Further studies on Old World Melectine bees, with stray notes on their distribution and host relationships (Hymenoptera, Anthophoridae)

FURTHER STUDIES ON OLD WORLD MELECTINE BEES, WITH STRAY NOTES ON THEIR DISTRIBUTION AND HOST RELATIONSHIPS (HYMENOPTERA, ANTHOPHORIDAE) by M. A. LI£FTINCK Rhenen, Netherlands Abstract with 2 plates, 57 text-figures, 1 table and 2 maps The present paper is a revisionary study of the smaller genera of parasitic anthophorid bees of the tribe Melectini occurring in the Eastern Hemisphere. The eight Old World genera pres-ently recognized are redefined and arranged in a key, which includes the diagnoses of two new genera of Ethiopian bees, Afromelecta and Acanthomelecia, each with a single previously described and named species. With tiie exception of the large and polymorphous genus Melecta Latr., which will be dealt with in a separate article, three new species and 14 earlier described taxa are analysed and, where necessary, redescribed and illustrated. Keys for the identification of species are given for all genera. New species described are; Prole/melissa tricolor, Pseudomelecta atroalba and chalyheia. New synonymies established are: Callomelecta Ckll. (= Protomelissa Friese), Antho-phora sauteri Friese (= Prototnelissa formosana (Ckll.)), Melecta glasiinowi Mor. (= Paracrocisa kuschakewiczi (Radoszk.)), and Alelecta spinosa Friese (= Acanthomelecia bicuspis (Stadelmann)). The taxonomie treatment is preceded by general notes on the biology of Melectini throughout the world, followed by a preliminary list of concurrent Melectini and Anthophorini, whose parasite-host relationships have been either authenticated or suspected. Contents Introduction 254 Acknowledgements 254 General biology of the Melectini 255 Early stages 255 Host relationships 255 Distribution of regional genera and species 260 Key to the Melectine genera of the Eastern Hemisphere 260 Discussion of genera and species (exclusive of Melecta Latr., 1802) 266 Thyreus Panzer, 1806 266 Eupavlovskia Popov, 1953 267 Protomelissa, Friese, 1914 268 Key to the species 270 Pseudomelecta Radoszkowski, 1865 282 Key to the species 285 Paracrocisa Alfken, 1937 299 Key to the species 301 Afromelecta gen. nov 309 Acanthomelecta gen. nov 316 References 320 Alphabetical index of names 323 253