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.

The halictid bee tribe Augochlorini is revised at the level of genus and subgenus. Forty-one genera and subgenera are recognized with two being extinct. New subgenera of Augochlora, Electraugochlora, and of Oligochlora, Soliapis, are described for new fossils from Tertiary amber of the Dominican Republic. Complete taxonomic histories are given along with information on revisions at the species level, biological studies, and general distribution for each family- and genus-group taxon. The following subgenera are newly synonymized: Aethechlora new junior subjective synonym of Oxystoglossella, Mycterochlora new junior subjective synonym of Augochlora, Vachalius new junior subjective synonym of Neocorynurella, and Neocorynuroides new junior subjective synonym of Neocorynura. The group Glyptochlora is resurrected from synonymy as a valid subgenus of Augochloropsis. The males of Chlerogella and Micrommation are described for the first time. A key to the genera and subgenera of the tribe is presented along with a key to the species of the rare Augochloropsis (Glyptochlora). Suprageneric relationships in the tribe are explored cladistically. Characters of adult external morphology (72 characters) and ethology (12 characters) are coded for all recognized augochlorine genera as well as outgroups from the Halictini, Nomioidini, and Nomiinae. Results of the cladistic analysis are remarkably resolved but not very robust. The cladogram is summarized and infratribal groups defined. Most notably, the tribe is divided into two monophyletic subtribes: the Corynurina (new subtribe), containing the southern South American genera Corynura, Halictillus, Rhectomia, and Rhinocorynura; and the nominate subtribe, Augochlorina. Implications of the cladistic analysis on diversification in the Augochlorini and evolutionary patterns within the tribe are discussed. New distribution records are given for three species which extend the known ranges of their respective genera. Augochlora essequibensis is a new junior subjective synonym of A. nigrocyanea while A. cladopyga, A. seminigra, Augochlorella bidentata, Halictus caucasicus, H. cerasis, H. chrysaspis, H. myrrhites, H. simotes, and Pereirapis rhizophila are all new junior subjective synonyms of P. semiaurata. Megalopta intermedia, Augochlora nitidior, Augochlorella eusticta, Augochlorodes clementis, and Augochloropsis scabriceps are all recognized as nomina nuda. Vachalius cosmetor, from Colombia and Venezuela, is transferred to Neocorynurella while Corynura biciliata, from Costa Rica, is recognized as a species of Halictini and is transferred to the genus Lasioglossum (Evylaeus) (new combinations). Four fossil and recent species new to science are described as Augochlora (Electraugochlora) leptoloba (fossil), Augochlora (Oxystoglossella) rightmyerae (extant), Oligochlora (Soliapis) rozeni (fossil), and Pseudaugoehlora pulchra (extant).

"The first identification key to cover all bees in the whole of the New World north of the equator. Parallel columns of English and Spanish text, and 500 drawing and photographs detail the distinguishing features of 169 genera and provide additional information such as range, number of species and subgenera, and references to any revisionist studies. Includes a guide to using the key. Field tested. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or." -- PUBLISHER.

Bees are the darlings of the insect world. It is a joy to see these insects hard at work, peacefully buzzing from flower to flower. Many people recognise the worth of bees, as well as that they face multiple threats. But very few know about the diversity and importance of our native bee species. There are an estimated 2000 to 3000 bee species in Australia, yet we know very little about the vast majority of these and there are many that are yet to be described. Bees of Australia introduces some of our incredible native bees, many of which, if you look closely, can be found in your own garden. Open this book wherever you like or read it from cover to cover. The combination of photography and contributions from some of Australia’s leading bee researchers allows anyone to become enthralled by our native bees. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself looking closer at every flower that you pass in search of our wonderful native bees.

[English abstract]. The bees found as Baltic amber inclusions are revised and the history of studies on these fossils is briefly reviewed. In total this subtropical Eocene fauna contains 36 species and 18 genera, all extinct. These are classified here into nine tribes, six subfamilies, and five families of which six tribes and one family are unknown in the modern fauna. The following taxa are described as new to science: Paleomelittidae, new family; Boreallodapini, Electrobombini, Eomacropidini, Melikertini, Protolithurgini, new tribes; Ctenoplectrellina, new subtribe; Boreallodape, Electrobombus, Electrolictus, Eomacropis, Glaesosmia, Liotrigonopsis, Melissites, Paleomelitta, Protolithurgus, Succinapis, Thaumastobombus, new genera; Boreallodape baltica, B. mollyae, B. striebichi, Ctenoplectrella cockerelli, C. grimaldii, Electrapis krishnorum, Electrobombus samlandensis, Electrolictus antiquus, Eomacropis glaesaria, Glaesosmia genalis, Glyptapis densopunctata, G. disareolata, Liotrigonopsis rozeni, Melikertes clypeatus, Melissites trigona, Paleomelitta nigripennis, Protobombus basilaris, Protolithurgus ditomeus, Succinapis goeleti, S. micheneri, S. proboscidea, Thaumastobombus andreniformis, new species (seven new family-, 11 new genus-, and 22 new species-group taxa). The genus Electrapis is found to be paraphyletic and the subgenera Melikertes, Roussyana, and Protobombus are given generic status outside of Electrapis. The subtribe Electrapina is elevated to tribal rank among the corbiculate Apinae and the subfamily Glyptapinae of Cockerell is reduced to subtribal rank within Osmiini. The genera Chalcobombus and Sophrobombus are newly synonymized with Protobombus. Glyptapis reducta Cockerell is synonymized with G. fuscula Cockerell, Electrapis minuta Kelner-Pillault with Apis palmnickenensis Roussy, Ctenoplectrella splendens Kelner-Pillault and C. dentata Salt both with C. viridiceps Cockerell, Electrapis apoides Manning and Chalcobombus humilis Cockerell both with Protobombus indecisus Cockerell, and Electrapis bombusoides Kelner-Pillault with E. tornquisti Cockerell (new synonymies). The following new combinations are proposed: Electrapis martialis (Cockerell), Melikertes proavus (Menge), M. stilbonotus (Engel), Kelneriapis eocenica (Kelner-Pillault), Protobombus fatalis (Cockerell), P. hirsutus (Cockerell), and Electrapis martialis (Cockerell) (new combinations). A lectotype is designated for Electrapis minuta Kelner-Pillault and neotypes designated for Apis meliponoides Buttel-Reepen, A. palmnickenensis Roussy, Chalcobombus humilis Cockerell, C. hirsutus Cockerell, C. martialis Cockerell, Ctenoplectrella dentata Salt, C. viridiceps Cockerell, Electrapis tornquisti Cockerell, Glyptapis reticulata Cockerell, G. neglecta Salt, Protobombus indecisus Cockerell, P. tristellus Cockerell, and Sophrobombus fatalis Cockerell. The subfamily Xylocopinae is recorded for the first time from amber, and the families Halictidae and Melittidae are confirmed as occurring in Baltic amber. The oldest fossils of the Halictidae, Megachilidae (Lithurginae and Megachilinae), Melittidae, and Xylocopinae are reported and described herein. Keys are presented for the identification of the Baltic amber bees. Three new recent taxa are also proposed: Penapini, Redivivini, and Meliturgulini (new tribes). Cladistic analyses of the Lithurginae, Xylocopinae, and corbiculate Apinae are presented. Preliminary investigation of lithurgine relationships demonstrates that the fossil, Protolithurgus, is sister to extant genera of the subfamily and that Lithurgus s.s. is likely paraphyletic with respect to Lithurgopsis and Microthurge. Xylocopine relationships are generally in accord with those previously proposed: Xylocopini sister to all other tribes and Manueliini sister to the abruptly narrowed mandible tribes (i.e., Ceratinini, Allodapini, and Boreallodapini). Boreallodapini, despite some apparently apomorphic similarities with Ceratinini, is supported as sister to Allodapini. The paleontological evidence for corbiculate bee phylogeny reinforces traditional concepts over relationships of these tribes and contradicts recent molecular studies. Two extinct corbiculate tribes are based on specimens that exhibit worker morphologies indicative of advanced eusocial behavior and are related to the living, advanced eusocial tribes Apini and Meliponini, supporting a hypothesis of a single origin for this behavioral characteristic. The composition of the Eocene bee fauna of Europe is discussed. The fauna is predominantly composed of long-tongued bees, but some short-tongued bees are represented in the families Halictidae, Paleomelittidae, and Melittidae. Bees in Baltic amber are generally allied with groups currently inhabiting sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia, a biogeographic pattern common to many Baltic amber groups. The phylogeny and origin of bees are discussed. The bees are a derived, monophyletic group of the spheciform wasps and presumably arose sometime in the earliest mid-Cretaceous after the origin of angiosperms. Reports of bees from Jurassic strata or earlier are all refuted. All available evidence supports the idea that bees originated shortly after flowering plants and diversified into higher lineages contemporaneously with the radiations of angiosperms. Major bee lineages (i.e., families) were thus presumably established by the late Cretaceous. A catalog of bees presently known in amber and copal is appended as is a catalog of family- and genus-group names for fossil bees (both amber inclusions and compression fossils). A preliminary outline of the tribal classification of Recent and fossil bees with their geological distribution is presented (with three new family-group taxa for living bees).

American Museum Of Natural History, V112.

Bees are often thought of as yellow and black striped insects that live in hives and produce honey. However, Australia’s abundant native bees are incredibly diverse in their appearance and habits. Some are yellow and black but others have blue stripes, are iridescent green or wasp-like. Some are social but most are solitary. Some do build nests with wax but others use silk or plant material, burrow in soil or use holes in wood and even gumnuts! A Guide to Native Bees of Australia provides a detailed introduction to the estimated 2000 species of Australian bees. Illustrated with stunning photographs, it describes the form and function of bees, their life-cycle stages, nest architecture, sociality and relationships with plants. It also contains systematic accounts of the five families and 58 genera of Australian bees. Photomicrographs of morphological characters and identification keys allow identification of bees to genus level. Natural history enthusiasts, professional and amateur entomologists and beekeepers will find this an essential guide.