Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2006-01-05
Page range: 47–57
Abstract views: 28
PDF downloaded: 3

A new Leioproctus with unique wing venation in males (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Paracolletinae) with comments on unusual wing modifications in bees

Department of Biology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3 Canada
Hymenoptera Colletidae Paracolletinae

Abstract

Leioproctus idiotropoptera Packer, new species, is described on the basis of one male and two females from the Northern Territory, Australia.  The male has modifications of the venation and setation of the forewing that are unparalleled among the bees and also possesses highly modified mandibles and fore- and midlegs.  The new species does not fall easily into any of the presently named subgenera of Leioproctus, but, given the great need for revision of this group, an additional subgeneric name is not presented at this time.  Some comments on unusual wing modifications in bees are made.

References

  1. Danforth, B.N. (1989) The evolution of hymenopteran wings: the importance of size. Journal of Zoology, 218, 247–276.

    Danforth, B.N. & Michener, C.D. (1988) Wing folding in the Hymenoptera. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 81, 342–349.

    Maynard, G.V. (1992) Systematic studies on Australian Leioproctus Smith (Hymenoptera: Colletidae). Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. 425+xii pp.

    Maynard, G.V. (1996) Revision of Chrysocolletes Michener stat. nov. (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) and descriptions of four new species. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society, 35, 1–8.

    Maynard, G.V. (1997) Revision of Leioproctus (Anacolletes) Michener, and descriptions of a new subgenus Leioproctus (Odontocolletes). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society, 36, 137–148.

    Michener, C.D. (1942) Taxonomic observations of bees with the description of new genera and species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 50, 273–282.

    Michener, C.D. (1990) Classification of the Apidae. University of Kansas Science Bulletin, 54, 75–153.

    Michener, C.D. (2000) The bees of the world. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.

    Packer, L. (2003) Comparative morphology of the skeletal parts of the sting apparatus of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 138, 1–38.