Two New Halictine Bees in Miocene Amber from the Dominican Republic (Hymenoptera, Halictidae)

By

Engel, Michael S.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2009

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

29

Pages

1-12

Subjects

Amber , Anthophila , Apoidea , Dominican Republic , Halictinae , Paleontology , taxonomy , Tertiary

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.29.257

 

Abstract

Two new halictine bees (Halictidae: Halictinae) are described and figured from females preserved in Early Miocene (Burdigalian) amber from the Dominican Republic. Oligochlora semirugosa sp. n. (Augochlorini) is similar to O. micheneri Engel but differs in the shape of the pronotal dorsolateral angle, the partially rugulose gena (entirely imbricate in the latter species), and the sculpturing of the face, mesosoma, and metasomal terga. Nesagapostemon moronei gen. n. sp. n. (Caenohalictini) resembles Eickwortapis in the absence of carinae bordering the dorsal horizontal surface of the propodeum whilethe vertical posterior surface encircled. The genus differs from Eickwortapis in the much larger and more robust body size (nearly twice as large), the non-slanting and shorter horizontal surface of the propodeum, sculpturing, and pilosity of the hind legs. A second specimen of O. grimaldii Engel is recorded and a provisional key to halictid bees in Dominican amber is provided.