Chlerogelloides Engel, Brooks, and Yanega

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 : 39

Genus Chlerogelloides Engel, Brooks, and Yanega

Chlerogelloides Engel, Brooks, and Yanega, 1997: 3 . Type species: Chlerogelloides femoralis Engel, Brooks, and Yanega, 1997 , monobasic and original designation.

DIAGNOSIS: This genus is remarkably similar to Chlerogella ; both having the peculiar inflation of the pronotal dorsal surface. Chlerogelloides , however, has a deeply acute epistomal sulcus protruding into the basal margin of the clypeus such that the epistomal lobe nearly reaches to the clypeal apex. In addition, Chlerogelloides has a serrate inner metatibial spur and a short malar space.

DESCRIPTION: Female. Mandible with strong subapical tooth. Labral distal process narrowly triangular; basal elevation orbicular and weak; lateral teeth absent. Prementum greatly elongate. Galeal apex rounded; galeal comb absent; galeal base extending to base of stipes. Hypostomal ridge feebly carinate on anterior half, carina disappearing on posterior half; anterior angle rounded. Malar space less than basal mandibular width. Epistomal sulcus acute, projecting deeply into clypeus as a thin line nearly reaching clypeal apex. Ocelli not greatly enlarged; ocellar furrow absent. Vertex short, approximately one ocellar diameter in length. Preoccipital ridge rounded. Pronotal dorsal surface inflated, lateral angle feebly present and obtuse; lateral ridge absent; dorsal ridge rounded. Mesoscutal anterior border weakly narrowed; mesoscutal lip absent. Tegula oval. Anterior basitarsal brush absent. Basitibial plate represented by slightly elevated glabrous region Inner hind tibial spur serrate. Apex of marginal cell acute. Distal hamuli with irregular spacing pattern. Basal area of propodeum longer than scutellum and metanotum combined, smooth; propodeal pit narrow. Male Mandible simple, with strong double curve towards apex. Labral basal elevation absent distal process absent. Antenna short, extending posteriorly to mesoscutum; F1 longer than F2. Inner hind tibial spur serrate. Metasoma elongate. S3–S5 unmodified. Apical margin of S6 emarginate. Apical margin of S7 with bilobed projection. Apical margin of S8 with median projection; spiculum narrow Proctiger unmodified. Gonobasal bridge narrow; dorsal lobes weak. Gonostylus without basal process; parapenial lobe present. Venter of penis valve with prong.

REVISIONS: The genus presently contains two species that have been revised by Engel and Brooks (1999b).

BIOLOGY: Nothing is known of Chlerogelloides biology, although the peculiarly modified midlegs of the type species, C. femoralis , are likely involved in mating.

DISTRIBUTION: Individuals of the type species have been collected in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, whereas the second species occurs in French Guiana (Engel and Brooks 1999b).