A Phylogenetic Analysis of the Bee Tribe Epeolini, with a Review of the Genus Triepeolus

Abstract

A generic-level cladistic analysis of the cleptoparasitic bee tribe Epeolini (Apinae: Nomadinae) is presented. One hundred and two characters of adult external morphology are identified and coded for 32 species representing all genera and subgenera presently recognized within the tribe, along with five outgroup taxa. The resulting topology is used in the formation of a higher-level classification of the tribe. Four subtribes are characterized: Odyneropsina Handlirsch, Rhogepeolina Rightmyer, Epeolina Robertson, and Thalestriina Rightmyer. Pseudepeolus and Triepeolus are not supported as subgenera of Doeringiella and are elevated to generic rank. The subgenus Trophocleptria renders Epeolus sensu stricto paraphyletic and is synonymized. The group Parammobates is recognized as a subgenus of Odyneropsis. A key to the genera of the tribe is provided. The taxonomic history of the tribe, as well as available information on hosts and biology of epeolines is summarized. In addition, a study of the species of Triepeolus is presented, with three separate keys. The first key is for the females of species occurring in North and Central America, excluding those of the T. verbesinae and T. simplex species groups. The second and third keys are for both sexes of all Triepeolus species found in eastern North America, and in South America and the Caribbean, respectively. Diagnoses, geographical ranges, host and floral records, and flight times are recorded for each species presented in the keys, with the addition of several well-defined species belonging to the T. verbesinae and T. simplex species groups. A total of 103 species, excluding those in the T. verbesinae and T. simplex species groups, are recognized. Fifty-two species names are newly synonymized (Table 6 and Appendix 5). The currently known and suspected host relationships for Triepeolus species are summarized (Appendix 3), and a list of the Triepeolus species found in various geographical regions is presented (Appendix 4).