New records of bees of the genus Sphecodes Latreille in the Palaearctic part of China (Hymenoptera, Halictidae)

Abstract

The available information about the cleptoparastic bees of the genusSphecodesin the Palaearctic part of China is summarized. Twenty-four species are currently known from this area including 16 newly recorded. Based on type specimens, new synonymies have been proposed forSphecodescristatusHagens, 1882 =S.alfkeniMeyer, 1922,syn. n.;S.longulusHagens, 1882 =S.subfasciatusBlüthgen, 1934,syn. n.;S.nipponMeyer, 1922 =S.kansuensisBlüthgen, 1934,syn. n.;SphecodespieliCockerell, 1931 =S.orientalisAstafurova & Proshchalykin, 2014,syn. n.Lectotypes are designated forSphecodesalfkeniMeyer, 1922 andS.pellucidusniveipennisMeyer, 1925. Illustrated keys to males and females of all species known from Palaearctic China and an updated checklist of the 33 Chinese species ofSphecodesare provided.