Protomeliturga catimbaui sp. nov., do Parque Nacional Vale do Catimbau, Buique, Pernambuco é a segunda espécie de Protomeliturgini. Protomeliturga turnerae (Ducke, 1907) foi coletada em Turnera ulmifolia Linnaeus, é oligoléctica e muito comum no Nordeste do Brasil. Os machos de Protomeliturga catimbaui sp. nov. apresentam diversos desenhos alaranjadas no meso e no metassoma, tegumento brilhante com pontuação fina e o sétimo esterno projetado para trás em forma de espata arredondada com carenas laterais e dentes látero-apicais. As abelhas foram coletadas em flores de Turneraceae (Piriqueta sidifolia (Cambess.) Urb. var. multiflora Urb.), indicando oligolectia também para esta espécie.

Protomeliturga catimbaui sp. nov., from the National Park Vale do Catimbau, Buique, Pernambuco is the second species of Protomeliturgini. Protomeliturga turnerae (Ducke, 1907) was collected in flowers of Turnera ulmifolia Linnaeus, is oligolectic and very common in Northeast Brazil. The males of Protomeliturga catimbaui sp. nov. show several orange colored paintings on meso and metassoma, a shining tegument with fine punctures and sternite 7 is projected backwards in the shape of a rounded spata with lateral carina and apicolateral teeth. The bees were collected in flowers of Turneraceae (Piriqueta sidifolia (Cambess.) Urb. var. multiflora Urb.), indicating oligolecty also for this species.

Duas espécies novas de Plebeia Schwarz, 1938 são descritas e ilustradas: P. lucii sp. nov. (Minas Gerais) e P. phrynostoma sp. nov. (Espírito Santo). O ninho original de P. lucii sp. nov. foi coletado perto do campus da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, e o de P. phrynostoma sp. nov. em Venda Nova do Imigrante, Espírito Santo. Ambos os ninhos foram trazidos para o apiário da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, onde estão sendo mantidos.

Two new species of Plebeia Schwarz from Brazil (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae). Plebeia lucii sp. nov. (Minas Gerais) and P. phrynostoma sp. nov. (Espírito Santo) are described and illustrated. The original nest of P. lucii sp. nov. was collected near the campus of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, and that of P. phrynostoma sp. nov. in Venda Nova do Imigrante, Espírito Santo. Both the nests were brought to the apiary of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa-MG where they are maintained.

Centris (Centris) pulchra sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The specimens were collected in a restricted area of coastal sand dunes with "restinga" vegetation in northeast of Brazil, near Salvador-BA.

Two species of Centris (Heterocentris) are described as new: Centris (Heterocentris) adunca from Venezuela (Amazonia) and Brazil (Acre) and Centris (Heterocentris) flavicans from Central Brazil (Goiás). The main character of C. (H.) adunca sp. nov. is a crooked tubercle implanted on the basis of clypeus with the apex truncate and slightly bifurcated and a unarmed labrum, and of C. (H.) flavicans sp. nov. the hairs on scutum and scutellum completely yellow. Centris labrosa Friese, 1899 is a new synonym for Centris terminata Smith, 1874.

Three new species of Centris Fabricius, 1804 are described: C. (Melacentris) melanosara sp. nov. (Viçosa-MG, Brazil), C. (Ptilotopus) melampoda sp. nov. (Manaus-AM, Brazil), and C. (Ptilotopus) erythrotricha sp. nov. (Pucallpa, Peru). Centris (Melacentris) frieseana nom. nov., a new name given to Centris friesei Ducke, 1902, non Schrottky, 1902. Comments and comparison between C. (Melacentris) rhodoprocta Moure & Seabra, 1961 and C. (Ptilotopus) nobilis Westwood, 1840, are given. All the species are figured.

A new species of Xylocopa Latreille, 1802, and notes on Xylocopa transitoria Pérez and X. mordax Smith (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) orthogonaspis sp. nov. (Brazil, Amazonas) is described. It is a remarkable species from the Amazonian Region easily recognized by the strong and sharp right angle between upper and posterior portions of the scutellum; the wings are slightly brown with a brassy hue and a little vinaceous apex. Some notes to separate Xylocopa (N.) orthogonaspis sp. nov. from X. (N.) transitoria Pérez, 1901, and X. (N.) mordax Smith, 1874, are given. Xylocopa (N.) submordax Cockerell, 1935, on the other hand, is considered as a new synonym of X. (N.) transitoria Pérez, 1901.

The genus Xylocopa Latreille in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (Hymenoptera, Anthophoridae). A survey of the genus Xylocopa Latreille, 1802 is given for Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost State of Brazil. Data are based on several studies on the bee fauna of southern Brazil and on unpublished observations. A key is provided to the species (males and females) and information on distribution, nesting habits and relation to flowers. Rio Grande do Sul is strikingly rich in species of Xylocopa because of the diversity of habitats and its geographic position in the transition of tropical/subtropical to temperate climate. Nineteen species, classified into ten subgenera, have been recorded in Rio Grande do Sul. Here we maintain the subgenera Ioxylocopa, Megaxylocopa and Xylocospila, which were put into synonymy recently by Minckley (1998). The species are: Xylocopa (Dasyxylocopa) bimaculata Friese, 1903; Xylocopa (Ioxylocopa) chrysopoda Schrottky, 1902; Xylocopa (Megaxylocopa) frontalis (Olivier, 1789); Xylocopa (Nanoxylocopa) ciliata Burmeister, 1876; Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) augusti Lepeletier, 1841; Xylocopa (N.) brasilianorum (Linnaeus, 1767); Xylocopa (N.) haematospila Moure, 1951; Xylocopa (N.) hirsutissima Maidl, 1912; Xylocopa (N.) nigrocincta Smith, 1854; Xylocopa (N.) ordinaria Smith, 1874; Xylocopa (N.) suspecta Moure & Camargo, 1988; Xylocopa (N.) tacanensis Moure, 1949; Xylocopa (Schonnherria) macrops Lepeletier, 1841; Xylocopa (S.) simillima Smith, 1854; Xylocopa (S.) splendidula Lepeletier, 1841; Xylocopa (S.) varians Smith, 1874; Xylocopa (Stenoxylocopa) artifex Smith, 1874; Xylocopa (Xylocopoda) elegans Hurd & Moure, 1963; Xylocopa (Xylocopsis) funesta Maidl, 1912; Xylocopa (Xylocospila) bambusae Schrottky, 1902. Xylocopa tacanensis is for the first time recorded in Brasil.

Centris (Ptilocentris) danunciae sp. nov. (Peru, Huanta) and Centris (Melacentris) bitaeniata sp. nov. (Peru, Iquitos) are described. Some taxonomic notes are also given for Centris (Melacentris) dorsata Lepeletier, 1841 (= Centris ehrhardti Schrottky, 1902, syn. nov. = Centris dorsata var. maculosa Friese, 1924, syn. nov.) and Centris (Melacentris) collaris Lepeletier, 1841 (= Centris pocograndensis Schrottky, 1902, syn. nov.), species forgotten since their description.

The type localities, depositary museums, taxonomical comments and geographical occurrences of the Neotropical Xeromelissinae are given. Flowers visited and nesting habits of some species are presented. The following new combinations are proposed: Chilicola cupheae (Schrottky,1905) and Chilicola (Anoediscelis) dalmeidai (Moure, 1946). Chilicola friesella is the new name given to Chilicola friesei Herbst, 1920, the homonym resulted by thepublication of Oediscelis friesei Ducke, 1907as Chilicola (Üediscelis) friesei by Michener, 1995.

A really beautiful Euglossinae bee, Euglosssa (Euglossella) perpulchra sp. n., is decribed from Pernambuco, Igarassu, Brazil. It can be recognized by the following characters: head and thorax bronzeous green covered with fulvous pubescence, and abdomen bluish with white marginal bands narrowed progressively from second to sixth tergum; wings slightly fulvous, stigma and wing venation light fulvous. It is closely related to E. decorata Smith, 1874 and E. singularis Mocsáry, 1899.

The type localities, depositary museums, taxonomical comments and host plants of the species of Hylaeus Fabricius, 1793, the unique genus of the Hylaeinae in the Neotropical Region, are mentioned. Lectotypes of the following species are designated: Prosopis bothros Schrottky, 1910; Prosopisfissa Vachal, 1901; Prosopis itapuensis Schrottky, 1906; Prosopis opaca Schrottky, 1906; Prosopis opaciventris Friese, 1925; Prosopis paraguayensis Schrottky, 1906; Prosopis recisa Vachal, 1910; Prosopis scabra Vachal, 1909; Prosopis sculptilis Schrottky, 1910; Prosopis tricolor Schrottky, 1906 and Prosopis trivittata Friese, 1916. The following ones are recognized as new combinations; Hylaeus petroselini (Schrottky, 1906); Hylaeus polybioides (Schrottky, 1906), Hylaeus polybiaeformis (Schrottky, 1907) and Hylaeus psammophilus (Schrottky, 1906).

The type locality, depositary museums, geographical oceurrences, biological behaviour, flowers visited and taxonomical notes from the species of the neotropical Colletini are mentioned. The following nomenclatural changes are introduced: Monidia Cockerell, 1905; Rhynchocolletes Moure, 1943; Hemicotelles Toro & Cabezas, 1997; Xanthocotelles Toro & Cabezas, 1978 and Colletes griseus Smith, 1879 are revalidated; Colletes desanlisi nom. n. is proposed to Colletes similis Joergensen, 1912, non Schenck, 1853 nec Robertson, 1904; a new combination to Mourecotelles biciliatus (Cockerell, 1918) is given. Lectotypes of the following species are designated: Colletes araucariae Friese, 1910; C. argentinas Friese, 1908; C. atripilis Vachal, 1909; C. azureus Friese, 1912; C. chalybaeus Friese, 1910; C. ciliatus Friese, 1910; C. clarus Joergensen, 1912; C. cognata Spinola, 1851; C. costaricensis Friese, 1916; C. cyaniventris Spinola, 1851; C. dimidiala Spinola, 1851; C. enodis Vachal, 1909; C. eupogonites Moure, 1949; C. extensicornis Vachal, 1909; C.fulvipes Spinola, 1851; C. glycyrrhizae Joergensen, 1912; C. griseus Smith, 1879; C. joergenseni Friese, 1910; C. laticeps Friese, 1910; C. longipes Friese, 1910; C. lycii Joergensen, 1912; C. mininca Cockerell, 1914; C. molaguensis Cockerell, 1912; C. murinus Friese, 1900; C. musculus Friese, 1910; C. neuqueenensis Friese, 1910; C. perplexas Smith, 1879; C. peruvicus Cockerell, 1913; C. plantaris Vachal, 1909; C. senilis Smith, 1879; C. speculiventris Cockerell, 1917; C. pinnatus Vachal, 1909; C. rugicollis Friese, 1900; C. schrottkyi Joergensen, 1912; C. sicheli Vachal, 1909; C. spiloptera Cockerell, 1917; C. steinbachi Friese, 1910; C. sulcatus Vachal, 1909; C. tingoensis Cockerell, 1926; C. tomentasus Friese, 1910; C. vachali Joergensen, 1912; C. virgatus Vachal, 1904; C. weiskei Friese, 1912; Monia griseaWcstwood, 1875. Are recognized as new synonyms; Colletes argentinas Friese, 1908, syn. n. of C. rugicollis Friese, 1900; C. campai Herbst, 1920, syn. n. of C. rhodaspis Cockerell, 1909; C. viridans Vachal, 1909, syn. n. of C. cyunescens (Haliday, 1837).

The subgenus Centris (Aphemisia) Ayala: complementary notes and description of a new species (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). Centris (Aphemisia) Ayala, 2002 is redescribed pointing out some others important distinctive characters. The nominal species designated by Ayala as the type species, Centris plumipes Smith, 1854, is preocupied by Centris plumipes (Fabricius, 1781) originaly described in Apis Linnaeus. Being so, Centris xanthosara nom. nov. is proposed to replace Centris plumipes Smith, 1854 non Centris plumipes (Fabricius, 1781). Two other species are considered to belong in this subgenus: Centris (Aphemisia) lilacina Cockerell, 1919, and Centris (Aphemisia) plumbea sp. nov., from Tingo Maria, Peru. A key for the species, illustrations, and geographical distribution are also added.

The subgenus Centris (Schisthemisia) Ayala: complementary notes and description of a new species (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). Centris (Schisthemisia)Ayala, 2002 is redescribed, pointing out some other important distinctive characters. It includes: Centris (Schisthemisia) flavilabris Mocsáry, 1899 (type species), Centris (Schisthemisia) boliviensis Mocsáry, 1899 stat. nov., Centris (Schisthemisia) fulva Friese, 1924 stat. nov., and Centris (Schisthemisia) restrepoi sp. nov. from Colombia, Villa Vicencio. A key to the species and illustrations are added.

Euplusia aridicola sp. n., a member of the short longued group, is described as a new species. It can be easily recognized by the large white yellowish pubescence on the sides of terga second to fourth, the bright anterior half of mesoscutum covered by yellowish hairs; clypeus medially bicarinate. The holotype was colleted in Ibiraba, Barra, a semi-arid region of Bahia, Brazil, using eucalyptol, as an attractant.