RESUMEN
ABSTRACT For a long time, the provenance of the specimens used by Frederick Smith to describe the species of stingless bees from Brazil remained a mystery. The recent digitalization of 19th century publications has made possible to trace the origin of the material brought to the London International Exhibition of 1862 by the Brazilian delegation. We document that the bee specimens showed at the International Exhibition, and that served as type material of the species described by Smith, were collected by Manuel Ferreira Lagos, head of the Zoology section of the Comissão Científica de Exploração, during their stay in Ceará, from 1859 to 1861. Even if late, it is important to give due credit to the Comissão Científica de Exploração, and more specifically to Lagos, for the contribution to the knowledge of the stingless bee fauna from Brazil.
RESUMEN
Scolebythidae are ectoparasitoid wasps which develop gregariously as idiobionts on wood-boring beetle larvae. Among them, the genus Clystopsenella is restricted to the Neotropical region and the eastern coast of Australia. The genus also includes a fossil species, Clystopsenella mirabilis Engel, 2015, from Miocene Dominican amber. In the present study we review the genus Clystopsenella and describe a new species from Costa Rica, Clystopsenella pacifica sp. nov. A key to the extant and extinct species is provided. The type locality of Clystopsenella longiventris Kieffer, 1911 is reinterpreted based on the original labels. The distribution of the genus is mostly confined to woodlands under tropical and subtropical climates. The biology of scolebythids is discussed based on a new host record for C. longiventris.
Asunto(s)
Escarabajos , Avispas , Ámbar , Animales , FósilesRESUMEN
Within Augochlorini, Augochlora Smith is one of the most speciose genera, with 118 species, and widely distributed groups, occurring from Argentina to Canada. The genus has a remarkable range of social behaviors and nesting substrate preferences. There are two recognized extant subgenera: Augochlora s.s., whose species nest in decaying wood cavities and Oxystoglossella, whose species nest in soil. To date, a single species revision is available for Central Argentina and Uruguay. In the present study we provide a revision of Oxystoglossella species occurring in Northeastern Brazil including the description of three new species: Augochlora bipunctata sp. nov., Augochlora modica sp. nov. and Augochlora tenax sp. nov. Herein Halictus eucnemis Vachal is resurrected from synonymy with Augochlora thalia Smith, and the lectotype of Halictus hemitomes Vachal is presently designated. Augochlora aurinasis is cited for Brazil for the first time. A key to the six species of Oxystoglossella occurring at Northeastern region in Brazil is provided. The three new species are apparently restricted to this region, being one of them probably linked to the Caatinga biome.
Asunto(s)
Himenópteros , Animales , Abejas , BrasilRESUMEN
Even after more than 250 years of taxonomic research on bees, there are still many gaps in the knowledge about their identity, classification and distribution patterns. Regarding the New World tribe Augochlorini, many efforts have been made in the last years to describe and organize its diversity. Within the tribe, Augochlora Smith has the widest distribution range, as these bees occur from Argentina to Southern Canada, including Caribbean islands. The genus comprises 124 described species in two extant subgenera, and, to date, two partial revisions are available, accounting for central Argentina and Uruguay and for northeastern Brazil. In the present study we review the Augochlora species occurring in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and the southern Brazilian states of Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and Santa Catarina. Specimens from other Brazilian states and South American countries were also examined to help with species circumscription. We found 27 species in the studied area, including nine new species (Augochlora atlantica sp. nov., A. australis sp. nov., A. genalis sp. nov., A. helena sp. nov., A. hestia sp. nov., A. hirsuta sp. nov., A. laevicarinata sp. nov., A. mendax sp. nov., and A. scabrata sp. nov.) and the remaining redescribed when necessary. A key for the species occurring in the studied area is provided. Five new synonymies are proposed and the lectotypes of Augochlora francisca and Halictus esox are presently designated. The geographic distribution of most studied species is associated with the Atlantic biome in many ways.