Chrysopasiphae Engel, 2022

Engel, Michael S. & Gonzalez, Victor H., 2022, A new bee genus from the pampas of eastern Argentina, with appended notes on the classification of “ paracolletines ” (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), Journal of Melittology 2022 (109), pp. 1-39 : 22

Chrysopasiphae Engel , new genus

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:ADE1BEC7-51B6-44C1-B026-55CDF2A06E97

TYPE SPECIES: Pasiphae chrysostoma Cockerell, 1917 .

DIAGNOSIS: This genus generally agrees with Bicolletes Friese but differs most notably in the rami asymmetrical of the pretarsal claws, whereby the principal posterior ramus is enlarged and thickened relative to the principal anterior ramus. In addition, tarsomere V of each leg is elongate and arched, with its base set deeply into the apex of tarsomere IV resulting in a bilobate appearance to the later in dorsal view.

ETYMOLOGY: The new subgeneric name is a combination of the Ancient Greek khrūsós (Χρῡσός, meaning, “gold”, or in poetry refers to anything “precious”) and Pasiphae Spinola , an older name for two-celled paracolletines and taken from the Cretan Queen Pasipháē (Πασιφάη), mother of the Minotaur. The gender of the name is feminine.