Thaumastobombina 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 : 46

Thaumastobombina Engel , new subtribe

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:837B20B9-BF39-4EE9-9CDA-A0C2E8E55A56

TYPE GENUS: Thaumastobombus Engel, 2001a.

DIAGNOSIS: This subgroup of electrapines are the most similar to Apini and Meliponini , and inclusion in Electrapini may render the tribe paraphyletic, but that remains to be demonstrated. The subtribe is distinctive for the reduced number of distal hamuli (7 versus the 10 or more in other genera), and the densely pectinate inner metatibial spur (ciliate to serrate in other genera). The reduced number of hamuli is most similar to Melikertini and Meliponini among other corbiculate tribes.

INCLUDED GENERA: The subtribe includes only the type genus, which is known only from Baltic amber.