Eucerini
Encyclopedia
The Eucerini is the most diverse tribe
in the family
Apidae
, with over 32 genera worldwide that were previously classified as members of the family Anthophoridae. All species are solitary, though many nest in large aggregations, and it is also occasionally possible to find large "sleeping" aggregations of males. Most, but not all, genera are distinctive in the unusually long male antennae
from which the tribe derives its name (eucer- means true horned). They are most diverse in the Western Hemisphere
.
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Apidae
Apidae
The Apidae are a large family of bees, comprising the common honey bees, stingless bees , carpenter bees, orchid bees, cuckoo bees, bumblebees, and various other less well-known groups...
, with over 32 genera worldwide that were previously classified as members of the family Anthophoridae. All species are solitary, though many nest in large aggregations, and it is also occasionally possible to find large "sleeping" aggregations of males. Most, but not all, genera are distinctive in the unusually long male antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
from which the tribe derives its name (eucer- means true horned). They are most diverse in the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
.
Classification
The classification within the tribe is rather chaotic, as many of the genera are small and poorly characterized, with the bulk of species (~500) in only 5 genera. This is a group in serious need of a thorough taxonomic overhaul, and the fusion of many genera would likely result (the most recent revision in 2000 eliminated 7 genera).Genera
- Agapanthinus LaBerge, 1957
- Alloscirtetica Holmberg, 1909
- Canephorula Jörgensen, 1909
- Cemolobus Robertson, 1902
- Cubitalia Friese, 1911
- Eucera Scopoli, 1770
- Eucerinoda Michener & Moure, 1957
- Florilegus Robertson, 1900
- Gaesischia Michener, LaBerge & Moure, 1955
- Gaesochira Moure & Michener, 1955
- Hamatothrix Urban, 1989
- Lophothygater Moure & Michener, 1955
- Martinapis Cockerell, 1929
- Melissodes Latreille, 1829
- Melissoptila Holmberg, 1884
- Micronychapis Moure & Michener, 1955
- Notolonia Popov, 1962
- Pachysvastra Moure & Michener, 1955
- Peponapis Robertson, 1902
- Platysvastra Moure, 1967
- Santiago Urban, 1989
- Simanthedon Zavortink, 1975
- Svastra Holmberg, 1884
- Svastrides Michener, LaBerge & Moure, 1955
- Svastrina Moure & Michener, 1955
- Syntrichalonia LaBerge, 1957
- Tetralonia Spinola, 1839
- Tetraloniella Ashmead, 1899
- Thygater Holmberg, 1884
- Trichocerapis Cockerell, 1904
- Xenoglossa Smith, 1854