A re‐evaluation of the phylogenetic relationships in the Apidae (Hymenoptera)

摘要

ABSTRACT.The relationships between the four tribes in the bee family Apidae are re‐examined. Characteristics of the postgena, presternum, antenna cleaner, arolium, female hind tibia and male genitalia, among others, support the placement of these tribes in three subfamilies: Meliponinae (Meliponini), Apinae (Apini) and Bombinae (Euglossini + Bombini). The Apinae is the sister group of the Bombinae. This tribal arrangement was originally proposed, using different characteristics, by WinstonMichener (1977