Eumelissodes

Melissodes

Subgenus Eumelissodes (8 taxa)

This subgenus is mostly fall-flying in Florida, particularly in September and October, with a few individuals found in August (early) and November (late). Nearly all visit the Asteraceae for pollen although individuals may visit other flowers for nectar. In Florida, Aster, Chrysopsis, Helianthus, Solidago, and Vernonia are the key pollen plants. Previously, only M. boltoniae, M. denticulata, M. manipularis, and M. tincta were known from Florida. This study finds that M. agilis, M. dentiventris, M. druriella, and M. trinodis can also be expected to occur, particularly in the panhandle and northern peninsula.

Males are separated below. Females cannot be identified to subgenus separately and are keyed out in conjunction with females of subgenus Melissodes.

Key to females of Melissodes, subgenera Eumelissodes and Melissodes

Scopa on hind legs entirely black..M. bimaculata nulla

Scopa pale, in part..2

Abdomen black pubescent, without evident spots or fasciae of pale pubescence, except possibly a basal fasciae on segment 2 which is usually covered by the disc of segment 1…3

Abdomen with spots or fasciae of pale pubescence on segments 3 and 4…4

Dorsum of thorax largely or entirely pale pubescent…M. dentiventris

Dorsum of thorax largely black pubescent (variable)..M. druriella

Pubescence, except the scopa, entirely black on head, thorax, and legs…M. bimaculata bimaculata

Some pale pubescence on either the head, thorax, or legs…5

Pubescence of scutum and scutellum entirely pale, or with but a very few inconspicuous dark hairs…6

Scutum and scutellum with extensive patches of black pubescence…9

(limited black)

Pubescence of dorsum of thorax bright fulvous…7

Thorax with pale ochraceous pubescence dorsally....8

Abdominal terga 3-5 with rather short, but erect, black hairs basad of the fasciae…M. trinodis

Pubescence of abdominal terga 3-5 largely pale, subappressed…M agilis

Mid basitarsi with black or piceous hairs on outer surface, mid tibiae dark pubescent at least in part…M. comptoides

Mid basitarsi and tibiae entirely pale pubescent…M. tepaneca

Pleura black pubescent, at least in part…10

Pleura entirely pale pubescent…12

Pleura largely pale pubescent, with but a small amount of black pubescence beneath wing bases…M. denticulata

Pubescence on upper part of pleura ochraceous, becoming fuscous or blackish below…11

Posterior two-thirds of scutum conspicuously black pubescent (1); apical areas of terga 2 and 3 largely impunctate (2)…M. druriella

1) 2)

Scutum with only a limited area of black pubescence posteriorly; apical areas of terga 2 and 3 distinctly although finely punctate…M. comptoides

Clypeus with dark pubescence…M. druriella

Clypeus entirely pale…13

Mid basitarsi brownish or blackish pubescence….14

Mid basitarsi pale pubescent….17

Fascia on segment 4 entire, uninterrupted on its posterior border…M. boltoniae

Fascia on segment 4 interrupted medially on its posterior border, or slightly removed from rim..15

15. Second abdominal tergum very nearly impunctate…M. denticulata

Tergum 2 with numerous close, distinct punctures, at least over basal half…16

Apical half of tergum 2, beyond the fascia, nearly or quite impunctate..M. druriella

Apical half of tergum 2 minutely but rather closely punctate, the punctures nearly as close as over the basal half…M. tincta

Wings lightly but uniformly infuscated (1); median fasciae or terga 2 and 3 very narrow, white (2); tergum 4 with conspicuous, erect, black pubescence across basal half of disc (3)…M. communis

1) 2) 3)

Wings hyaline or somewhat whitish…M. manipularis

Key to males of Melissodes, subgenus Eumelissodes

Upper portion of clypeus to some degree black…2

Clypeus entirely yellow…4

Pubescence of dorsum of thorax entirely pale…M. dentiventris

Scutum and scutellum with a considerable amount of black or fuscous pubescence…3

Vertex with conspicuous, erect, black hairs (1); apical impressed areas of abdominal terga dark, concolorous with the more basal areas (2), with a few very short hairs and microscopic punctures; clypeus yellowish-white (3)..M. denticulata

1) 2) 3)

Pubescence of vertex entirely white (1); impressed areas of terga more coppery (2)…M. tincta

1) 2)

Labrum entirely black…5

Labrum yellow, at least in part…8

Apical impressed areas of abdominal terga dark, becoming somewhat yellowish along rims…6

Apical impressed areas of terga broadly hyaline…M. boltoniae

Dorsum of thorax with bright fulvous pubescence…M. trinodis

Thoracic pubescence pale ochraceous or whitish…7

Scutum closely and deeply punctate throughout, interspaces no greater than diameter of punctures, even posteriorly…M. dentiventris

Punctures in median posterior areas of scutum quite sparse..M. boltoniae

Apical impressed areas of terga darker, possibly becoming somewhat brownish along rims…9

Abdominal terga broadly hyaline and transparent apically…11

Pubescence of dorsum of thorax entirely pale…10

Dorsum of thorax with at least some intermixture of dark hairs…?

Dorsum of thorax with bright ochraceous or fulvous pubescence…M. trinodis

Pubescence of thorax pale ochraceous to whitish…M. druriella

At least basal half of mandibles black…M. manipularis

Mandibles with a distinct basal yellow spot…M. agilis

Note: Some males (M. dentiventris, trinodis, boltoniae) come out in two locations due to variation in clypeal maculations and variation in coloration of abdominal terga apical areas.

Apidae: Melissodes agilis Cresson

County Records: Jefferson, Leon

Locations: Tall Timbers, Avalon

Dates: Specimens from Leon county (all males) were collected in October. Mitchell states May-November for entire range.

Plants: mostly Helianthus

Notes: New record for Florida. Previously known from Georgia near the Florida State line (LaBerge)

Female:

Male:

Apidae: Melissodes boltoniae Robertson

County Records: Alachua, Jefferson, Leon

Locations: Tall Timbers, Avalon

Dates: Specimens were collected in Leon County in late September and October. Mitchell reports July-November across the entire range.

Plants: various composites

Notes: This species closely resembles M. tincta but is slightly larger, has black hairs on the tubercules , and larger punctations on the first tergal basal area .

Female:

Apidae: Melissodes denticulata Smith

County Records: Jefferson, Liberty, Miami-Dade

Locations: Avalon

Dates: May-October according to Mitchell

Plants: Oligolectic on Vernonia

Notes: Males of this species have a white, not yellow, clypeus.

Female:

Male:

Apidae: Melissodes dentiventris Smith

County Records: Jefferson, Leon

Locations: Tall Timbers, Avalon

Dates: July-October according to Mitchell for entire range. From Leon County, all specimens were collected in October and November.

Plants: Aster

Notes: New record for Florida. Previously known from Georgia.

Female:

Male:

Apidae: Melissodes druriella Kirby 1802
[= rustica (Say 1837)]

County Records: Escambia, Jefferson, Leon, Monroe? (This is a suspect record, see notes below), Putnam, Wakulla

Locations: Big Pine Key?, Tall Timbers, Avalon

Dates: May 2-Aug. 4; (May: 3, June: 1-these dates may be suspect if they were from other species), Aug.:1; also into Sept. and October

Plants: Prefers Solidago and Aster; Rhus copallina

Notes: New state record for Florida. Previously known from Georgia. Some of these southern records (Monroe) may need to be checked. I checked two specimens from the FSCA that were labeled as M. rustica, identified by G. E. Bohart 1968, both are actually Melissodes communis females. This suggests that many of these more southern peninsular Florida records might be actually M. communis. This idea is also supported by the distribution map in LaBerge that does not show any confirmed Florida records.

Female:

Apidae: Melissodes manipularis Smith

County Records: Alachua, Clay, Jefferson, Leon

Locations: Tall Timbers, Avalon

Dates: Sept. 1-Oct. 25; Sept.:1, Oct.:2; September according to Mitchell. I have specimens from Leon County from October and November.

Plants: Chrysopsis sp.

Notes: North Carolina-Florida (SE species); males have a distinctive basitibial plate that is square, not rounded.

Female:

Male:

Apidae: Melissodes tincta LaBerge

County Records: Jefferson, Leon, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Orange

Locations: Big Pine Key, Conway, Tall Timbers, Avalon

Dates: April 10, June 17 (1 record each month), October and November (Leon County collections); may fly at other times of year in the south of Florida. Pascarella et al. (2000) recorded it flying in Miami-Dade County from March through June.

Plants: oligolege of Chrysopsis and Aster, also Helianthus and Verbesina

Notes: Males have a distinct clypeus that is black from one-third to two-thirds. Females do not have black hairs on the tubercules.

Female:

Male:

Apidae: Melissodes trinodis Robertson

County Records: Jefferson, Leon

Locations: Tall Timbers, Avalon

Dates: July through October according to Mitchell. Leon County specimens were all from October.

Plants: primarily Helianthus

Notes: new state record for Florida. Previously known from nearby areas of Georgia. Very similar to M. agilis, differs primarily in hair color (darker orange yellow).