Megaloptidia Cockerell, 1900

ENGEL, MICHAEL S., 2000, Classification Of The Bee Tribe Augochlorini (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2000 (250), pp. 1-89 : 41-42

Genus Megaloptidia Cockerell

Megalopta (Megaloptidia) Cockerell, 1900: 373 Type species: Megalopta (Megaloptidia) contradicta Cockerell, 1900 , monobasic and original designation.

DIAGNOSIS: This is a genus of moderately large, robust, nocturnal bees generally resembling the larger nocturnal genus Megalopta they were at one time included as a subgenus. The genus can be readily separated from Megalopta by the narrowed, elongate prementum, the serrate inner metatibial spur, the enlarged compound eyes, and the irregularly spaced distal hamuli. Like most nocturnal bees, species are generally pale in coloration and have greatly enlarged ocelli.

DESCRIPTION: Female. Mandible with strong subapical tooth. Labral distal process narrowly triangular; basal elevation orbicular; teeth absent. Prementum greatly elongate. Galeal apex acute; galeal comb absent galeal base extending to base of stipes. Hypostomal ridge carinate; anterior angle rounded. Length of malar space less than

basal mandibular width. Epistomal sulcus orthogonal. Compound eyes greatly enlarged, reaching above vertex in profile. Ocelli greatly enlarged; ocellar furrow absent. Vertex short, barely one ocellar diameter in length. Preoccipital ridge rounded. Pronotal lateral angle not produced, obtuse; dorsal ridge rounded; lateral ridge rounded. Mesoscutal anterior border rounded; mesoscutal lip rounded. Tegula oval. Anterior basitarsal brush present. Basitibial plate bordered on all sides. Inner hind tibial spur serrate. Apex of marginal cell truncate. Distal hamuli with irregular spacing pattern. Basal area of propodeum granular, nonstriate; propodeal pit narrow. Male. Mandible simple. Labrum without distal process; basal elevation absent. Antenna extending to posterior border of mesoscutum; F2 shorter than F1. Inner hind tibial spur serrate. Metasoma oval. Apical margins of S4 and S5 concave. Apical margin of S6 emarginate. Apical margin of S7 with bilobed median process. Apical margin of S8 with short median projection; spiculum narrow. Proctiger with anal filaments. Gonobasal bridge narrow; dorsal lobes strong. Basal process of gonostylus absent; parapenial lobe present. Ventral surface of penis valve with prong.

REVISIONS: Megaloptidia was revised by Engel and Brooks (1998) who recognized three species; Megaloptidia contradicta (Cockerell) , M. nocturna (Friese) , and M. saulensis Engel and Brooks.

BIOLOGY: Species of Megaloptidia are nocturnal and can be captured at lights. Nothing is known of their nesting or social biology. A female of M. nocturna has been captured at flowers of the monocotyledon Dichorisandra ulei (Commelinaceae) (Engel and Brooks, 1998).

DISTRIBUTION: The genus occurs in northern South America. Individuals are known from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, and Venezuela.