Meganomiinae is a subfamily of melittid bees, with 10 species in four genera, found only in Africa, primarily in xeric habitats, with the distributional limits in Yemen and Madagascar.[1] They are rather different in appearance from the other groups of past/present melittids, being large bees (10–22 mm), mostly black with strong yellow markings, resembling anthidiine megachilids.[1] Males of this subfamily are known to have hidden sterna.[2]
Initial molecular work suggested that the family Melittidae was paraphyletic, and that its subfamilies (including Meganomiinae) should therefore be elevated to family status.[3][4] However, these studies included very few melittids, due to their rarity. A 2013 investigation included a greater number of melittid bees and concluded that the family was probably monophyletic, thus supporting Meganomiinae as a subfamily of Melittidae.[5]
Meganomiinae is a subfamily of melittid bees, with 10 species in four genera, found only in Africa, primarily in xeric habitats, with the distributional limits in Yemen and Madagascar. They are rather different in appearance from the other groups of past/present melittids, being large bees (10–22 mm), mostly black with strong yellow markings, resembling anthidiine megachilids. Males of this subfamily are known to have hidden sterna.
Meganomiinae es una subfamilia de abejas de la familia Melittidae, con 10 especies en 4 géneros, que se encuentra principalmente en África, sobre todo en hábitats áridos, con los límites de distribución en Yemen y Madagascar. Por un tiempo se la consideró una familia,[1] pero estudios más recientes (2013) demsostraron que es una subfamilia dentro de Melittidae.[2]
Son muy diferentes en apariencia de los demás grupos de Melittidae, (actuales y presentes), son abejas grandes (10-22 mm), de color predominantemente negro con fuertes marcas amarillas.
Meganomiinae es una subfamilia de abejas de la familia Melittidae, con 10 especies en 4 géneros, que se encuentra principalmente en África, sobre todo en hábitats áridos, con los límites de distribución en Yemen y Madagascar. Por un tiempo se la consideró una familia, pero estudios más recientes (2013) demsostraron que es una subfamilia dentro de Melittidae.
Son muy diferentes en apariencia de los demás grupos de Melittidae, (actuales y presentes), son abejas grandes (10-22 mm), de color predominantemente negro con fuertes marcas amarillas.
