Systematic melittology: where to from here?

A new species of <i>Thyreus</i> from northern Cameroon (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

“…The description of this isolated new species is provided in the context that such works have inherent value, constitute the foundations for biological patterns and hypotheses of species diversity (Grimaldi & Engel, 2007;Gonzalez et al, 2013), contribute to future species-level revisions (Engel, 2011), and assist with efforts to conserve and understand global biodiversity. The format for the descriptions generally follows that used elsewhere for Melectini (e.g., Rightmyer & Engel, 2003;Straka & Engel, 2012;Engel & Michener, 2012;Alqarni et al, 2014), while morphological terminology follows that of Engel (2001) and Michener (2007).…”

Three new species of the bee genus <i>Caenaugochlora</i> from Central America and Colombia (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

“…Some species are not difficult to locate, such as C. (C.) gemella (Cockerell), and so it is hoped that regional efforts will be made to locate nests of other species and gradually build a comparative framework for understanding nesting and biological diversity within the group, along with a characterization of the immature stages. Such efforts may discover biological traits that corroborate or refute hypotheses established otherwise only from features of the external morphology (Engel, 2011). The opportunity is taken also to remove two species from an already polymorphic and putatively paraphyletic Caenaugochlora s.str.…”

“…It is possible that it would be more meaningful to recognize each of the subgenera as individual genera, and even to further divide Caenaugochlora s.str., a step that is initiated below. Ultimately, a more permanent solution awaits a comprehensive treatment of the species, as there remain several undescribed and many incompletely known (e.g., from a single sex), and an eventual phylogeny encompassing as much of the diversity as is permissible, combining morphology, DNA sequences, and other forms of data (e.g., Engel, 2011). Descriptions matter, and in the above context it is from the documentation of these new species and their unique amalgamation of traits that we derive our understanding of relationship and other phenomena (Grimaldi & Engel, 2007).…”

Revision of the orchid bee subgenus <i>Euglossella</i> (Hymenoptera: Apidae), part II: The <i>viridis</i> and <i>mandibularis</i> species groups

“…Nonetheless, we believe no such great strides will be made without a systematic treatment to act as the gateway to further research. Although largely descriptive in nature, descriptions such as those presented here test basic hypotheses of species circumscription and document abiding patterns of variation (Grimaldi & Engel, 2007;Engel, 2011;Gonzalez et al, 2013), and hopefully shall provide a more rigorous framework for advancing our knowledge of the subgenus.…”