A revised genus-level classification for the Neotropical groups of the cleptoparasitic bee tribe Sphecodini Schenck (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Halictinae)

Abstract

Sphecodini are a clade of obligatory parasitic Halictinae, comprising 332 species and five genera worldwide. Recently, Sphecodes Latreille was considered polyphyletic according to the results of a molecular phylogeny. Morphological analysis of Neotropical groups revealed groups of species in Sphecodes s.l. that can be recognized at genus level to improve the classification of the tribe. The main objective of this study is to review the generic classification of Sphecodini, with emphasis on Neotropical groups. I propose Austrosphecodes Michener as a separate genus from Sphecodes s.s. and describe a new genus, Melissocleptis gen. nov. for eight known species. Both genera comprise most of the Neotropical species. Nesosphecodes depressus sp. nov. is described for Brazil and a revised diagnosis for Nesosphecodes Engel is given to accommodate this new species and to include data on male terminalia. A revised key for the genera from the Western Hemisphere is provided.

Keywords:
Apoidea; Cleptoparasitism; Halictidae; Taxonomy; Systematics