Caenaugochlora Michener

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 : 36

Genus Caenaugochlora Michener

DIAGNOSIS: Species of Caenaugochlora are similar in general appearance to those of the genus Pseudaugochlora ; the later genus has, however, a strong ridge on the vertex and a pointed galeal apex. From the related genus Augochloropsis , Caenaugochlora differs in the absence of a notch on the tegula, the nonlamellate pronotal dorsal ridge, and the orthogonal epistomal sulcus.

DESCRIPTION: Female. Mandible with subapical tooth variously defined. 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; 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 angled or carinate. Pronotal dorsal ridge carinate; lateral ridge rounded to carinate. Mesoscutal anterior border rounded; mesoscutal lip rounded. Tegula oval. Anterior basitarsal brush present. Apex of marginal cell truncate. Distal hamuli with irregular spacing pattern. Propodeal pit narrow. Male. Mandible simple. Labrum with distal process; basal area notched. Antennae extending back to scutellum; F2 about as long as F1. Inner hind tibial spur serrate. Metasoma oval. Tri- angular setal patch on S4. Apical margins of S5 and S6 emarginate. Apical margin of S7 with median projection. Spiculum narrow. Proctiger unmodified. Gonobasal bridge narrow; dorsal lobes weak. Basal process of gonostylus and parapenial lobe absent; dorsal process partly membranous. Ventral surface of penis valve with prong.

Subgenus Caenaugochlora Michener s.s. Figure 60

Caenaugochlora Michener, 1954b: 76 . Type species: Caenaugochlora macswaini Michener, 1954b , original designation.

Coenaugochlora Michener, 1954b: 85. Lapsus calami.

DIAGNOSIS: Caenaugochlora s.s. is distinguished from Ctenaugochlora by the normal pectination of the inner metatibial spur, frequent presence of long compound eye hairs, strong anterior border of the basitibial plate, and propodeal striae not reaching to the apical margin.

DESCRIPTION: As for the genus with the following additions: Female. Compound eyes usually with long hairs. Pronotal lateral angle usually produced, angle slightly acute to obtuse. Basitibial plate with well-developed borders. Inner hind tibial spur pectinate. Basal area of propodeum with basal striae, not reaching apical margin. Male. Apical margin of S4 concave, with dense setal patches raised on tubercles toward apex. Apical margin of S8 with median projection, sometimes bilobed at apex. Volsella indented on inner margin.

REVISIONS: There has been no revision of Caenaugochlora species. At the present time, there are 15 described species in the subgenus, but many more await study.

BIOLOGY: The soil-nesting biology of Caenaugochlora costaricensis (Friese) was studied by Michener and Kerfoot (1967: as a species of Pseudaugochloropsis ), this species is possibly semisocial.

DISTRIBUTION: Caenaugochlora ranges from Colombia to Mexico. No species are known to occur in the West Indies.

Figures

Figs. 60–63. Features of male Augochlorini. 60. Labrum of Caenaugochlora (Caenaugochlora) costaricensis (Friese). 61. From left to right: apex of scape, pedicel, F1, F2, and basal margin of F3 for Corynura (Callistochlora) prothysteres (Vachal). 62. From bottom to top: scape, pedicel, F1, F2, F3, and basal margin of F4 for Pereirapis semiaurata (Spinola). 63. Distal flagellomeres of Pseudaugochlora graminea (Fabricius), F11 hooked at apex.