Andinaugochlora Eickwort, 1969

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 : 29-30

Genus Andinaugochlora Eickwort

Andinaugochlora Eickwort, 1969a: 407 . Type species: Andinaugochlora micheneri Eickwort 1969a , monobasic and original designation.

DIAGNOSIS: Species of Andinaugochlora superficially resemble larger species of the more widely distributed genus Neocorynura and even more similarly the related genus Neocorynurella . From the former group, Andinaugochlora can be separated by the broadly rounded mesoscutal anterior border and the obsolescent anterior border to the metabasitibial plate, while from the latter genus it differs in these same characters and also by the nearly orthogonal epistomal sulcus and carinate preoccipital ridge.

DESCRIPTION: Female. Mandible with strong subapical tooth. Labral distal process narrowly triangular; basal elevation orbicular; teeth absent. Prementum not greatly elongate. Galeal apex rounded; galeal comb absent; galeal base extending nearly to base of stipes. Hypostomal ridge carinate; anterior angle rounded. Length of malar space less than basal mandibular width. Epistomal sulcus nearly orthogonal. Ocelli not greatly enlarged; ocellar furrow absent. Vertex neither expanded nor ridged behind ocelli. Preoccipital ridge carinate. Pronotal lateral angle not produced and obtuse; dorsal ridge carinate; lateral ridge rounded. Mesoscutal anterior border rounded; mesoscutal lip rounded. Tegula oval. Anterior basitarsal brush present. Basitibial plate bordered posteriorly, margin obsolete anteriorly. Inner hind tibial spur pectinate. Apex of marginal cell truncate. Distal hamuli with irregular spacing pattern. Basal area of propodeum granular; propodeal pit narrow. Male. Mandible simple. Labrum with weak distal process; basal area not notched. Antenna long, extending beyond propodeum; scape short; F2 longer than F1. Metasoma elongate. Apical margins of S4 and S5 straight, unmodified. Apical margin of S6 emarginate. Apical margins of S7 and S8 with medial projections; spiculum broad. Proctiger unmodified. Gonobasal bridge narrow, dorsal lobes strong. Basal process of gonostylus and parapenial lobe absent. Ventral surface of penis valve with prong.

REVISIONS: The genus has not been revised. There are presently two named species, Andinaugochlora joannisi (Vachal) and A. micheneri Eickwort , along with at least four undescribed species (personal obs.).

DISTRIBUTION: The genus is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Based on the available collection information, species seem to be restricted to montane regions. An undescribed species has recently been identified from high altitude localities in Costa Rica (personal obs.). This species will be described at a later date by the author.