Ischnomelissa Engel, 1997

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 : 39-40

Genus Ischnomelissa Engel

Ischnomelissa Engel, 1997b: 42 . Type species: Ischnomelissa zonata Engel, 1997b , monobasic and original designation.

DIAGNOSIS: This group is similar to the more diverse genus Chlerogella , both genera having an elongate propodeum and a frequently elongate malar space that makes the head much longer than wide. Ischnomelissa differs by a densely pectinate inner metatibial spur, an orthogonal epistomal sulcus, and a pronotum that is not dorsally inflated.

DESCRIPTION: Female. Mandible with moderately developed subapical tooth. Labral distal process narrowly triangular; basal elevation orbicular; teeth absent. Prementum not greatly elongate. Galeal apex rounded galeal comb absent; galeal base extending to stipital base. Hypostomal ridge carinate; an-

terior angle rounded. Length of malar space usually less than basal mandibular width, except in some species in which the length is equal to the basal mandibular width. Epistomal sulcus orthogonal. Ocelli not greatly enlarged; ocellar furrow absent. Vertex not expanded or ridged behind ocelli. Preoccipital ridge rounded. Pronotal lateral angle not produced, obtuse; dorsal ridge angled, but distinctly not carinate; lateral ridge rounded. Mesoscutal anterior border rounded; mesoscutal lip rounded. Tegula oval. Anterior basitarsal brush present. Basitibial plate border posteriorly, margin obsolete anteriorly. Inner hind tibial spur densely pectinate, with more than 10 teeth. Apex of marginal cell acute. Distal hamuli with irregular spacing pattern. Basal area of propodeum as long as or longer than scutellum and metanotum combined, nonstriate, smooth; propodeal pit narrow. Male. Mandible simple. Labrum without distal process; basal area not notched. Antenna long, extending beyond posterior border of propodeum; F1 much shorter than F2. Inner hind tibial spur serrate. Metasoma elongate. S3–S5 unmodified. Apical margin of S6 cleft. Apical margin of S7 with short median process. Apical margin of S8 with median process; spiculum narrow. Proctiger unmodified. Gonobasal bridge narrow; dorsal lobes weak. Basal process of gonostylus and parapenial lobes absent; gonostylus not divided into ventral and dorsal gonostylar processes. Ventral surface of penis valve with prong.

REVISIONS: The genus has recently been revised by Brooks and Engel (1998) who recognize six species.

DISTRIBUTION: Species are known from Colombia and Ecuador.