Problematic Sphecodes

[Henry Steig]

Hi everyone,

I'm starting to explore the eastern Sphecodes a little more deeply and I was wondering if anyone was aware of specimens from east of the Mississippi that don't key out well in Mitchell or don't seem to match existing species descriptions. I would be very interested to receive specimens and/or photos. I am aware of the many species known only from types, a single sex, etc., but if others have explored this group in the past and are interested in comparing notes, please reach out!

Best,

Henry Steig

Danforth Lab, Cornell University

[Anthony Abbate]

Hi Henry,

We have collected quite a few Sphecodes here in Alabama, I’d be happy to contribute specimens/pictures. 

-Anthony 

On Jul 24, 2026, at 11:49 AM, Henry Steig <he...@steig.com> wrote:

Hi everyone,

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[Nash Turley]

I believe we also have some from Pennsylvania that folks couldn't put a name on, let me know if you think they could be helpful :) 

Nash 

Nash Turley 

Postdoctoral Researcher 

Department of Entomology

Pennsylvania State University 

nashturley.com

he/him/his

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[Droege, Sam]

Hey Henry

A very useful effort.

The discoverlife guides would be useful to peruse...still lots of problems, but I spent a week with Mike Arduser to develop them as far as we could go.  Would also encourage getting in touch with Mike as he probably has the greatest grasp.

Keep us up to date.  I have a lot of pro tem Sphecodes and want to spend some time working on them this winter.

Sam

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Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [Beemonitoring] Problematic Sphecodes

 

 

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[ejs...@comcast.net]

Henry,

Piggybacking on Sam’s message, I collected 14 female specimens of Sphecodes nr. cressonii (Robertson) on my yearlong survey on Poplar Island in the Chesapeake Bay. Mike Arduser currently has the specimens that he believes may be a new undescribed species. Mike points out that the specimens have a pronotum that’s unique, being dorso-laterally spiniferous, which is not the case with either S. cressonii or S. atlantis. [“Not very closeup” photos below if they come through.]

Gene

 

Eugene J. Scarpulla

Editor, The Maryland Entomologist

Phoenix, Maryland

ejs...@comcast.net

www.mdentsoc.org

 

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[Henry Steig]

Thanks very much for the suggestions everyone! I've exchanged a few emails with Mike Arduser already. I have been exploring Discover Life—I may follow up with you Sam about a few questions I have on the key. The tiny Sphecodes are always the hardest.

Separately, I was wondering if anyone has PDFs they can share of Engel's On the classification of sphecodine bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) and Eardley's Catalogue of Afrotropical bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Apiformes).