Thectochlora Moure

Gonçalves, Rodrigo B. & Melo, Gabriel A. R., 2006, Revision of the bee genus Thectochlora Moure (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Halictinae), Zootaxa 1331, pp. 1-30 : 5

Thectochlora Moure

Thectochlora Moure 1940 . Type species: Halictus alaris Vachal, 1904 . Original designation.

Comments

In the three phylogenetic studies of the tribe Augochlorini ( Eickwort 1969, Danforth & Eickwort 1997, Engel 2000), the relationships of Thectochlora are not consensual. A close relationship of the genus with Augochloropsis and Augochlorodes ( Eickwort 1969) , a basal and isolated position in the tribe ( Danforth & Eickwort 1997) or a grouping with Megalopta and Ischnomelissa ( Engel 2000) have been proposed. In spite of this, the monophyly of the genus is strongly supported by the dorsal hook on the fore leg trochanter and by the female acarinarium. The latter structure is associated with specialized acarid mites carried by the females ( Fain et al. 1999). No variation was found in this character among the species recognized here.

Five species are here recognized in Thectochlora : T. alaris ( Vachal, 1904) , T. basiatra ( Strand, 1910) new combination, T. brachycera new species, T. hamata new species and T. mixta new species. Their phylogenetic relationships are presented in the Figure 34 .

Diagnosis

Pronotal dorsal ridge strongly lamellate; fourth male sternum produced laterally into a posterior process with strong setae at apex ( Moure 1940); anterior border of the first female tergum modified into a well-developed acarinarium ( Eickwort 1969); dorsal hook on the mid leg trochanter present in both sexes ( Engel 2000). Other valuable diagnostic features of the genus are the anteriorly projecting mesoscutum, the flattened metasoma, the pectinate inner tibial spur in the female hind leg, and the obtuse epistomal sulcus.

Figures

FIGURE 34. Cladogram for species of Thectochlora. L = 15; Ci = 93; Ri = 90.