Centris (Melanocentris) ephippium Smith, 1854

Centris ephippium Smith, 1854 . 378.

Type data: This species was described based on male specimens collected in an undetermined locality in Venezuela. An exemplar belonging to the type series is housed at NHMUK and is here designated the lectotype. The specimen has the following data label: Type H. T. [circular red-rimmed label, printed]\ Venezuela \\ 47 06 [circular, handwritten]\ Centris ephippium, Type. Smith. [handwritten]\ ephippium Type Sm. [handwritten]\ B.M. Type Hym 17B.901. [handwritten]. The lectotype is in good condition, it has its genital capsule glued to a rectangular label and is coded NHMUK 010812601 in the NHMUK data portal.

Type locality: Venezuela .

Comments: The type locality cannot be further narrowed down than to Venezuela. The name of this species was originally proposed as C. ephippium, but it was subsequently cited as C. ephippia (see Moure et al., 2007 and references therein). Since “ephippium” is a noun it does not declinable and need not match the gender of Centris, i.e. Smith’s original spelling prevails.