The Bee Genus Chilicola in the Tropical Andes, with Observations on Nesting Biology and a Phylogenetic Analysis of the Subgenera (Hymenoptera: Colletidae, Xeromelissinae)1

Abstract

This is a revision of the species of the genus Chilicola found in the South American Andes, Peru to Venezuela, above elevations of 1000 m. In addition to the four previously described species known from this area, 23 new species are recognized and described. They fall into three groups: (1) The C. ashmeadi group of the subgenus Anoediscelis, for C. ashmeadi (Crawford) and the following new species: C. colombiana, mistica, venezuelana, wygodzinskyi, xanthostoma, xanthognatha, cooperi, pedunculata; (2) Subgenus Hylaeosoma for C aequatoriensis Benoist and the following new species: C. involuta, umbonata, canei, belli, smithpardoi; (3) The new subgenus Oroediscelis (type species, Chilicola styliventris) for C. styliventris Friese, quitensis Benoist, and the following new species: C. espeleticola, brooksi, benoistiana, cuzcoensis, bigibbosa, maculipes, transversaria, gibbosa, brzoskai, simplex. Phylogenetic analyses are presented for the subgenera of Chilicola and for the species of the subgenus Oroediscelis. Aspects of nesting biology are presented for C. espeleticola and C. styliventris.