Revision of the bees of the genus Tetraloniella in the New World (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract

The genus Tetraloniella was proposed by Ashmead in 1899 (p. 61) to include a small Palearctic eucerine bee, Macrocera graia Eversmann, known to Ashmead only in the female sex. This specimen and several others of this species have been examined by the present author but no male specimen has come available, thus the critical characters of the terminalia have not been studied. Nonetheless, the author is convinced from the female characters that Tetraloniella of Europe and Asia is the same genus as Xenoglossodes, also named by Ashmead (p. 63) later in the same paper. Michener, McGinley, and Danforth (1994:158) refer to the genus under the name Tetraloniella but suggest that, “. . . the synonymy of Xenoglossodes and Tetraloniella is uncertain.” This author agrees that our current knowledge of this interesting genus is incomplete. The synonymy of Xenoglossodes and Tetraloniella, however, appears to be correct and this author will continue to use the latter name for the genus. A total of 6,504 specimens were studied representing 35 species, of which 19 are new to science. A total of 14 names are listed as synonyms and 1 name is recognized as a junior homonym and renamed. Complete descriptions for all species and keys for the diagnoses of both sexes are included when possible.