On the classification of sphecodine bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

Abstract

Taxonomic notes are presented for the exclusively cleptoparasitic halictine bee subtribe Sphecodina (Halictinae: Halictini). Keys are presented to the Western and Eastern Hemisphere genera of Sphecondina. In the New World fauna, the genus Melissocleptis Gonçalves is considered a subgenus of Austrosphecodes Michener s. l ., and the following species transferred: Austrosphecodes ( Melissocleptis ) albifacies (Gibbs), A. ( M .)capriciosus (Schrottky), A. ( M .) coriae (Moure & Hurd), A. ( M .) diablotinus (Gibbs), A. ( M .) genaroi (Engel), A. ( M .) nigritus (Ashmead), A. ( M .) tainoi (Engel), A. ( M .) variabilis (Schrottky) comb. n. A key is provided to the subgenera of Microsphecodes Eickwort & Stage s. l ., with Trichosphecodes subgen. n., established for those species with elongate ocular setae. Keys are also presented for the species of Microsphecodes s. str. and Trichosphecodes, along with the descriptions of the species Microsphecodes ( Microsphecodes ) eickworti sp. n., M. ( M .) multirugosus sp. n., M. ( M .) quechua sp. n., and M. ( Trichosphecodes ) trichophthalmus sp. n. The Brazilian species Nesosphecodes depressus Gonçalves is transferred to Notoclops gen. n., resulting in the new combination Notoclops depressus (Gonçalves) comb. n. A key is presented to New World subgenera of Sphecodes Latreille, with the following new or resurrected groups: Proteraner Robertson, Drepanium Robertson, Sphecodium Robertson, Asphecodium subgen. n., and Boreosphecodes subgen. n. The following new species are described among New World Sphecodes : Sphecodes (Asphecodium) brevisulcatus sp. n., S. ( Sphecodium ) eustauros sp. n., S. ( S .) electrum sp. n., S. ( Sphecodes ) zacatuche sp. n. The genus Caenosphecodes gen. n. is proposed for Sphecodes pseudoredivivus Astafurova & Proshchalykin and S. redivivus Blüthgen, differing from Sphecodes by the elongate free part of the marginal cell, in this respect resembling New World Microsphecodes. This results in the combinations Caenosphecodes pseudoredivivus (Astafurova & Proshchalykin), C . sauteri (Meyer), C. simlaensis (Blüthgen), and C. redivivus (Blüthgen) comb. n. The currently employed characters for subgenera of Eupetersia Blüthgen s. l. fail to distinguish the groups. Accordingly, the key to subgenera is revised and the species newly organized as to subgenera. Cephalosphecodes subgen. n. is established for Eupetersia macrocephala Pauly and E . mandibulata Blüthgen, Xanthocleptis subgen. n. is proposed for E . reticulata (Benoist), and Pollinicleptis subgen. n. is erected for E . nathani Baker, E . malayensis (Blüthgen), E . sabahensis Pauly, and E . singaporensis Pauly. A new species of Nesoeupetersia , E. dnophera sp. n., is described from Sabah, Malaysia and a tentative key provided to species of the subgenus. Thrausmus Buysson and Callosphecodes Friese are treated as independent genera, and the latter considered close to Melittocleptes gen. n., with Melittocleptes insularis (Smith) comb. n. as type species. A key is presented to Old World subgenera of Sphecodes, with the following new or resurrected groups: Proteraneropsis subgen. n., Paradrepanium subgen. n., Eusphecodes subgen. n.,Sabulicola Verhoeff, Caenocleptes subgen. n., Xystoclops subgen. n., Callocleptes subgen. n., and Nomiocleptes subgen. n.