Revision of the Bee Genus Chlerogella (Hymenoptera, Halictidae), Part II: South American Species and Generic Diagnosis

Download or read book Revision of the Bee Genus Chlerogella (Hymenoptera, Halictidae), Part II: South American Species and Generic Diagnosis written by Michael S. Engel and published by PenSoft Publishers LTD. This book was released on 2010-05-21 with total page 107 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ÿThe genus Chlerogella historically has been one of the most infrequently encountered lineages of augochlorine bees (Apoidea: Anthophila: Halictidae: Augochlorini). By 1993 only three species were described and less than 40 specimens were known of a group presumed to be species poor and of limited geographic scope. With their frequently elongate heads and characteristic habitus, species of the genus are quite distinctive, and although the available material of these rare bees has grown to only 165, the number of species and their broader distribution has expanded significantly. This volume completes a revision of the world?s species of Chlerogella, completing the large South American fauna (Part I, covering Central America, is available in ZooKeys 23). In total, the genus has grown from three species to 34 (27 are treated in the current work). Color photomicrographs, detailed descriptions, and keys are provided to permit identification of the currently known taxa and aid the future discovery of new species. Unfortunately, almost nothing is known of the biology of these fascinating bees and this work will hopefully aid the discovery and elucidation of their natural history.