A revised classification for the neopasiphaeine line, with description of new species of the bee tribe Lonchopriini (Apidae, Colletinae)

Two new species of Lonchopriini from Brazil are proposed, one belonging to Camposapis, a genus recently proposed in honor of professor Lucio Campos, and the other one to Ctenosibyne, a genus thus far believed to be monotypic. Camposapis catarinae sp. nov. is described based on females and males collected in Santa Catarina, while Ctenosibyne singularis sp. nov. is proposed based on a single male collected in Paraná. As a way to introduce the new names the current classification of the Colletinae sensu lato is discussed and a new system for the tribes composing this important element of our bee fauna is proposed. Three phyletic lines are recognized for the Colletinae: the colletine, diphaglossine and neopasiphaeine lines. In the neopasiphaeine line, the following tribes are recognized: Anthoglossini (Australia), Eulonchopriini (New World), Lonchopriini (South America), Neopasiphaeini (Australia), and Trichocolletini (Australia). It is also argued that changes to classification systems should be based on solid phylogenetic evidence and that any urge to name all possible lineages will certainly result in redundant names that are likely to be abandoned in the future. Well-established taxonomic and nomenclatural practices should be strictly followed in order to avoid what has been called as taxonomic vandalism

Two new species of Xylocopa (Stenoxylocopa) from southeastern Brazil (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Two new species of Xylocopa (Stenoxylocopa) are described from the highlands of Minas Gerais, in southeastern Brazil: X. urbanae sp. nov. and X. silveirai sp. nov. They stand out from other South American species of X. (Stenoxylocopa) by the quasitridentate mandibles and the dense pilosity covering the metasomal terga

Two new genera of the bee tribe Lonchopriini, with additional taxonomic notes (Apidae, Colletinae)

Two new genera are proposed in Lonchopriini, a tribe of the neopasiphaeine line in the Colletinae. The new genus Camposapis (type-species: Leioproctus larejae Compagnucci & Roig-Alsina, 2008) is proposed to accommodate a distinct lineage from Argentina and Brazil. The new genus Silveirapis (type-species: Lonchopria robertsi Michener, 1989) is proposed for a lineage previously placed in Biglossa sensu Michener, but which came out as sister-group of Ctenosibyne Moure based on molecular evidence. In addition, Biglossidia solanophila is proposed as a replacement name for Rhinetula chalybaea Friese, 1922 due to homonymy with Biglossidia chalybaea (Friese, 1906). Lectotype designations are also proposed for Biglossa thoracica Friese, 1906 and Biglossa chalybaea Friese, 1906

A new subgenus of the stingless bee genus Melipona (Hymenoptera, Apidae), with a key to the subgenera

A new subgenus, Melipona (Meliponiella) (type-species: Melipona illustris Schwarz, 1932), is proposed to remedy the non-monophyly of M. (Eomelipona). A key to the subgenera of Melipona, based on the worker caste, is provided

Euglossa obrima, a new species of orchid bee from Mesoamerica, with notes on the subgenus Dasystilbe Dressler (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://www.pensoft.netA new species of the orchid bee subgenus Dasystilbe Dressler (Euglossini: Euglossa Latreille) is described and figured from a series of males and females collected broadly in Mesoamerica. Euglossa (Dasystilbe) obrima, sp. n., is differentiated from the one known species of Dasystilbe, E. (D.) villosa Moure, which occurs only in Panamá and perhaps Costa Rica. The subgenus and its constituent species are diagnosed, and comments provided on Dasystilbe

Psenulus pallipes (Panzer, 1798), an adventive wasp species (Apoidea, Crabronidae) newly recorded in the fauna of Chile

We document the presence of the Palearctic Psenulus pallipes (Panzer, 1798) in Chile for the first time. We believe this represents an adventive population introduced into the Neotropical region most likely by accidental human transportation of nests. A map of distribution in Chile, illustrations of external morphology, and a discussion of morphological features to distinguish the introduced taxon from the Neotropical species are presented

Tetrapediini

45 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 42-45).Tetrapedia diversipes Klug is herein reported for the first time to be the host of the cleptoparasite Coelioxoides waltheriae Ducke. Because these two genera had been previously recognized as sister taxa (A. Roig-Alsina. 1990. Coelioxoides Cresson, a parasitic genus of Tetrapediini (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 63: 279-287), the authors wished to learn to what extent biological information and immature stages reflected this relationship. Tetrapedia diversipes normally nests in holes in wood such as old beetle burrows, and it was induced to use trap nests for this study. Many aspects of the nesting behavior of females of this species are described, including the following: diurnal flight period; sleeping habits; nest structure; nest provisioning; egg placement; and sequence of nest construction, provisioning, and oviposition. Eggs produced by this species are categorized as "giant" (K. Iwata and S.F. Sakagami. 1966. Gigantism and dwarfism in bee eggs in relation to the mode of life, with notes on the number of ovarioles. Japanese Journal of Ecology 16: 4-16). Its first instar was discovered to be pharate within the chorion while the following four instars actively feed. Defecation starts early in the last larval stadium. Females use floral oils both in nest construction and in provisioning, and they carry pollen, oil, and soil with their scopae. The biology of T. diversipes was compared with that of other species in the genus and then compared with that of other apines that are known to nest in preformed cavities and that provision nests with pollen and floral oils. The host-nest searching behavior of Coelioxoides waltheriae is described. The cleptoparasite introduces its egg into the closed cell of the host shortly after cell closure. This egg is characterized as "small" (Iwata and Sakagami, ibid.) and has a very short incubation period. The highly modified first instar immediately feeds on the host egg and grows remarkably fast on the host yolk. This species has only four instars. Rates of development of the host and cleptoparasite are compared. Both have four ovarioles per ovary. Eggs, first instars, last larval instars, and pupae of host and cleptoparasite are taxonomically described and compared. In conclusion, the immatures of Coelioxoides and Tetrapedia are quite distinct from those of other known apids. While these two genera are probably sister genera based on the similarities identified by Roig-Alsina (op. cit.) and by this study, they are quite different from one another based on features of the eggs, first instars, and pupae

Taxonomic notes on Monoeca and description of a new species of Protosiris.

60 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 52-54).The nesting biologies of Monoeca haemorrhoidalis (Smith) and Lanthanomelissa betinae Urban (Tapinotaspidini) are described from southeastern Brazil. Both are ground nesting; the nests of the former are attacked by the cleptoparasite Protosiris gigas Melo (Osirini), and those of the latter are attacked by Parepeolus minutus Roig-Alsina (Osirini). Egg eclosion, larval feeding behavior, and cocoon spinning of M. haemorrhoidalis are detailed. A female of P. gigas opens the closed cell of M. haemorrhoidalis by making a large opening in the cell cap (which is plugged after ovipositioning) through which she apparently extends her metasoma. Indirect evidence suggests that she uses her metasomal apex, and perhaps even the sting, to kill the host egg or early instar. Protosiris eggs are either attached to the cell-wall surface of the nearly vertical host cells or dropped onto the surface of the provisions. First instars of P. gigas, with strongly curved, sharply pointed mandibles, are also capable of killing host immatures or competing cleptoparasites. Cocoons of all four species are compared and contrasted. The egg, all larval instars, and pupa of Monoeca haemorrhoidalis are described, as are the egg and postdefecating larva of Lanthanomelissa betinae. The egg, all larval instars, and pupa of Protosiris gigas are described, as is the postdefecating larva of Parepeolus minutus. Both Monoeca haemorrhoidalis and Protosiris gigas have four ovarioles per ovary. The egg indices and other ovarian features of both species are identified and discussed. The possible phylogenetic relationship of the Tapinotaspidini with the Osirini is briefly explored on the basis of data from this study. Possible phylogenetic relationships of the Osirini with other cleptoparasitic apids are analyzed. In the appendix, the identity of the species of Monoeca, whose nesting biology is presented in the main paper, is discussed. The species is M. haemorrhoidalis (Smith, 1854), a species closely related to M. schrottkyi (Friese, 1902) and M. xanthopyga Harter-Marques, Cunha, and Moure, 2001. An identification key for distinguishing these three species is presented. Tetrapedia piliventris Friese is placed as a junior synonym of M. haemorrhoidalis (new synonymy). A lectotype is designated for Pachycentris schrottkyi Friese. The species of Protosiris found attacking M. haemorrhoidalis is here described as new, P. gigas Melo sp. nov. It is structurally most similar to P. caligneus (Shanks), from which it differs by its abundant yellow marks, plumose pubescence on the lower paraocular area, protruding anterior mesoscutum, and sparser punctation on the metasomal terga

Markedly Divergent Tree Assemblage Responses to Tropical Forest Loss and Fragmentation across a Strong Seasonality Gradient

We examine the effects of forest fragmentation on the structure and composition of tree assemblages within three seasonal and aseasonal forest types of southern Brazil, including evergreen, Araucaria, and deciduous forests. We sampled three southernmost Atlantic Forest landscapes, including the largest continuous forest protected areas within each forest type. Tree assemblages in each forest type were sampled within 10 plots of 0.1 ha in both continuous forests and 10 adjacent forest fragments. All trees within each plot were assigned to trait categories describing their regeneration strategy, vertical stratification, seed-dispersal mode, seed size, and wood density. We detected differences among both forest types and landscape contexts in terms of overall tree species richness, and the density and species richness of different functional groups in terms of regeneration strategy, seed dispersal mode and woody density. Overall, evergreen forest fragments exhibited the largest deviations from continuous forest plots in assemblage structure. Evergreen, Araucaria and deciduous forests diverge in the functional composition of tree floras, particularly in relation to regeneration strategy and stress tolerance. By supporting a more diversified light-demanding and stress-tolerant flora with reduced richness and abundance of shade-tolerant, old-growth species, both deciduous and Araucaria forest tree assemblages are more intrinsically resilient to contemporary human-disturbances, including fragmentation-induced edge effects, in terms of species erosion and functional shifts. We suggest that these intrinsic differences in the direction and magnitude of responses to changes in landscape structure between forest types should guide a wide range of conservation strategies in restoring fragmented tropical forest landscapes worldwide