Melikertes (Paramelikertes), Engel & Ortega-Blanco & Nascimbene & Singh, 2013

Engel, Michael S., Ortega-Blanco, Jaime, Nascimbene, Paul C. & Singh, Hukam, 2013, The bees of Early Eocene Cambay amber (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Journal of Melittology 2013 (25), pp. 1-12 : 4-5

Paramelikertes Engel & Ortega-Blanco, new subgenus

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:08DFB6FD-5DC6-4EBF-ABEE-F19E1E031A2C

TYPE SPECIES: Melikertes (Paramelikertes) gujaratensis Engel & Ortega-Blanco , new species .

DIAGNOSIS: This new group can be differentiated from Melikertes s.str. ( Engel, 2001a) by the presence of only two submarginal cells ( Figs. 2 , 3 ), the confluence of 2rs-m with 2m-cu, the more elongate and narrow marginal cell, the marginal cell apex acutely pointed on the wing margin, the more densely setose metasoma, and the more strongly developed and dense stout bristles of the mid- and hind legs. Like Melikertes the malar space is apparently short, the clypeus lacks the clypeal protrusion typical of Succinapis Engel , the mesoscutellum apparently does not project over the metanotum, and the metasomal terga are not banded.

ETYMOLOGY: The new subgeneric name is a combination of the Greek prefix para (meaning, “near”) and Melikertes , type genus of the tribe. The name is masculine.

COMMENTS: The genus Melikertes Engel was previously known from three species in Baltic amber – Melikertes proavus (Menge) , M. stilbonotus (Engel) , and M. clypeatus Engel ( Table 1). Two new species are added here, one in the new subgenus, and the remainder classified in Melikertes s.str.

Figures

Figure 3. Holotype worker (AMNH Tad-41-A) of Melikertes (Paramelikertes) gujaratensis, new subgenus and species.

Figures 1–2. Photographs of holotype worker (AMNH Tad-41-A) of Melikertes (Paramelikertes) gujaratensis, new subgenus and species. 1. Entire specimen as preserved in dorsal oblique view. 2. Detail of forewing.