Pupa of the bee Pararhophites orobinus (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae).

-The pupa of Pararhophites orobinus (Morawitz) (Pararhophitinae) is described, illustrated, and compared with the known pupae of other Megachilidae. The pupa is distinct from those of the megachilid subfamilies Fideliinae, Lithurginae, and Megachilinae. The sim ilarities and differences of the pupae of the four subfamilies of the Megachilidae are discussed. Because of the systematic significance of the palaearctic bee Pararhophites to the rest of the Megachilidae and because of its uncertain taxonomic placement in the past, a description of the pupa of Pararhophites orobinus (Morawitz) is recorded here, and its features are compared with those of other megachilids. Until recently Pararhophites had been thought to be related to either the Antho phoridae or Melittidae (see McGinley and Rozen, 1987, for references). However, a study of the nesting biology and larvae of Pararhophites orobinus (Morawitz) sug gested a very different relationship of the genus to the long-tongued bees. As a consequence McGinley and Rozen (1987) analyzed these relationships using adult and larval anatomy and biological features. We concluded that the genus was the sister group of the megachilid subfamilies Lithurginae, Megachilinae and also Fi deliinae (considered by some authors as a separate family). The genus was placed in the monotypic subfamily Pararhophitinae as the basal clade in the Megachilidae. I brought back live diapausing larvae from Pakistan in 1984 in the hope of being able to include pupae in our analysis, but no pupa developed by the time that study was published. Finally in September 1989, more than five years after being collected, one of the dozen remaining larvae pupated, perhaps making this specimen a record holder for the length of time a bee has survived as a diapausing larva that then pupated. Pupa of Pararhophites orobinus Figs. 1, 2 Diagnosis: The small tubercles on the galeae and labral apex are unique characters, not found in other bee pupae. These features, as well as the general lack of tubercles on the rest of the head and thorax, immediately set this pupa apart from pupae of many other bees. See Discussion for other pupal characters that distinguish the Pararhophitinae from the Megachilinae, Lithurginae and Fideliinae. Head: Integument nonspiculate, smooth except microscopically granulate in patches on such places as lateral surface of mandibles, apex of palpi, and ventral surface of second segment of labial palpi; setae absent. Antenna without tubercles except pedicel This content downloaded from 157.55.39.147 on Wed, 18 May 2016 06:02:32 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 380 JOURNAL OF THE NEW YORK ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY Vol. 98(3) MESOSCUTELLUM METANOTUM