Neolarrini
Genus Guides
1Neolarrini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic cuckoo bees in the Nomadinae, Apidae. Following recent phylogenomic revision, this tribe now encompasses approximately 40 across five : Biastes, Neolarra, Rhopalolemma, Schwarzia, and Townsendiella. The tribe was expanded to include the former tribes Biastini and Townsendiellini as synonyms to ensure monophyly. Neolarrini likely originated in the Nearctic during the mid-Eocene and is exclusively composed of of oligolectic bees.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Neolarrini: /ˌniː.oʊˈlæriːnaɪ/
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Identification
Members of Neolarrini can be distinguished from other Nomadinae tribes by a combination of and larval morphological characters, though precise diagnostic features vary among constituent . The genus Schwarzia exhibits unusual morphological features that appear transitional between previously established tribal concepts. Identification to genus level requires examination of specific structural characters including those of the male genitalia and other adult features.
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Distribution
The tribe likely originated in the Nearctic during the mid-Eocene. The Schwarzia has been documented in Eastern Africa, with continued discovery efforts ongoing in this region. Specific distribution details for other genera are not well-documented in available sources.
Behavior
Neolarrini are that parasitize solitary bees. They are known to be exclusively associated with oligolectic bees, which specialize on a narrow range of pollen sources.
Ecological Role
As of solitary bees, members of this tribe function as within , potentially influencing and community structure.
Similar Taxa
- Other Nomadinae tribesNeolarrini can be distinguished from related tribes through phylogenomic and morphological analysis, particularly following the taxonomic revision that consolidated former tribes Biastini and Townsendiellini into Neolarrini.
More Details
Taxonomic Revision
Recent phylogenomic and morphological reevaluation (2020) established an expanded tribe Neolarrini, rendering Biastini and Townsendiellini as new synonyms. This revision was necessary to resolve paraphyly issues: Biastes was found to be with respect to Neopasites, and Biastini was paraphyletic due to Townsendiella being sister to Rhopalolemma. Neopasites was lowered to subgeneric rank within Biastes, and Melittoxena was resurrected as a third subgenus of Biastes.
Research Challenges
Understanding phylogenetic relationships within this group has proven difficult for decades due to conflicting phylogenetic signals between larval and morphological characters. Molecular data has helped resolve some disparity, but knowledge remains fragmented due to limited sampling and the relatively recent discovery of Schwarzia (2009).