Revisión del género de abejas Ceratina, subgénero Rhysoceratina (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Xylocopinae)

El subgénero Rhysoceratina de Ceratina está restringido a América del Sur, con especies conocidas de Argentina, Brasil, Colombia, Paraguay y Uruguay. Se reconocen nueve especies, de la cuales cuatro se describen como nuevas: C. canaliculata, C. pusilla, C. mendozina y C. nitidifrons. Se designa lectotipos para C. catamarcensis Schrottky, 1907, y para C. volitans Schrottky, 1907. El análisis filogenético apoya la monofilia del subgénero y dentro de él de dos grupos principales de especies. Se presenta una clave de especies, descripciones, datos de distribución e ilustraciones.The subgenus Rhysoceratina of Ceratina is restricted to South America, with known species in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Nine species are recognized, four of which are described as new: C. canaliculata, C. pusilla, C. mendozina, and C. nitidifrons. Lectotypes are designated for C. catamarcensis Schrottky, 1907, and C. volitans Schrottky, 1907. A phylogenetic analysis supports the monophyly of the subgenus and, within it, of two major species groups. A key to the species, descriptions, distributional data, and illustrations are provided.Fil: Roig Alsina, Arturo Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

The genus Ceratina in Argentina: revision of the subgenus Neolavicera subg. n. (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Xylocapinae)

El nuevo subgénero Neoclavicera se describe para incluir su especie tipo, Ceratina parvimacula sp. n., y otras diez especies: C. asunciana Strand, C. richardsoniae Schrottky, C. rotundiceps Smith, C. angulata sp. n., C. caveata sp. n., C. fimbriata sp. n., C. latisetis sp. n., C. subcarinata sp. n., C. tucumana sp. n. y C. umbricosta sp. n. Estas especies se caracterizan por una fuerte carena pronotal, como en los subgéneros Crewella Cockerell and Calloceratina Cockerell, pero se distinguen por tener una sola espina apical en las tibias anterior y media, y por la placa de cera restringida al segundo esterno metasomal. El subgénero se distribuye en la Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Paraguay y Uruguay.A new subgenus of Ceratina, Neoclavicera subg. n., is described to include its type species, Ceratina parvimacula sp. n., and ten additional species: C. asunciana Strand, C. richardsoniae Schrottky, C. rotundiceps Smith, C. angulata sp. n., C. caveata sp. n., C. fimbriata sp. n., C. latisetis sp. n., C. subcarinata sp. n., C. tucumana sp. n., and C. umbricosta sp. n. A lectotype is designated for C. asunciana Strand. These species are characterized by a strong pronotal carina, much as in the subgenera Crewella Cockerell and Calloceratina Cockerell, but they are distinguished by the single apical tooth on the fore and mid tibiae, and the wax plate restricted to the second metasomal sternum. The new subgenus is distributed in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Perú and Uruguay.Fil: Roig Alsina, Arturo Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales; Argentin

First report of Monoeca in Argentina, with description of two new species (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Two new species of the oil-collecting bee genus Monoeca Lepeletier & Audinet-Serville (Apidae: Tapinotaspidini) are described and figured from females and males captured in north - eastern Argentina. The two new species here described, Monoeca armata Torretta & Roig-Alsina, new species, and M. puchella Torretta & Roig-Alsina, new species, are easily distinguished from each other by the color of the integument, the wings, and the pilosity. Their relationships to al - ready described species of the genus are discussed. Monoeca were the only genus of Tapinostaspi - dini not known to occur in Argentina. The flower records and the study of the pollen scopal loads corroborate the association of these oil-collecting bees with p lants of the family Malpighiaceae.Fil: Torretta, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente. Cátedra de Botánica Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Roig Alsina, Arturo Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; Argentin

Phylogeny of the Corynura group, an endemic southern South American clade sister to all other Augochlorini bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), and a revision of Corynura

Corynura Spinola, Callistochlora Michener and Halictillus Moure are the only taxa of Augochlorini endemic to southern South America. They are phylogenetically close, comprising a clade sister to all other augochlorines, which are mainly distributed in tropical America. Corynura and Callistochlora are common bees in Chile and the Argentinean Patagonia, while Halictillus inhabits also central Argentina and southern Brazil. A phylogenetic parsimony analysis of 93 morphological characters coded for 25 species supports the monophyly of each of the three taxa, of the clade formed by them, and their sister relationship to the remaining Augochlorini genera. Our analyses suggest Callistochlora as sister to Hallictillus + Corynura. Callistochlora, which has been treated as a subgenus of Corynura, is elevated to genus level. The study of the gradulus of the sterna, a structure usually ignored in morphological analysis, helped in the resolution of the group. A revision of Corynura is presented. We recognize 19 valid species, of which five are described as new: C. callaina sp.n., C. challhuacoensis sp.n., C. condita sp.n., C. luisae sp.n., and C. nahuelita sp.n. The males of C. apicata Sichel, C. patagonica Cockerell and C. spadiciventris Alfken are described for the first time. The following are new synonyms: Rhopalictus callicladurus Cockerell syn.n. is a junior synonym of C. ampliata (Alfken); Halictus analis Herbst syn.n. and C. heterochlora Alfken syn.n. are junior synonyms of C. bruchiana (Schrottky); Rhopalictus corinogaster chiloeensis Cockerell syn.n. is a junior synonym of C. corinogaster (Spinola); R. chloronotus Cockerell syn.n. and R. melanocladus Cockerell syn.n. are junior synonyms of C. herbsti (Alfken). Neotypes are designated to stabilize the usage of three names: Halictus apicatus Sichel, Halictus bruchianus Schrottky, and Corynura gayi Spinola. Lectotypes are designated for six names: Halictus (Corynura) atrovirens Herbst, Halictus analis Herbst, Halictus (Corynura) herbsti Alfken, Halictus spinolae Friese, Corynura lepida Alfken, and Corynura spadiciventris Alfken. Diagnoses, comments on the type specimens, floral associations, notes on variation within species, images, distributional data and a key to the species are provided.Fil: González Vaquero, Rocío Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Roig Alsina, Arturo Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Revision of the species of the bee genus Caenohalictus (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) occurring in Argentinean Patagonia

The species of the halictid bee genus Caenohalictus Cameron occurring in Argentinean Patagonia are revised. Eight species are recognized, one of them here described as new: Caenohalictus flammeus n. sp. The female of C. turquesa Rojas & Toro 2000 is described for the first time. Pseudagapostemon babuarus Jörgensen 1912, based on the male holotype, is synonymized under Augochlora (Pseudaugochloropsis) thamyris Jörgensen 1912, based on the female lectotype. Lecto-types are designated for Augochlora (Pseudaugochloropsis) thamyris Jörgensen 1912 and Halictomorpha autumnalis Jör-gensen 1912. Caenohalictus cyanopygus Rojas & Toro 2000, C. galletue Rojas & Toro 2000, C. iodurus (Vachal 1903), C. opaciceps (Friese 1916), and C. turquesa Rojas & Toro 2000, all known from Chile, are cited for Argentina for the first time. Notes on the variation observed within species, images of diagnostic structures, a key to the species and distributional data are provided. In addition, DNA barcoding results for four species are briefly discussed.Fil: González Vaquero, Rocío Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; ArgentinaFil: Roig Alsina, Arturo Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; Argentin

The bee genus Ruizantheda (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), its scope and description of a new species

The South American caenohalictine genus Ruizantheda is understood to comprise Halictus proximus Spinola, Halictus divaricatus Vachal, and the new species Ruizantheda centralis from Argentina. The new species is intermediate between the first two, bridging the gap in morphology observed in these rather different species. Diagnostic characteristics for the genus are indicated; a key and a comparative table of characters for the three species are given. The new species, which occurs in the provinces of Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero and Chaco, in Argentina, is described and illustrated.Fil: González Vaquero, Rocío Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Roig Alsina, Arturo Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Nest structure and notes on the social behavior of Augochlora amphitrite (Schrottky) (Hymenoptera, Halictidae)

The nesting biology of Augochlora (Augochlora) amphitrite (Schrottky) in a natural reserve in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is described. The species nests in decaying wood. Two types of nest architecture were found, which differed according to the substrate where they were built, either soft or hard wood. Nests in soft wood had the cells grouped in clusters surrounded by a cavity, and the clusters were supported by a varying number of pillars. Nests constructed in decomposing portions of cracks in otherwise hard wood had the cells constructed against the walls, without any pillars or surrounding cavity. Cells of both types of nests were oriented in all directions, without any detectable pattern. Measurements and characteristics of the nests are tabulated and compared to those known for other species of Augochlora s. str. Behavioral observations of active nests are indicative of a social division of tasks in Augochlora amphitrite. Such observations include nests with several females, some of which were never observed outside the nests, females with different degrees of wear and of ovary development, and at least one female that actively collected pollen which had much worn mandibles and wings, and undeveloped ovaries, all characteristics of the worker caste in social halictids.Fil: Dalmazzo, Maria de Los Milagros. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias; ArgentinaFil: Roig Alsina, Arturo Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Revision of the species of the New World genus Augochlora (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) occurring in the southern temperate areas of its range

Augochlora is a genus of mainly tropical bees, with few representatives in both North and South American temperateareas. In this contribution we present a taxonomic review of the species with southernmost distribution. Only five speciesoccur in central Argentina and Uruguay, between 30º and 40º south latitude: A. iphigenia Holmberg, A. amphitrite(Schrottky), A. nausicaa (Schrottky), A. phoemonoe (Schrottky) and A. daphnis Smith. The first four species are commonelements in the bee assemblages of the area. The fifth species, from Montevideo, Uruguay, is known from the typespecimen only. Re-descriptions of all species, as well as illustrations, distributional data, and taxonomic keys arepresented. A lectotype is designated for Augochlora iphigenia Holmberg, 1886. Oxystoglossa semiramis Schrottky, 1911,and Halictus brochidens Vachal, 1911, are new synonyms of A. iphigenia Holmberg. Odontochlora thebe Schrottky, 1909,is a new synonym of Odontochlora amphitrite Schrottky, 1909Fil: Dalmazzo, Maria de Los Milagros. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; ArgentinaFil: Roig Alsina, Arturo Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; Argentin

Chalepogenus roitmani Roig Alsina (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Tapinotaspidini): description of the male and new geographical records for the species

Bees of the genus Chalepogenus Holmberg collect oils offered as a reward by flowers of a few plant families: Iridaceae, Calceolariaceae (formerly included in Scrophulariaceae, see Olmstead et al. 2001), and Solanaceae (Vogel 1974; Cocucci 1991; Roig Alsina 1999; Cocucci et al. 2000; Machado 2004). The oil-collecting structures of these bees are situated on the forebasitarsus and show interspecific variation related to the type of flower they visit (Roig Alsina 1997; Cocucci et al. 2000).Fil: Torretta, Juan Pablo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente. Cátedra de Botánica Agrícola; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Marrero, Hugo Javier. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente. Cátedra de Botánica Agrícola; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Roig Alsina, Arturo Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Sceliphron curvatum, a new invasive wasp in Argentina (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae)

Se registra la introducción, en la Argentina, de la avispa esfeciforme Sceliphron curvatum (Smith), una avispa asiática que se ha comportado como invasora en Europa. Ésta se ha encontrado en la ciudad de Buenos Aires y en el partido de Vicente López, provincia de Buenos Aires. Se dan sus características morfológicas y de comportamiento, y se compara con las dos especies nativas de Sceliphron Klug que habitan en América del Sur, ambas existentes en la Argentina. Se presenta una clave con ilustraciones, distribución y diagnosis para las tres especies.The introduction of the spheciform wasp Sceliphron curvatum (Smith), an Asian wasp that has behaved as invasive in Europe, is registered for Argentina. This wasp has been found in Buenos Aires city and in Partido de Vicente López, province of Buenos Aires. The morphological and behavioral characteristics of this wasp are given, comparing them with those of the two native species of Sceliphron Klug that occur in South America, both present in Argentina. A key with illustrations, distributions, and diagnoses for the three species are presented.Fil: Compagnucci, Luis Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Roig Alsina, Arturo Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin