We describe and illustrate for the first time a mixed gynandromorph of Xylocopa(Neoxylocopa) augusti Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Also, we document and discuss a historical specimen of the Old World carpenter bee X. (Copoxyla) iris (Christ) possibly collected in Brazil.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

González, Victor H.

Lucía, Mariano

Villamil, Soledad Camila

Journal of Melittology

English

SEDICI - Repositorio de la UNLP

Journal of Melittology
Bee Biology, Ecology, Evolution, & Systematics The latest buzz in bee biology
No. 53, pp. 1–7 18 September 2015
Copyright © M. Lucia, S.C. Villamil, & V.H. Gonzalez. 
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
ISSN 2325-4467
A gynandromorph of Xylocopa augusti 
and an unusual record of X. iris from Brazil 
(Hymenoptera: Apidae: Xylocopini)
Mariano Lucia1, Soledad C. Villamil2, & Victor H. Gonzalez3
Abstract.  We describe and illustrate for the first time a mixed gynandromorph of Xylocopa 
(Neoxylocopa) augusti Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau from Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Also, we docu-
ment and discuss a historical specimen of the Old World carpenter bee X. (Copoxyla) iris (Christ) 
possibly collected in Brazil.
1 División Entomología, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque 
s/n, 1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina. CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas 
y Técnicas, Argentina (mlucia@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar).
2 Laboratorio de Estudios Apícolas, Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del 
Sur, San Andrés 800, Altos del Palihue, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina (soledad.villamil@uns.
edu.ar).
3 Undergraduate Biology Program and Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, 
Haworth Hall, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 66045, USA 
(victorgonzab@gmail.com).
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.17161/jom.v0i53.4979
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this work is two-fold.  First, to describe a new case of gynandro-
morphism in the large carpenter bee genus Xylocopa Latreille (Apidae: Xylocopini), 
and second, to document a specimen of the Old World carpenter bee X. (Copoxyla) iris 
(Christ) possibly collected in Brazil.  Gynandromorphs are sexually abnormal indi-
viduals that are rarely encountered in nature, and thus, when found, they are worth 
noting.  Today, gynandromorphs are known for 122 species of bees belonging to 32 
genera of all families, and from all major biogeographic regions of the world (Wcislo 
et al., 2004; Michez et al., 2009; Hinojosa-Díaz et al. 2012; Alvarez et al., 2014).  In Xylo-
copa, gynandromorphs have been recognized for 13 species belonging to five of the 31 
subgenera worldwide; six of these records are for species in the Neotropical subgenus 
BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Journal of Melittology2 No. 53
Neoxylocopa Michener (Guershon & Ionescu-Hirsch, 2012; Lucia & Gonzalez, 2013). 
Herein, we describe for the first time a mixed gynandromorph of Xylocopa (Neoxylo-
copa) augusti Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, a South American species occurring in Brazil, 
Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile (Moure, 2007; Montalva et al., 2013). 
The second part of this paper documents a female specimen of X. iris from Brazil, 
part of the Jean M. Pérez collection from the early 1900’s and which is currently depos-
ited in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France.  This species is com-
mon and widely distributed in Europe and western Asia (Guershon & Ionescu-Hirsch, 
2012).  Documenting this historical specimen is important because it could be an exam-
ple of an unsuccessful introduction event of this species in South America, a common 
phenomenon among wood-nesting bees including Xylocopa.  For example, Burmeister 
(1876) described as new X. serripes from both male and female specimens collected in 
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but that actually were of the widely distributed Asian species X. 
(Ctenoxylocopa) fenestrata (Fabricius).  Unlike other taxa from the same region that ap-
pear to be adventive in South America, such as Lithurgus huberi Ducke (Megachilidae: 
Lithurginae) (e.g., Gonzalez et al., 2013), this carpenter bee did not successfully estab-
lish there, as it has not since been collected anywhere in Brazil.  Also, even in the case 
of this specimen being mislabeled, it will bring attention to other possible examples of 
inaccurate locality data on specimens in the Pérez collection.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
External morphological structures were studied using a Nikon SMZ 745T stereo-
microscope and photographs were taken with a Canon Power Shot A520 digital cam-
era attached to it.  Digital images were assembled using CombineZM open software. 
As in other studies of gynandromorphs, deviant morphological features are described 
in detail.  Morphological terminology follows Michener (2007).  The abbreviations T, 
S, and F are herein used for metasomal terga, sterna, and flagellomeres, respectively.
RESULTS
Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) augusti Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1841
gynandromorph
(Figs. 1–8)
Description: Body length 22.80 mm, head length 5.20 mm, head width 6.90 mm, 
mesosoma width (measured between lateral margins of tegulae) 9.20 mm, metasoma 
width (measured across T2) 10.20 mm.  Head (Fig. 1), integument and pubescence 
dark brown to black, female-like, except male-like yellow integumental maculations as 
follows: mandibles with small spots basally, larger on left mandible; left side of clyp-
eus and left lower paraocular area with large maculation; right scape with long stripe 
ventrally; gena with small spots on left, stripes on right.  Gena posteriorly with yellow 
setae; upper interorbital distance 3.85 mm; lower interorbital distance 3.9 mm; interal-
veolar distance 1.16 mm; alveolocular distance 1 mm.  Antenna with 12 flagellomeres 
(length of scape, pedicel, and F1: 2.57 mm, 0.3 mm, and 0.9 mm, respectively).  Me-
sosoma dorsally with mixed male and female features (Figs. 2–3).  Mesoscutum black 
laterally, tawny to ferruginous on center; mesoscutellum yellow with black spots; 
metanotum black; propodeum tawny, yellowish on center, swollen as in normal male; 
tegula tawny to black, male-like.  Pubescence yellow dorsally, except black on left side 
Lucia & al.: Gynandromorph of Xylocopa augusti2015 3
Figures 1–4.  Gynandromorph of Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) augusti Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau. 
1. Facial view.  2.  Lateral habitus.  3. Dorsal habitus.  4. Ventral habitus.  Scale bars: 2 mm in 
figure 1, 4 mm in remaining figures.
Journal of Melittology4 No. 53
of mesoscutum and small patch near right tegula; pleura with integument and pubes-
cence black (female-like); foreleg with mixed features of both sexes, protrochanter and 
profemur structurally female-like, remaining podites male-like; profemur and protibia 
mixed in color, maculation more marked on protibia where black is less evident.  Pro-
coxa, protibia and protarsus with yellow setae mixed with black, remaining podites 
with black setae only.  Middle leg female-like, mesotibia with yellow maculation on 
dorsal surface, mesotibia and mesotarsus with yellow setae mixed with black.  Hind 
legs with mixed features of male and female, left leg mostly female-like, except in-
tegument yellow on dorsal, ventral, and posterior surfaces of metatibia; metabasitibial 
plate mixed, male-like anteriorly, female-like posteriorly; right leg with metacoxa and 
metatrochanter as in female; metatibia mixed, mostly structurally as in male but with 
anterior and posterior spines on apex as in female; metabasitibial plate as described for 
left leg; metafemur with yellow setae ventrally on inner surface; metatibia with mixed 
yellow and black setae on dorsal and ventral surfaces.  Wings clear, coppery, with vio-
let highlight more noticeable posteriorly.  Metasoma male-like (Figs. 3–4), with seven 
exposed terga and six exposed sterna.  Terga male-like in both integument and pubes-
cence, except some segments mixed with black setae as in female.  Sterna with mixed 
features of both sexes, tawny to black with yellow setae medially mixed with black 
setae.  Terminal tergum and sternum and genital capsule as in figures 5–8.
Figures 5–8.  Gynandromorph of Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) augusti Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau. 
5. Metasomal S6, ventral view.  6. Metasomal T7, dorsal view.  7. Genitalia, posterior view.  8. Geni-
talia, dorsal view.  Scale bars: 2 mm in figures 5 and 6, 1 mm in figures 7 and 8.
Lucia & al.: Gynandromorph of Xylocopa augusti2015 5
Material examined: One gynandromorph; Argentina, Buenos Aires, Pehuenco, 
28-XI-2004, Col. S.C. Villamil; deposited in the División Entomología, Museo de La 
Plata, Argentina.
Comments: The gynandromorph described here has a mix of male and female fea-
tures in all tagmata and thus it can be assigned to the mixed category (see Wcislo et al., 
2004).  Superficially, the genital capsule appears to be male-like, with some structures 
such as the gonobase, gonostylus, gonocoxite, and penis valves barely recognizable 
(Figs. 7, 8).
Xylocopa (Copoxyla) iris (Christ, 1791)
putative Brazilian record
(Figs. 9–13)
Material examined: 1♀ (Figs. 9–13); Brazil, MUSEUM PARIS-Coll. J. Perez 1915; 
deposited in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France. 
Comments: This specimen is part of the J.M. Pérez collection, and it was found 
among specimens of Xylocopa (Schonnherria) splendidula Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau 
from Brazil, a species that resembles X. iris in the small body size and integument 
with distinctive blue metallic highlights.  The two species are not only easily distin-
guished by the wing coloration (dark in X. iris and hyaline in X. splendidula), but also 
by the subgeneric characters [i.e., presence of gradulus on T1–T5, pygidial plate with-
out preapical spines in X. iris (of subgenus Copoxyla Maa) (Figs. 11–13)] indicated in 
the key to the subgenera of Xylocopa in Michener (2007).  Two scenarios are equally 
plausible to explain the specimen of this Old World species possibly collected in Brazil 
nearly a century ago.  Either it might represent an unsuccessful introduction event 
in the New World or a mislabeled specimen.  Both hypotheses are equally possible 
because similar cases are commonly reported among bees, including Xylocopa (e.g., 
Burmeister, 1876; Gonzalez & Griswold, 2011).  The fact that X. iris has not since been 
collected in Brazil does not favor either hypothesis.  A few South American species 
Figure 9.  Dorsal habitus and labels of female specimen of Xylocopa (Copoxyla) iris (Christ) pos-
sibly collected in Brazil.  Scale: 2 mm.
Journal of Melittology6 No. 53
of Xylocopa, such as X. maidli Maa, are known only from the type specimen and have 
not since been collected (M. Lucia, unpubl. data).  The handwriting of the locality la-
bel does not provide insights to the identity of its collector either.  According to Mrs. 
Agnièle Touret-Alby, curator of the museum in Paris, the general appearance of the 
writing, particularly the capital letter, is clearly different from that of J.M. Pérez as well 
as from that of A.L.M. Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau.  The second label that reads “col-
lection Pérez, 1915” only indicates that this specimen was part of the Pérez collection, 
which the museum acquired in 1915.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are indebted to Agnièle Touret-Alby for her comments on the Pérez collection as well as 
for kindly arranging the loan of the specimen of X. iris.  We also thank Amy Comfort de Gonza-
lez and two anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions that improved this work. 
Financial support for M.L. was provided by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas 
y Técnicas, Argentina (CONICET).
Figures 10–13.  Female specimen of Xylocopa (Copoxyla) iris (Christ) possibly collected in Brazil. 
10. Facial view.  11. Metasoma, dorsal view.  12. Detail of T2 and T3 showing gradulus.  13. 
Pygidial plate of T6.  Scale: 2 mm.
Lucia & al.: Gynandromorph of Xylocopa augusti2015 7
REFERENCES
Alvarez, L.J., M. Lucia, P.J. Ramello, & A.H. Abrahamovich. 2014. Description of two new cases 
of gynandromorphism in Paratrigona Schwarz and Augochlora Smith (Hymenoptera: Apidae 
and Halictidae). Zootaxa 3889(3): 447–450.
Burmeister, H. 1876. Hymenopterologische Mittheilungen. Entomologische Zeitung 37(4–6): 151–
183. [Nota bene: Part 1 of this paper covers, “Die Xylocopa-Arten des La Plata-Gebietes”]
Christ, J.L. 1791. Naturgeschichte, Klassification und Nomenclatur der Insekten vom Bienen, Wespen 
und Ameisengeschlecht; als der fünften Klasse fünfte Ordnung des Linneischen Natursystems von 
den Insekten: Hymenoptera. Mit häutigen Flügeln. Hermannischen Buchhandlung; Frankfurt 
am Main, Germany; 535 pp., + 60 pls.
Gonzalez, V.H., & T.L. Griswold. 2011. Taxonomic notes on the small resin bees Hypanthidiodes 
subgenus Michanthidium (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae). ZooKeys 117: 51–58.
Gonzalez, V.H., M.S. Engel, M. Lucia, & L.J. Alvarez. 2013. Species status and new distribution 
records for Lithurgus huberi Ducke (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae, Lithurginae). Journal of 
Hymenoptera Research 30: 13–18.
Guershon, M., & A. Ionescu-Hirsch. 2012. A review of the Xylocopa species (Hymenoptera: Api-
dae) of Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 41–42: 145–163.
Hinojosa–Díaz, I.A., V.H. Gonzalez, R. Ayala, J. Mérida, P. Sagot, & M.S. Engel. 2012. New or-
chid and leaf-cutter bee gynandromorphs, with an updated review (Hymenoptera, Apoi-
dea). Zoosystematics and Evolution 88(2): 205–214. 
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ond]. Roret; Paris, France; 680 pp.
Lucia, M., & V.H. Gonzalez. 2013. A new gynandromorph of Xylocopa frontalis with a review of 
gynandromorphism in Xylocopa (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Xylocopini). Annals of the Entomo-
logical Society of America 106(6): 853–856.
Michener, C.D. 2007. The Bees of the World [2nd Edition]. Johns Hopkins University Press; Balti-
more, MD; xvi+[i]+953 pp., +20 pls.
Michez, D., P. Rasmont, M. Terzo, & N.J. Vereecken. 2009. A synthesis of gynandromorphy 
among wild bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), with an annotated description of several new 
cases. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 45(3): 365–375.
Montalva, J.M., J.L. Allendes, & M. Lucia. 2013. The large carpenter bee Xylocopa augusti (Hyme-
noptera: Apidae): New record for Chile. Journal of Melittology 12: 1–6. 
Moure, J.S. 2007. Xylocopini Latreille, 1802. In: Moure, J.S., D. Urban, & G.A.R. Melo (Eds.), Cata-
logue of Bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in the Neotropical Region: 637–673. Sociedade Brasileira 
de Entomologia; Curitiba, Brazil; xiv+1058 pp. [Available and updated online at http://
www.moure.cria.org.br/catalogue; last accessed 11 August 2015]
Wcislo, W.T., V.H. Gonzalez, & L. Arneson. 2004. A review of deviant phenotypes in bees in 
relation to brood parasitism, and a gynandromorph of Megalopta genalis (Hymenoptera: 
Halictidae). Journal of Natural History 38(11): 1443–1457.
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A gynandromorph of Xylocopa augusti and an unusual record of X. iris from Brazil
(Hymenoptera: Apidae: Xylocopini)

Servicio de Difusión de la Creación Intelectual

Journal of MelittologyBee Biology, Ecology, Evolution, & Systematics The latest buzz in bee biologyNo. 53, pp. 1–7 18 September 2015Copyright © M. Lucia, S.C. Villamil, & V.H. Gonzalez. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).ISSN 2325-4467A gynandromorph of Xylocopa augusti and an unusual record of X. iris from Brazil (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Xylocopini)Mariano Lucia1, Soledad C. Villamil2, & Victor H. Gonzalez3Abstract.  We describe and illustrate for the first time a mixed gynandromorph of Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) augusti Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau from Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Also, we docu-ment and discuss a historical specimen of the Old World carpenter bee X. (Copoxyla) iris (Christ) possibly collected in Brazil.1 División Entomología, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina. CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina (mlucia@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar).2 Laboratorio de Estudios Apícolas, Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Andrés 800, Altos del Palihue, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina (soledad.villamil@uns.edu.ar).3 Undergraduate Biology Program and Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Haworth Hall, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 66045, USA (victorgonzab@gmail.com).doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.17161/jom.v0i53.4979INTRODUCTIONThe purpose of this work is two-fold.  First, to describe a new case of gynandro-morphism in the large carpenter bee genus Xylocopa Latreille (Apidae: Xylocopini), and second, to document a specimen of the Old World carpenter bee X. (Copoxyla) iris (Christ) possibly collected in Brazil.  Gynandromorphs are sexually abnormal indi-viduals that are rarely encountered in nature, and thus, when found, they are worth noting.  Today, gynandromorphs are known for 122 species of bees belonging to 32 genera of all families, and from all major biogeographic regions of the world (Wcislo et al., 2004; Michez et al., 2009; Hinojosa-Díaz et al. 2012; Alvarez et al., 2014).  In Xylo-copa, gynandromorphs have been recognized for 13 species belonging to five of the 31 subgenera worldwide; six of these records are for species in the Neotropical subgenus BRIEF COMMUNICATIONJournal of Melittology2 No. 53Neoxylocopa Michener (Guershon & Ionescu-Hirsch, 2012; Lucia & Gonzalez, 2013). Herein, we describe for the first time a mixed gynandromorph of Xylocopa (Neoxylo-copa) augusti Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, a South American species occurring in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile (Moure, 2007; Montalva et al., 2013). The second part of this paper documents a female specimen of X. iris from Brazil, part of the Jean M. Pérez collection from the early 1900’s and which is currently depos-ited in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France.  This species is com-mon and widely distributed in Europe and western Asia (Guershon & Ionescu-Hirsch, 2012).  Documenting this historical specimen is important because it could be an exam-ple of an unsuccessful introduction event of this species in South America, a common phenomenon among wood-nesting bees including Xylocopa.  For example, Burmeister (1876) described as new X. serripes from both male and female specimens collected in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but that actually were of the widely distributed Asian species X. (Ctenoxylocopa) fenestrata (Fabricius).  Unlike other taxa from the same region that ap-pear to be adventive in South America, such as Lithurgus huberi Ducke (Megachilidae: Lithurginae) (e.g., Gonzalez et al., 2013), this carpenter bee did not successfully estab-lish there, as it has not since been collected anywhere in Brazil.  Also, even in the case of this specimen being mislabeled, it will bring attention to other possible examples of inaccurate locality data on specimens in the Pérez collection.MATERIAL AND METHODSExternal morphological structures were studied using a Nikon SMZ 745T stereo-microscope and photographs were taken with a Canon Power Shot A520 digital cam-era attached to it.  Digital images were assembled using CombineZM open software. As in other studies of gynandromorphs, deviant morphological features are described in detail.  Morphological terminology follows Michener (2007).  The abbreviations T, S, and F are herein used for metasomal terga, sterna, and flagellomeres, respectively.RESULTSXylocopa (Neoxylocopa) augusti Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1841gynandromorph(Figs. 1–8)Description: Body length 22.80 mm, head length 5.20 mm, head width 6.90 mm, mesosoma width (measured between lateral margins of tegulae) 9.20 mm, metasoma width (measured across T2) 10.20 mm.  Head (Fig. 1), integument and pubescence dark brown to black, female-like, except male-like yellow integumental maculations as follows: mandibles with small spots basally, larger on left mandible; left side of clyp-eus and left lower paraocular area with large maculation; right scape with long stripe ventrally; gena with small spots on left, stripes on right.  Gena posteriorly with yellow setae; upper interorbital distance 3.85 mm; lower interorbital distance 3.9 mm; interal-veolar distance 1.16 mm; alveolocular distance 1 mm.  Antenna with 12 flagellomeres (length of scape, pedicel, and F1: 2.57 mm, 0.3 mm, and 0.9 mm, respectively).  Me-sosoma dorsally with mixed male and female features (Figs. 2–3).  Mesoscutum black laterally, tawny to ferruginous on center; mesoscutellum yellow with black spots; metanotum black; propodeum tawny, yellowish on center, swollen as in normal male; tegula tawny to black, male-like.  Pubescence yellow dorsally, except black on left side Lucia & al.: Gynandromorph of Xylocopa augusti2015 3Figures 1–4.  Gynandromorph of Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) augusti Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau. 1. Facial view.  2.  Lateral habitus.  3. Dorsal habitus.  4. Ventral habitus.  Scale bars: 2 mm in figure 1, 4 mm in remaining figures.Journal of Melittology4 No. 53of mesoscutum and small patch near right tegula; pleura with integument and pubes-cence black (female-like); foreleg with mixed features of both sexes, protrochanter and profemur structurally female-like, remaining podites male-like; profemur and protibia mixed in color, maculation more marked on protibia where black is less evident.  Pro-coxa, protibia and protarsus with yellow setae mixed with black, remaining podites with black setae only.  Middle leg female-like, mesotibia with yellow maculation on dorsal surface, mesotibia and mesotarsus with yellow setae mixed with black.  Hind legs with mixed features of male and female, left leg mostly female-like, except in-tegument yellow on dorsal, ventral, and posterior surfaces of metatibia; metabasitibial plate mixed, male-like anteriorly, female-like posteriorly; right leg with metacoxa and metatrochanter as in female; metatibia mixed, mostly structurally as in male but with anterior and posterior spines on apex as in female; metabasitibial plate as described for left leg; metafemur with yellow setae ventrally on inner surface; metatibia with mixed yellow and black setae on dorsal and ventral surfaces.  Wings clear, coppery, with vio-let highlight more noticeable posteriorly.  Metasoma male-like (Figs. 3–4), with seven exposed terga and six exposed sterna.  Terga male-like in both integument and pubes-cence, except some segments mixed with black setae as in female.  Sterna with mixed features of both sexes, tawny to black with yellow setae medially mixed with black setae.  Terminal tergum and sternum and genital capsule as in figures 5–8.Figures 5–8.  Gynandromorph of Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) augusti Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau. 5. Metasomal S6, ventral view.  6. Metasomal T7, dorsal view.  7. Genitalia, posterior view.  8. Geni-talia, dorsal view.  Scale bars: 2 mm in figures 5 and 6, 1 mm in figures 7 and 8.Lucia & al.: Gynandromorph of Xylocopa augusti2015 5Material examined: One gynandromorph; Argentina, Buenos Aires, Pehuenco, 28-XI-2004, Col. S.C. Villamil; deposited in the División Entomología, Museo de La Plata, Argentina.Comments: The gynandromorph described here has a mix of male and female fea-tures in all tagmata and thus it can be assigned to the mixed category (see Wcislo et al., 2004).  Superficially, the genital capsule appears to be male-like, with some structures such as the gonobase, gonostylus, gonocoxite, and penis valves barely recognizable (Figs. 7, 8).Xylocopa (Copoxyla) iris (Christ, 1791)putative Brazilian record(Figs. 9–13)Material examined: 1♀ (Figs. 9–13); Brazil, MUSEUM PARIS-Coll. J. Perez 1915; deposited in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France. Comments: This specimen is part of the J.M. Pérez collection, and it was found among specimens of Xylocopa (Schonnherria) splendidula Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau from Brazil, a species that resembles X. iris in the small body size and integument with distinctive blue metallic highlights.  The two species are not only easily distin-guished by the wing coloration (dark in X. iris and hyaline in X. splendidula), but also by the subgeneric characters [i.e., presence of gradulus on T1–T5, pygidial plate with-out preapical spines in X. iris (of subgenus Copoxyla Maa) (Figs. 11–13)] indicated in the key to the subgenera of Xylocopa in Michener (2007).  Two scenarios are equally plausible to explain the specimen of this Old World species possibly collected in Brazil nearly a century ago.  Either it might represent an unsuccessful introduction event in the New World or a mislabeled specimen.  Both hypotheses are equally possible because similar cases are commonly reported among bees, including Xylocopa (e.g., Burmeister, 1876; Gonzalez & Griswold, 2011).  The fact that X. iris has not since been collected in Brazil does not favor either hypothesis.  A few South American species Figure 9.  Dorsal habitus and labels of female specimen of Xylocopa (Copoxyla) iris (Christ) pos-sibly collected in Brazil.  Scale: 2 mm.Journal of Melittology6 No. 53of Xylocopa, such as X. maidli Maa, are known only from the type specimen and have not since been collected (M. Lucia, unpubl. data).  The handwriting of the locality la-bel does not provide insights to the identity of its collector either.  According to Mrs. Agnièle Touret-Alby, curator of the museum in Paris, the general appearance of the writing, particularly the capital letter, is clearly different from that of J.M. Pérez as well as from that of A.L.M. Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau.  The second label that reads “col-lection Pérez, 1915” only indicates that this specimen was part of the Pérez collection, which the museum acquired in 1915.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe are indebted to Agnièle Touret-Alby for her comments on the Pérez collection as well as for kindly arranging the loan of the specimen of X. iris.  We also thank Amy Comfort de Gonza-lez and two anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions that improved this work. Financial support for M.L. was provided by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina (CONICET).Figures 10–13.  Female specimen of Xylocopa (Copoxyla) iris (Christ) possibly collected in Brazil. 10. Facial view.  11. Metasoma, dorsal view.  12. Detail of T2 and T3 showing gradulus.  13. Pygidial plate of T6.  Scale: 2 mm.Lucia & al.: Gynandromorph of Xylocopa augusti2015 7REFERENCESAlvarez, L.J., M. Lucia, P.J. Ramello, & A.H. Abrahamovich. 2014. Description of two new cases of gynandromorphism in Paratrigona Schwarz and Augochlora Smith (Hymenoptera: Apidae and Halictidae). Zootaxa 3889(3): 447–450.Burmeister, H. 1876. Hymenopterologische Mittheilungen. Entomologische Zeitung 37(4–6): 151–183. [Nota bene: Part 1 of this paper covers, “Die Xylocopa-Arten des La Plata-Gebietes”]Christ, J.L. 1791. Naturgeschichte, Klassification und Nomenclatur der Insekten vom Bienen, Wespen und Ameisengeschlecht; als der fünften Klasse fünfte Ordnung des Linneischen Natursystems von den Insekten: Hymenoptera. Mit häutigen Flügeln. Hermannischen Buchhandlung; Frankfurt am Main, Germany; 535 pp., + 60 pls.Gonzalez, V.H., & T.L. Griswold. 2011. Taxonomic notes on the small resin bees Hypanthidiodes subgenus Michanthidium (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae). ZooKeys 117: 51–58.Gonzalez, V.H., M.S. Engel, M. Lucia, & L.J. Alvarez. 2013. Species status and new distribution records for Lithurgus huberi Ducke (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae, Lithurginae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 30: 13–18.Guershon, M., & A. Ionescu-Hirsch. 2012. A review of the Xylocopa species (Hymenoptera: Api-dae) of Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 41–42: 145–163.Hinojosa–Díaz, I.A., V.H. Gonzalez, R. Ayala, J. Mérida, P. Sagot, & M.S. Engel. 2012. New or-chid and leaf-cutter bee gynandromorphs, with an updated review (Hymenoptera, Apoi-dea). Zoosystematics and Evolution 88(2): 205–214. Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, A.L.M. 1841. Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Hyménoptères [Tome Sec-ond]. Roret; Paris, France; 680 pp.Lucia, M., & V.H. Gonzalez. 2013. A new gynandromorph of Xylocopa frontalis with a review of gynandromorphism in Xylocopa (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Xylocopini). Annals of the Entomo-logical Society of America 106(6): 853–856.Michener, C.D. 2007. The Bees of the World [2nd Edition]. Johns Hopkins University Press; Balti-more, MD; xvi+[i]+953 pp., +20 pls.Michez, D., P. Rasmont, M. Terzo, & N.J. Vereecken. 2009. A synthesis of gynandromorphy among wild bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), with an annotated description of several new cases. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 45(3): 365–375.Montalva, J.M., J.L. Allendes, & M. Lucia. 2013. The large carpenter bee Xylocopa augusti (Hyme-noptera: Apidae): New record for Chile. Journal of Melittology 12: 1–6. Moure, J.S. 2007. Xylocopini Latreille, 1802. In: Moure, J.S., D. Urban, & G.A.R. Melo (Eds.), Cata-logue of Bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in the Neotropical Region: 637–673. Sociedade Brasileira de Entomologia; Curitiba, Brazil; xiv+1058 pp. [Available and updated online at http://www.moure.cria.org.br/catalogue; last accessed 11 August 2015]Wcislo, W.T., V.H. Gonzalez, & L. Arneson. 2004. A review of deviant phenotypes in bees in relation to brood parasitism, and a gynandromorph of Megalopta genalis (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). Journal of Natural History 38(11): 1443–1457.The Journal of Melittology is an international, open access journal that seeks to rapidly disseminate the results of research conducted on bees (Apoidea: Anthophila) in their broadest sense.  Our mission is to promote the understanding and conservation of wild and managed bees and to facilitate communication and collaboration among researchers and the public worldwide.  The Journal covers all aspects of bee research including but not limited to: anatomy, behavioral ecology, biodiversity, biogeography, chemical ecology, comparative morphology, conservation, cultural aspects, cytogenetics, ecology, ethnobiology, history, identification (keys), invasion ecology, management, melittopalynology, molecular ecology, neurobiology, occurrence data, paleontology, parasitism, phenology, phylogeny, physiology, pollination biology, sociobiology, systematics, and taxonomy.The Journal of Melittology was established at the University of Kansas through the efforts of Michael S. Engel, Victor H. Gonzalez, Ismael A. Hinojosa-Díaz, and Charles D. Michener in 2013 and each article is published as its own number, with issues appearing online as soon as they are ready.  Papers are composed using Microsoft Word® and Adobe InDesign® in Lawrence, Kansas, USA.A Journal of Bee Biology, Ecology, Evolution, & Systematicshttp://journals.ku.edu/melittologyISSN 2325-4467Journal of Melittology is registered in ZooBank (www.zoobank.org), and archived at the Univer-sity of Kansas and in Portico (www.portico.org).Editor-in-ChiefMichael S. EngelUniversity of KansasVictor H. GonzalezUniversity of KansasAssistant EditorsCharles D. MichenerUniversity of KansasIsmael A. Hinojosa-DíazUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México

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A gynandromorph of Xylocopa augusti and an unusual record of X. iris from Brazil (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Xylocopini)

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