A revision of the Australian hylaeine bees (Hymenoptera : Colletidae). I. Introductory material and the genera Heterapoides Sandhouse, Gephyrohylaeus Michener, Huleoides Smith, Pharohylaeus Michener, Hemirhiza Michener, Amphylaeus Michener and Meroglossa Smith

Abstract

This is the first revision of seven genera of Australian hylaeine bees. The genus Gephyrohylaeus Michener is recorded from Australia for the first time.

Some morphological features of taxonomic importance are outlined and discussed. They include four kinds of foveae (believed to be associated with wax secretion), antenna1 and metasomal epidermal glands, modified mesosternal setae, strongly modified areas of the metasomal terga and sterna of some males, spermathecal ducts, processes of the hypopharyngeal lobe, allometric structure of males and cephalic modifications of females of several isolated species.

A key to the nine genera of Australian Hylaeinae here recognized is provided. All species of the seven genera revised are described, most are figured and keys for their separation are provided. Thirteen new species are described: Heterapoides digitata, H. exleyae, H. leviceps, H. nigriconcava, Hyleoides abnormis, H. planifrons, Amphylaeus (Agogenohylaeus) flavicans, Meroglossa ferrugina, M. gemmata, M. modesta, M. plumifera, M. rugosa and M. setifera. The following are new synonyms: Prosopis pulchripes Cockerell, 1914, and Heterapis hackeriella Cockerell, 1929 = Heterapoides halictiformis (Perkins, 1912); Hylaeus arnoldi Rayment, 1939, and H. longmani Cockerell, 1929 = Amphylaeus obscuripes (Friese, 1924); P. sculptifrons Cockerell, 1921 = A. morosus (Smith, 1879); P. sydneyensis Friese, 1924 = A. nubilosellus (Cockerell, 1910); Meroglossa decipiens Perkins, 1912, and M. eucalypti var. hilli Cockerell, 1929 = M. sculptissima Cockerell, 1910, which is possibly comprised of hybrids of M. eucalypti Cockerel1 and M. striaticeps (Friese). New combinations are: Gephyrohylaeus sculptus (Cockerell, 1911) (ex Heterapis) and Amphylaeus (Agogenohylaeus) obscuripes (Friese, 1924) (ex Prosopis). The males of Gephyrohylaeus sculptus, Heterapoides delicata, H. extensa, Amphylaeus nubilosellus, Meroglossa torrida, M. soror, Hyleoides bivulnerata, H. srriatula and H. zonalis, and the female of M. canaliculata, are described for the first time. A neotype is selected for Heterapoides bacillaria (Cockerell).