The genus Centris Fabricius in Cuba, with a new record and the description of a new species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)

Abstract

Members of the genus Centris Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) constitute a signifi¬cant component of the Neotropical (including insular) bee fauna, exhibiting high species richness, a moderate to large body size, and extensive interactions with various important plant groups. Females of most species possess specialized morphology adapted for collecting oils from flowers. This study documents the presence of the genus in Cuba, recognizing six species: C. aethiops Cresson, C. cornuta Cresson, C. fulviventris Cresson, C. poecila Lepeletier, C. taina Genaro and Breto new species, and C. tarsata F. Smith. Detailed information is provided for each species, encompassing a diagnosis, natural history, floral associations, seasonal occur¬rence, and distribution. Centris taina new species is described from Cuba, based on both sexes, which were previously misidentified as C. versicolor (Fabr.) for females and C. fasciatus F. Smith for males due to sexual dimorphism. Centris tarsata is reported as a new national record for Cuba, possibly introduced by humans from South America and now established and widely distributed across the entire island. A key to differenti¬ate the Cuban species of Centris is presented.

References (69)

• LE, Santos FAR dos. 2010. Pollen residues in nests of Centris tarsata Smith (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Centridini) in a tropical semiarid area in NE Brazil. Apidologie 41: 557–567.
• Alameda D, Corso AJ, González AP, Tejeda A, Rodríguez AL, Carralero MF, Barro A. 2023. Bourreria havanensis: a nectar oasis in the serpentine shrub-wood of Lomas de Galindo? Revista del Jardín Botánico Nacional 44: 1–8.
• Alayo P. 1973. Catálogo de los himenópteros de Cuba. Editorial Pueblo y Educación; Havana. 218 p
• Alayo P. 1976. Introducción al estudio de los himénopteros de Cuba. IX- Superfamilia Apoidea. Serie Biológica, Instituto de Zoología 68: 1–35.
• Ashmead WH. 1900. Report upon the aculeate Hymenoptera of the islands of St. Vincent and Grenada, with additions to the parasitic Hymenoptera of the West Indies. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1900: 207–367.
• Breto D. 2021a. Inventario de abejas y avispas apoideas (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) del Parque Nacional Guanahacabibes, Pinar del Río, Cuba. Revista Ecovida 11(1): 1–9.
• Breto D. 2021b. Inventario de las abejas (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) de la Reserva Ecológica Sierra de La Güira, Pinar del Río, Cuba. Novitates Caribaea 18: 8–17.
• Buchmann SL. 1987. The ecology of oil flowers and their bees. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 18: 343–369.
• Buschini MLT, Wolff LL. 2006. Nesting biology of Centris (Hemisiella) tarsata Smith in southern Brazil (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Centridini). Brazilian Journal of Biology 66: 1091–1101.
• Cockerell TDA. 1906. The North American bees of the family Anthophoridae. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 32: 63–116.
• Coville RE, Frankie GW, Vinson SB. 1983. Nests of Centris segregata (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae) with a review of the nesting habits of the genus. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 56: 109–122.
• Crawford JC. 1906. Some Costa Rican bees. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 32: 157–163.
• Cresson ET. 1865. On the Hymenoptera of Cuba. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia 4: 1–200.
• Cresson ET. 1869. Notes on Cuban Hymenoptera, with descriptions of new species. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 2: 293–298.
• Dalla Torre CG de. 1896. Catalogus Hymenopterorum vol. X, Apidae (Anthophilia). Engelmann; Leipzig. Dórea M.d. 643 p