Search

Three new genera of Protandrenini bees from South America are described. Luisanthrena new genus is proposed to include L. ruzae, new species (from Ecuador) and L. vargasllosai (Gonzalez & Alvarado, 2019), new combination (from Peru). The new genus Cisanthrena includes only the unusual species Cisanthrena perforata n. sp. from forested areas of the Andes in Peru. In addition, Austellurgus new genus is proposed to accommodate A. avulsus (Ramos & Melo, 2006), new combination (southeastern Brazil).

The genus Rhophitulus Ducke, 1907 is a large and complex group of bees of the tribe Protandrenini comprising small, slender, mostly black ground-nesting species that are restricted to South America. We describe a new species of Rhophitulus from Parque Nacional Sao Joaquim, Urubici, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Rophitulus ater sp. nov. is distinctive and easily distinguished from other species of the genus by a unique combination of morphological characters in both sexes, but especially by the following: dull black body, coarsely and densely punctate integument, basal area of metapostnotum depressed and areolate rugose, posterior margin of hind tibia and pygidial fimbria of female with blackish pilosity, and characters of the male genitalia with hidden sterna. The new species is closely associated with Blumenbachia catharinensis (Loasaceae), which is restricted to cloud forest of the southeastern rim of Serra Geral. Flowers of B. catharinensis are pollen and nectar resources and mating sites for the new species.

In Neotropical region, the subfamily Andreninae is commonly collected in temperate and subtropical areas with scarce records in tropical areas. Here, we provide a checklist of andrenine bees from Cerrado and describe two new species of Anthrenoides. Twenty-two bee species of Andreninae were recorded. The new species were recorded in the core area of Cerrado, on Brazilan Central Plateau. Anthrenoides kalungasp. nov. is known by a single female specimen from Chapada dos Veadeiros and it is easily recognized by the hairy mesosoma. Anthrenoides urbanaesp. nov. was collected in a grassland area of Cerrado, and is distinguished from other species by glossa and galea longer than compound eyes. A. urbanaesp. nov. is associated with flowers of Alstroemeria gardneri (Alstroemeriaceae) which are used as a source of food and mating sites. The small number of Andreninae bee species recorded on Cerrado is possibly a result of a shortfall of inventories that can be solved by an additional effort to sample these rare bees with specific methods like UV pan traps.

This catalogue lists the type specimens of Crabronidae and Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (MZUSP). The collection includes a total of 83 type specimens (17 holotypes, 66 paratypes), 82 of which belong to nine genera and 35 species of Crabronidae and only one of Sphecidae. All labels contents and additional information obtained from other available sources are presented. High resolution photographs of the primary types are also provided.

The Hymenoptera collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (MZSP) houses one of the most important collections for the Brazilian and Neotropical wasp faunas. The present catalogue lists the type specimens of Pompiloidea, Thynnoidea and Vespoidea (Insecta, Hymenoptera) deposited in the MZSP. The collection includes a total of 301 type specimens (66 holotypes, 27 lectotypes, 158 paratypes, 45 paralectotypes, and five syntpes), being 91 Pompiloidea (40 Mutillidae type specimens of 10 genera and 25 species, 51 Pompilidae type specimens of 4 genera and 27 species), 191 Vespoidea (15 genera and 85 species of Vespidae), and 18 Thynnoidea (eight genera and 12 species of Thynnidae). All information written in labels was compiled and is presented along with additional data from the original descriptions, MZSP records and other sources. We provice Specimage links to high resolution photographs of holotypes and lectotypes at the Hymenoptera image database of the Ohio State University.

Two new records of gynandromorphs in Xylocopa Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Gynandromorphs are deviant morphological individuals with genetically distinct male and female tissues. Records of sex anomalies seems to be important to better understand the mechanisms regulating phenotypic expression. Herein, two new cases of gynandromorphs in carpenter bee species of Xylocopa from Brazil are described and figured: a mixed gynandromorph of the X. (Neoxylocopa) brasilianorum (Linnaeus, 1767) from São Paulo and a bilateral gynandromorph of the X. (Neoxylocopa) ordinaria Smith, 1874 from Sergipe.

Protandrenini includes approximately 420 species of short-tongued bees, which are exclusively distributed in the Americas (Michener 2007; Moure et al. 2007; Ascher & Pickering 2017). Members of this tribe are mostly found in xeric and temperate areas in South America, and their diversity is still greatly underestimated. In fact, a major challenge to the systematics of Protandrenini is the outstanding number of species unplaced in genera or awaiting formal description (Ruz & Chiappa 2004; Ramos & Melo 2006; Michener 2007; Moure et al. 2007; Ramos & Rozen 2014). In addition to several taxa currently considered of uncertain position within the tribe, many South American genera are in need of taxonomic revision, such as Rhophitulus Ducke, Anthrenoides Ducke, and Psaenythia Gerstaecker (Silveira et al. 2002; Michener 2007; Ramos & Melo 2010; Moure et al. 2007).

A new bee genus from Argentina, Psaenythisca, is described and includes three species: P. flavifrons (Vachal, 1909), n. comb, (originally described as Psaenythia), P. wagneri (Vachal, 1909), n. comb. (originally described as Psaenythia), and P. punctata (Urban, 2009), n. comb. (originally described as Anthrenoides). The new genus is proposed based on a comparative study of the Protandrenini lineages. Psaenythisca is closely related to Cephalurgus and Rhophitulus, and can be distinguished mainly by the forewing with three submarginal cells, premarginal area of S2 to S5 of male with dense pubescence, distal margin of S6 of male slightly emarginated, and male genitalia with relatively broad basal sclerite. Among Protandrenini genera with three submarginal cells, it differs from Anthrenoides and Psaenythia by the combination of male genitalia with a basal sclerite, metasomal terga lacking yellow markings, propodeum rounded, middle tibial spur of the female finely serrate, and slender basal area of S8...

A new species, Arhysosage biguttulata sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on adult specimens collected in the Chaco region of Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. This new species can be distinguished by its coloration pattern, pilosity and integumental sculpture. Field observations have revealed several aspects of its life history, such as mating behaviour (similar to other Arhysosage species) and its association with the host plant Opuntia sp. (Cactaceae). In addition, Arhysosage flava is recorded for the first time in Brazil, and type-specimen photographs of Arhysosage cactorum Moure, 1999 and Arhysosage melanothricha Moure, 1999 are provided, along with taxonomic notes. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4E7C7FF9-44C0-4D77-8C78-B4E0F9C4831F

Sex anomalies are one of the best-known cases of teratology among wild bees with different terms used to differentiate among such abnormalities. Gynandromorphs are individuals with genetically distinct male and female tissues while intersexes are genetically uniform individuals with expression of sexual features of the opposite sex. Among the three commonly accepted gynandromorph categories—bilateral symmetry, transverse and mixed (or mosaic)—the relative proportion of each gynanders category described in the literature shows the transverse and mosaic as the most frequently observed cases among wild bees (Michez et al. 2009; Hinojosa- Diaz et al. 2012). In bees, gynandromorphs are recorded from 117 species in 30 genera of all families being mostly recorded from the long-tongued bees in Apinae and Megachilinae (Wcislo et al. 2004; Michez et al. 2009; Hinojosa-Diaz et al. 2012, Lucia et al. 2012).

The bee genus Parapsaenythia Friese (Apidae, Protandrenini) is restricted to South America and characterized by the strongly punctate integument and hairy eyes. In the present work, the species of Parapsaenythia are revised, with seven species recognized, of which three are described as new: P. carinulatasp.n. (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay), P. inornata Moure (Brazil), P. lanatasp.n. (Brazil), P. paspali (Schrottky) (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay), P. puncticutis (Vachal) (Argentina, Bolivia), P. scutellarissp.n. (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay) and P. serripes (Ducke) (Argentina, Brazil). Lectotypes are designated for Psaenythia (Parapsaenythia) argentina Friese, Anthrenoides paspali Schrottky and Parapsaenythia paraguayae Brethes. Floral records, distribution maps, illustrations and an identification key are provided. The cladistic analysis of 11 terminal species (all species of Parapsaenythia plus four outgroup species), based on 45 characters of external morphology and male terminalia, produced a single most parsimonious tree. Parapsaenythia was recovered as monophyletic, with the relationships among its species as follows: (P. inornata (P. carinulatasp.n. (P. lanatasp.n. (P. scutellarissp.n. (P. serripes, P. paspali, P. puncticutis))))). Based on these relationships plus the available distributional data, a cladistic biogeographic analysis was performed, and area cladograms for the Chacoan subregion are presented and discussed.

Glândulas tegumentares são amplamente conhecidas em abelhas sociais e responsáveis por diversas funções nestes insetos. Entretanto, pouco se conhece sobre estas glândulas em abelhas solitárias. Monoeca xanthopyga é uma espécie de abelha solitária que exibe comportamento peculiar nas estratégias de acasalamento e no processo de nidificação. Este estudo visa verificar a ocorrência de glândulas tegumentares abdominais e a natureza química de produtos secretados por machos e fêmeas de M. xanthopyga, em dois momentos do ciclo vital: recém-emergidas e em período de nidificação. O material foi estudado utilizando-se microscopia óptica e eletrônica de varredura e histoquímica. Machos e fêmeas recém-emergidas e em período de nidificação apresentam glândulas tegumentares nos tergos III ao VII, entretanto diferem no tipo e na localização. Nos esternos de fêmeas recém-emergidas, as glândulas estão ausentes, já nas fêmeas em período de nidificação estas glândulas estão presentes nos esternos IV ao VI. Nos machos, as glândulas tegumentares estão presentes nos esternos IV ao VI. A análise histoquímica das glândulas tegumentares de machos e fêmeas sugere a presença de produtos de natureza lipídica, possivelmente envolvidos na comunicação relacionada ao comportamento sexual.Plasticity of abdominal tegumentar glands in Monoeca xanthopyga Harter-Marques, Cunha & Moure (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Tapinotaspidini). Tegumentar glands are highly known in social bees and are responsible for a diversity of functions in these insects. However, little is known about these glands in solitary bees. Monoeca xanthopyga is a solitary bee species that shows a singular behavior of mating and nesting. This study is to verify the occurrence of abdominal tegumentar glands and the chemical nature of the products secreted by males and females of M. xanthopyga, at two moments of the vital cycle: just emerged and at the nesting period. The material was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy and histochemistry. Males and females just emerged and at nesting period show tegumentar glands on terga III to VII, however differ on the type and location. On sterna of a just emerged female tegumentar glands were not detected, while those in nesting period present glands at sterna IV to VI. In males, the tegumentar glands show on sterna IV to VI. The histochemical analysis of the tegumentar glands of males and females suggest predominance of lipid-nature products, possibly involved in the communication related to the sexual behavior.

Protandrena avulsa new species, from Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais (southeastern Brazil) is described and illustrated. This species is unique within Protandrena for its well-developed pronotal lamella, similar to what is found in Pseudopanurgus and Parapsaenythia, and by its protuberant interantennal area. This is the first record of this bee genus in Brazil.