Revision of the rare anthidiine bee genus Rhynostelis Moure & Urban (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Abstract

The bee genus Rhynostelis Moure & Urban, a cleptoparasite taxon restricted to the Neotropical Region, was previously known from a single species. In the present work, the genus is revised, with three species recognized, of which two are described as new: Rhynostelis chrysogaster sp. nov. and Rhynostelis plesiognatha sp. nov. from Panamá and Brazil, respectively. Misidentification of the type species, Rhynostelis multiplicata (Smith, 1879), in previous works is pointed out and discussed. Diagnosis, illustrations and an identification key for the three recognized species are also provided.