Two continents and two names for a Neotropical colletid bee species (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Neopasiphaeinae):Hoplocolletes ventralis(Friese, 1924)

Abstract

Neopasiphaeine bees (Apoidea: Colletidae) are known for their Amphinotic distribution in the Australian and Neotropical regions. Affinities between colletid taxa in Australia and South America have been speculated for decades, and have been confirmed by recent phylogenetic hypotheses that indicate a biogeographic scenario compatible with a trans-Antarctic biotic connection during the Paleogene. No neopasiphaeine species occurs on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, but the Neotropical speciesHoplocolletes ventralis(Friese, 1924) was described as an Australian taxon due to an error in the specimen labels. This mistake was recognized by CD Michener 50 years ago. We herein report that the same labeling problem also happened withDasycolletes chalceusFriese, 1924, which remained as a tentatively placed species in the Australian genusLeioproctusuntil now. Moreover,Dasycolletes chalceusis interpreted as a synonym ofHoplocolletes ventralis. We also provide a revised diagnosis forHoplocolletes, describe the male ofH. ventralisin detail for the first time, including a comparative study of its genitalia and associated sterna.