Augochloropsis

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Cladus: Eumetabola
Cladus: Endopterygota
Superordo: Hymenopterida
Ordo: Hymenoptera
Subordo: Apocrita
Superfamilia: Apoidea

Familia: Halictidae
Subfamilia: Halictinae
Tribus: Augochlorini
Genus: Augochloropsis
Species:

Augochloropsis acidalia (Smith, 1879)
Augochloropsis acis (Smith, 1879)
Augochloropsis affmultiplex
Augochloropsis affsparsalis
Augochloropsis aglaia (Holmberg, 1903)
Augochloropsis anesidora (Doering, 1875)
Augochloropsis angularis (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis anisitsi (Schrottky, 1908)
Augochloropsis anonyma (Cockerell, 1922)
Augochloropsis anquisita (Cockerell, 1913)
Augochloropsis anticlea (Schrottky, 1908)
Augochloropsis apsidialis (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis argentina (Friese, 1908)
Augochloropsis aspricordis (Vachal, 1904)
Augochloropsis atripyga Strand, 1910
Augochloropsis atropilosa (Friese, 1925)
Augochloropsis atropos (Smith, 1879)
Augochloropsis atropurpurea (Moure, 1940)
Augochloropsis aureocuprea (Friese, 1910)
Augochloropsis auriferina Michener, 1954
Augochloropsis aurifluens (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis aurinota Strand, 1910
Augochloropsis auriventris (Friese, 1921)
Augochloropsis bari (Dominique, 1898)
Augochloropsis barticana (Cockerell, 1923)
Augochloropsis batesi (Cockerell, 1900)
Augochloropsis berenice (Smith, 1879)
Augochloropsis bertonii (Schrottky, 1909)
Augochloropsis brachycephala Moure, 1943
Augochloropsis brethesi (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis bruchi (Schrottky, 1908)
Augochloropsis caerulans (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis callichlorura (Cockerell, 1918)
Augochloropsis callichroa (Cockerell, 1900)
Augochloropsis calypso (Smith, 1879)
Augochloropsis catamarcensis (Schrottky, 1909)
Augochloropsis cataractae (Cockerell, 1930)
Augochloropsis celaeno Schrottky, 1906
Augochloropsis charapina (Cockerell, 1913)
Augochloropsis chloera (Moure, 1940)
Augochloropsis cholas (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis cirrhopus (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis cleopatra (Schrottky, 1902)
Augochloropsis cockerelli Schrottky, 1909
Augochloropsis cognata Moure, 1944
Augochloropsis crassiceps Moure, 1947
Augochloropsis crassigena Moure, 1943
Augochloropsis cupreola (Cockerell, 1900)
Augochloropsis cupreotincta (Cockerell, 1900)
Augochloropsis cyanea (Schrottky, 1901)
Augochloropsis cyaneitarsis Strand, 1910
Augochloropsis cyanescens (Friese, 1917)
Augochloropsis cyclis (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis cytherea (Smith, 1853)
Augochloropsis danielis Strand, 1910
Augochloropsis deianira (Schrottky, 1910)
Augochloropsis dirhipis (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis discors (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis diversipennis (Lepeletier, 1841)
Augochloropsis drepanis (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis electra (Smith, 1853)
Augochloropsis epipyrgitis (Holmberg, 1903)
Augochloropsis eucalypso (Cockerell, 1900)
Augochloropsis euterpe (Holmberg, 1886)
Augochloropsis evibrissata Moure, 1943
Augochloropsis fairchildi Michener, 1954
Augochloropsis flammea (Smith, 1861)
Augochloropsis gemmicauda (Cockerell, 1931)
Augochloropsis guaranitica Strand, 1910
Augochloropsis hebescens (Smith, 1879)
Augochloropsis heterochroa (Cockerell, 1900)
Augochloropsis holmbergi (Schrottky, 1910)
Augochloropsis horticola Strand, 1910
Augochloropsis huebneri (Alfken, 1930)
Augochloropsis hypsipyle (Schrottky, 1909)
Augochloropsis ignita (Smith, 1861)
Augochloropsis illustris (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis imperialis (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis iris (Schrottky, 1902)
Augochloropsis isabelae Engel, 2008
Augochloropsis janeirensis (Cockerell, 1900)
Augochloropsis johannae (Friese, 1917)
Augochloropsis juani Strand, 1910
Augochloropsis laeta (Smith, 1879)
Augochloropsis leontodes (Vachal, 1904)
Augochloropsis leurotricha Moure, 1943
Augochloropsis liopelte (Moure, 1940)
Augochloropsis luederwaldti (Moure, 1940)
Augochloropsis maroniana (Cockerell, 1918)
Augochloropsis melanochaeta Moure, 1950
Augochloropsis mesomelas (Vachal, 1904)
Augochloropsis metallica (Fabricius, 1793)
Augochloropsis monochroa (Cockerell, 1900)
Augochloropsis montensis (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis moreirae (Cockerell, 1900)
Augochloropsis multiplex (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis nasigerella Strand, 1910
Augochloropsis nasuta Moure, 1944
Augochloropsis nigra Moure, 1944
Augochloropsis nitidicollis (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis nothus (Cockerell, 1914)
Augochloropsis notophops (Cockerell, 1913)
Augochloropsis notophos (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis ornata (Smith, 1879)
Augochloropsis pallitarsis (Friese, 1917)
Augochloropsis pandrosos (Schrottky, 1909)
Augochloropsis paphia (Smith, 1853)
Augochloropsis patens (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis pendens (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis pentheres (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis perimede (Schrottky, 1908)
Augochloropsis pomona (Holmberg, 1903)
Augochloropsis prognatha Moure, 1944
Augochloropsis pronoticalis Strand, 1910
Augochloropsis proserpina (Brèthes, 1909)
Augochloropsis quadrans (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis quadripectinata Strand, 1910
Augochloropsis quinquepectinata Strand, 1910
Augochloropsis refulgens (Smith, 1861)
Augochloropsis rotalis (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis rufisetis (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis selloi (Vachal, 1911)
Augochloropsis semele (Schrottky, 1902)
Augochloropsis semilaeta (Cockerell, 1923)
Augochloropsis semiramis (Jörgensen, 1912)
Augochloropsis sexpectinata Strand, 1910
Augochloropsis smithiana (Cockerell, 1900)
Augochloropsis sparsalis (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis spinolae (Cockerell, 1900)
Augochloropsis splendida (Smith, 1853)
Augochloropsis sthena Schrottky, 1906
Augochloropsis sumptuosa (Smith, 1853)
Augochloropsis sympleres (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis taurifrons (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis terrestris (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis toralis (Vachal, 1904)
Augochloropsis trinitatis (Cockerell, 1925)
Augochloropsis tupacamaru (Holmberg, 1884)
Augochloropsis varians (Vachal, 1903)
Augochloropsis versicolor (Schrottky, 1908)
Augochloropsis vesta (Smith, 1853)
Augochloropsis villana Strand, 1910
Augochloropsis viridana (Smith, 1861)
Augochloropsis viridilustrans (Cockerell, 1927)
Augochloropsis vivax (Smith, 1879)
Augochloropsis wallacei (Cockerell, 1900)
Augochloropsis zikani Moure, 1944

Name

Augochloropsis

Primary references

Sandhouse, G. A. 1937. The bees of the genera Augochlora, Augochloropsis and Augochlorella (Hymenoptera; Apoidea) occurring in the United States. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 27: 65-79.

Links

BHL bibliography
Hassler, M. {{{1}}}. Augochloropsis. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. {{{1}}}. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: {{{1}}} {{{2}}} {{{3}}}. Reference page.
Augochloropsis – Taxon details on Encyclopedia of Life (EOL).
Global Biodiversity Information Facility. 2019. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. Taxon: Augochloropsis.
ION
Nomenclator Zoologicus

Augochloropsis is a genus of brilliant metallic, often blue-green, sweat bees in the family Halictidae.[1] There are at least 140 described species in Augochloropsis.[2][3][4][5]

Description and identification

Species of the genus Augochloropsis are generally between 8 and 12 mm long and metallic, typically bright green or blue in color, with some exceptions such as gold, red, or purple.[6]

Augochloropsis species can be differentiated from other Augochlorini at the genus level by the tegulae that are punctate, D-shaped, and bent inwards.[7][8]
Geographic distribution

The genus Augochloropsis is restricted to the New World, and the vast majority of species are found in the tropical and subtropical regions.[9] Three Augochloropsis species are found in the temperate regions of North America (A. anonyma, A. metallica, and A. sumptuosa[9]), but no species have managed to successfully exploit niches present in the subarctic zone.
Nesting behavior

Augochloropsis nests begin with one long main burrow, dug out of soft ground, that extends straight down. This main burrow has a lateral burrow that extends outward horizontally, perpendicular to the main. Cells all hang vertically down from this one lateral burrow, a sort of clustering that is common for all genera in the tribe Augochlorini.[10] Aside from this, the overall structure of one main burrow and one lateral burrow is considered unique within the tribe.
Sociality

A broad spectrum of social behaviors have been observed in the tropical Augochloropsis species. These range from solitary, to communal, semisocial, and even eusocial nesting behavior.[11] A few faunal studies have looked at North American species as well. A. sumptuosa has been studied in New Jersey and Kansas and has been found to be either communal or semisocial. Some species have been observed to nest in aggregations, where the openings of several nests are located within just centimeters of each other.[12]

Some evidence of division of labor or partitioning of social roles to some extent has been observed within this genus. An excavated nest of A. metallica in Michigan led to the discovery of two female nest-mates with different levels of ovarian development that was determined not to be due simply to the age of the individuals. This was interpreted as strongly indicative of division of labor within this species, suggesting at least that individuals have varying levels of reproductive responsibility within a nest. This may be a larger pattern found within the social species of this genus.[11]

There is a large amount of behavioral variability observed within augochlorine bees. Species within this tribe can also display polyethism, or differences in sociality and work activity among different members of a species.[11] Unlike certain species that may be reliably eusocial or reliably solitary, members of Augochloropsis show behavioral plasticity. It is not very well known what factors determine the sociality of an individual, but it does seem clear that species of this genus are quite variable in this regard.
Diet

Augochloropsis are classified as polylectic,[13] a term which indicates that these species are broad generalists that collect pollen from multiple families of plants.[14] Certain life history traits of bees are actually known to predict polylecty, including social lifestyles, long windows of adult activity, and producing more than two generations of offspring a year. Some of these traits are often seen in different Augochloropsis species.[14] For example, Augochloropsis anonyma adults are active between April and September in the northern portion of its range and year-round within its range in southern Florida.[6] Having this long window of activity makes this species more likely to forage from a large number of different plant taxa. Another species, Augochloropsis iris, which is native to South America, is primitively eusocial, and engages in three rounds of brood production over the course of a year, which correspond to the traits listed above that often promote wider diet breadth.[15]
Floral associations

All three Augochloropsis species found in the United States have recorded floral associations with Hypericum.[6]

Additionally, Augochloropsis anonyma has been recorded in association with Baccharis, Bidens, Cirsium, Erigeron, Helenium, Ilex, Linaria, Melilotus, Metopium, Ocimum, Polygonurn, Pycnanthemum, Rhus, Rubus and Trifolium.[6] Augochloropsis sumptuosa has been associated with Asclepias, Berlandiera, Bidens, Clethra, Crataegus, Eriogonum, Eryngium, Helianthus, Melilotus, Silphium, Stachys and Vaccinium.[6]

Augochloropsis metallica has the largest recorded floral associations of the 3 North American temperate species, with 73 floral records for the subspecies A. metallica metallica and 17 floral records for the subspecies A. metallica fulgida.[6] Floral records common between the two subspecies of A. metallica include Aster, Chrysanthemum, Cornus, Eryngium, Geranium, Ilex, Rhus, Rubus, and Solidago.[6]
Antagonistic interactions
Brood parasitism

Brood parasitism by mutillid wasps (Sphinctopsis sp.) have been documented in Augochloropsis iris nests.[15][12] While guards appear to deter invasion by mutillid wasps, they are not completely effective at preventing parasitism by these wasps.[15]

Members of the fly family Phoridae have been documented parasitizing Augochloropsis iris as well. However, members of Phoridae have only been documented parasitizing the nests of solitary females, indicating that the presence of guards at the entrances of multi-female nests are effective at preventing parasitism.[15]
Endoparasites

Strepsipterans have been documented parasitizing Augochloropsis iris.[15]
Nest Invasion

Ants have been documented invading and removing cell contents from the nests of Augochloropsis iris.[15]
See also

List of Augochloropsis species

References

Sandhouse, Grace A. (February 15, 1937). "The bees of the genera Augochlora, Augochloropsis, and Augochlorella (Hymenoptera; Apoidea) occurring in the United States". Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences. 27 (2): 65–79. JSTOR 24529459.
"Augochloropsis Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
"Browse Augochloropsis". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
"Augochloropsis". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
"Augochloropsis Genus Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
Mitchell, T. B. (1960). Bees of the eastern United States.
Packer, L., Genaro, J. A., & Sheffield, C. S. (2007). The bee genera of eastern Canada. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification, 3(3), 1-32.
Droege, S., Jean, R., Orr, M. "Bee Genera". Discover Life. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
Choe, J. C., & Crespi, B. J. (Eds.). (1997). The evolution of social behaviour in insects and arachnids. Cambridge University Press.
Eickwort, George C., and Shoichi F. Sakagami. 1979. A classification of nest architecture of bees in the tribe Augochlorini with description of a Brazilian nest of Rhinocorynura inflaticeps. Biotropica 11 (1): 28–37. https://doi.org/10.2307/2388168
Gibbs, Jason. 2017. Notes on the nests of Augochloropsis metallica fulgida and Megachile mucida in Central Michigan. The Great Lakes Entomologist 50 (1): 17–24.
Michener, C.D., Lange, R.B. (1959) Observations on the behavior of Brazilian halictid bees IV. Augochloropsis, with notes on extralimital forms. American Museum Novitates 1924: 1-41.
Porter, C. C. (1983). Ecological notes on Lower Rio Grande Valley Augochloropsis and Agapostemon (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). Florida Entomologist, 344-353.[verification needed]
Cane, J. H., & Sipes, S. (2006). Characterizing floral specialization by bees: analytical methods and a revised lexicon for oligolecty. Plant-pollinator interactions: from specialization to generalization, 99-122.[verification needed]

Coelho, B.W.T. (2002) The biology of the primitively eusocial Augochloropsis iris (Schrottky, 1902)(Hymenoptera, Halictidae). Insectes Sociaux, 49(2), 181-190.