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ISSN: 2653-4649 (Online)
Australian Journal of
Taxonomy
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The Australian Resin Pot Bees, Megachile (Austrochile) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), with descriptions of 71 new species
Remko Leijs, Judith King, James Dorey, Katja Hogendoorn
Author details ⏷
Remko Leijs[1*], Judith King[2], James Dorey[3], Katja Hogendoorn[4]
[1] South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
[2] Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
[3] Environmental Futures Research Centre, School of Science, University of Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
[4] School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Abstract
The species in the subgenus Austrochile Michener, 1965 (genus Megachile) construct brood cells from resin that are stuck individually to twigs or in clusters on the bark of trees (Houston & Pike, 2013). We therefore propose ‘resin pot bees’ as common name for the bees in this subgenus. The species are revised and redescribed. Seven names are retained and 71 additional species are described, resulting in 78 recognised species in this subgenus. The following names are synonymised: Chalicodoma (Austrochile) subferox Meade-Waldo, 1915 syn. nov. = Megachile (Austrochile) kirbyana Cockerell, 1906 comb. nov.; Chalicodoma (Austrochile) recisa Cockerell, 1913 syn. nov., Chalicodoma (Austrochile) simpliciformis Cockerell, 1918 syn. nov., Chalicodoma (Austrochile) kirbiella Rayment, 1953 syn. nov. = Megachile (Austrochile) modesta Smith, 1892 comb. nov.; Chalicodoma (Austrochile) subremotula Rayment, 1934 syn. nov., Chalicodoma (Austrochile) portlandiana Rayment, 1953 syn. nov. = Megachile (Austrochile) rottnestensis Rayment, 1934 comb. nov.; Megachile (Rozenapis) ignita Smith, 1853 = Chalicodoma (Austrochile) sexmaculata Smith, 1868 syn. nov.
All descriptions are accompanied by high resolution diagnostic images and distribution maps. Data on flower visitation and phenology are given. Dichotomous keys to both sexes of the species are provided and interactive keys to the species will be available on the LUCID website.
Cite this paper as: Leijs R, King J, Dorey J & Hogendoorn K (2025). The Australian Resin Pot Bees, Megachile (Austrochile) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), with descriptions of 71 new species. Australian Journal of Taxonomy 90: 1–119. doi: https://doi.org/10.54102/ajt.ek0f9
This paper was published on: 28/4/2025
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