Taxonomic Revision of Subgenus Lophanthophra Brooks and Paramegilla Friese (Hymenoptera – Apidae) of Egypt

Marwa Ismael,Mohamed Shebl,Hatem Mahfouz,Mohamed El-Bassiony,Rawda Badawi

doi:10.21608/eajbsa.2020.80059

Abstract

Twenty-six Anthophora species belonging to Subgenus Lophanthophra Brooks (10 species) & Subgenus Paramegilla Friese (16 species) are revised taxonomically.A. rutilans Dours is transferred from the first Subgenus Lophanthophra Brooks to Subgenus Paramegilla Friese due to its obvious dilated & hunped hind basitarsus as most related Paramegillian species than the not conspicuous weak mid-leg brushes. Many specimens are collected from various localities and genitalia are desiccated. Keys, diagnostic characters, synonyms, coloured pictures, line drawing illustrations, and the distribution are introduced, in addition to Scanning Electron Microscopic photographs are taken for A. hispanica (Fabricius). A. Shoumarae Rawda is redescribed, A. boops Alfken still considered as distinct species, not as a synonym of A. vidua (Klug).

Highlights

Anthophora is a hymenopterous species included in Suborder Apocrita, Aculeata group, Superfamily Apoidea
Since Gabriel &Rodrigo 2005, this long-tongued bee related to Tribe Anthophorini, Family Apidae, not as the former in Family Anthophoridae this has not been widely accepted in many literatures
The majority of bees are solitary, usually nest in large aggregations or in subsocial habits, where more than one female can share one nest as clear in carpenter bees. These digger bees as other bees is associated with many positive things especially the pollination, their population has been in decline annually, this widespread loss of pollinating insects would mean Humanity End (Celary & Wisniowski 2007, Blacquiere et al 2012, Shebl et al 2013, 2014, Shebl and Farag 2015, Amin & Mawlood 2017and Falk 2019)

Summary

Entomology

Taxonomic Revision of Subgenus Lophanthophra Brooks and Paramegilla Friese (Hymenoptera – Apidae) of Egypt. 1- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Science, Arish. 2- Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. 3- Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt

INTRODUCTION

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION