A Cladistic Analysis and Classification of the Subgenera and Genera of the Large Carpenter Bees, Tribe Xylocopini (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract

Phylogenetic analyses of the genera and subgenera of the tribe Xylocopini (Large Carpenter Bees) were made using morphological characters coded for 51 species of the ingroup. These species represented all but three of the previously recognized subgenera. Twenty species of bees constituting the outgroup also were examined to evaluate primitive and derived character states within the Xylocopini. Four different analyses were made because of uncertainty in hypotheses of character transformations and among the relationships of the outgroup taxa. Cladistic parsimony analyses showed that previous classifications were based on combinations of characters and not unique synapomoiphies. Three major clades were supported in most analyses presented here; two are from the Old World, and one is from the New World. A biogeographically mixed group of subgenera are not clearly placed in this analysis; among this group are likely to be found the basal members of the tribe. A new generic and subgeneric classification is proposed for the Xylocopini. I conclude that recognition of Pwxylocopa Maa and testis Lepeletier and Servile as genera creates a paraphyletic genus o'i Xylocopa: these should be recognized as subgenera of an expanded Xy/oco/ja. A new subgenus. Maaiana. is proposed here for X. hentoni and related species formerly recognized as members of the subgenus Nodiila. The following subgeneric synonymies also are proposed: Xylomelissa Hurd & Moure is expanded to include Epixylocopa Hurd & Moure, AUoxylocopa Hurd & Moure, Dinoxylocopa Hurd & Moure and Acroxylocopa Hurd & Moure; Ancylocopa Maa is synonymized with Proxylocopa Maa; Schonnherria Lepeletier is expanded to include loxylocopa Hurd & Moure and Xylocospila Hurd & Moure; Stenoxylocopa Hurd & Moure is expanded to include Xylocopina Hurd & Moure; Neoxylocopa Michener is expanded to include Megaxylocopa Hurd & Moure; Bomboixylocopa Maa is expanded to include Minioxylocopa Hurd & Moure; Mesotrichia Westwood is expanded to include Platynopoda Westwood, Hoplitocopa Lieftinck and Hoploxylocopa Hurd & Moure, and; Koptortosoma Gribodo is expanded to include Ow.wlocopa Hurd & Moure, CyphoxYlocopa Hurd & Moure. Cycmcoderes Hurd & Moure and Afroxxlocopa Hurd & Moure. A key to identify the subgenera is provided.