Monoeca

ROZEN, JEROME G., MELO, GABRIEL A. R., AGUIAR, ANTÔNIO JOSÉ CAMILLO & ALVES-DOS-SANTOS, ISABEL, 2006, Nesting Biologies and Immature Stages of the Tapinotaspidine Bee Genera Monoeca and Lanthanomelissa and of Their Osirine Cleptoparasites Protosiris and Parepeolus (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apinae), American Museum Novitates 3501 (1), pp. 1-60 : 56-57

Key to the Large Species of Monoeca from Southeastern Brazil

1. Wing membrane darkly infumated. Lateral portion of tergum 2 and entire terga 3 and 4 densely covered with simple dark setae, discs not distinctly different from marginal zones, except for short lateral bands of plumose dark setae on T3–T4 ( fig. A3 ). Simple setae on mesoscutum about as long as plumose setae. Female: medial portion of clypeus entirely punctured, except for a narrow basal stripe.... xanthopyga (Parana´, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina) — Wing membrane with a yellow tint. Marginal zones of T2–T4 with distinct bands of plumose setae, usually pale yellow (sometimes black), setae on tergal discs distinctly shorter compared to those on marginal zones ( figs. A1, A5 ). Female: a few simple setae on the mesoscutum distinctly longer than plumose pubescence; medial portion of clypeus with a narrow longitudinal stripe without punctures............ 2

2. Marginal zones of T2–T4 only weakly depressed in relation to discs laterally ( fig. A1 ). Pubescence on lateral portions of discs of T3–T4 not particularly sparser than on T2, except on T4 of a few males with weakly pubescent terga. Female: last three metasomal terga usually with integument bright reddish brown (rarely dark brown); clypeus with only a medial longitudinal depression or at most with a faint ridge; punctures on disc of tergum 2 almost reaching center of sclerite. Male: sternal pads less developed and occupying less than three­fourths of the sclerite width, tips of setae of posterior fringe not meeting in the middle portion of sclerite ( fig. A2 )..... haemorrhoidalis (Parana´, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, São Paulo)

— Marginal zones of T2–T4 distinctly depressed in relation to discs laterally ( fig. A5 ). Pubescence on lateral portion of discs of T3–T4 distinctly sparser than on T2. Female: metasomal terga with a dark brown to black integument; clypeus with a weak, but distinct, medial longitudinal ridge; central one­third of tergum 2 almost impunctate. Male: sternal pads strongly developed and occupying over three­fourths of the sclerite widths, setae of posterior fringe distinctly long, their tips meeting in the middle portion of sclerite ( fig. A6 ) schrottkyi .................. (Parana´, Santa Catarina, São Paulo)

Figures

Fig. 1. Nesting site of Monoeca haemorrhoidalis, showing dense ground cover in foreground. Fig. 2. Close­up of two nest entrances of same. Fig. 3. Main burrow of Monoeca haemorrhoidalis showing repetitive tamping impressions on shiny burrow wall. Fig. 4. Monoeca haemorrhoidalis, spiral inner surface of cell closure. Figs. 5, 6. Closure ends of cells of Monoeca haemorrhoidalis, showing plugged entrance holes made by females of Protosiris gigas; holes are filled by them as they depart.