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1. A subgeneric system for the cuckoo bee genus Triepeolus Robertson (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

   https://doi.org/10.31184/M00138908.1594.4200  

   Engel, Michael S (October 2023, Entomologist's Monthly Magazine)

   A system of subgenera is newly proposed for the diverse cuckoo bee genusTriepeolusRobertson (Epeolini: Thalestriina).Eurepeolussubgen. n. is proposed forTriepeolus tristis(Smith) andT.ventralis(Meade-Waldo), together spanning the Palaearctic, whileMesepeolussubgen. n. is established forT.epeolurusRightmyer for a distinctiveEpeolus-like group found in Mesoamerica. 

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2. On the classification of sphecodine bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

   https://doi.org/10.31184/M00138908.1601.4204  

   Engel, Michael S (January 2024, Entomologist's Monthly Magazine)

   Taxonomic notes are presented for the exclusively cleptoparasitic halictine bee subtribe Sphecodina (Halictinae: Halictini). Keys are presented to the Western and Eastern Hemisphere genera of Sphecondina. In the New World fauna, the genusMelissocleptisGonçalves is considered a subgenus ofAustrosphecodesMicheners. l., and the following species transferred:Austrosphecodes(Melissocleptis)albifacies(Gibbs),A. (M.)capriciosus(Schrottky),A. (M.)coriae(Moure & Hurd),A. (M.)diablotinus(Gibbs),A. (M.)genaroi(Engel),A. (M.)nigritus(Ashmead),A. (M.)tainoi(Engel),A. (M.)variabilis(Schrottky) comb. n. A key is provided to the subgenera ofMicrosphecodesEickwort & Stages. l., withTrichosphecodessubgen. n., established for those species with elongate ocular setae. Keys are also presented for the species ofMicrosphecodes s. str. andTrichosphecodes, along with the descriptions of the speciesMicrosphecodes(Microsphecodes)eickwortisp. n.,M. (M.)multirugosussp. n.,M. (M.)quechuasp. n., andM. (Trichosphecodes)trichophthalmussp. n. The Brazilian speciesNesosphecodes depressusGonçalves is transferred toNotoclopsgen. n., resulting in the new combinationNotoclops depressus(Gonçalves) comb. n. A key is presented to New World subgenera ofSphecodesLatreille, with the following new or resurrected groups:ProteranerRobertson,DrepaniumRobertson,SphecodiumRobertson,Asphecodiumsubgen. n., andBoreosphecodessubgen. n. The following new species are described among New WorldSphecodes:Sphecodes(Asphecodium)brevisulcatussp. n.,S. (Sphecodium)eustaurossp. n.,S. (S.)electrumsp. n.,S. (Sphecodes)zacatuchesp. n. The genusCaenosphecodesgen. n. is proposed forSphecodes pseudoredivivusAstafurova & Proshchalykin andS. redivivusBlüthgen, differing fromSphecodesby the elongate free part of the marginal cell, in this respect resembling New WorldMicrosphecodes. This results in the combinationsCaenosphecodes pseudoredivivus(Astafurova & Proshchalykin),C.sauteri(Meyer),C. simlaensis(Blüthgen), andC. redivivus(Blüthgen) comb. n. The currently employed characters for subgenera ofEupetersiaBlüthgens. l. fail to distinguish the groups. Accordingly, the key to subgenera is revised and the species newly organized as to subgenera.Cephalosphecodessubgen. n. is established forEupetersia macrocephalaPauly andE.mandibulataBlüthgen,Xanthocleptissubgen. n. is proposed forE.reticulata(Benoist), andPollinicleptissubgen. n. is erected forE.nathaniBaker,E.malayensis(Blüthgen),E.sabahensisPauly, andE.singaporensisPauly. A new species ofNesoeupetersia,E. dnopherasp. n., is described from Sabah, Malaysia and a tentative key provided to species of the subgenus.ThrausmusBuysson andCallosphecodesFriese are treated as independent genera, and the latter considered close toMelittocleptesgen. n., withMelittocleptes insularis(Smith) comb. n. as type species. A key is presented to Old World subgenera ofSphecodes, with the following new or resurrected groups:Proteraneropsissubgen. n.,Paradrepaniumsubgen. n.,Eusphecodessubgen. n.,SabulicolaVerhoeff,Caenocleptessubgen. n.,Xystoclopssubgen. n.,Callocleptessubgen. n., andNomiocleptessubgen. n. 

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3. A phylogenomic monograph of West-Palearctic Nomada (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

   https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixad024  

   Straka, Jakub; Benda, Daniel; Policarová, Jana; Astapenková, Alena; Wood, Thomas J; Bossert, Silas (January 2024, Insect Systematics and Diversity)

   Hines, Heather (Ed.)

   Abstract We reconstruct the phylogeny of the most speciose genus of cuckoo bees, genus Nomada Scopoli, 1770, using 221 species from throughout its distribution, yet with a strong emphasis on the West Palearctic. For phylogenetic reconstruction, we sequenced ultraconserved elements, allowing robust phylogenetic estimates with both concatenation and coalescent-based methods. By integrating extensive information on Nomada host records, we study macroevolutionary patterns of host associations, transitions, and phylogenetic conservatism. Using Bayesian divergence time estimates, we assess the historical biogeography of the genus, focusing on the West Palearctic. Our results show that Nomada likely originated in the Eastern Mediterranean and Near Eastern region, and likely expanded its range to a near-global distribution from there. We recovered long-standing phylogenetic conservatism in the host usage of Nomada and provided strong statistical evidence for an ancestral host association with Andrena and its most recent common ancestor. However, host transitions occurred multiple times independently in the natural history of Nomada, and species of the genus are brood parasites in at least 5 genera and 4 different families of bees in the Old World. At last, we systematically revise the taxonomy of the Old World Nomada by integrating morphological study with our well-supported phylogenetic estimates. We re-establish the genus Acanthonomada Schwarz, 1966, stat. res., as a distinct, second genus in the tribe Nomadini. We recognize 13 subgenera for Nomada, 9 of which are described as new: Afronomada Straka and Bossert, subgen. nov., Colliculla Straka, subgen. nov., Gestamen Straka, subgen. nov., Hungias Straka, subgen. nov., Mininomada Straka, subgen. nov., Nomacolla Straka, subgen. nov., Nomonosa Straka, subgen. nov., Plumada Straka, subgen. nov., and Profuga Straka, subgen. nov. Aside from the subgenus Nomada s.s., we reinstitute 3 previously synonymized subgenera: Heminomada Cockerell, 1902, stat. res., Holonomada Robertson, 1903, stat. res., and Hypochrotaenia Holmberg, 1886 stat. res. A total of 15 subgeneric names are formally synonymized with the newly established subgeneric concepts. 

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4. Nest Ecology-associated Impacts of Wastewater on Wild Bee Microbiomes

   https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.09.675205  

   Ngor, Lyna; Palmer-Young, Evan; Vo, Helen; Alkhunder, Ali; Verma, Viraj; McFrederick, Quinn (September 2025, bioRxiv)

   Abstract Anthropogenic pollution affects environments differently depending on proximity to pollution source, exposure route, and species ecology. Thus, understanding organism’s ecological role and exposure route to contaminants is central to assessing pollution impact. Treated municipal wastewater releases contaminants into waterways and alters microbial communities. Plants absorb contaminants and expose animals through foraging and nest-building activities. Nesting ecology differences of ground vs wood cavity-nesting bees offers insight into niche-specific susceptibility to pollution. Because contaminants bind to soil strongly, ground-nesting bees near wastewater are likely most impacted, while wood cavity-nesting bees likely less impacted since plants’ ability to uptake contaminants are species dependent. We compared gut microbiomes of directly exposed soil-nestingHalictus ligatusand indirectly exposed wood-nestingCeratinaspp. upstream/downstream of wastewater. We collected bees, flowers, and soil, and analyzed their bacteria microbiomes (16S rRNA). Wastewater altered ground-nestingH. ligatusmicrobiome >18 times greater than wood cavity-nestingCeratinaadults.Ceratinalarvae and pollen provisions showed significant but smaller shifts. Conversely, soil and flower microbiomes remained stable, indicating higher resilience. These results demonstrate that exposure routes drive contaminants susceptibility, with animal-associated microbes most vulnerable. Because bees are important pollinators and biodiversity contributors, these disruptions point to broader ecological risks in increasingly contaminated landscapes. Abstract Figure 

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5. Reduced neural investment in post-reproductive females of the bee Ceratina calcarta

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12281-7  

   Jaumann, Sarah; Rehan, Sandra M.; Schwartz, Kayla; Smith, Adam R. (May 2022, Scientific Reports)

   Abstract Many insects show plasticity in the area of the brain called the mushroom bodies (MB) with foraging and social experience. MBs are paired neuropils associated with learning and memory. MB volume is typically greater in mature foragers relative to young and/or inexperienced individuals. Long-term studies show that extended experience may further increase MB volume, but long-term studies have only been performed on non-reproductive social insect workers. Here we use the subsocial beeCeratina calcaratato test the effect of extended foraging experience on MB volume among reproductive females.Ceratina calcaratafemales forage to provision their immature offspring in the spring, and then again to provision their adult daughters in the late summer. We measured the volume of the MB calyces and peduncle, antennal lobes (AL), optic lobes (OL), central complex (CX), and whole brains of three groups of bees: newly emerged females, reproductive females in spring (foundresses), and post-reproductive mothers feeding their adult daughters in late summer. Post-reproductive late summer mothers had smaller MB calyces and ALs than foundresses. Moreover, among late mothers (but not other bees), wing wear, which is a measure of foraging experience, negatively correlated with both MB and OL volume. This is contrary to previously studied non-reproductive social insect workers in which foraging experience correlates postiviely with MB volume, and suggests that post-reproductive bees may reduce neural investment near the end of their lives. 

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