The bee subtribe Epanthidiina, a new taxon for the Neotropical clade of Anthidiini (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Megachilinae)

Abstract

Anthidiini comprise a large, diversified, and widely distributed tribe of megachiline bees. Recently, morphological and molecular analyses recovered five major monophyletic groups within the tribe. For this reason, we review the current classification of the tribe, giving status of subtribe to these lineages. A new subtribe, Epanthidiina (type genus: Epanthidium Moure), is proposed for a large group restricted to the Neotropical region. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic hypotheses support the taxonomic limits of the new subtribe. We also propose a new genus, Urbanthidium (type species: Anthodioctes gracilis Urban), in order to accommodate results from a previous study in which Anthodioctes Holmberg came out paraphyletic. Two species are transferred to the new genus: Urbanthidium gracile (Urban) comb. n., Urbanthidium psaenythioides (Holmberg) comb. n.