Submitted by marshach on Mon, 2013-10-28 15:26
TitlePaleoeuglossa melissiflora gen. n., sp. n. (Euglossinae : Apidae), fossil orchid bees in Dominican amber
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1998
AuthorsPoinar, GO
JournalJournal of the Kansas Entomological Society
Volume71
Pagination29-34
Type of ArticleJournal Article
ISSN0022-8567
Abstract

The first fossil orchid bees are described from amber deposits in the Dominican Republic. These bees are assigned to the new genus and species, Paleoeuglossa melissiflora (Euglossinae: Apidae) and are thought to represent a progenitor to the Eulnema-Euglossa clade. The fossil bees are characterized by a genal projection, scutellar tuft and a protruding supra-clypeal ridge. The discovery of two female specimens together in the same piece of amber suggest that these female orchid bees also used resin for nest construction some 20-40 million years ago.
URL<Go to ISI>://WOS:000078825000005