Taxonomic revision of the bee genus Lophopedia Michener and Moure (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Tapinotaspidini)

Abstract

In the present study the genus Lophopedia is taxonomically revised. Thirteen species are recognized as valid, including five new species: Lophopedia apicalis (Cresson), L. buchwaldi (Cockerell), L. flava (Smith), L. fulviventris sp. nov., L. haeckeli (Friese), L. klugi (Friese), L. minor sp. nov., L. nigriceps (Friese), L. nigrispinis (Vachal), L. paraensis sp. nov., L. pulchra sp. nov., L. pygmaea (Schrottky), L. savanicola sp. nov. Three new synonymies are recognized: Lophopedia apicalis (Cresson) = L. acuticollis (Chesmann) syn.nov., L. flava (Smith) = L. acuta (Vachal) syn. nov., L. pygmaea (Schrottky) = L. tarsalis (Vachal) syn.nov. An identification key is provided, as well as distribution maps and figures to assist in species characterization and identification. Most of the species of Lophopedia are associated with forested areas, except for one species, L. savanicola, which is endemic to the Cerrado savanna.