New Island Records for Lasioglossum (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) from the Virgin Islands, West Indies.

Abstract

Abstract: The halictid bee fauna of the West Indies is poorly documented, especially for species of Lasioglossum Curtis, 1833. More information regarding the ranges and distributions of these species among the islands is needed for understanding historical biogeography and for bee conservation efforts. Here we report new distributional records in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands for three species of Lasioglossum: L. dispersum Gibbs, 2018, L. enatum Gibbs, 2018, and L. rufopanticis (Engel, 2001). We also provide information on new host-plant associations and describe specimens with atypical wing venation and unusual facial markings, which add to our understanding of basic biology and variation within species.