Genera of the bee tribe Reedapini (Hymenoptera: Colletidae)

Those bees classified in the genera Reedapis Michener and Cephalocolletes Michener are discussed and organized into a new tribe, Reedapini Engel. In addition, three species formerly classified in Cephalocolletes are removed to two new genera: Lonchopriscus Engel, new genus, with the species Lonchopriscus crassipunctatus (Urban), new combination, and Cactocolletes Engel, new genus, for Cactocolletes isabelae (Urban), new combination, and C. rugatus (Urban), new combination. The tribe and its constituent genera are diagnosed, and a key is provided for the identification of the latter along with their included species

A new species of Ptiloglossa from Mexico, with new records of Ptiloglossa cyaniventris from Panama and Costa Rica (Hymenoptera: Colletidae)

A new bee species of the genus Ptiloglossa Smith (Colletidae: Diphaglossinae: Caupolicanini) is described and figured from Jalisco, Mexico, while new records are provided for Ptiloglossa cyaniventris Friese from Panama and a single locality in Costa Rica.  Ptiloglossa chamelensis Ayala & Engel, new species, is endemic to Mexico and is close to P. rugata Moure, both sharing a similar shape in the fused metatibial spur, but in the new species the metatibia is widest at the level of the spur, and the female has black integument with dense yellow pubescence on metasomal terga I–IV.  Ptiloglossa cyaniventris is newly recorded from males collected in Panama and Costa Rica and is characteristic for its dark integument, with intense metallic blue highlights on the metasomal terga, the narrow and long metatibia, and elongate metabasitarsus with an anterior, longitudinal ridge and slightly depressed outer surface

A new species of Mermiglossa from Kenya, with comments on the arrangement of Old World Panurginae (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)

A new species of the panurgine bee genus Mermiglossa Friese (Panurginae) is described and figured from females captured near Voi in the southern part of the former Coast Province, Kenya, a historical type locality for several bee species.  Mermiglossa voicola Ascher & Engel, new species, is distinguished from the only other species of the genus, M. rufa Friese from central Namibia.  The new species is readily identified due to its black rather than red metasoma and compound eyes slightly convergent above rather than parallel-sided.  The new species raises the total number of described bee species for Kenya to 343, extends the known distribution of its genus and subtribe from the Namib Desert of southwestern Africa to the western edge of the Nviri Desert of East Africa, and provides further evidence of extensive biogeographic connections between these disjunct xeric areas.  Recent changes in the family-group classification of Old World Panurginae are discussed in relation to recognition of Mermiglossina as a valid subtribe within an expanded tribe Panurgini also including the New World perditines

Entropic Stabilization of Tunable Planar Modulated Superstructures

Self-assembling novel ordered structures with nanoparticles has recently received much attention. Here we use computer simulations to study a two-dimensional model system characterized by a simple isotropic interaction that could be realized with building blocks on the nanoscale. We find that the particles arrange themselves into hexagonal superstructures of twin boundaries whose superlattice vector can be tuned reversibly by changing the temperature. Thermodynamic stability is confirmed by calculating the free energy with a combination of thermodynamic integration and the Frenkel-Ladd method. Different contributions to the free energy difference are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures plus 7 pages of supplementary figure

An overlooked family-group name among bees: Availability of Coelioxoidini (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Recent phylogenetic analysis of the family Apidae has applied the tribal name Coelioxoidini to the distinctive genus Coelioxoides Cresson, which has been thought to be related to Tetrapedia Klug.  However, the nomenclatural status of such a family-group name has not yet been assessed.  Herein, we determine that this family-group name is available and discuss its authorship and proposal date

A new genus of augochlorine bees from northern Venezuela (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

A new genus and species of the bee tribe Augochlorini (Halictinae) is described and figured from northern Venezuela.  Trichommation osculans Engel, new genus and species, is a member of the Megaloptidia-group of genera as evidenced by the narrow and elongate mouthparts and sharply pointed galeal apex.  The genus is most similar to Megommation Moure and Megaloptidia Cockerell, particularly in the enlarged ocelli present only in these genera among those in the group.  Aside from intermingling traits of both of these genera, Trichommation is further distinct from both owing to the presence of ocular setae, a pectinate inner metatibial spur, and basal rugae on the basal area of the propodeum.  Emendations to the key to genera of the Megaloptidia group are provided to allow for the identification of Trichommation

Notes on the classification of Ctenocolletes (Hymenoptera: Stenotritidae)

Three new subgenera are established within the Australian bee genus Ctenocolletes Cockerell (Stenotritidae).  Three species are placed in Ctenocolletopsis Engel, new subgenus, distinguished most notably by the absence of both female arolia and prominent metasomal setal bands, and the non-convergent male compound eyes.  The species Ctenocolletes fulvescens Houston is assigned to the monotypic Houstonapis Engel, new subgenus, owing to the unique absence of a male pygidial plate (similar in this respect to Stenotritus Smith) and the orange brown integument of the metasoma, while C. tigris Houston is placed in Tirgiocolletes Engel, new subgenus

New species of the augochlorine bee genus Stilbochlora, with a preliminary key (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

Three new species of the augochlorine bee genus Stilbochlora Engel et al. (Halictinae: Augochlorini) are described and figured from Peru.  The new species are distinct from the type species, Stilbochlora eickworti (Engel et al.), in the more densely and extensively striate propodea, and can be distinguished from each other on the basis of propodeal sculpturing and coloration.  The new taxa are: S. graceae Engel, new species; S. kateae Engel, new species; and S. wedmanorum Engel, new species.  A key is provided to the species of Stilbochlora

Notes on Papuasian and Malesian stingless bees, with the descriptions of new taxa (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Two new species of the stingless bee genus Heterotrigona Schwarz (Apinae: Meliponini) are described and figured from Papua New Guinea: Heterotrigona (Sahulotrigona) tricholoma Engel, new species, lighter individuals of which superficially resemble the larger H. (Platytrigona) lamingtonia (Cockerell) and H. (P.) keyensis (Friese), and H. (S.) taraxis Engel, new species, a taxon generally misidentified as “Trigona atricornis Smith”.  The western Malesian (Borneo) species H. hobbyi (Schwarz) is removed to Borneotrigona Engel, new subgenus, and distinguished from the otherwise eastern Platytrigona Moure, which occur in eastern Wallacea (east of Weber’s line) and Papuasia.  The historically misidentified T. atricornis is a senior synonym of T. genalis Friese (new synonymy), the latter type species for the genus Papuatrigona Michener & Sakagami, resulting in the following nomenclatural change: Papuatrigona atricornis (Smith), new combination.  Flavotetragonula Shanas is placed as a new synonym of Tetragonula Moure s.str. (new synonymy)

Identifying bumble bees across India.

Book review of: Saini, M.S., R.H. Raina, & H.S. Ghator. 2015. Indian Bumblebees. M/s Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh; Dehra Dun, India; [v]+248 pp.  ISBN 978-81-211-0827-0 [hardback]