of: Body length 5.02 (± 0.16 SD) mm ( Fig. 39B). ITS = 1.15 (± 0.04 SD) mm. Face round (FL/HW ratio 0.82 (± 0.04 SD)). Head and mesosoma black ( Fig. 39B). Metasoma terga black except apical margin dark brown ( Fig. 39B). Metasoma sterna S4–S6 with hair bands running across sternite, (S4 Length of hair:MOW ratio as 1.2 (± 0.04 SD)), (S5 Length of hair:MOW ratio as 1.7 (± 0.04 SD)), S6 with inwardly pointed lateral hair tufts (Length of hair:MOW ratio as 1.4 (± 0.04 SD)). S5 apical margin medially curved basally ( Fig. 32A). Gonobase gonostylus:gonocoxite length ratio 0.70 (± 0.02 SD), retrorse lobe present ( Figs. 41A–B).

Comments. The types of Lasioglossum blighi and L. bassi were collected at the same location and dates (Mt Wellington, Tasmania, Jan 15–Feb 6, 1913, Turner). Cockerell (1915, p. 102) commented that H. bassi may be a variety of H. blighi but separated the species based on a “shining” mesoscutum in H. bassi . Perhaps as the types of both species are males, Michener (1965, p. 175) placed L. blighi and L. bassi into Chilalictus.

There is considerable size variation in the female of this species ranging from probably our smallest Australian Lasioglossum specimen at 3.45 mm up to 5.34 mm with a mean body length of 4.55 (± 0.82 SD) mm. The next smallest specimen is L. (Chilalictus) alacarinatum Walker 1995 with a body length range of 3.93 mm to 4.77 mm with a mean body length of 4.51 (± 0.26 SD) mm ( Walker 1995).

Etymology. Cockerell provided no explanations for the species names “blighi ” or “bassi ” but the endings suggest they were both named after males with those surnames. These species epithets may be associated with famous, well known naval explorers with ties to Australia, e.g. “blighi ” after William Bligh (1754–1817), English explorer, navigator, and cartographer who served in the Royal Navy and as the fourth Governor of New South Wales, best known for leading the ship Bounty during the 1789 mutiny and “bassi ” after George Bass (1771–1803), British naval surgeon and explorer of Australia. (Gibbs pers. comm. 2024).

Rayment (1953, p. 22) stated that Halictus pertasmaniae “seemed to approach Sphecodes tasmaniae ” Cockerell (1905, p. 299) but was not the female for that species. Rayment added the prefix “per”, which in Latin means “very”, to “tasmaniae ” for the presumed association between these two species. Sphecodes tasmaniae is currently placed in the Lasioglossum subgenus Homalictus . Halictus pertasmaniae is junior subjective synonym of Halictus blighi .

Syntype of “ Halictus blighi ”. AUSTRALIA. Tasmania. ♂; Mt Wellington. Jan 15–Feb 6, 1913 -212, R . E. Turner, 1,300–2,300 ft (396–701 m) ( BM Type Hym. 17.a.928. NHMUK014024674 , NHMUK) .

Syntype of “ Halictus bassi ”. AUSTRALIA. Tasmania. ♂; Mt Wellington. Jan 15–Feb 6, 1913 -212, R . E. Turner, 1,300–2,300 ft (396–701 m) ( BM Type Hym. 17.a.927. NHMUK014024673 , NHMUK) .

Syntype of “ Halictus pertasmaniae ”. AUSTRALIA. Victoria. ♀: Gorae West, 10 Nov 1950, leg. Clifford Beauglehole (Head reglued to mesosoma, all antennal flagella segments, metatarsi and right hind tibia missing. ANIC) .

Additional material examined. (109 specimens, 104 ♀, 5 ♂): AUSTRALIA. Queensland. (1 ♀) Wyberba Nat Pk, 8 Jan 1967, T. F. Houston, on Eucalyptus (QM) ; (3 ♀) Sunnybank, Oct 1964, E.M. Exley, on Eucalyptus (QM) ; (1 ♀) Bunya Mountains, 3 Oct 1968, T. F. Houston ( SAM); (1 ♀) Bunya Mountains nr Westcott Plain, 6–7 Oct 1984, I.D. Naumann & J.C. Cardale ( ANIC); (1 ♀) Bulburin State Forest , 27–29 May 1980, P. R. Webb ( QM); (1 ♀) Bald Rock Ck, Nat Pk, 16 Dec 1966, T. F. Houston, on Eucalyptus (QM) .

New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory. (1 ♀) Mt Gingera , 19 Nov 1968, D.H. Colless ( ANIC); (7 ♀) Gibraltar Range Nat Pk , 870m, 6 Dec 1992, D. Bickel, granitic sclerophyll wooded montane swamp ( ANIC); (2 ♀) Lane Cove , 25 April 1946, HY698, HY709 ( AM); (1 ♀) Mount Banks , 11 Dec 2001, M. Batley, on Goodenia bellidifolia (AM) ; (1 ♀) Nadgee Reserve Table Ridge nr Nadgee Mt , 15 Nov 1986, E.A. Sugden, on Melaleuca squarrosa (AM) ; (1 ♀) Nadgee Reserve, Merrika Lodge , 6 Dec 1986, E.A. Sudgen, on Leptospermum myrsinoides (AM) ; (3 ♀) Nadgee Reserve, Merrika Lodge , 15–16 Jan 1987, E.A. Sudgen, on Hakea teretifolia (AM) ; (24 ♀) Nadgee Reserve, Merrika Lodge , 19–21 Dec 1986, 11–16 Jan 1987, E.A. Sudgen, on Kunzea ericoides (AM) ; (7 ♀) Nadgee Reserve, Tumbledown Mtn , 15 Nov 1986, E.A. Sudgen, on Goodenia ovata (AM) ; (2 ♀) Nadgee Reserve , 4.5 km S Merrika Lodge, 17–19 Jan 1987, E.A. Sudgen, R. Genest & Z. Babankova ( AM); (1 ♀) Mt Tomah , 1990, P. Bernhardt, on Hibbertia saligna (NMV) ; (1 ♀) Orange ( ANIC); (1 ♀) Barrington , 7 April 1949, E.F. Riek ( ANIC); (1 ♀) 3 km N Lansdowne, nr Taree , 15–22 Feb 1987, G. Williams, malaise ( AM); (1 ♀) Lorien Wildlife Refuge , 3 km N of Lansdowne, 21 Dec 1996, G. & T. Williams, on Lobelia trigonocaulis flowers, ex. wet sclerophyll forest ( NMV); (1 ♀) Lorien Wildlife Refuge , 3 km N of Lansdowne, 9 Dec 1999, G. Williams, ex. wet sclerophyll forest, on Pollia crispata flowers, ( NMV); (1 ♀) Cheltenham , 9 April 1950 ( AM) .

Victoria. (2 ♀) Sandringham, 30 March, Sep 1935, Rayment ( ANIC); (1 ♀) Sylvan ( ANIC); (2 ♀) Portland , Dec 1974, 16 Jan 1975, Knerer ( NMV); (1 ♀) 18 km NWN Omeo, 28 Feb 1980, I.D. Naumann & J.C. Cardale ( ANIC); (5 ♀) 22 km N Portland, Cobboboonee State Forest, 20–23 Dec 1989, 1 January 1990, 14 Feb 1990, W. T . Wcislo ( SEMK); (2 ♀) 22 km N Portland, Cobboboonee State Forest , 1 March 1990, W. T . Wcislo, on Melaleuca sp. ( SEMK); (8 ♀) 22 km N Portland, Cobboboonee State Forest , 20–23 Dec 1990, W. T . Wcislo, on Eucalyptus sp. ( SEMK); (1 ♀) Cobboboonee State Forest , 22 Nov 1989, site 12, Kukuk, Wcislo & Schwarz ( NMV) .

Tasmania. (3 ♀) 1 km SSE Gladstone, 29 Jan 1981, I.D. Naumann & J.C. Cardale ex. yellow traps ( ANIC); (2 ♀) 2 km NW Derwent Bridge, 730m, 24–28 Jan 1980, A. Newton & M. Thayer ( ANIC); (1 ♀) 9 km WSW Derwent Bridge, 21 Jan 1981, I.D. Naumann, & J.C. Cardale, ex. yellow trap ( ANIC); (3 ♂) 1km NE Herrick, 29–30 Jan 1981, I.D. Naumann & J.C. Cardale, on Leptospermum (ANIC) ; (1 ♂) 9km E Scottsdale, 12 Jan 1983, I.D. Naumann & J.C. Cardale ( ANIC); (4 ♀) Condominium Creek , 15 Feb 1971, A. Neboiss ( NMV); (1 ♂) National Park, 24 Jan 1949, E.F. Riek ( ANIC); (1 ♀) Mt Wellington, 1,300–2,300 ft, 15 Jan–6 Feb 1913, R. E. Turner, 1913–212 ( NHML); (1 ♀) Mt Wellington, 8 Oct 1934, R. E. Turner (QM); (1 ♀) Needles Picnic Area, 9 Feb 1988, K.L. Walker, on Leptospermum (NMV) ; (1 ♀) Murchison HWY, 31 Dec 1968, E.M. Exley, on Eucalyptus (QM) ; (1 ♀) George Town , 11 Nov 1916, F.M. Littler ( SAMA); (1 ♀) Waterwork Res, Hobart, 3 Feb 1987, A. Hingston, on Bursaria spinosa (NMV) ; (1 ♀) Waterwork Res, Hobart, 3 Feb 1987, A. Hingston, on Stylidium graminifolium (NMV) .

South Australia. (1 ♀) Scott Ck CP. 13 km SE Mt Compass , 21 Jan 1993, L. Jansen, on Bursaria spinosa

(NMV).

Redescription of female and male

Female. Body length 4.55 (± 0.52 SD) mm. ITS = 0.86 (± 0.04 SD) mm. Head length 1.16 (± 0.03 SD) mm. Head width 1.29 (± 0.15 SD) mm. Wing length 3.22 (± 0.56 SD) mm. (n=10).

Colouration. Head and mesosoma black (in some specimens dark brown). Clypeus and paraocular area brown. Labrum brown. Mandible dark red brown basally, red brown medially with reddish-brown apically. Flagellum brown dorsally and ventrally. Pronotal lobe brown. Tegula brown. Mesoscutellum dark brown. Wing membrane hyaline, faintly dusky, veins with subcosta brown, otherwise honey coloured. Legs light red, yellow brown. Metasoma T1–T6 dark brown. Body setae white. Wing hairs pale. ( Figs. 5B, 28A–B, 39A, 40A).

Pubescence. Head with frons, paraocular area, clypeus, vertex and gena with sparse cover of erect hair ( Fig. 40A). Pronotal lobe almost bare, posterior margin of spiracle cover with dense layer of short, appressed hair ( Fig. 39A). Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with sparse cover of short, erect hair, a few more hairs along posterior margin ( Fig. 28A). Mesepisternum with weak cover of erect hair. Lateral surface of propodeum with moderate cover of elongated, branched, erect hair, posterior surface with spare cover of erect hair. Metafemoral scopa with dense plumose hairs. T1–T4 dorsally almost bare, some hairs laterally, T5–T6 with sparse cover of short setae.

Surface sculpture. Clypeus shining and smooth on anterior half, dull with imbricate pattern on basal half, apical half punctures large, deeply impressed, with irregularly moderate punctures (IS = 1–2 PD), basal half with smaller moderately sparse punctures (IS = 2–3 PD). Supraclypeal area dull, with imbricate pattern, medially impunctate, laterally with moderately sparse punctures (IS = 2–3 PD. Paraocular area smooth and impunctate. Frons dull, medially with minute, crowded punctures (IS = 0 PD) with rim of each puncture raised and forms part of adjoining puncture, laterally with dense punctures (IS = 0 PD) but punctures not joined ( Fig. 40A). Vertex impunctate with imbricate pattern. Gena strigulate with parallel lines. Tegula shining, impunctate on apical half, basal half substrigulate and minute dense punctures (IS = 0–1 PD). Mesoscutum with a dull sheen, entirely covered with imbricate pattern, medially with moderately dense punctures (IS ≤ 1–3 PD), inner margins of parapsidal lines appear impunctate but with moderately sparse punctures (IS = 2–4 PD), in parapsidal areas with moderately sparse punctures (IS = 2–3 PD), in posterolateral corners with moderately sparse punctures (IS = 2–3 PD) and along posterior margin with moderately sparse punctures (IS = 3–4 PD) ( Fig. 28A). Mesoscutellum with moderately dense punctures (IS = 1–3 PD). Metanotum dull, impunctate, imbricate. Metapostnotum striate rugulose, striae across entire surface, striae medially not reaching posterior margin, striae laterally reaching dorsolateral slope, surface sculpture shining but imbricate, posterior margin rounded ( Fig. 28B). Propodeum lateral face dull, imbricate and impunctate, posterior face shining, imbricate and impunctate, lateral and oblique carinae absent ( Fig. 28B). Preëpisternum and mesepisternum scabriculous to imbricate. Metepisternum dull, imbricate and impunctate. Hypoepimeron inflated, dull, glabrous, weakly imbricate and impunctate. T1 dorsal surface shining, appears impunctate but with moderately sparse, minute punctures (IS = 2–3 PD). T2 shining with similar punctures to T1.

Structure. Face round (FL/HW ratio 0.84 (± 0.04 SD) Fig. 40A). Eyes convergent below [UOD/LOD ratio 1.33 (± 0.04 SD)]. Median ocellus width/ocellocular distance ratio [MOW:OOD ratio 0.36 (± 0.2 SD)]. Clypeus extends ~50% below suborbital tangent, clypeus length/width ratio 0.77 (± 0.09 SD). Clypeus with apicolateral denticles. Gena narrower than eye. Mandible short, not reaching opposing clypeal angle. Protibial spur with apical serrations longer than length to width of malus. Inner metatibial spur coarsely pectinate with five separated, apically rounded teeth, tooth length greater twice width of rachis ( Fig. 17A). Distance between parapsidal line (at the starting point) 0.86 (± 0.03 SD) mm. Pronotal angle rounded and weakly projected. Mesoscutum length/width (widest point) ratio 0.69 (± 0.06 SD). Mesoscutum/mesoscutellum length ratio 2.50 (± 0.18 SD). Mesoscutellum/metanotum length ratio 1.66 (± 0.14 SD). Stigma small, 0.55 mm long, 0.19 mm wide (ratio ~2.89 (± 0.06 SD)), margin in marginal cell convex, marginal cell 0.85 mm long, 0.29 mm wide, free portion about 2.3X that subtended by submarginal cells (0.67 mm: 0.29 mm), 1m-cu almost meets second submarginal cell at 1rs-m, stigma perpendicular goes about middle of third submarginal cell.

Male. Body length 5.02 (± 0.16 SD) mm. Head length 1.44 (± 0.054 SD) mm. Head width 1.61 (± 0.03 SD) mm. Wing length 4.08 (± 0.11 SD) mm. (n=4).

Colouration. Integument black. Clypeus with small dull white stripe along apical margin ( Fig. 41B). Labrum black. Mandible black basally, dull red yellow medially and with tip dark reddish-brown. Flagellum black dorsally and ventrally ( Fig. 5B). Pronotal lobe dark brown. Metasoma terga black except apical margin dark brown. Legs with coxae, trochanters and femora black, protibiae and protarsi light red brown, mid tibiae dark brown and mid tarsi light brown, hind tibiae black and metatarsi light yellow brown. Tegula red brown. Wing membrane hyaline, veins with subcosta brown, otherwise light brown to pale amber. Wing hairs pale. ( Fig. 39B).

Pubescence. Body hair colour brownish white ( Fig. 39B). Frons and between antennal bases with dense cover of erect, white, branched hair. Paraocular area with dense cover of appressed white, branched hair. Supraclypeal area almost glabrous. Clypeus with sparse cover of apically pointed hair. Gena with moderate cover of long, erect branched hair ( Fig. 40B). Pronotal lobe almost glabrous, some denser hair around posterior margin of spiracle cover. Sparse cover of hair on preëpisternum and mesepisternum. Metanotum, mesoscutum with sparse cover of short, erect hairs. T1–T6 with sparse cover of short, erect hair, a few long hairs on margins of tergites. Metasoma sterna S4 with branched hair running across sternite, (S4 Length of hair:MOW ratio as 1.2 (± 0.04 SD)), S5 with simple hair running across sternite, (S5 Length of hair:MOW ratio as 1.7 (± 0.04 SD)), S6 with inwardly pointed, simple hair covering entire sternite and slightly inwardly pointed hairs (Length of hair:MOW ratio as 1.4 (± 0.04 SD)) ( Fig. 32A).

Surface sculpture. Clypeus smooth and shining, with moderately sparse, irregularly shaped with dense punctures (IS = 1–2 PD). Supraclypeal area smooth and shining, with moderate punctures (IS> 2 PD) with minute punctures. Paraocular area smooth and shining, impunctate. Frons with minute and dense to crowded punctures (IS = 0 PD), rim of each puncture forming rim of adjoining puncture ( Fig. 41B). Vertex rugulose. Gena weakly rugulose. Tegula shining. Mesoscutum shining but with a weak imbricate pattern across surface, medially with moderate punctures (IS = 2–3 PD) and dense punctures laterally (IS ≤ 1 PD). Mesoscutellum shining, with dense punctures (IS ≤ 1 PD). Metanotum dull, scabriculous. Metapostnotum ruguloso-rugulose across entire surface, sculpture just short of posterior margin dorsally and reaching margin laterally, surface dull. Propodeum lateral face weakly areolate, posterior medially smooth and shining, laterally rugulose-striate. Preëpisternum and mesepisternum imbricate and with moderately sparse punctures (IS = 2–3 PD). Metepisternum dull and striate. T1 smooth and shining, medially with dense punctures (IS ≤ 1 PD), apical margin impunctate. T2 like T1.

Structure. Face round (FL/HW ratio 0.82 (± 0.04 SD)). Clypeus projecting ~40% below suborbital tangent, clypeus length/width ratio 0.75 (± 0.03 SD). Flagellomeres, except F1, elongate, F2 greater than F1 and pedicel combined. F2:F1+pedicel length ratio 1.50 (± 0.04 SD). F2:F1 length ratio 2.57 (± 0.02 SD). F2 length/width ratio 2.00 (± 0.03 SD). F9 length/width ratio 1.55 (± 0.07 SD) ( Fig. 5B). Eyes strongly convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio 1.47 (± 0.04 SD) ( Fig. 41B). Gena narrower than eye. Mandible short, not reaching opposing clypeal angle. Pronotal angle rounded and not well projected. Mesoscutum length/width ratio 0.73 (± 0.04 SD). Mesoscutum/ mesoscutellum length ratio 2.71 (± 0.03 SD). Mesoscutellum/metanotum length ratio 1.55 (± 0.02 SD). Propodeum lateral carina reaching about halfway to dorsal surface, oblique carina absent. S5 apical margin medially curved basally.

Genitalia. Gonobase recessed medially at bottom, arms ventroapically complete, tapered basally, gonobase: gonocoxite length ratio 0.50 (± 0.03 SD), gonostylus:gonocoxite length ratio 0.70 (± 0.02 SD), gonostylus narrow and elongate basally, rounded or bulbous apically, long setae present only on dorsal surface of gonostylus along midline, setae apically short, penis valve inner margin with few setae, retrorse lobe present, long and narrow (length 3 times width), not reaching gonobase, setose medially with short setae. ( Figs. 41A–B).

Range. Occurs from SE Queensland down to Tasmania and across into SE South Australia ( Fig. 16).

Flight period. This species has been collected in all months of the year except June, July and August ( Table 1).

Floral hosts. CAMPANULACEAE : Lobelia trigonocaulis . COMMELINACEAE : Pollia crispata . DILLENACEAE: Hibbertia saligna . GOODENIACEAE : Goodenia bellidifolia , Goodenia ovata . MYRTACEAE : Eucalyptus sp. , Kunzea ericoides , Leptospermum sp. , Leptospermum myrsinoides , Melaleuca sp. , Melaleuca squarrosa . PITTOSPORACEAE : Bursaria spinosa . PROTEACEAE : Hakea teretifolia . STYLIDIACEAE : Stylidium graminifolium .