Brachymelecta, Linsley, 1939

Onuferko, Thomas M., Packer, Laurence & Genaro, Julio A., 2021, Brachymelecta Linsley, 1939, previously the rarest North American bee genus, was described from an aberrant specimen and is the senior synonym for Xeromelecta Linsley, 1939, European Journal of Taxonomy 754, pp. 1-51 : 41

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2021.754.1393
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:22C1F6A8-1FA5-482B-B577-9265D8C51183
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4967915
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03CBE758-FFAA-3F4D-FF51-2C536523F870
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Brachymelecta
status

Treatment

Key to both sexes of the species of Brachymelecta View in CoL

1. Mandible bidentate, with inner preapical tooth as well as usual apical tooth (rutellum) ( Fig. 14A View Fig ). Mesoscutum covered in dense, uniformly golden-yellow hairs ( Fig. 15 View Fig ). Mesoscutellum without pair of spines or well-defined mammiform tubercles, although mesoscutellum bigibbous to some degree and sometimes with pair of very minute protrusions ( Fig. 15D View Fig ). Mesotibia with black hairs only ( Fig. 15A, C View Fig ). T1–T4 without fasciae or with only very faint apical bands of golden-yellow hairs ( Fig. 15B View Fig ) ...................................................................................... B. larreae ( Cockerell, 1900)

– Mandible tridentate, with inner basal tooth as well as inner preapical tooth and usual apical tooth (rutellum) ( Fig. 14B View Fig ). Mesoscutum with pair of spots or bands ( Figs 3B View Fig , 5B View Fig , 10B View Fig , 11 View Fig , 13B View Fig , 16B View Fig ). Mesoscutellum with pair of spines or mammiform tubercles (least developed pair shown in Fig. 13D View Fig ) (see also Figs 3D View Fig , 5D View Fig , 10D View Fig , 16D View Fig ). Mesotibia dorsally with some off-white or yellow-orange hairs, those of female sparser and usually reduced to small bands or spots ( Figs 3A–B View Fig , 5A View Fig , 10A–B View Fig , 11 View Fig , 16A–B View Fig ); those of male forming patch of very dense off-white, golden-yellow, or yellow-orange hairs, occupying nearly entire dorsal surface ( Figs 3C View Fig , 5C View Fig , 7A, C View Fig , 8A–B View Fig , 13C View Fig , 16C View Fig ). T1–T3 with well-defined off-white to golden-yellow or yellow-orange apical fasciae ( Figs 3A–C View Fig , 5A–C View Fig , 8A–C View Fig , 10A–C View Fig , 11 View Fig , 13A–C View Fig , 16A–C View Fig ), rarely entirely covered in pale tomentum ( Figs 7A–C View Fig , 8D View Fig ) ............. 2

2. Mesoscutum with pair of anterior spots or bands of hairs darker than surrounding off-white or yellow-orange hairs ( Figs 5B View Fig , 13B View Fig ). Mesoscutellum with pair of short, mammiform tubercles ( Figs 5D View Fig , 13D View Fig ). Maxillary palpus with four or five palpomeres ( Fig. 12A View Fig ) [North America] .................. 3

– Mesoscutum with pair of central spots of off-white or pale to golden-yellow hairs lighter than surrounding black hairs ( Figs 3B View Fig , 10B View Fig , 11 View Fig , 16B View Fig ). Mesoscutellum with pair of spines ( Figs 3D View Fig , 10D View Fig , 16D View Fig ). Maxillary palpus with fewer than four palpomeres ( Fig. 12B View Fig ) [Greater Antilles] ................. 4

3. T3 and T4 each with fascia narrowed or interrupted laterally, mesad the inner pair of anterolateral extensions ( Fig. 5A–C View Fig ). Fore wing infuscate apically, subhyaline in most cells and around third submarginal crossvein and second recurrent vein ( Fig. 5A–C View Fig ). Head, mesosoma, and metasoma with pale hairs off-white (rarely pale yellow and never orange) ( Figs 5A–C View Fig , 8 View Fig ) ........................................................................................................ B. californica ( Cresson, 1878)

– T3 and T4 each with fascia broadened anterolaterally, that of T3 into inner pair of anterolateral extensions ( Fig. 13A–C View Fig ). Fore wing infuscate throughout except subhyaline around third submarginal crossvein and second recurrent vein ( Fig. 13A–C View Fig ). Head, mesosoma, and metasoma with pale hairs typically pale yellow to yellow orange ( Fig. 13A–C View Fig ) ......................... B. interrupta ( Cresson, 1872) View in CoL

4. Mesoscutum with band of pale hairs along midline not attaining posterior margin ( Fig. 3B, D View Fig ). Mesoscutellum, except for pair of spines and around their bases, densely covered in pale pubescence greatly obscuring underlying integument ( Fig. 3D View Fig ) [ Cuba] .................... B. alayoi ( Michener, 1988)

– Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum each with uninterrupted band of pale hairs along entire midline ( Figs 10B, D View Fig , 11 View Fig , 16B, D View Fig ). Mesoscutellum pubescence otherwise dark brown or black, sparse, not obscuring underlying integument ( Figs 10D View Fig , 16D View Fig ) [other regions] ................................................. 5

5. T1–T3 with fasciae pale yellow, narrowly interrupted medially in female ( Fig. 10B View Fig ), complete in male ( Fig. 9A View Fig ) [Hispaniola] ................................................................ B. haitensis ( Michener, 1948)

– T1–T3 with fasciae off-white, widely interrupted medially in female ( Fig. 16B View Fig ), narrowly interrupted medially in male ( Fig. 9B View Fig ) [ Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands] ......... B. tibialis ( Fabricius, 1793) View in CoL