Author
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Griswold, Terry |
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Gonzalez, Victor |
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Submitted to: Entomofauna
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2011 Publication Date: 1/2/2012 Citation: Griswold, T.L., Gonzalez, V.H. 2012. The identity of the enigmatic Anthidium zonatum (Friese) Hymenoptera, Megachilidae). Entomofauna. 33:57-64. Interpretive Summary: Among the 1500+ species names for the carder and resin bees are a number whose identities are unkown. Among these is Anthidium zonatum Friese, a species whose position in the current classification of bees is unknown and the continent from which it distribution is unclear. No indication of its distribution is given in the original description, but it has been considered to probably be part of the Mediterranean fauna. The type of this species has been located with a label indicating it is from Egypt. Study of this specimen proves it is not from Egypt or elsewhere in the Mediterranean, but is a bee species from the USA. It is a synonym of the resin bee Trachusa zebrata. Other examples of mislabeled specimens are given. Technical Abstract: The identity and origin of Anthidium zonatum Friese has remained a forgotten mystery since the species was described in 1897, its place of origin unclear. Herein, we place it in the current generic and subgeneric classification of Anthidiini, and provide figures of the male holotype. Anthidium zonatum was found to be conspecific with the Nearctic resin bee Trachusa (Heteranthidium) zebrata (Cresson, 1872), and therefore a new junior synonym. The holotype labeled indicates Egypt, perhaps explaining why Friese, in the original description, questioned the accuracy of this label. Other examples from the Friese collection with apparent error in labeling are discussed. |
