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A molecular phylogeny of the long-horned bees in the genus Melissodes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Eucerinae)
journal contribution
posted on 2020-08-19, 05:49 authored by Karen W. Wright, Kelly B. Miller, Hojun SongThe
genus Melissodes Latreille in the subfamily
Eucerinae (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is a widespread and common group of bees. There
are 129 described Melissodes species
that range throughout the western hemisphere with the center of diversity in
the warm deserts of southwestern North America. Despite its widespread nature and
importance in agriculture, the evolutionary relationships among the species
have never been investigated. Here, we present a molecular phylogeny using five
loci for 89 species of Melissodes with
representatives from all subgenera. We confirm all of the subgeneric
delineations constructed by LaBerge, except for a paraphyletic M. (Tachymelissodes)
and the placement of M. (Heliomelissodes), which renders M. (Eumelissodes) paraphyletic. We also discuss
the unexpected placement of M. tristis Cockerell, M.
paucipuncta LaBerge, M. dagosus Cockerell,
and M. pexa LaBerge. Finally, we combine this analysis with
previous data to support the placement of Melissodes
within the subfamily Eucerinae.