ABSTRACT A new species of Plebeia Schwarz (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from Argentina is described and illustrated. Plebeia manslta Alvarez & Rasmussen sp. nov. occurs in the extreme northwest of the country and is restricted to the biogeographic province of the Yungas, where it is found at altitudes above 1,000 m. Observations on behavior, biology and nesting substrates of the new species are presented.

RESUMEN Se describe e ilustra una nueva especie de Plebeia Schwarz (Hymenoptera: Apidae) en Argentina. Plebeia manslta Alvarez & Rasmussen sp. nov. ocurre en el extremo noroeste del país y se halla restringida a la provincia biogeográfica de las yungas, donde es encontrada a altitudes mayores a 1.000 m. También se presentan comentarios acerca de su comportamiento, hábitos y sustratos de nidificación.

Abstract Species of Symphrasinae (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) are ectoparasitoids of larvae and pupae of holometabolous insects, primarily of Hymenoptera in their larval stages. Herein we present the third case of an association between the mantidfly genus Anchieta Navás, 1909 with the order Hymenoptera. The hymenopteran species attacked by the as of yet undescribed species of Anchieta is Montezumia dimidiata Saussure, 1852 (Vespidae: Eumeninae), a predacious wasp that constructs mud nests. The association was observed in Peruvian Amazonia (near Tarapoto, San Martín), after rearing the mantidflies from a wasp nest. The biology and mimicry pattern with stingless bees of the reared Anchieta species is discussed.

RESUMO: A meliponicultura e a produção associada de mel é uma atividade com grande potencial de uso e comercialização na Amazônia peruana, contudo, as poucas técnicas de manejo e o pouco conhecimento da qualidade do mel oferecido limitam seu desenvolvimento. O presente estudo foi realizado em três comunidades da Amazônia peruana, onde a produção e as características físico-químicas e microbiológicas do mel de Melipona eburnea foram avaliadas 90 dias após a instalação em colmeias racionais. O mel de M. eburnea também foi comparado ao mel de 90 dias de M. grandis, M. illota e M. titania. Além disso, o mel de M. eburnea foi amostrado aos 180 dias. A produção de mel variou de 900 a 1400 ml/colônia/três meses para M. eburnea. Quando a umidade e os açúcares totais foram comparados entre as diferentes espécies, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas. Também não foram encontradas diferenças significativas para o mel de M. eburnea aos 90 e 180 dias de maturação. As análises microbiológicas para os dois tratamentos apresentaram valores <0,3 / g MPN (número mais provável) de coliformes e organismos de origem fecal. O mel de abelha sem ferrão pode, portanto, ser colhido após três meses, pois mantém suas características físico-químicas e é microbiologicamente adequado para consumo humano.

ABSTRACT: Meliponiculture and associated honey production are activities with a great potential for general use and commercialization in the Peruvian Amazon. Lack of management techniques and limited knowledge of honey quality are two factors which may hinder the implementation of meliponiculture. The present study was conducted in three communities in the Peruvian Amazon where the production and physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of honey from Melipona eburnea were evaluated at 90 days following transfer from natural to rational hives. Honey from M. eburnea was also compared with the 90-day-old honey from Melipona grandis, Melipona illota, and Melipona titania. In addition, 180-day-old honey from M. eburnea was sampled and compared with the younger 90-day-old honey. The production of honey varied from 900 to 1400 mL/colony/3 months for M. eburnea. When moisture and total sugars among the different species of Melipona were compared, no significant differences were observed. Neither were there significant differences between the M. eburnea honey at 90 and 180 days of maturation. Microbiological analyses for both treatments had values <0.3/g most probable number (MPN) of coliforms and organisms of fecal origin. Stingless bee honey can therefore be harvested after 3 months, by which time its physicochemical characteristics are stable and it is microbiologically suitable for human consumption.

We describe and figure a distinctive new species of the bee genus Andinopanurgus Gonzalez and Engel (Andrenidae, Protandrenini) from Apurímac and Cusco in southern Peru. Andinopanurgus vargasllosai Gonzalez and Alvarado, n. sp., occurs at elevations above 4000 m in the Central Andes and is the second species of this genus in Peru. The new species possesses terga with semi-translucent distal margins, a unique feature among Andinopanurgus, and it combines morphological features of the two species groups previously recognized in the genus. To facilitate its recognition, we provide an updated key to species of Andinopanurgus.

Describimos e ilustramos una especie nueva del género Andinopanurgus Gonzalez y Engel (Andrenidae, Protandrenini) procedentes de Apurímac y Cusco, al sur de Perú. Andinopanurgus vargasllosai Gonzalez y Alvarado, n. sp., se encuentra en alturas superiores a los 4000 m en los Andes centrales y es la segunda especie del género registrada para el Perú. La especie nueva posee tergos metasomales con las márgenes distales semi-translúcidas, una característica única dentro de Andinopanurgus, y combina características morfológicas de los dos grupos de especies hasta ahora reconocidos en el género. Con el fin de facilitar la identificación, presentamos una clave actualizada para las especies de Andinopanurgus.

A new species of Plebeia is described and figured from the Paranaense forest of Misiones, Argentina. Plebeia guazurary Alvarez, Rasmussen & Abrahamovich, new species, is distinguished from all other species of the genus by the mesoscutum and mesepisternum sculpturing and male genitalia. A key for the identification of Argentinian workers of Plebeia is presented. Six species are recognized P. remota, P. guazurary n. sp, P. molesta, P. droryana, P. catamarcensis and P. emerinoides. Geographical records are updated, Plebeia remota is registered for the first time in Argentina and comments on the genus Plectoplebeia in Argentina are provided.

Se describe e ilustra una nueva especie de Plebeia para la Selva Paranaense de Misiones, Argentina. Plebeia guazurary Alvarez, Rasmussen & Abrahamovich, nueva especie, se distingue de las demás especies del género por el denso punteado del mesoescudo y mesepisterno y la genitalia del macho. Se presenta una clave para la identificación de las obreras del género Plebeia presentes en Argentina; se reconocen seis especies: P. remota, P. guazurary n. sp, P. molesta, P. droryana, P. catamarcensis y P. emerinoides. Se actualizan los registros geográficos, se registra a Plebeia remota por primera vez para la Argentina y se proveen comentarios sobre género Plectoplebeia en la Argentina.

Se describe una especie nueva de meliponino cleptobiótico, Lestrimelitta piedemontana Gonzalez y Rasmussen sp. nov., a partir de obreras capturadas en el oriente de los Andes de Colombia. También se amplía la distribución geográfica de Lestrimelitta rufipes y se cambia el nombre de Lasioglossum urbanus Gonzalez por Lasioglossum santafensis Gonzalez y Rasmussen, nomen novum, con el fin de resolver la homonimia secundaria con Lasioglossum urbanus (Smith, 1879).

A new species of cleptobiotic meliponine bee, Lestrimelitta piedemontana Gonzalez and Rasmussen sp. nov., is described based on workers captured in the Eastern Andes of Colombia. The geographical distribution of Lestrimelitta rufipes is also broadened, and the name Lasioglossum urbanus Gonzalez is changed to Lasioglossum santafensis Gonzalez and Rasmussen, nomen novum, in order to resolve the secondary homonymy with Lasioglossum urbanus (Smith, 1879).

Euglossine bee males are easily lured to chemical baits imitating natural fragrances gathered by bees, providing a widely applied measure for estimating the diversity and abundance of euglossines. In here, I report the composition of euglossine bees in three lowland rainforest habitats of Peru, a primary old forest, a reforested and managed forest, and a very disturbed forest. A total of 2,072 males of euglossine were collected, belonging to 33 species and four genera. Although a comparable diversity relative to other studies from the Amazonian region was found, no significant differences among the sampled areas were detected. Perhaps, the short time and low intensity surveys here used (< 3 months) were not good enough indicators of forest disturbance without additional data. Compared to other major studies on the euglossine bee fauna, Loreto is most similar to the species assemblage reported from lowland rainforest in Brazil (Manaus), central Peru (Panguana) and southern Peru (Tambopata).

Las abejas euglossinas macho, son fácilmente atraídas por los cebos químicos que imitan las fragancias naturales recolectadas por las abejas, proporcionando así una medida de la diversidad y abundancia extensamente aplicada para estas abejas. En este estudio documento la composicion de las abejas euglossinas en tres hábitats de la selva baja del Perú (Loreto), tales como un bosque primario, un bosque reforestado y manejado, y un bosque muy deforestado. A partir de 2.072 abejas capturadas perteneciendo a 33 especies y cuatro géneros, encontré una diversidad comparable a otros estudios de la región Amazónica, pero no encontré ninguna diferencia significativa entre los hábitats muestreados. Quizás por que los muestreos de las abejas euglossinas de corta duración (< 3 meses), tal como este caso, no son buenos indicadores del estado del bosque sin datos adicionales. Comparado a otros estudios de la fauna de las abejas euglossinas, Loreto es el más similar en especies a las especies reportadas de Brasil (Manaus), de Perú central (Panguana) y luego de Perú meridional (Tambopata).