Nomenclatural issues in the orchid bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossina) and an updated catalogue

Abstract

The taxonomic status (or the taxonomic status of the onomatophores) of seven nomina are revised: Eulaema meriana (Olivier, 1789), Euglossa piliventris Guérin-Méneville, 1844, Exaerete appendiculata (Romand, 1849), Exaerete subcornuta (Romand, 1849), Eufriesea danielis (Schrottky, 1907), Euglossa fimbriata Moure, 1968, and Eufriesea yepezi (Moure, 2000). Lectotype is designated for Euglossa piliventris Guérin-Méneville, 1844. Neotypes are designated for Apis meriana Olivier, 1789 and Apis dimidiata Fabricius, 1793 based on the same specimen and A. dimidiata Fabricius, 1793 became an objective synonym of A. meriana Olivier, 1789. Chrysantheda subcornuta Romand, 1849 is shown to be a senior objective synonym of Chrysantheda appendiculata Romand, 1849 and their synonymy under Exaerete dentata (Linnaeus, 1758) is questioned and discussed. Eumorpha combinata danielis Schrottky, 1907 is confirmed as a junior subjective synonym of Eufriesea auriceps (Friese, 1899), but the status of its onomatophore is reconsidered. Moreover, a long overlooked Euglossa dentata var. maxima Romand, 1849, nom. nud. and Euplusia yepezi Moure, 2000, nom. nud. are discussed for the first time. Both nomina Euglossa fimbriata Moure, 1968 and Euglossa fimbriata Rebêlo & Moure, 1996are available, but the latter is permamently invalid as a junior primary homonym of the former. An updated catalogue of all orchid bee nomina is also provided.

Climate change likely to reduce orchid bee abundance even in climatic suitable sites

“…In addition, we limited the analysis to species occurring in 10 or more sites with recorded abundance to avoid issues in model predictions, reducing from 55 to 37 species in the analysis. Taxonomy of orchid bees follows Nemésio and Rasmussen () and subsequent taxonomic publications of these authors.…”

“…Third, spatial data on orchid bee abundance for a large spatial extension and for many species, what is uncommon for most groups of insects in the high diversity tropical regions (Diniz‐Filho, De Marco, & Hawkins, ). Fourthly, the good taxonomic knowledge of the group in Atlantic Forest allows identification of individuals at species level (Nemésio, ; Nemésio & Rasmussen, ), avoiding problems related to misclassification. Fifthly, these bees are very important in maintaining pollination, being particularly important to some species of orchids with restrict number of pollinators or unique pollinator (Dressler, ).…”

“…Fourthly, the good taxonomic knowledge of the group in Atlantic Forest allows identification of individuals at species level (Nem esio, 2009;Nem esio & Rasmussen, 2011), avoiding problems related to misclassification. Fifthly, these bees are very important in maintaining pollination, being particularly important to some species of orchids with restrict number of pollinators or unique pollinator (Dressler, 1982).…”

Notes on pollination ecology and floral scent chemistry of the rare neotropical orchid Catasetum galeritumRchb.f.

“…Our observations add a new case of pollination by Eufriesea in the genus Catasetum . Eufriesea is a speciose genus with about 70 species (Nemésio & Rasmussen ), many of which are known as pollinators of perfume‐rewarding plants, especially in the orchid genus Stanhopea (Ramirez et al . ).…”

Effects of climate change and habitat loss on a forest‐dependent bee species in a tropical fragmented landscape

“…Currently, more than 230 orchid bee species (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossina) are recognised (Nem esio & Rasmussen, 2011) and their communities are richer and most diverse in humid Neotropical forests (Nem esio & Silveira, 2007). Some forest-dependent animal groups, such as the Neotropical orchid bees, may be facing population declines and even local extinctions, especially in the highly fragmented Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil (Morato, 1994;Tonhasca et al, 2002;Nem esio & Silveira, 2006;Nem esio, 2010aNem esio, , 2011bNem esio, , 2013bNem esio & Paula, 2013).…”