Total-evidence dating and morphological partitioning: a novel approach to understand the phylogeny and biogeography of augochlorine bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)

Abstract

Augochlorini comprise 646 described bee species primarily distributed in the Neotropical region. According to molecular and morphological phylogenies, the tribe is monophyletic and subdivided into seven genus groups. Our main objective is to propose a revised phylogeny of Augochlorini based on a comprehensive data set including fossil species as terminals and new characters from the internal skeleton. We also aim to develop a total-evidence framework incorporating a morphological-partitioned homoplasy approach and molecular data and propose a detailed biogeographic and evolutionary scenario based on ancestor range estimation. Our results recovered Augochlorini and most genus groups as monophyletic, despite some uncertainties about monophyly of the Megalopta and Neocorynura groups. The position of the cleptoparasite Temonosoma is still uncertain. All analyses recovered Augochloropsis s.l. as related to the Megaloptidia group. Internal characters from the head, mesosoma and sting apparatus provided important synapomorphies for most internal nodes, genus groups and genera. Augochlorini diversification occurred in the uplands of the Neotropical region, especially the Brazilian Plateau. Multiple dispersals to Amazonia, Central America and North America with returns to the Atlantic endemism area were recovered in our analysis. Total evidence, including morphological partitioning, was shown to be a reliable approach for phylogenetic reconstruction.

A review of the Augochloropsis (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) and keys to the shiny green Halictinae of the midwestern United States

“…In addition, more work needs to be done to check the status of some of the current synonyms of Augochloropsis sumptuosa and Augochloropsis humeralis from Texas and Florida. Even the genus name may change at some point, as Gonçalves et al (2022) advocate for raising the subgenus Paraugochloropsis to genus level. The taxonomic changes and identification resources provided here will allow for more accurate identification of Augochloropsis and the other shiny green Halictinae.…”

“…In addition, more work needs to be done to check the status of some of the current synonyms of Augochloropsis sumptuosa and Augochloropsis humeralis from Texas and Florida. Even the genus name may change at some point, as Gonçalves et al (2022) advocate for raising the subgenus Paraugochloropsis to genus level.…”