Sarocolletidion 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 : 20

Sarocolletidion Engel , new genus

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1CEC1011-36C6-4292-9F12-0691CEA667B6

TYPE SPECIES: Leioproctus (Sarocolletes) duplex Michener, 1989 .

DIAGNOSIS: This genus is clearly related to Sarocolletes Michener and could perhaps be easily classified as a thid subgenus of Holmbergeria Jörgensen . It differs from Sarocolletes most obviously by the presence of only two submarginal cells (rather than three in Sarocolletes ) and the generally smaller size (total lengths of 7–8 mm versus 9–11.5 mm in Sarocolletes ). In addition, the basal area of the propodeum is shining and largely smooth, aside from some fine transverse ridges basally (versus mate and imbricate in Sarocolletes ), and the labrum is convex apically (rather than broadly concave in Sarocolletes ). In most other features, the genus agrees with Michener’s (1989) account of Sarocolletes .

ETYMOLOGY: The new generic name is a combination of Sarocolletes and the Ancient Greek diminutive suffix – ídion (– ῐ́δῐον). The gender of the name is neuter.