Mesomelissa Engel

Engel, Michael S. & Davis, Steven R., 2021, New genera of melikertine bees with facial modifications in Baltic amber (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Journal of Melittology 2021 (103), pp. 1-52 : 48

Mesomelissa Engel , new subgenus

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BA59CDBC-93CC-4176-9468-18CCE8F2C0A3

TYPE SPECIES: Chalcobombus martialis Cockerell, 1908 (sensu Engel, 2001a).

DIAGNOSIS: This subgenus includes those species in which the basal vein (1M) is comparatively straight (distinctly arched in Eckfeldapis ) and is proximal to 1cu-a, while r-rs is well separated from 1Rs and with a normally developed pterostigma (pterostigma significantly reduced in Electrapis s.str., r-rs and 1Rs close together on pterostigma in Eckfeldapis ), and 1m-cu meets the second submarginal cell at midlength or about 2/3 length. In addition, 2Rs is comparatively straight (rather than sinuate) and 2rs-m is comparatively close to 2m-cu, either confluent or separated by about 1–3× a vein width (except in E. tornquisti Cockerell where the separation is great, about 6–10× a vein width).

ETYMOLOGY: The new subgeneric name is a combination of the Greek words mésos (μέσος, “middle”) and mélissa (μέλισσᾰ, “bee”). The gender of the name is feminne.

INCLUDED SPECIES: Aside from the type species in Baltic amber, the subgenus includes E. (Mesomelissa) krishnorum Engel and E. (M.) tornquisti in Baltic amber, E. (M.) micheneri Wappler & Engel from the Eckfeld Maar, and one undescribed species from Green River.