Pseudoheriadini Gonzalez & Engel, 2019

Gonzalez, Victor H., Gustafson, Grey T. & Engel, Michael S., 2019, Morphological phylogeny of Megachilini and the evolution of leaf-cutter behavior in bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), Journal of Melittology 2019 (85), pp. 1-123 : 57-58

Pseudoheriadini Gonzalez & Engel , new tribe

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DEC53F0B-8A55-418B-B72D-840B9F388F09

( Fig. 15 )

TYPE GENUS: Pseudoheriades Peters, 1970 .

DIAGNOSIS: This tribe can be readily separated from all other tribes of Megachilinae by the following combination of features: small body size (4.0‒ 8.5 mm in length); heriadiform ( Fig. 15A ); maxillary palpus dimerous (two palpomeres); propodeum with basal area not marked posteriorly by a strong carina, but if present, it does not extend laterally behind propodeal spiracle; outer surfaces of pro- and mesotibiae without a distinct notch on distal margin; arolia present; female T6 with wide apical hyaline rim; male T7 large, exposed, quadrately surrounded by T6 ( Fig. 15B ); male S3 with gradulus projecting into thin, basal hyaline lamella; male S5 with capitate discal setae.

DESCRIPTION: ♀: Preoccipital carina present (laterally in Pseudoheriades , dorsally in Afroheriades ); clypeus little to not overhanging labral base; labrum not elongate, margin without fringe or apical tuft of setae; maxillary palpi dimerous (two palpomeres); mesoscutellum flat or slightly convex, not overhanging metanotum; metepisternum with dorsal carina or lamella (weakly present in Afroheriades ); T6 with wide apical hyaline rim; S6 without lateral or apical projection.

♂: Metasoma with two or three sterna visible; T7 large, exposed, quadrately surrounded by T6 ; S3 with gradulus projecting into thin, basal hyaline lamella; S5 with capitate discal setae .

COMMENTS: This tribe contains at least 15 species ( Griswold & Gonzalez, 2011; Ascher & Pickering, 2018) grouped in two Eastern Hemisphere genera, Afroheriades and Pseudoheriades . The first genus is restricted to the Cape Province of South Africa whereas the second is more widespread, occurring across Africa, the Middle East, and India. Griswold (1985) provided detailed descriptions and diagnostic features of both genera, some of which Griswold & Gonzalez (2011) illustrated.

Figures

Figure 15. Tribes Pseudoheriadini and Ochreriadini. A. Female of Afroheriades hyalinus Griswold & Gonzalez in lateral view. B. Male terminal terga of Pseudoheriades moricei (Friese). C, D. Female of Ochreriades fasciatus (Friese) in dorsal and lateral views. E. Male terminal terga of O. fasciatus.