Megommation Moure, 1943

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 : 44-46

Subgenus Megommation Moure s.s.

Megommation Moure, 1943a: 479 . Type species: Halictus insignis Smith, 1853 , monobasic and original designation.

Megammation Sakagami and Michener, 1962: 88. Lapsus calami.

DIAGNOSIS: This monobasic subgenus is nocturnal in habit and exhibits the typical features of nocturnal bees: pale integumental pigmentation and greatly enlarged ocelli. The nocturnal characters can readily distinguish Megommation proper from the other subgenera. This group can be easily confused with the related nocturnal genus Megaloptidia , but Megaloptidia has the compound eyes greatly enlarged and the marginal cell apex feebly truncate and appendiculate.

DESCRIPTION: As for the genus with the following additions: Female. Mandible with moderate subapical tooth. Labral basal elevation orbicular; teeth weak. Clypeal apex concave. Hypostomal ridge weakly lamellate on posterior half. Ocelli greatly enlarged. Pronotal dorsal ridge rounded. Scopa present. Basitibial plate extremely short, borders faint. Inner hind tibial spur serrate. Male. Labrum without distal process. Antenna extending back to scutellum; F1 longer than F2. Metasoma oval. Apical margin of S2 unmodified. Apical margin of S3 with median projection. Apical margin of S4 with median projection. Apical margin of S5 emarginate. Apical margin of S7 with bilobed median projection. Apical margin of S8 unmodified.

REVISIONS: Megommation proper contains only the type species.

BIOLOGY: The nesting biology of M. insigne (Smith) was studied by Jörgensen (1912), Michener and Lange (1958b), and Sakagami and Moure (1967).

DISTRIBUTION: Megommation insigne occurs in northern Argentina, southern Brazil, and Paraguay.

Subgenus Stilbochlora

Engel, Brooks, and Yanega Megommation (Stilbochlora) Engel, Brooks, and Yanega, 1997: 15 . Type species: Megommation (Stilbochlora) eickworti Engel, Brooks, and Yanega, 1997 , monobasic and original designation.

DIAGNOSIS: Refer to Diagnosis for subgenus Megaloptina (above).

DESCRIPTION: As for the genus with the following additions: Female. Mandible with strong subapical tooth. Labral basal elevation orbicular; teeth weak. Clypeal apex relatively straight. Hypostomal ridge carinate. Ocelli not greatly enlarged. Pronotal dorsal ridge carinate. Scopa present. Basitibial plate not shortened, bordered posteriorly. Inner hind tibial spur pectinate. Male. Labrum with distal process, without basal elevation. Antenna extending back to scutellum; F2 longer than F1. Metasoma oval. Apical margins of S2 and S3 unmodified. Apical margin of S4 with median projection. Apical margin of S5 unmodified. Apical margin of S7 unmodified. Apical margin of S8 with median projection.

REVISIONS: There is only the one included species.

DISTRIBUTION: Megommation eickworti is found in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Genus Micrommation Moure

Micrommation Moure, 1969: 247 . Type species: Micrommation larocai Moure, 1969 , monobasic and original designation.

DIAGNOSIS: This genus appears to be sim- ilar to the nocturnal genus Megaloptidia ; however, Micrommation does not have enlarged ocelli nor a feebly truncate marginal cell apex. Likewise, Micrommation is not nocturnal and has brilliant metallic-green integument, whereas Megaloptidia has the typically pale integument pigmentation of nocturnal bees.

DESCRIPTION: Female. Mandible with strong subapical tooth. Labral distal process narrowly triangular; basal elevation orbicular; teeth absent. Prementum greatly elongate. Galeal comb absent. Hypostomal ridge carinate; anterior angle rounded. Length of malar space less than basal mandibular width. Epistomal sulcus orthogonal. Ocelli not greatly enlarged; ocellar furrow absent. Vertex not expanded or ridged behind ocelli. Preoccipital ridge rounded. Tegula oval. Anterior basitarsal brush present. Basitibial plate strongly rimmed on all borders. Inner hind tibial spur serrate. Apex of marginal cell acute. Distal hamuli with irregular spacing pattern. Basal area of propodeum as long as scutellum, smooth; propodeal pit narrow. Male. Mandible simple. Labral distal process absent. Antenna extending to posterior bor- der of mesoscutum; F1 longer than F2. 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: Only the type species is currently recognized in Micrommation . Douglas Yanega is preparing a new description of Moure’s type as well as of the only known male (Yanega, in prep.).

DISTRIBUTION: Micrommation is only known from the type locality in Paraná, Brazil (at 900 m).

COMMENTS: I have not seen specimens of Micrommation , which is known only on the basis of the female holotype, a single female paratype, and one nontype male. My generic diagnosis is taken from Moure’s original description and figures as well as information provided to me by D. Yanega (personal com- mun.) who has examined the as of yet undescribed male of Micrommation . For further details on Micrommation morphology refer to Yanega (in prep.).

Genus Neocorynura Schrottky Figure 64

Cacosoma Smith, 1879: 39 . Type species: Cacosoma discolor Smith, 1879 , designation of Sandhouse (1943). Nomen praeoccupatum (nec Cacosoma Felder In Felder and Rogenhofer 1874 [ Lepidoptera : Zygaenidae ]).

Neocorynura Schrottky, 1910: 540 . Nomen novum pro Cacosoma Smith, 1879 . Type species: autobasic with Cacosoma Smith, 1879 .

Neocorynura (Neocorynuroides) Eickwort, 1969a 404. Type species: Halictus rhytis Vachal 1904 , monobasic and original designation NEW SYNONYMY.

DIAGNOSIS: The speciose genus Neocorynura contains a heterogenous assemblage of primitive Augochlorina . The combination of an obtuse epistomal sulcus, frequently narrowed mesoscutal anterior margin, carinate preoccipital ridge, pectinate inner metatibial spur, and strongly bordered basitibial plate distinguishes the genus from similar genera such as Andinaugochlora and Neocorynurella .

DESCRIPTION: Female. Mandible with moderate to strong subapical tooth. Labral distal process narrowly triangular; basal elevation transverse; teeth absent. Prementum not greatly elongate. Galeal apex rounded 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 obtuse. Ocelli not greatly enlarged; ocellar furrow absent. Vertex not expanded or ridged behind ocelli. Preoccipital ridge rounded to carinate. Pronotal lateral angle variable; dorsal ridge carinate; lateral ridge carinate to lamellate. Mesoscutal anterior border frequently narrowed; mesoscutal lip rounded to angled. Tegula oval. Anterior basitarsal brush present. Basitibial plate bordered on all sides. Inner hind tibial spur pectinate. Apex of marginal cell acute. Distal hamuli with irregular spacing pattern. Basal area of propodeum granular, striate, or rugose; propodeal pit narrow. Male. Mandible simple. Labrum with distal process; basal

area not notched. Antenna extending back to propodeum or beyond; F2 longer than F1. Inner hind tibial spur serrate. Metasoma frequently petiolate. Apical margins of S4 and S5 unmodified. Apical margin of S6 emarginate. Apical margin of S7 unmodified. Apical margin of S8 with median projection; spiculum narrow. Proctiger unmodified. Gonobasal bridge narrow; dorsal lobes strong. Parapenial lobe and basal process of gonostylus absent. Ventral surface of penis valve with or without prong, never with keel.

REVISIONS: There has been no revision of Neocorynura . There are presently 67 valid species.

BIOLOGY: The biology of Neocorynura is varied with species nesting in the soil (Michener, 1977; Michener and Lange, 1958b; Michener et al., 1966; Sakagami and Moure, 1967) or rotten wood (Lüderwaldt, 1911; Schremmer, 1979). Neocorynura colombiana Eickwort and N. erinnys (Schrottky) may be semisocial (Lüderwaldt, 1911; Schremmer, 1979). Immatures have been described for N. colombiana by Eickwort (1979a).

DISTRIBUTION: The genus ranges from Argentina to Mexico. Although Neocorynura is unknown from the West Indies today, one fossil species, N. electra Engel , has been found as a Miocene amber inclusion from the Dominican Republic (Engel, 1995c).

Figures

Figs. 64–67. Metasomal modifications of male Augochlorini. 64. Relatively unmodified sterna (S5– S6) of Neocorynura papallactensis Engel. 65. S3–S6 of Pseudaugochlora graminea (Fabricius). 66. S3– S6 of Megalopta (Megalopta) genalis Meade-Waldo. 67. T7 of Temnosoma metallicum Smith.