Megachile, Latreille and Creighonella Cockerell. Michener, 2000

Eardley, Connal, 2012, 3460, Zootaxa 3460, pp. 1-139 : 7

Key to the females of the southern African subgenera of dauber bees in the genus Megachile

1. Foretibia with three large, distinct spines near distal end; male tergum 6 with large tubercles, lobes or spines projecting backward ( Figs 2d, 5c, 8a)......................................................................... Gronoceras Cockerell.

– Foretibia with one or two spines distally.................................................................. 2.

2. Clypeus short, about 5x as wide as maximum length, large carina across entire width of clypeus ( Fig. 10a); supraclypeus with mediolongitudinal carina........................................................ Maximegachile Guiglia & Pasteels.

– Clypeus long, 2–3x as wide as maximum length; often tuberculate and/or weakly cainate; supraclypeus variable, never with mediolongitudinal carina.............................................................................. 3.

3. Ventral edge of clypeus adjacent to labrum insertion; upper clypeus and entire supraclypeus distinctly tuberculate; lower clypeal margin entire........................................................................ Callomegachile Michener.

– Ventral edge of clypeus extends below labrum insertion; upper clypeus flat or gently convex; lower clypeal margin sometimes crenulate........................................................................................... 4.

4. Ventral edge of clypeus convex and crenulate ( Fig. 38a)....................................... Chalicodoma Lepeletier.

– Ventral edge of clypeus straight, not crenulate ( Fig. 46a)..................................... Pseudomegachile Friese.