Felipe Vivallo

A new species of Centris ( Paracentris ) Cameron, 1903 from northeastern Brazil, with a key for the Centris species of the Caatinga region (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Centris (Paracentris) Cameron is one of the subgenera with the greatest species richness of the bee tribe Centridini. In this paper, Centris nordestina, a new Brazilian species of the subgenus is described, and due to its close relationship with a clade of Andean species, a new biogeographical track is defined uniting northeastern Brazil with the Andes. For the first time a key for the species of the Caatinga region, the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil, is provided.

Nesting biology and potential distribution of an oil-collecting Centridine Bee from South America

Despite their relevance for the maintenance of terrestrial ecosystems, important aspects such as the biology and distribution range remain unknown for most species of bees that occur in the Neotropical region. This makes the monitoring of pollinators and the establishment of conservation policies difficult. In this paper, we provide information on the nesting biology and natural enemies of Centris merrillae. Additionally, we provide a potential distribution model based on previously unknown occurrence records that increase the distribution range of this species through northern South America and the Caribbean. The production of such biological and biogeographic information is important to support future field surveys.

A synopsis of the subgenus Centris ( Hemisiella ) Moure, 1945 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Centridini) in Colombia, with description of a new species

A synopsis of the species of Centris subgenus Hemisiella Moure in Colombia is presented. The species included are Centris dichrootricha (Moure), C. facialis Mocsáry, C. merrillae Cockerell, C. tarsata Smith, C. trigonoides Lepeletier and C. vittata Lepeletier. In addition, C. nebulosa new species from northwestern Colombia is described, as well as the male of C. merrillae. Diagnoses for both sexes, occurrence records, and an identification key for the seven species of the subgenus that occur in the country are provided.

Two new species of Centris ( Aphemisia ) Ayala, 2002 from Colombia with a synopsis of the subgenus for the country (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Centridini)

A synopsis of the species of Centris subgenus Aphemisia Ayala in Colombia is presented. A total of six species were recognized: C. lilacina Cockerell, C. mocsaryi Friese, C. plumipes Smith and C. quadrimaculata Packard, including C. celadonia n. sp. and C. vallecaucensis n. sp., two new species described from the Departments of Huila and Valle del Cauca, respectively. Diagnoses, descriptions, information on geographical distribution and an identification key to all species are provided. The previously unknown male of C. plumipes is described for the first time.

Discovery of two new Andean species of Scolomus (Townes & Townes), with a key to all known species (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Metopiinae)

Scolomus Townes Townes is a widely distributed genus of the family Ichneumonidae, with most species occurring in the New World. Herein two new species from Chile are described and illustrated. Scolomus maculatus sp. nov., which is characterized by a large rhomboid areolet and very wide RS vein in the fore wing, resembling a petiole; head and pronotum green, mesoscutum yellow with dark brown spots on its lateral lobes and around the scutellum. Scolomus clypeatus sp. nov., which is characterized by its wide clypeus, 3.00× as wide as long, with a rectangular aspect; head, mesoscutum, postscutellum and pronotum entirely yellow. The first key to all known species of the genus is also presented.

New records of an invasive bumble bee in northern Chile: expansion of its range or new introduction events?

The Eurasian bumble bee Bombus terrestris Linnaeus has been used commercially for pollination of a large number of crop species worldwide. This species has become invasive in several countries where it has escaped into natural environments. This species has become naturalized in many zones of Chile and southern Argentina, and may potentially invade other regions and countries in South America. These naturalized populations of B. terrestris have been associated with rapid population declines of the native bee B. dahlbomii Guérin-Méneville. We report new records of the exotic bee B. terrestris in the Region de Arica y Parinacota in the far north of Chile, which includes portions of the Atacama Desert. We used species distribution models (SDMs) and multivariate analyses to evaluate whether these occurrences represent new escapes from managed colonies or natural dispersal of the species from its southern invaded range. These reports of B. terrestris indicate a northward expansion of this bee. In our analyses, these new areas of occurrences have environmental conditions similar to those observed in the species’ southern invaded range, and our SDMs predict that B. terrestris dispersal through the Atacama is possible, although not likely given the occasional flower blooming in that region of Chile. These new occurrences in northern Chile reflect a potential for future invasion into other regions of South America by B. terrestris. Future surveys in the area should be intensified to evaluate if viable populations of this invasive species may become established.

Taxonomic note on the oil-collecting bee Centris dimidiata (Olivier, 1789 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Centridini)

Centris dimidiata (Olivier) is currently considered an easily recognizable species widely distributed throughout the Amazon basin, mainly in Brazil. For much of its taxonomic history, C. atriventris Mocsáry and C. furcata (Fabricius) have been considered its junior subjective synonymies. Such interpretation was apparently due to the lack of a detailed study of the type specimens, misinterpretation of the original descriptions, and inability to study the apparently lost type specimen of C. dimidiata. In this paper, a neotype for C. dimidiata is designated, the species is placed in Centris (Ptilotopus), and C. denudans rubida Gribodo is proposed as its new junior synonymy. Simultaneously, as a result of a detailed study of the type material of C. atriventris and C. furcata, both species are revalidated and their placement in Centris (Melacentris) is confirmed. For all species, the female is redescribed and the male is described for the first time. A lectotype for C. atriventris is designated and new distribution records and a distribution map are provided.

Eleven new replacement names in the genus Mesochorus Gravenhorst, 1829 (Ichneumonidae: Mesochorinae).

Eleven new replacement names in the genus Mesochorus Gravenhorst, 1829 are proposed due the synonymy with Plectochorus Uchida, 1933 and Stictopisthus Thomson, 1886 made by Wahl in his cladistic analysis of the genera of Mesochorinae.

Revision of the species of Centris (Xanthemisia) Moure, 1945 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Centridini) from the Caribbean island.

A revision of the species of Centris subgenus Xanthemisia Moure from the Caribbean islands is presented. The species identified are C. aethiops Cresson, C. domingensis Dalla Torre nom. rev. and C. caymanensis, a new species from the Cayman Islands, Lesser Antilles. Figures, morphological characters of both sexes and the description of the male of C. domingensis are given. New distribution records and an identification key for the three species of the subgenus that occur in the Caribbean islands are also provided.