Alloglossura, a new subgenus of the orchid bee genus Euglossa (Hymenoptera: Apidae), with a review of the included species

Abstract

With the availability of phylogenetic hypotheses for the orchid bee genus Euglossa Latreille (Apinae: Euglossini), the infrageneric classification for the genus is reconsidered. One of the major findings from phylogenetic studies for the group is the paraphyly of the subgenus Glossurella Dressler, although an assemblage largely congruent with the “gorgonensis” group within Glossurella is consistently recovered as monophyletic with minor differences depending on morphological versus molecular inferences. Here we present a revision of this clade under the new subgeneric name Alloglossura. The group as here proposed consists of seven species: Euglossa (Alloglossura) samperi Ramírez, E. (A.) trinotata Dressler, E. (A.) gorgonensis Cheesman, E. (A.) oleolucens Dressler, E. (A.) fuscifrons Dressler, E. (A.) nigrosignata Moure, and E. (A.) paisa Ramírez. Diagnoses are provided for all of the included species, and detailed descriptions and figures are given for all except E. (A.) paisa. A key is provided for the identification of males. The previously unknown females for E. samperi and E. fuscifrons are described for the first time, and E. gorgonensis erythrophana Dressler is newly synonymized with E. gorgonensis s. str. A phylogenetic hypothesis for relationships within the subgenus is also presented.