Ariphanarthra Moure, 1951

ENGEL, MICHAEL S., 2000, Classification Of The Bee Tribe Augochlorini (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2000 (250), pp. 1-89 : 30

Genus Ariphanarthra Moure

Ariphanarthra Moure, 1951: 137 . Type species: Ariphanarthra palpalis Moure, 1951 , monobasic and original designation.

DIAGNOSIS: This monotypic genus resembles the nocturnal genus Megaloptidia in its head structure, both having the face slightly concave around the antennal sockets and the greatly narrowed and elongate prementum. Ariphanarthra , however, is not nocturnal, with dark integumental pigmentation and normal-sized ocelli. The genus is remarkable for the elongate maxillary palpi that in re- pose extend posteriorly to the metasoma, a feature unique among the Augochlorini .

DESCRIPTION: Female. Mandible with moderately strong subapical tooth. Labral distal process broadly triangular; basal elevation orbicular; teeth absent. Prementum greatly elongate; maxillary palpus elongate, extending posterad to metasoma. Galeal apex pointed, comb absent. Hypostomal ridge carinate; anterior angle rounded. Length of malar space less than basal mandibular width. Epistomal sulcus orthogonal. Ocelli not greatly enlarged; ocellar furrow absent. Vertex short, barely as long as diameter of median ocellus. Preoccipital ridge rounded. Pronotal lateral angle not produced, obtuse; dorsal ridge carinate; lateral ridge rounded. Mesoscutal anterior border rounded; mesoscutal lip rounded. Tegula oval. Anterior basitarsal brush present. Basitibial plate with well-developed borders. Inner hind tibial spur serrate. Apex of marginal cell acute. Distal hamuli with irregular spacing pattern. Basal area of propodeum with weak basal striae. Male. Mandible simple. Labrum without distal process; basal area not notched. Antennae extending posterad to scutellum; F1 longer than F2. Inner hind tibial spur serrate. Metasoma oval. S4 unmodified. Apical margin of S5 weakly emarginate. Apical margin of S6 emarginate. Apical margins of S7 and S8 unmodified; spiculum narrow. Proctiger with anal filaments. Gonobasal bridge narrow; dorsal lobes strong. Parapenial lobe of gonostylus present; basal process absent; dorsal process large and membranous. Ventral surface of penis valve with prong.

REVISIONS: At present Ariphanarthra contains only the type species. Moure (1951) presents a thorough description of the species.

BIOLOGY: Moure (1951) suggested that Ariphanarthra may be crepuscular even though specimens have been captured only during the day and nothing about its morphology suggests this habit. Nothing is presently known of Ariphanarthra biology.

DISTRIBUTION: Ariphanarthra has an extensive range along the western half of South America. Individuals of A. palpalis Moure are recorded from northern Argentina, south- ern Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, as well as southern Colombia (Engel, 1996c).