Triepeolus

Epeolini

Genus Triepeolus Robertson, twelve taxa

These bees are cleptoparasites of Apidae, mostly Melissodes, Svastra, Xenoglossa, Peponapis, and Eucera (=Synhalonia). Mitchell placed them in the genus Triepeolus but this is now considered a subgenus of Triepeolus. This is the only subgenus of this genus found in Florida. Three species, T. alachuensis, T. rufithorax and T. rugosus, are endemic to Florida.

Key to females (from Mitchell)

Fifth sternum of abdomen concave, slightly down curved apically ..Triepeolus concavus

Fifth sternum not concave…2

Clypeus bright ferruginous…Triepeolus rufithorax

Clypeus black….3

Abdominal punctures coarse, close, deep and very distinct; axillae long and slender…Triepeolus distinctus

Abdominal punctures usually minute and close, obscured by short, appressed, black tomentum; if relatively distinct and deep, then the axillae are quite short, only slightly exceeding the mid transverse line of the scutellum….4

Pleura below densely and finely punctate, interspaces very narrow and irregular, if at all evident….Triepeolus remigatus

Pleura below either more coarsely sculptured, or the punctures to some degree separated…5

Basal abdominal tergum with a very broad, median, black patch, leaving lateral yellow-tomentose margins which are little if any wider than the apical, tomentose band…..6

Basal tergum with a more restricted, subtriangular, black patch, the lateral yellow-tomentose areas much broader than the apical bands….7

Pleura below and mesosternum polished and very sparsely punctate; basal tergum with a very broad, quadrangular, median, black patch….Triepeolus pectoralis

At least the mesosternum closely punctate….Triepeolus rugosus

Apical pubescent band of basal tergum very narrow and very broadly interrupted, those on 2-4 also very narrow, considerably removed from apical margin and narrowly interrupted medially…Triepeolus alachuensis

Apical pubescent bands of terga 1-4 much broader, entire or only very slightly interrupted….8

Axillae long and slender, slightly curved, tips about reaching posterior transverse line of scutellum; legs, tegulae, mandibles, labrum and scape ferruginous…..Triepeolus quadrifasciatus

Axillae not so long and slender, not reaching posterior transverse line of scutellum….9

Labrum, scape, tubercles, trochanters, and all following leg segments bright ferruginous….Triepeolus lunatus lunatus

Labrum, scape, tubercles and legs entirely black.. Triepeolus lunatus concolor

Key to males

Clypeus bright ferruginous…Triepeolus rufithorax

Clypeus black…..2

Median black patch of basal tergum of abdomen very broad, quadrangular, the lateral tomentose areas little if any broader than the apical band…..3

Median black patch of basal tergum narrower, more or less triangular, the lateral tomentose areas extensive, very much broader than the apical bands…6

Pleura, mesosternum, face, and clypeus with a dense covering of silvery tomentum, entirely hiding the surface; axillae triangular, posterior angle almost reaching posterior transverse line of scutellum…Triepeolus pectoralis

Pleura and clypeus bare in part…..4

Apical tomentose band of basal tergum complete, without a median interruption; tegulae and legs black….Triepeolus floridanus

Apical band of basal tergum distinctly interrupted medially….5

Large (15-16mm); axillae long and slender, nearly reaching the posterior, transverse line of scutellum; legs, tegulae, mandibles and labrum black….Triepeolus monardae

Smaller (13 mm or less); axillae usually short.. Triepeolus pectoralis

Axillae joined to sides of scutellum for almost entire length, the free apical angle very short….7

Axillae more elongate, with apical angle acute, diverging considerably from sides of scutellum….8

Scutum broadly yellow tomentose anteriorly, without a median interruption, remainder of the disk black, without yellow tomentum…Triepeolus concavus

Scutum somewhat less broadly yellow tomentose anteriorly, the yellow band narrowly interrupted, with black medially, the lateral and posterior margins also quite broadly yellow tomentose…Triepeolus remigatus

Punctures of abdominal terga coarse, close, deep, and very distinct…Triepeolus distinctus

Punctures of terga minute and close, obscured by dense, black tomentum…9

Scutum anteriorly with dense yellowish tomentum; tergum 2 with fascia gradually broadened on each side, to completely cover lateral areas of disc…Triepeolus remigatus

Scutum without conspicuous pale tomentum anteriorly; band on tergum 2 of nearly uniform width across plate….10

Axillae exceptionally long and slender apically; legs, tubercles, tegulae, mandibles, labrum, and scape bright ferruginous; black patch of basal tergum very narrow…Triepeolus 4-fasciatus atlanticus

Axillae of ordinary length; black patch of basal tergum broader, or legs, tegulae, etc. black….11

Labrum, base of mandibles, scape, tegulae, tubercles and all legs bright ferruginous, spurs testaceous….Triepeolus lunatus lunatus

Mandibles, labrum, scape and tubercles entirely black; spurs black.. Triepeolus lunatus concolor

By Flight Time-Spring Flyers (Jan.-May), both species endemic

T. alachuensis

T. rugosus

Summer Flyers (July-Sept.)

T. concavus

T. lunatus concolor

T. lunatus lunatus

T. quadrifasciatus atlanticus

T. remigatus

T. rufithorax

Fall Flyers (Sept.-Nov.)

Apidae: Triepeolus alachuensis Mitchell

County Records: Alachua

Locations:

Dates: May

Plants: Melilotus alba

Notes: Endemic to Florida, No photos available, only known from the female.

Apidae: Triepeolus concavus Cresson

County Records: Hernando, Santa Rosa

Locations:

Dates: June-September according to Mitchell

Plants:

Notes: Parasite of Svastra obliqua; one of the largest Triepeolus species.

Female:

No photos available of male.

Apidae: Triepeolus distinctus Cresson

County Records: none from the FSCA

Locations:

Dates: September

Plants:

Notes: Known from Georgia and Florida; No photos available for either species.

Apidae: Triepeolus floridanus Mitchell

County Records: Alachua, Thomas (GA)

Locations:

Dates: October

Plants:

Notes: no female known of this species; thought to be endemic to Florida, now known from southern counties of Georgia.

Apidae: Triepeolus lunatus concolor Robertson

County Records: Alachua, Escambia, Lafayette, Leon

Locations:

Dates: May-September across entire range; collections from Leon County, Florida were all from July (Pascarella, unpub. data)

Plants:

Notes: Parasite of Melissodes bimaculata

Female:

Male:

Apidae: Triepeolus lunatus lunatus Say

County Records: Alachua, Brevard, Escambia, Leon, Madison.

Locations:

Dates: May-September across entire range; collections from Leon County, Florida were all from July (Pascarella, unpub. data)

Plants:

Notes: Parasite of Melissodes bimaculata. This species and the other subspecies likely interbreed. Intermediates can be found that have varying degrees of reddish coloration. See the scape photo of the male of T. lunatus lunatus for variable expression of red coloration.