Revision of the orchid bee subgenus Euglossella (Hymenoptera, Apidae), Part I, The decorata species group

By

Hinojosa-Diaz, Ismael
Engel, Michael S.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2011

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

140

Pages

27-69

Subjects

Anthophila , Apoidea , Euglossa , Euglossini , Hymenoptera , new species , Orchid bees , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.140.1923

 

Abstract

Euglossella, one of the most distinctive subgenera of orchid bees of the genus Euglossa, is composed of two characteristic assemblages of species, one of them comprising bees bearing the strongly metallic integument trademark of the genus (viridis species group), and the other consisting of bees with a brown integument shaded with metallic iridescence (decorata species group). Here we provide the first of two parts of a revision of Euglossella, providing diagnostic definitions for the subgenus, the decorata species group, and all the species included therein. Six species are included in the decorata group, one new: Euglossa (Euglossella) aurantia, sp. n.; E. (E.) apiformis Schrottky, resurrected status; E. (E.) decorata Smith, revised status; E. (E.) singularis Mocsáry, revised status; E. (E.) cosmodora Hinojosa-Díaz and Engel; and E. (E.) perpulchra Moure and Schlindwein. Euglossa meliponoides Ducke and E. urarina Hinojosa-Díaz and Engel are newly synonymized under E. decorata, E. decorata ruficauda Cockerell is synonymized under E. singularis, and a neotype is designated for E. apiformis.