Neocorynura Schrottky

Smith-Pardo, Allan H., 2005, A new species of Neocorynura from Ecuador (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), with notes on taxonomy of the genus, Zootaxa 1051, pp. 55-64 : 56-58

Genus Neocorynura Schrottky

Cacosoma Smith, 1879: 39 . Type species: Cacosoma discolor Smith, 1879 , by subsequent designation of Sandhouse (1943). Preoccupied.

Neocorynura Schrottky, 1910: 540 . Replacement name for Cacosoma Smith, 1879 . Engel, 2000:

45. Michener, 2000: 393.

Neocorynura (Neocorynuroides) Eickwort, 1969: 404 . Type species: Halictus rhytis Vachal, 1904 , by original designation and monotypy. Engel, 2000: 45 [as synonym of Neocorynura ]. Michener, 2000: 393. [as synonym of Neocorynura ].

Andinaugochlora Eickwort, 1969: 407 . Type species: Andinaugochlora micheneri Eickwort, 1969 , by original designation and monotypy. Engel, 2000: 29 . Michener, 2000:384. N. syn.

Neocorynurella Engel in Engel and Klein, 1997: 156. Type species: Neocorynurella seeleyi Engel and Klein, 1997 , by original designation. Engel, 2000: 46 . Michener, 2000: 384. [as subgenus of Andinaugochlora ]. N. syn.

Vachalius Moure, 1999: 74. Type species: Halictus cosmetor Vachal, 1911 , by original designation and monotypy. Engel, 2000: 46 [as synonym of Neocorynurella ]. N. syn.

Previous authors recognized the genus using the combination of the following homoplasious characters: preoccipital carina present, paraocular angle obtuse (absent), anterior border of mesoscutum often narrowed, and inner metatibial spur pectinate. The genus as understood herein, includes species that do not agree with this combination of characters, some of which have the preoccipital carina absent/faint to strongly carinate/ lamellate, paraocular angle variable from obtuse (absent) to forming a right angle, and inner metatibial spur pectinate but variable in shape and number of teeth.

Diagnosis

The genus Neocorynura in the present sense is well supported by the following putative synapomorphies and by the combination of some additional characters.

The synapomorphies for the genus include: a labral process on anterior margin, metabasitibial plate elongated, sometimes covered with setae; and the pores on the surface of the galea uniformly distributed.

Some other characters that in combination help in recognizing the genus include, in the females: integument of interantennal area imbricate and punctate, second submarginal cell wider than long, mandible mostly dark, sometimes with clear apex, mesotibial spur almost straight, first labial palpomere as long as the combined lengths of the following two, and glossa elongate and narrowly pointed. In males: dorsal surface of volsella acute or with hump, pores on S5 uniformly distributed across entire surface, and the posterior margin of T6 rounded.

1. “ seeleyi species group” (= former Neocorynurella )

Neocorynura seeleyi (Engel and Klein) , new combination Neocorynura viridis (Engel and Klein) , new combination

2. “ joannisi species group” (= former Andinaugochlora s.str.) Neocorynura micheneri (Eickwort) , new combination Neocorynura joannisi (Vachal) , new combination

3. Presently not placed as to species group (these will be treated in Smith­Pardo, in prep.) Neocorynura cosmetor (Vachal) , new combination (= former Neocorynurella in part) Neocorynura centralpina Engel & Smith­Pardo , new combination (= former Andinaugochlora in part)

Definitions of species groups across Neocorynura diversity will be presented in a forthcoming contribution (Smith­Pardo, in prep.).

The unification of these genera requires some minor modifications to the generic keys provided by Engel (2000) and Michener (2000). These alterations are as follows: In Engels (2000) key to females the first half of couplet 24 should read Neocorynura (changed from Andinaugochlora ), couplet 26 can be removed entirely, and the second half of couplet 30 should read Neocorynura (changed from Neocorynurella ). In Engels (2000) key to males the first half of couplet 27 should read Neocorynura (changed from Andinaugochlora and Neocorynurella ), and couplet 28 can be removed entirely. In Micheners (2000) key to females the first half of couplet 23 should read Neocorynura ( N. joannisi species group), and the second half of couplet 27 should read Neocorynura ( N. seeleyi species group). In Micheners (2000) key to males the second half of couplet 21 should read Neocorynura ( N. seeleyi species group), and the first part of couplet 25 should read Neocorynura ( N. joannisi species group).