Phylogeny and classification of the family Halictidae revised (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)

Phylogenetic analyses and the classification of the family Halictidae by Alexander and Michener ( 1995) are revised, mostly by replacement of Nomioides, used by these authors as an exemplar of the nomioidines, with Ceylalictus sung. Atronomioides. The main results of this reanalysis are as follows: all the three subfamilies of the family Halictidae, Rophitinae. Nomiinae and Halictinae (including Nomioidini), are strictly monophyletic (holophyletic); the Rophitinae is a sister-group in relation to the Nomiinae and Halictinae combined; all the three tribes of the subfamily Halictinae, Nomioidini, Augochlorini and Halictini, are strictly monophyletic; Nomioidini is a sister-group in relation to the Augochlorini and Halictini combined; two of three subtribes of the tribe Halictini, Sphecodina and Gastrohalictina, are strictly monophyletic; the Halictina is paraphyletic in relation to two other subtribes. A revised classification of the subfamily Halictinae is proposed. It contains the fol lowing novelties and changes: The Nomioidini is restored as a tribe within the Halictinae, it is established as including three separate genera, Nomioides, Ceylalictus and Cellariella: the tribe Halictini is subdivided into three subtribes-Halictina (corresponding to the group of non-parasitic genera with "strong venation"), Gastrohalictina (corresponding to the group of genera with "weak venation") and Sphecodina (including the parasitic genus Sphecodes and close general. The taxonomic rank of Halictus a. str., Seladonia and Vestitohalictus (these taxa were considered as subgenera of Halictus s. 1.), Lasioglossum s. str., Lucasiellus, Ctenonomia, Evylaeus and some others (usually considered as subgenera of Lasioglossum s. 1.), is raised to the generic level.