PaDIL

Introduction

Halictid bees are sometimes viewed as the "trash" bees of the world and they were even maligned by Michener (2000, p. 339) who jokingly called them "morphologically monotonous".

Indeed, some wide spread subgenera are difficult to identify to species and halictids often comprise the bulk of individuals encountered when collecting bees.

However, halictids (the second largest family of bees with some 3500 described worldwide and many more yet to be discovered) encompass much more biological, behavioural and morphological diversity than commonly perceived.

Halictids occur on all continents except Antarctica. There are some 18 subgenera described for the enormouse genus Lasioglossum. The Australian fauna comprises 7 subgenera although revisions on these subgenera may see some become synonymised and new subgenera erected:

Acanthalictus - Known only from Siberia
Australictus - Australia
Austrevylaeus - Australia
Callalictus - Australia
Chilalictus - Australia and New Caledonia
Ctenonomia - Africa, tropical Asia, Australia
Dialictus - Alaska, Canada, USA, South America to Chile, Japan, Taiwan, South Africa
Eickwortia - Central America
Evylaeus - Palearctic region, North Africa, northern India, North America
Glossalictus - Australia
Hemihalictus - Southern USA
Lasioglossum - Holarctic region
Paradialictus - Zaire
Parasphecodes - Australia
Pseudochilalictus - Australia
Sellalictus - South Africa
Sphecodogastra - USA and Mexico
Sudila - Sri lanka, southern India and Java

Key to the Subgenera of Lasioglossum of the Australian Region

1. Second submarginal crossvein in both sexes narrower than first; small species (usually less than 7 mm long); inner hind tibial spur of female ciliate, essentially simple, or in some cases with a few larger obligue teeth

............................................................................................. 2

-. Second submarginal crossvein as strong as first ...........................3.

2. Sculpture of head, mesoscutum and propodeum generally smooth

................................................................. L. (Austrevylaeus)

-. Sculpture of head, mesoscutum and propodeum generally coarse

................................................................. L. (SubGen Nov E?)

3. Females (antennae short 11 segmented) ..................................... 4.

-. Males (antennae long 12 segmented) .......................................... 10.

*Key to the Subgenera of Lasioglossum* of the Australian Region**
1. Second submarginal crossvein in both sexes narrower than first; small species (usually less than 7 mm long); inner hind tibial spur of female ciliate, essentially simple, or in some cases with a few larger obligue teeth ............................................................................................. 2

-. Second submarginal crossvein as strong as first ...........................3.

2. Sculpture of head, mesoscutum and propodeum generally smooth ................................................................. L. (Austrevylaeus)

-. Sculpture of head, mesoscutum and propodeum generally coarse ................................................................. L. (SubGen Nov E?)

3. Females (antennae short 11 segmented) ..................................... 4.

-. Males (antennae long 12 segmented) .......................................... 10.