Bees of the Colletes flavicornis-group from China with description of one new species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae).

Two species of the Colletes flavicornis-group from China are treated in this paper. C. vestitus sp. n. from Xinjiang is illustrated and described, and C. popovi Noskiewicz, 1936 is illustrated and redescribed. Both sexes of the two species are in addition characterized by DNA barcodes. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Insect Collection of Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

A review of the Colletes succinctus-group (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) from China with redescription of the male of C. gigas.

Four species of the Colletes succinctus-group known from China are reviewed and a key to species is provided. Colletes gigas Cockerell, 1918 is recognized as a member of the Colletes succinctus-group for the first time based on a redescription of the male.

Bees of the Colletes clypearis-group (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae) from China with descriptions of seven new species.

Twenty-three known species of the Colletes clypearis speices group from China are treated in this paper. C. cinerascens Morawitz 1893, C. clypearis Morawitz 1876, C. floralis Eversmann 1852, C. impunctatus Nylander 1852, Colletes paratibeticus Kuhlmann 2002 and Colletes sodalis (Cameron 1897) are newly recorded from China. C. harrerioides sp. n., C. heilongtenensis sp. n., C. hirsutus sp. n., C. inspersus sp. n., C. xizangensis sp. n., C. xuezhongi sp. n. and C. yanruae sp. n. are described and illustrated as new species. Checklist of the known species from China in Colletes clypearis-group with distribution, floral records, and an illustrated key to all known males and females from China are provided. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Insect Collection of Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. 

First record of the bee genus Homalictus Cockerell for China with description of a new species (Hymenoptera: Halictidae: Halictini).

This paper reports the first record of the genus Homalictus from China. We describe and illustrate H. (H.) nabanensis sp. n. collected from the Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China. The type specimens are deposited in Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

A new species and a newly recorded subgenus of Lipotriches Gerstaecker, 1858 (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Halictidae, Nomiinae) from China.

Two Chinese species of the genus Lipotriches Gerstaecker, 1858 are treated in this paper. Lipotriches (Lipotriches) guihongi Zhang & Niu, sp. nov. is recognized as a new species and Lipotriches (Maynenomia) nanensis (Cockerell, 1929) is a new species and subgenus record for China. The number of Chinese species of the subfamily Nomiinae and genus Lipotriches are updated to 47 and 15, respectively.

Testing the systematic status of Homalictus and Rostrohalictus with weakened cross-vein groups within Halictini (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) using low-coverage whole-genome sequencing.

The halictid genus Lasioglossum, as one of the most species-rich bee groups with persistently contentious subgeneric boundaries, is one of the most challenging bee groups from a systematic standpoint. An enduring question is the relationship of Lasioglossum and Homalictus, whether all halictine bees with weakened distal wing venation comprise one or multiple genera. Here, we analyzed the phylogenetic relationships among the subgroups within Lasioglossum s.l. based on thousands of single-copy orthologs and ultraconserved elements, which were extracted from 23 newly sequenced low-coverage whole genomes alongside a published genome (22 ingroups plus 2 outgroups). Both marker sets provided consistent results across maximum likelihood and coalescent-based species tree approaches. The phylogenetic and topology test results show that the Lasioglossum and Hemihalictus series are reciprocally monophyletic and Homalictus and Rostrohalictus are valid subgenera of Lasioglossum. Consequently, we lower Homalictus to subgenus status within Lasioglossum again, and we also raise Rostrohalictus to subgenus status from its prior synonymy with subgenus Hemihalictus. Lasioglossum przewalskyi is also transferred to the subgenus Hemihalictus. Ultimately, we redefine Lasioglossum to include all halictine bees with weakened distal wing venation.

Review of the bee genus Pseudoanthidium Friese, 1898 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae: Anthidiini) of China with descriptions of three new species.

The carder bee genus Pseudoanthidium Friese, 1898, is revised from China. Eight species are confirmed to occur in China, including three new species: Pseudoanthidium (Pseudoanthidium) yanruae Niu Zhu, sp. nov., P. (P.) kunesense Niu Zhu, sp. nov., P. (P.) chenggongense Niu Zhu, sp. nov. There is also one new generic assignment and synonymy: Anthidium kryzhanovskii Wu, 1962 is a junior synonym of P. (P.) orientale (Bingham, 1897). Pseudoanthidium (P.) campulodonta (Wu, 1990) is synonymized with P. (P.) tenellum (Mocsry, 1880). Here we provide descriptions for the three new species and an illustrated key to the known Chinese Pseudoanthidium.

The cellophane bees of Colletes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) from Xizang (Tibet), China.

We present information about the known species of the genus Colletes Latreille found in Xizang (China), including an integrative approach to taxonomy for many of the species. A new species belonging to the C. clypearis Morawitz group, C. splendidus Ferrari, Niu Zhu sp. nov., is described. Colletes sichuanensis Kuhlmann and C. tuberculatus Morawitz are recorded from Xizang for the first time. The suspected occurrences of both C. bischoffi Noskiewicz and C. packeri Kuhlmann in China are confirmed and their presence in Xizang are also established for the first time. We show that C. fulvicornis Noskiewicz was wrongly recorded from Xizang previously and, therefore, the species is herein removed from the list of the Tibetan Colletes. Thus, 26 species of the genus are now known from Xizang. The putative occurrence of C. annejohnae Kuhlmann in Xizang could not be confirmed, but the species is nonetheless included in the scope of this paper to facilitate its identification by future studies. An illustrated key for the Tibetan species of Colletes is provided.

Chinese species of Nomia (Gnathonomia) Pauly, 2005 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae: Nomiinae).

Five Chinese species of Nomia (Gnathonomia) Pauly, 2005 are treated in this paper: Nomia fusciventris Zhang Niu, sp. nov. from Fujian Province is described as a new species; N. aurata Bingham, 1897 and N. wahisi Pauly, 2009 are recorded from China for the first time, and the male of N. pieli Cockerell, 1931 is newly reported. An updated diagnosis is provided for the subgenus Nomia (Gnathonomia) to accommodate Chinese endemic species which lack the white integumental bands found in most previously described forms. A key to the known Chinese species is provided.

Bees of the genus Anthidium Fabricius, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae: Anthidiini) from China.

The Chinese bees of the genus Anthidium Fabricius, 1804, are reviewed. Twenty-one species are confirmed to occur in China, five of which are described and illustrated as new Chinese endemics: Anthidium (Anthidium) pseudomontanum Niu Zhu, sp. nov., A. (A.) pseudophilorum Niu Zhu, sp. nov., A. (A.) tasitiense Niu Zhu, sp. nov., A. (A.) xuezhongi Niu Zhu, sp. nov., and A. (Proanthidium) qingtaoi Niu Zhu, sp. nov.. The previously unknown female of A. (A.) kashmirense Mavromoustakis, 1937 and male of A. (P.) kashgarense (Cockerell, 1911) are described for the first time. Anthidium (A.) furcatum Wu, 2004 (junior primary homonym, nec Anthidium furcatum Ducke, 1908) is replaced with its valid and available synonym A. (A.) striatum Wu, 2004. New synonymies are also established for A. (A.) kashmirense Mavromoustakis, 1937 = A. (A.) nigroventrale Wu, 1982, syn. nov., and A. (A.) florentinum (Fabricius, 1775) = A. (A.) helianthinum Wu, 2004, syn. nov. The non-Chinese Anthidium amabile Alfken, 1933 (junior primary homonym, nec Anthidium porterae var. amabile Cockerell, 1904) is unavailable and the available name Anthidium (Proanthidium) minimum Pasteels, 1969, is valid for this species. Updated synonymies and distributional data are provided for some widespread Palaearctic species including two now adventive in the New World. For Chinese species, the distribution and floral associations of each are provided along with illustrations and a key to the known species.

The First Draft Genome of the Plasterer Bee Colletes gigas (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Colletes).

Despite intense interest in bees, no genomes are available for the bee family Colletidae. Colletes gigas, one of the largest species of the genus Colletes in the world, is an ideal candidate to fill this gap. Endemic to China, C. gigas has been the focus of studies on its nesting biology and pollination of the economically important oil tree Camellia oleifera, which is chemically defended. To enable deeper study of its biology, we sequenced the whole genome of C. gigas using single-molecule real-time sequencing on the Pacific Bioscience Sequel platform. In total, 40.58 G (150×) of long reads were generated and the final assembly of 326 scaffolds was 273.06 Mb with a N50 length of 8.11 Mb, which captured 94.4% complete Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs. We predicted 11,016 protein-coding genes, of which 98.50% and 84.75% were supported by protein- and transcriptome-based evidence, respectively. In addition, we identified 26.27% of repeats and 870 noncoding RNAs. The bee phylogeny with this newly sequenced colletid genome is consistent with available results, supporting Colletidae as sister to Halictidae when Stenotritidae is not included. Gene family evolution analyses identified 9,069 gene families, of which 70 experienced significant expansions (33 families) or contractions (37 families), and it appears that olfactory receptors and carboxylesterase may be involved in specializing on and detoxifying Ca. oleifera pollen. Our high-quality draft genome for C. gigas lays the foundation for insights on the biology and behavior of this species, including its evolutionary history, nesting biology, and interactions with the plant Ca. oleifera.

Revision of the bee genus Bathanthidium Mavromoustakis (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae: Anthidiini) with description of a new species from China.

This revision of the bee genus Bathanthidium Mavromoustakis, 1953, treats 12 species, with 11 recorded from China, including Bathanthidium fengkaiense Niu Zhu, sp. nov.. Two species are proposed as new combinations in genus Bathanthidium: Anthidium (s. str.) bicolor Wu, 2004, A. (s. str.) monganshanensis Wu, 2004. The two new combinations (B. bicolor, B. monganshanense) are in Bathanthidium (Manthidium), previously considered to include only the type species from Burma and Laos (published records from northeastern India and Malaysia are based on misinterpreted localities). Trachusa (Paraanthidium) concavum (Wu, 1962) and Stelis siamensis Friese, 1925 are synonymized with B. binghami (Friese, 1901). Bathanthidium circinatum Wu, 2004 is transferred to Pseudoanthidium Friese forming the new combination P. (s. str.) circinatum (Wu, 2004). The distribution of each species is given, new distribution sites are marked by asterisk (*) especially. Our results confirm that the genus Bathanthidium has higher species diversity than previously documented and that this diversity is centered in China.

Overview of the bee genus Trachusa Panzer, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae: Anthidiini) from China with description of three new species.

The Chinese bees of the genus Trachusa Panzer, 1804 are reviewed. Nine species are confirmed to occur in China. Three new species are described and illustrated: Trachusa (Paraanthidium) pingdaensis Niu, sp. nov., T. (P.) staabi Niu, sp. nov. and T. (P.) wuae Niu, sp. nov. The distribution of each species is given. An illustrated key to the Chinese species is provided.

New records of bees of the genus Sphecodes Latreille in the Palaearctic part of China (Hymenoptera, Halictidae).

The available information about the cleptoparastic bees of the genus Sphecodes in the Palaearctic part of China is summarized. Twenty-four species are currently known from this area including 16 newly recorded. Based on type specimens, new synonymies have been proposed for Sphecodescristatus Hagens, 1882 = S.alfkeni Meyer, 1922, syn. n.; S.longulus Hagens, 1882 = S.subfasciatus Blüthgen, 1934, syn. n.; S.nippon Meyer, 1922 = S.kansuensis Blüthgen, 1934, syn. n.; Sphecodespieli Cockerell, 1931 = S.orientalis Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2014, syn. n. Lectotypes are designated for Sphecodesalfkeni Meyer, 1922 and S.pellucidusniveipennis Meyer, 1925. Illustrated keys to males and females of all species known from Palaearctic China and an updated checklist of the 33 Chinese species of Sphecodes are provided.

Revision of the Anthidiellum Cockerell, 1904 of China (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Megachilidae, Anthidiini).

The resin bees of the genus Anthidiellum Cockerell, 1904 are revised for China. Seven species are confirmed to occur in China including five new combinations: A. (Pycnanthidium) carinatum (Wu, 1962) comb. nov., A. (P.) coronum (Wu, 2004a) comb. nov., A. (P.) latipes (Bingham, 1897) comb. nov., A. (Clypanthidium) popovii (Wu, 1962) comb. nov., and A. (Anthidiellum) yunnanensis (Wu, 1962) comb. nov.. These five species had previously been classified as Trachusa (Paraanthidium), which is characterized by much larger-bodied bees (only four species of Trachusa (Paraanthidium) are confirmed to occur in China after this study; others reported in the literature were misplaced to genus). Additionally, Anthidiellum ludingensis Wu, 1993, and Anthidiellum (Anthidiellum) xinjiangensis Wu, 2004b, are removed from Anthidiellum forming the new combinations Pseudoanthidium (Pseudoanthidium) ludingense (Wu, 1993) and P. (P.) xinjiangense (Wu, 2004b), thus extending the range of the genus in China to include Sichuan. Illustrations and a key to known Chinese Anthidiellum species are provided.

The bees of the genus Colletes (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae) from China.

Available information about the bees of the genus Colletes from China is summarized. Currently, 66 species are recorded from China, of which two species, Colletes linzhiensis sp. nov. and C. spinatus sp. nov., are described as new. Type specimens are deposited in the Insect Collection of the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Thirteen species are recorded for China for the first time: C. edentuloides Kuhlmann, 2011, C. pauljohni Kuhlmann, 2002, C. tuberculatus Morawitz, 1894, C. annapurnensis Kuhlmann, 2002, C. laevigena Noskiewicz, 1936, C. annejohnae Kuhlmann, 2003, C. eous Morice, 1904, C. squamosus Morawitz, 1879, C. wollmanni Noskiewicz, 1936, C. bhutanicus Kuhlmann, 2003, C. kaszabi Kuhlmann, 2002, C. uralensis Noskiewicz, 1936, and C. dorni Kuhlmann, 2002. The male of C. edentuloides Kuhlmann, 2011 and the female of C. pseudolaevigena Kuhlmann, 2002 are described for the first time. Colletes dudgeonii Bingham, 1897 was erroneously recorded from China and is removed from the list of Chinese species. 

Application of DNA barcoding to the identification of Hymenoptera parasitoids from the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) in China.

Aphis glycines Matsumura is an important pest of soybean in Asia and North America. Hymenoptera parasitoids play a key role in the control of the soybean aphid. The correct identification of parasitoids is a critical step that precedes the assessment of their potential biological control agents. Accurate identification of the majority of the species attacking the soybean aphid often requires elaborate specimen preparation and expert taxonomic knowledge. In this study, we facilitated the identification of soybean aphid parasitoids by applying a DNA barcoding approach following a preliminary morphological identification. We generated DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial COI gene and the D2 region of 28S rDNA to assess the genetic variation within and between parasitoid species emerging from the soybean aphid in China. Fifteen Hymenoptera parasitoid species belonging to 10 genera of five families were identified with little intra-specific variation (0.09% ± 0.06% for 28S and 0.36% ± 0.18% for COI) and large inter-specific divergence (30.46% ± 3.42% for 28S and 20.4% ± 1.20% for COI).