A new Palearctic genus of melectine bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae). American Museum novitates ; no. 3392
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Date
2003
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New York, NY : American Museum of Natural History
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Abstract
Thyreomelecta, new genus, is described for seven species of the cleptoparasitic bee tribe Melectini (Apinae). The genus is most similar to Thyreus but differs notably in the structure of the mesoscutellum and the length of the first metasomal segment. Thyreomelecta is distinguished from other melectines and is considered to include the following species: Thyreomelecta bidentata (Kirby), new combination (eastern Turkmenistan and western Afghanistan (likely also eastern Iran)); T. dimidiatipuncta (Spinola), new combination (southern Mediterranean from eastern Libya to eastern Iraq); T. kirghisia, new species (Kyrgyzstan); T. merviensis (Radoszkowsky), new combination (eastern Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan (new record)); T. paucimaculosa (Alfken), new combination (Tajikistan); T. propinquua (Lieftinck), new combination (North Korea west to Manchuria); and T. siberica (Radoszkowsky), new combination (southeastern Siberia). Thyreomelecta merviensis, previously known only from a single, headless male, is here recorded from a second, completely preserved male and the terminalia are figured. The little available information on the biology and immature stages of Thyreomelecta is briefly presented. A key to the Eastern Hemisphere genera of Melectini is provided as well as a preliminary key to the species of Thyreomelecta.
Description
22 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 21-22).
Includes bibliographical references (p. 21-22).
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