Length 13–24 mm; pubescence brown to grey (mostly black in aurata from New Guinea and the Bismark Archipelago); maxillary palpus with last segment fused to fifth segment so that maxillary palpus appears five-segmented.; apical margins of male metasomal sterna modified; S4 usually produced medially, rounded and having a thick brush of hair; S5 broadly and deeply emarginate; S6 shallowly emarginate medially with one or two patches of hair laterally; S7 somewhat quadrate, medioapically emarginate; S8 apically narrowed; apex of gonocoxite of male bilobed with long narrow upper lobe and small ventral lobe; gonostylus of male well developed. Forewing conspicuously hairy near costal margin, 1^st discoidal cell without hairs, other closed cells with hairs sparse or absent; gonostylus of male distinct, slender, and directed apically.

Widely distributed across Australia, New Guinea and the Bismark Archipelago, but not recorded from Tasmania.

Cardale (1993) listed 25 names of which one, alpha, is here moved to the subgenus Zonamegilla. An additional species, paracalva, was described by Brooks (1993). The species belonging to this subgenus are in need of revision.

Length 9–12 mm; metallic green/blue hair present on femur and tibia of fore and mid legs; pale paraocular marks present in males, absent in females; maxiliary palpus with 4 or 5 segments. Most or all closed cells of forewing with some rather long hairs; S6 of male simple, convex without lateral depression, edge entire to shallowly emarginate medially; apex of S7 of male greatly expanded laterally, without subapical circular area; apex of S8 narrowed, truncate or rounded.

For a full description of the subgenus see Brooks (1988).

Female. Structure. Head: wider than long; inner orbits of eyes diverging above; length f3–9 subequal. Coloration. Integument black, except ivory or pale yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, clypeus and supraclypeal area (Brooks 1988 erroneously stated that paraocular marks are well developed in both sexes.) Pubescence. Head: labrum white; gena with white hairs. Legs: forecoxa white; hind basitibia white with black streak. Metasoma: T1–T4 with apical hair bands, T5 with long white hair laterally, S3-S4 dark medially, white with metallic blue-green iridescence posterolaterally, S5 dark. Punctation. Head: interspaces on clypeus pit-reticulate; labrum somewhat shiny, with close punctation, interspaces smooth. Scutum with small, shallow punctures; interspaces almost smooth.

Male. Structure. Head: wider than long; inner orbits diverging above; length f3–10 subequal. Wings: length cu-v of hind wing subequal to second abscissa M+Cu. Metasoma: Apicomedial margin T7 bilobed. Coloration. Integument black, pale yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, clypeus, scape, paraocular and supraclypeal areas. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, gena mostly white. Legs: Forefemur posteriorly with long, light coloured hair; forecoxa white; mid and hind legs dark or black, with lighter coloured hairs on apex of femur, outer surface of tibia and basitarsus. Metasoma: T1–T6 with apical hair bands or entirely covered with adpressed hair; S6 dark. Sculpture. Head: clypeus dull with small, shallow, open punctures; interspaces pit-reticulate; Labrum somewhat shiny, with small, shallow punctures; interspaces interspaces pit-reticulate. Thorax: scutum with medium, strong, dense punctures; interspaces smooth. Metasoma: T1–T5 with shallow, close, somewhat scrobiculate punctures; interspaces pit-reticulate.

Australia.

aeruginosa and chlorocyanea.

364 females and 286 males.

Lectotype of aeruginosa: male, BMNH 17B.659. The original description was from one or more male and female syntypes, reportedly collected from Hunter River, Australia. The only specimen found that was considered to be one of the syntypes was a single male bearing no collection information, but two handwritten labels: “aeruginosa Type Sm.” and “Anthophora aeruginosa Type Sm.”. Accordingly this specimen is here designated as the lectotype.

Holotype (by monotypy) of kershawi: male, Claudie River, Queensland, ANIC 32-033849.

Syntypes of sybilae: male, Macintosh Holding, Queensland, 14 Mar.1940,”cotype”, ANIC 32-034555; female, Magnetic Island, Queensland, 20 Dec. 1939, “cotype”, ANIC 32-034554; female, Edungalba, Queensland, 4 Nov.1939, ANIC 32-033280; female, Litchfield, Daly R., NT, T.G. Campbell, 5/4/1929, ANIC 32-033879.

Based on examination of the holotype and of Rayment’s syntypes, combined with results of DNA analyses of specimens from across its geographical range we conclude that there is evidence for only one species. Uncorrected sequence divergence was found to be 0–2.0%, which is within the limits expected for conspecific individuals (Hebert et al. 2010).

Both sexes are easily distinguished from other Australian Amegilla by the green/bronze metallic pubescence which covers most of the dorsal surface.

Female: Pine Creek, NT, 10 Jul. 1997, Leg. R. Leijs SAMA 32-002560.

Length 10 mm; forewing length 9 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.4× width of eye; galea in repose reaching more than half-way between coxa of fore and mid legs; length f1 3× length f2; IOD 1.4× OOD; OS 0.6× OOD. Coloration. Yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, supraclypeal areas and inverted T-shape on clypeus; paraocular areas and scape black. Pubescence. Head: labrum and clypeus white, a light yellow hair patch in centre of paraocular area, some black hairs between antennae, near ocelli and vertex, white hair with blue-green metallic iridescence in remaining areas; gena white with metallic blue-green hair. Thorax: scutum with mixed dark and yellowish hair with a metallic blue-green iridescence; pleura pale yellow below wing base, white with metallic blue-green iridescence in other areas; thoracic sterna white with metallic blue-green iridescence; propodeum laterally, dark intermixed longer whitish hair. Legs: fore outer femur and tibia posteriorly with white hair; outer tibia and basitarsus with white hair with metallic blue-green iridescence, rest of tarsus dark; mid legs predominantly dark, white on apex of femur, white with metallic blue-green iridescence on outer surface of tibia and as a basal patch on basitarsus; hind legs predominantly dark, except white on apex of femur and white with metallic blue-green iridescence on outer surface of tibia plus a small basal patch on basitarsus; basitibial streak 0.5× length of femur. Metasoma: T2–T5: green or bronze with a metallic iridescence; T5 laterally with white hair (Fig. 24); fimbria black. Punctation. Head: clypeus dull, with close small, shallow punctures, 0.2–1.0 puncture widths apart; labrum with medium, shallow punctures, 0.2–1.0 puncture widths apart, interspaces smooth. Thorax: scutum weakly shining with dense punctures 0.2–1.0 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 shining with open to close, small, shallow punctures 0.5–2.0 puncture widths apart, interspaces transverse pit-reticulate.

Male: Pine Creek, NT, 10 July 1997, Leg. R. Leijs SAMA 32-002559.

Length 10 mm; forewing length 8 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes 0.8× length of eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.6× width of eye; galea in repose reaching more than halfway between fore and mid coxae; length f1 1.4× length f2, 0.7× length scape (excluding basal bulb) and 0.7× length f10; length f3–10 1.4× width; IOD 1.8× OOD; OS 0.9× OOD. Wings: length of marginal cell 0.8× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; length of vein M of hind wing 2.5× length second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.6× length of vannal lobe. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 weak; S7 windows absent, median hair brush very wide at apex and narrowing towards anterior end (Fig. 38). Pubescence. Head: white on labrum, becoming light yellow towards top of head with some black hairs between antennae, near ocelli and on vertex; ocellocular areas and frons white with blue-green metallic iridescence; gena white with metallic blue-green dense hair. Thorax: scutum black intermixed with white hair with metallic blue-green iridescence; pleura white with metallic blue-green iridescence; thoracic sterna white with metallic blue-green iridescence; propodeum laterally white with metallic blue-green iridescence. Legs: fore outer femur and tibia posteriorly with long white hair; outer tibia and basitarsus with metallic blue-green hair, rest of tarsus dark; mid legs dark, except long white hair posteriorly on femur and tibia, and white hair with metallic blue-green iridescence on apex of femur, outer surface of tibia and posterior edge of basitarsus; hind legs dark, except white with metallic blue-green iridescence on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T6 orange with metallic green iridescence, parts not covered by hair bands bronze with a metallic green iridescence on basal two thirds; T6,T7 brownish-black; S2–S5 dark except apical margins laterally with white hair bands with metallic blue-green iridescence. Punctation. Head: clypeus punctures 1.0–2.0 puncture widths apart; labrum: punctures 1.0–2.0 puncture widths apart. Thorax: Thorax: scutum somewhat shiny, with close punctures, 0.3–2.0 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with small, shallow punctures, 0.5–1.5 puncture widths apart.

The colour of the metasomal hair is predominantly green for approximately half the specimens and bronze for the remaining half, although intermediate coloration is found in a few individuals.

Amegilla aeruginosa was observed throughout the year in the Northern parts of Australia. There were an increase in numbers at the start of the wet season, and a decrease in January and February. This may be due to a slowing down or lack of reproduction in the wettest part of the year. The strong male bias in the first two months of the year (Fig. 22) may be a consequence of protandry.

Widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics, with little overlap with the distribution of A. (Notomegilla) chlorocyanea (Fig. 4).

1110 females and 946 males.

Holotype of chlorocyanea: female, whereabouts unknown. As the original description is unambiguous, no neotype is required.

Syntype of australis: female, Sandringham, Victoria, 7 Nov. 1936, on Dianella revoluta, ANIC 32-034544.

Syntype of adamsella: male, Edungalba, Queensland, May 1940, 5EEA, “Allotype”, ANIC 32-034545.

Syntypes of grayella: male, female, Orroroo, South Australia, 20 Feb. 1940 No. 88, ANIC 32-034546,7.

Syntypes of tinsleyellajamesi: male, female, Orroroo, South Australia, 20 Feb. 1940, 92, ANIC 32-034553,4.

Syntypes of luteola: male, female, Orroroo, South Australia, 3 Mar. 1939, “Gray 23 Adelaide”, ANIC 32-034548,9.

Syntypes of mewiella: male, Broken Hill, 20 Feb. 1940, ANIC 32-033124; 2 males and female, Orroroo, South Australia, 20 Feb. 1940, ANIC 32-033133,32-0334550,1.

Syntype (presumed) of luteolamurrayi: female, Robertson, New South Wales, Feb 1940, ANIC 32-033076. (Specimen bears no type or identification label.)

Syntypes (presumed) of tinsleyella: 5 males, Orroroo, SA, 4 Feb 1940, 20 Feb 1940 (3), 26 Feb 1940, ANIC 32-033182, 32-033192, 32-033194, 32-033196, 32-033396.

No type material was found for ferrisi but it is placed in chlorocyanea on the basis of the description provided by Rayment (1947).

The results of DNA analyses of specimens from across the complete geographical range indicated that there is only one banded Notomegilla species. Uncorrected sequence divergence was found to be 0–3.05%, which is below the usual limits for conspecific individuals. Moreover, there was no geographical pattern in the sequence variation. No morphological differences, other than colour variation, were found when Rayment’s syntypes were examined. Variations in the genitalia as illustrated by Rayment (1944) appear to be due to different focal distances and angles of the drawings.

We agree with Brooks’s (1988) decision to synonymise luteola and tinsleyella with chlorocyanea. Both Sichel (1869) and Cockerell (1905) have incorrectly referred to this species as Anthophora cingulata (Fabr.)

This species superficially resembles several Zonamegilla species, but can be distinguished by the blue/green iridescent pubescence on the fore and mid legs; females by the completely black paraocular areas and a large, dense, medial spot of pale pubescence on T5 (Fig. 25); and males by a smooth unmodified surface of S5 and medially interrupted hair bands on T4–T6.

Female: Sunnyside, 11km NW of Murray Bridge, 35.0536S 139.3620E, SA, 28 Dec 2003, R.Leijs & K.Hogendoorn, SAMA 32-002545.

Length 13 mm; forewing length 9.5 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.5× width of eye; galea in repose reaching just past forecoxa; length f1 3.5× length f2, 0.9× length scape (excluding basal bulb) and 2× length f10; f3–9 as long as wide; IOD 1.6× OOD; OS 0.8× OOD. Coloration. Pale yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, supraclypeal areas and inverted T-shape on clypeus; paraocular areas and scape black. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly pale yellow with some black hairs between antennae and on vertex; gena white/pale brown. Thorax: scutum ginger intermixed with black hairs; pleura light ginger under wing base, remainder white; thoracic sterna white; propodeum laterally light ginger intermixed with black. Legs: foreleg brown, except white long hair posteriorly on femur and pale hair with orange or light blue metallic iridescence on outer tibia and basitarsus; mid legs black, except pale hair with orange or light blue metallic iridescence on apex of femur, outer tibia and basal part of basitarsus; hind legs black except pale with orange or light blue metallic iridescence on apex of femur, outer tibia and basal part of basitarsus; length of basitibial streak 0.4× length of femur. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T4 white with metallic blue-green iridescence, margin of T4 medially with hairless shiny triangle, parts not covered by hair bands black, with some white hair medially on T4; T5 laterally with long white hair intermixed with hairs with metallic blue-green iridescence (Fig. 25), fimbria black, distinct, round, medial patch of white hair with metallic blue-green iridescence. Punctation. Head: clypeus somewhat shiny, with medium, close, shallow punctures, 0.25–1.0 puncture widths apart; labrum large, shallow punctures, 0.2–0.8 puncture widths apart, interspaces smooth. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close punctation, 0.3–1.0 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with somewhat shiny, close to open, fine, shallow punctures, 0.5–2.0 puncture widths apart, interspaces pit-reticulate.

Male: Sunnyside, 11km NW of Murray Bridge, 35.0536S 139.36199E, SA, 28 Dec 2003, R.Leijs & K.Hogendoorn, SAMA 32-002542.

Length 11 mm; forewing length 9 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes 0.6× length of eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.4× width of eye; galea in repose almost reaching mid coxa; length f1 2.4× length f2, 0.7× length scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.1× length f11; length f3–10 1.2× width; IOD 1.8× OOD; OS 0.9× OOD. Wings: length of marginal cell 0.7× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; length of vein M of hind wing 2.3× length second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.4× length of vannal lobe. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 weak and broad; S7 windows absent or very small (Fig. 39); S7 median hair brush very short with long lateral wings in v-shape. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly pale yellow with some black hairs along lateral margins of clypeus, between antennae and on vertex; gena white. Thorax: scutum brown intermixed with black hair; pleura light brown under wing base, remainder white; propodeum laterally light brown. Legs: forefemur white; fore outer tibia and basitarsus with light blue iridescence; mid legs black, except long white hair posteriorly on femur and tibia and white hair with weak metallic orange or light blue iridescence on apex of femur, outer surface of tibia and base of basitarsus; hind legs black, except white with weak metallic orange or light blue iridescence on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia. Metasoma: T1–T6: apical hair bands on margin greyish white with weak metallic blue-green iridescence, bands on T4–6 black medially and therefore seeming interrupted; parts not covered by hair bands black; T7 brown; S2–S5 black. Punctation. Head: clypeus punctures 1.5–3.0 puncture widths apart; labrum punctures 1.5–3.0 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close punctures, 0.5–1.0 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with fine, shallow punctures, 1.0–2.0 puncture widths apart.

About 10% of specimens have enough orange pigmentation to make the tergal bands and scutal hair orange and the hair of the legs pale orange. A larger number of specimens have almost white tergal bands, presumably as a consequence of wear.

Amegilla chlorocyanea occurs throughout Australia, but the epicentre of the distribution is in the south of the continent, as is demonstrated by the fact that 73% of the specimens with known localities (n = 2043) have been collected south of a latitude of 30°S. The phenology changes with the latitude: peak activity is in January in the south, and in May and October in the north. In Fig. 23 the frequency of males and females is given only for specimens caught south of 30°S.

Wide-spread throughout the arid and temperate areas of the southern part of mainland Australia and Tasmania (Fig. 7).

Apis zonata Linnaeus, 1758 (original designation).

Length 10–14 mm; most species with blue, green, white, or occasionally orange, metallic hair bands on metasomal terga; pale paraocular markings present in both sexes; maxiliary palpus with 6 segments; S5 of male apicomedially broadly to narrowly emarginate; S6 of male with lateral depressions on apical third, sometimes with a median protuberance, tuft of black hair apicomedially.

The following description refers to the Australian species of Zonamegilla (see Brooks 1988 for a full description of the subgenus).

Female. Structure. Head: wider than long; inner orbits diverging above; f3–9 about equal in length. Coloration. Integument black, except yellow or pale yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, clypeus, scape, paraocular and supraclypeal area (marks are ivory in pulchra). Pubescence. Head: gena with white hairs. Legs: forecoxa and femur posteriorly light ginger in paeninsulae, white in all other species, hair of anterior face of femur and tibia white or ginger; mid and hind legs dark or black, but lighter coloured on apex of femur, on outer surface of tibia and on base of basitarsus. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T4; parts not covered by hair bands dark brown or black in A. alpha, black in all other species. Punctation. Head: clypeus somewhat shiny, close to dense punctation, interspaces pit-reticulate; labrum interspaces almost smooth in murrayensis and adelaidae, reticulate in other species. Thorax: scutum with small, shallow punctures; interspaces almost smooth. Metasoma: T1–T5 somewhat shiny, with fine, shallow punctures, interspaces pit-reticulate.

Male. Structure. Head: wider than long; inner orbits diverging above; f3–10 about equal in length. Metasoma: apicomedial margin of T7 bilobed. Coloration. Integument black, except yellow or pale yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, clypeus, scape, paraocular and supraclypeal area (marks are ivory in pulchra). Pubescence. Head: gena with white hair. Thorax: sterna pale orange in paeninsulae, white in all other species. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long, light coloured hairs; coxa greyish white in paeninsulae, white in all other species; mid and hind legs: dark or black, with lighter coloured hairs on apex of femur, outer surface of tibia and basitarsus. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T5; parts not covered by hair bands dark brown in walkeri, black in all other species. S6 dark except in paeninsulae, thorogoodi and cingulata. Punctation. Head: clypeus dull, with open shallow punctures, interspaces rough pit-reticulate in karlba, pit-reticulate in all other species; labrum somewhat shiny, interspaces pit-reticulate; scutum: interspaces almost smooth. Metasoma: interspaces pit-reticulate.

India, South East Asia including southern China, and Australia.

adelaidae, alpha, asserta, cingulata, thorogoodi, indistincta, karlba, murrayensis, paeninsulae, pulchra, viridicingulata and walkeri.

54 females and 33 males.

Holotype of adelaidae: male, Adelaide River, NT, BMNH 17B.664.

The identity of the species adelaidae was determined unequivocally from the shape of S7 of the holotype.

Amegilla adelaidae may be recognized by the matt, pale orange tergal hair bands in both sexes; females by the broad, entire patch of white hairs on T5 (Fig. 26); males by the shape of S7, which has a smoothly rounded posterior margin with a sharp apical projection, a narrow ventral ridge and narrow Y-shaped brush with an acute angle between the lateral arms (Fig. 40).

Female: Berrimah, Research Farm Orchard, NT, 12.4333S 130.9167E, 14 May 2003, G.R. Brown & H. Wallace, DNA voucher RB266 (RL501), SAMA-32-002617.

Length 13 mm; forewing length 8 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.5× width of eye; galea in repose reaching beyond mid coxa; length of f1 2.7× length of f2, 0.8× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.8× length of f10; length of f3–9 0.9× width; IOD 1.3× OOD; OS 0.6× OOD. Coloration. Yellow marks on labrum, mandible, scape, clypeus, paraocular and supraclypeal areas; inverted T-shape on clypeus; f2 and apex of f1 orange ventrally. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly pale, darker towards the vertex; black robust hairs scattered between antennae, near ocelli and on vertex, a few on clypeus; gena white, light brown towards vertex. Thorax: scutum ginger intermixed with black hair; pleura ginger with scattered black hairs under wing base, white ventrally; thoracic sterna white; propodeum laterally light ginger with scattered black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of foretibia and -tarsus pale yellow, inner surface of foretarsus dark; mid legs dark, except white hairs on apex of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus and a streak of contiguous short white hairs on posterior proximal part of femur; hind legs dark, except white hairs on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia, white patch on basal part of basitarsus; basitibial streak black, 0.7× length of femur. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T4 white with weak light blue and orange iridescence; T5 laterally with long white hairs and few dispersed short hairs (Fig. 26), fimbria dark, medial patch forming broad band around fimbria, medial streak overlapping fimbria; S3, S4 dark, posterolateral patches of white hairs; S5 dark, laterally with small white patches. Punctation. Head: clypeus with close medium sized, deep punctures, 0.1–0.8 puncture widths apart; labrum shiny, with close, small punctures of intermediate depth, 0.2–0.9 puncture widths apart, interspaces almost smooth. Thorax: scutum somewhat shiny, with close punctures, 0.2–0.8 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with close punctures, 0.8–1.5 puncture widths apart.

Male: Berrimah, Research Farm Orchard, NT, 130.9167E 12.4333S, 14 May 2003, G.R. Brown & H. Wallace, DNA voucher RB266 (RL502), SAMA-32-002616.

Length 12 mm; forewing length 8.5 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes 0.8× length of eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.5× width of eye; galea in repose reaching beyond mid coxa; length of f1 1.9× length of f2, 0.6× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.1× length of f11; length of f3–10 1.1× width; IOD 1.4× OOD; OS 0.7× OOD. Wings: length of marginal cell 0.8× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; length of vein M of hind wing 2.3× length of second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.5× length of vannal lobe. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 wide; S7 with rounded apical margin, sharp apical projection, large windows, width medial ridge 1.6× length, narrow Y-shaped brush (Fig. 40); S8 apical emargination wide almost trilobed. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly pale, darker towards the vertex; scattered black robust hairs on clypeus, paraocular areas, between antennae, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white. Thorax: scutum light brown intermixed with black hairs; pleura light brown with scattered black hairs under wing base, white ventrally; propodeum laterally light brown with scattered black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of tibia and tarsus pale yellow, inner surface of tarsus dark; mid legs dark, except white hair on the apex of femur, posteriorly on proximal half of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus; hind legs dark, except white hairs on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia, small white patch on outer base of basitarsus. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T5 greyish white with orange tinge, almost not iridescent; T6, T7 black when viewed from behind, brown when viewed from the side; S2–S5 medially dark, lateral thirds white. Punctation. Head: clypeus with punctures 0.5–3.0 puncture widths apart; labrum with small, shallow punctures 0.5–2.0 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close, small, shallow punctures 0.5–1.0 puncture widths apart, interspaces smooth. Metasoma: T1–T5 shiny, with open, fine, shallow punctures, 1.0–3.0 puncture widths apart.

Most female specimens have pale orange bands with no metallic reflections, but the bands of males are frequently paler and more often show hints of green iridescence. A few specimens, male and female, had ivory, rather than yellow face marks.

Australia, mainly in tropical and subtropical areas, including the arid zone (Fig. 3).

5 females and 1 male.

Holotype of alpha: male, (no locality data), BMNH 17B.669.

Amegilla alpha is easily distinguished from all other Australian Zonamegilla species by the orange hair covering the dorsal surface of the metasoma in both sexes, superficially resembling that in Asaropoda species. The yellow paraocular marks and facial profile of females, the unmodified apical margins of S4 and S5 of males, and for both sexes the presence of hairs in 1^st medial cell and most other cells of the forewing, separate it from Asaropoda.

Female: Jasper Gorge 54km NW Victoria River Downs, 16.02S 130.41E, NT, 30 Apr. 1974, T.Weir & T. Angeles, MAGNT I004904.

Length 14 mm; forewing length 9 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.5× width of eye; galea in repose reaching just reaching mid coxa; length of f1 3× length of f2, 0.8× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.7× length of f10; f3–9 as long as wide; IOD 1.3× OOD; OS 0.5× OOD; length of marginal cell 0.8× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; cu-v of hind wing approximately half length of second abscissa of M+Cu; length of vein M of hind wing 1.7 times as long as second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.5× length of vannal lobe. Coloration. Yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, scape, clypeus, paraocular and supraclypeal areas; inverted T-shape on clypeus; distal part of flagellum brown ventrally from apex of f1. Pubescence. Head: labrum and clypeus with orange setae, pale yellow hairs intermixed with dark hairs on paraocular areas, frons, near ocelli and on vertex, darker near ocelli; gena white, pale ginger towards vertex. Thorax: scutum orange intermixed with black hairs; pleura orange with few black hairs under wing base, white ventrally; thoracic sterna orange; propodeum laterally orange with few black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of foretibia and -tarsus light orange, inner surface of tarsus brown; mid leg black, except light orange hair on apex of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus, hair on basitarsus lighter than on tibia; posterior proximal part of femur with a narrow line of light orange hair; hind legs black, except orange hair on apex of femur, scopa and basal part of basitarsus; basitibial streak brown, very short. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T4 ginger with weak orange iridescence, parts not covered by hair bands dark orange; T5 laterally pale yellow (Fig. 27), fimbria brown, medial patch absent; pubescence as on T1–4; S3, S4 dark, posterolateral patches of pale yellow hairs; S5 dark. Punctation. Head: clypeus with dense to close, large, deep punctures, 0.1–0.5 puncture widths apart; labrum somewhat shiny, with close to dense, medium, deep punctures, 0.1–0.5 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close punctures, 0.2–1.0 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with close to open punctures, 0.5–1.5 puncture widths apart.

Male: Holotype.

Length 11 mm; forewing length 7.5 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.4× width of eye; length f1 2.1× length f2, 0.6× length scape (excluding basal bulb); length f3–10 1.1× width; IOD 1.4× OOD; OS 0.7× OOD. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 wide, 40% of the sternal width, S6 with lateral depressions. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly pale, darker towards vertex; scattered black robust hairs on clypeus laterally and in pale paraocular areas; gena white. Thorax: scutum orange-brown intermixed with black hairs; pleura light brown, white ventrally; propodeum laterally orange-brown with scattered black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hairs, outer surface of tibia, tarsus orange-brown, inner surface of tarsus dark; mid legs black, except orange-brown hair on apex of femur, outer surface of tibia and basitarsus; hind legs black, except orange-brown hair on apex of femur, outer face of tibia and base of basitarsus. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T5 orange-brown, elsewhere hair simple, open, orange-brown; S3–S5 medially dark, laterally orange.

(Fig. 5). The locality data given by Rayment (1951) as Toowoomba and Mackay does not fit the distribution as we know it. Since Rayment did not examine the type of alpha, the basis of his statement about the distribution is unclear.

253 females and 215 males.

Holotype of asserta: male, Lower Ferntree Gully, 22.1.1916, VIC, MV, T-11865.

Lectotype of assertiella: male, Cooranbong, NSW, 20 May 1939, ANIC 32-034245, here designated.

Syntype of longmani: male, Bribie Is., Queensland, “allotype”, ANIC 32-034572.

Syntypes of perasserta: male, female, Clermont, QLD, K.K. Spence, AM K.105230, K.105227; male, female, Edungalba, Qld, 5 Nov. 1940, ANIC 32-033329, 32-033332; 2 males and female, White Swamp, NSW, ANIC 32-033341, 32-034566, 32-033514; female, Magnetic Is., Qld, ANIC 32-034078; male, Orroroo, SA, 1 Mar. 1940, “J.T.G.23”, ANIC 32-033362; female, Gatton, QLD, N.C. Lloyd, 20 Dec. 1937, ASCU; female, Glen Innes, NSW, 20 Mar. 1914, ASCU.

Syntypes of perpulchra: male, female, Mittagong, NSW, 2 Feb. 1940, “TYPE”and “Allotype”, ANIC 32-034564; female, Port Hacking, NSW, T.G Campbell, 30–31 Jan. 1925, AM K.55811; female, Port Hacking, NSW, T.G Campbell, 12 Mar. 1927, AM K.60206; female, Bendermeer, NSW, D.A. Porter, 28 Feb. 1926, AM K.53522; male, Sydney, NSW, C. Gibbons, AM K.48991; female, Brisbane, QLD, AM K.15779; male, female, Robertson, NSW, 9 Mar. 1940, ANIC 32-034309, 32-034533; 2 males, Edungalba, Qld, , 2 Nov. 1940, “No E30”, ANIC 32-034314,5; male, Gosford, NSW, 10 Mar. 1940, “103”, ANIC, 32-034323; female, Ingham, Qld, 27 Dec. 1940, “EEA 2”, ANIC 32-034321; female, Cooper Park, Sydney, NSW, “No 18 NS”, ANIC 32-034301; female, Lismore, NSW, Mrs Higgison, 10 Jan. 1934, ASCU; female, Glen Innes, NSW, 20 Mar. 1914, ASCU; female, Liverpool, NSW, 30 Mar. 1909, ASCU.

Holotype of whiteleyella (Rayment, 1947) (by presumed monotypy), male, Macquarie River, NSW, Nov. 1935, ANIC 32-033369.

Examination of the above type material revealed no morphological differences.

Amegilla asserta is distinguished from other Australian Zonamegilla species by a combination of the following characters: Face marks yellow; tergal hair bands pale blue. Hind tibia of females with long dark basitibial streak; T5 with dense medial patch of pale hair including a central line extending into prepygidial fimbra (Fig. 28). Posterior margin of S5 of males with a distinct patch of branched hairs; S7 with a narrow medial ridge (Fig. 41).

Female: Sydney Botanical gardens, 33.850S 151.200E, NSW, 31 Mar 2003, M. Bell, DNA voucher RB081 (RL490), SAMA 32-002567.

Length 13 mm; forewing length 9 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.4× width of eye; galea in repose reaching half-way between coxa of fore and mid legs; length of f1 3× length of f2, 0.8× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.7× length of f10; length of f3–9 0.9× width; IOD 1.3× OOD; OS 0.7× OOD. Coloration. Pale yellow-yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, scape, clypeus, paraocular and supraclypeal areas; inverted T-shape on clypeus. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly pale brown with scattered black robust hairs on clypeus, paraocular areas, between antennae, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white, pale orange towards vertex. Thorax: scutum dark ginger intermixed with black hairs; pleura ginger with scattered black hairs under wing base, white ventrally; thoracic sterna white; propodeum laterally pale ginger with scattered black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of tibia and tarsus with white hair, inner surface of tarsus brown; mid legs dark, with whitish hair on apex of femur, posteriorly on proximal third of femur, on outer surface of tibia and forming a small basal patch posteriorly on basitarsus; hind legs black, except white hair on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia; basitibial streak black, 0.7× length of femur. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T4 white with metallic blue iridescence; T5 laterally with long white hairs intermixed with short hairs, fimbria dark, medial patch as in Fig. 28; S3, S4 dark, except posterolateral patches of white hair; S5 dark brown, laterally with small white patches. Punctation. Head: clypeus with close, medium sized, shallow punctures, 0.2–1.0 puncture widths apart; labrum somewhat shiny, with close, small, shallow punctures, 1.0–2.0 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close punctures, 0.2–0.8 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with close to open punctures, 0.5–2.0 puncture widths apart.

Male: S. of Coen, 14.0424S 143.19888E, Qld, R. Leijs & M. Batley, DNA voucher RB277 (RL777), SAMA 32-002572.

Length 11 mm; forewing length 8 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes 0.7 length of eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.5 width of eye; galea in repose almost reaching mid coxa; length of f1 2× length of f2, 0.7× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.1× length of f12; length of f3–10 1.3× width; IOD 1.2× OOD; OS 0.6× OOD. Wings: length of marginal cell 0.8× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; length of vein M of hind wing 2 times as long as second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.3× length of vannal lobe. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 narrow; S7 windows medium size, half circular; S7 median hair brush 3× as long as wide; S7 lateral wings of median hair brush well developed an angle of ≥90° between them (Fig. 41) ; S8 apical emargination shallow. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly pale brown with scattered black robust hairs on clypeus, paraocular areas, between antennae, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white, pale orange towards vertex. Thorax: scutum brown intermixed with black hairs; pleura brown with scattered black hairs under wing base, white ventrally; propodeum laterally brown with scattered black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hairs, outer surface of tibia and tarsus with pale brown hairs, inner surface of tarsus brown; mid legs dark, except pale yellow hairs on the apex of the femur, posteriorly on proximal one third of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus; hind legs black, except pale yellow hairs on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T5 white with metallic blue iridescence; T6, T7 black when viewed from behind, light brown when viewed from the side; S2–S5 dark with white apicolateral patches. Punctation. Head: clypeus punctures 1.0–3.0 puncture widths apart; labrum with small, shallow punctures 0.5–1.5 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum somewhat shiny, with close medium, shallow punctures 0.5–1.0 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 shiny, with open small, shallow punctures, 1.0–2.5 puncture widths apart.

The black areas on the clypeus of males are consistently narrow, usually 4 or 5 times as long as wide, but occasionally the length is only 2.5 times the width. The colour of the tergal bands in both sexes usually displays distinct blue iridescence and appears to be less susceptible to the effects of aging than in species like pulchra. The scutal hair of both sexes is usually distinctly ginger in appearance. The colour of the flagellum varies in both sexes from dull orange-brown to dark brown on the ventral surface and from dark brown to black on the dorsal surface. Very rarely, the length of the dark streak in the hair of the hind tibia of females is 0.5× the length of the tibia.

Amegilla asserta superficially resembles thorogoodi and indistincta, but females may be distinguished by the longer hind basitibial streak the hair pattern on T5 (Fig. 28). Males may be distinguished from both species by the patch of branched hairs on S5 and from indistincta by the shape of S7 (Fig. 41).

Amegilla asserta is one of the most common and widespread species along the eastern seaboard, reaching from the tip of Cape York into South Australia. In the south of the continent, the species is active between November and April, with a peak in January. In the north, A. asserta can be found year round, albeit at lower frequencies in July, August and September.

From Eyre Peninsula and the Lofty Ranges in South Australia, Tasmania, and the temperate areas of Victoria and New South Wales to subtropical and tropical areas along the east coast of Queensland (Fig. 6).

186 females and 148 males.

Holotype of cingulata, female, BMNH, ‘Australia’, Banks Collection, E-668712. Mr D. Notton informed us that it is stored in the Banks Collection over the cabinet label ‘Andrena cingulata Fabr. Sp. Ins. No. 17’.

Holotype of emendata (by monotypy), male, BMNH, 17B.448.

Syntype of emendatagilberti, female, QLD, BMNH, 17B.665.

Holotype of lilacine, male, Kuranda, QLD, QM Hy/2497.

Holotype of fabriciana (by monotypy), female, “ No 31; In a tunnelled cell in plaster in the walls of an old house”, “Anthophoracincta, Dours”, ANIC 32-034445.

Based on examination of the type material, we concur with Meade-Waldo’s (1914) decision to synonimise emendata and gilberti and Brooks’s (1988) decision to synonymise lilacine. Meade-Waldo (1914) suggested that Smith’s (1879) description of the type of emmendata as a female is a typographical error. Although the holotype of fabriciana does not have that name attached, it is the only specimen found bearing the name “Anthophoracincta, Dours” and the other attached information is consistent with Rayment’s references to “wattle-and-daub walls” (Rayment 1935), “a remarkably large female from a plaster cell. Maitland” (as Anthophora gilberti in Rayment 1939), which became “Dours’s bee … from the Hunter River” (Rayment 1941). Tergites 5 and 6, and the corresponding sternites, were missing from the specimen, presumably because they were mislaid after being used in the production of Fig III, 2 in Rayment (1941). Despite repeated references by Rayment to a length of 18 mm, our estimate is that the length of the intact specimen would have been 15 mm. All observable features of the specimen are consistent with its belonging to A. cingulata.

Amegilla cingulata is a distinctive species with metallic blue tergal hair bands and orange scutal pubescence in both sexes. Females lack a dark basitibial dark streak on the hind legs and the disc of T5 is without pale hair (Fig. 29).

Female: Levers Plateau, 28.33S 152.88E, Qld, 13 Mar 1966, T. F. Houston, WAM 5461.

Length 14 mm; forewing length 9 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.3× width of eye; galea in repose reaching mid coxa; length of f1 2.9× length of f2, 0.8× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.5× length of f10; f3–9 as long as wide; IOD 1.1× OOD; OS 0.5× OOD. Coloration. Yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, scape, clypeus, paraocular and supraclypeal areas; inverted T-shape on clypeus; distal part of flagellum brown ventrally from f2. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas white to light ginger, darker towards vertex and intermixed with black hairs on clypeus, paraocular areas, frons, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white, light ginger towards vertex. Thorax: scutum orange intermixed with black hairs; pleura orange with few black hairs under wing base, white ventrally; thoracic sterna white; propodeum laterally ginger with few black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hairs, outer surface of fore tibia and -tarsus light ginger, inner surface of tarsus brown; mid legs black, except light ginger hairs on apex of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus, hairs on basitarsus lighter than on tibia; posterior proximal part of femur with a narrow line of light ginger hairs; hind legs black, except ginger hairs on apex of femur, scopa and basal part of basitarsus, a white tuft on apex of tibia; basitibial streak absent. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T4 white with electric blue iridescence; T5 laterally white (Fig. 29), fimbria brown, medial patch absent; S3, S4 brown, posterolateral patches of white hairs; S5 brown. Punctation. Head: clypeus with close medium to large, deep punctures, 0.2–1.0 puncture widths apart; labrum somewhat shiny, with close, medium, deep punctures, 0.2–0.6 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close punctures, 0.2–0.8 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with close to open punctures, 0.5–1.0 puncture widths apart.

Male: Bombana National Park, 27.47S 153.02E, Qld, 16 Mar 1966, T. F. Houston, WAM 5462.

Length 13 mm; forewing length 8 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes 0.8 length of eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.5 width of eye; galea in repose reaching mid coxa; length of f1 1.3× length of f2, 0.5× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 0.8× length of f11; length of f3–10 1.2× width; IOD 1.2× OOD; OS 0.5× OOD. Wings: length of marginal cell 0.9× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; vein M of hind wing 2.3 times as long as second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.5× length of vannal lobe. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 intermediate width and depth; S7 windows medium size, median hair brush 4× width, lateral wings of hair brush narrow almost perpendicular to the long axis (Fig. 42); S8 apical emargination deep. Pubescence. Head: labrum white; clypeus and paraocular marks predominantly black, remainder ginger with scattered black hairs on frons, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white, light ginger towards vertex. Thorax: scutum orange intermixed with black hairs; pleura orange under wing base, turning white ventrally; thoracic sterna and propodeum laterally orange. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hairs, outer surface of tibia and tarsus pale yellow, inner surface of tarsus brown; mid legs brown, except pale ginger hairs on apex of femur, posteriorly proximally on femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus; hind legs black, except orange hairs on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia and a very small tuft on base of basitarsus, apex of tibia white. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T5 white with electric blue iridescence; T6–T7 black when viewed from behind, brown when viewed from side; T7 black; S2–S5 pale brown with white lateral patches; S6 black when viewed from behind, brown when viewed from side. Punctation. Head: clypeus punctures 1.0–3.0 puncture widths apart; labrum with medium, shallow punctures 0.5–2.0 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum somewhat shiny with close to open, medium, shallow punctures 0.2–2.0 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 somewhat shiny, with close, fine, shallow punctures, 0.8–1.5 puncture widths apart.

The thoracic hair, especially of females, is consistently bright orange, but the metasomal bands are seldom infused with orange and even then, the colour is mostly restricted to the band on T1. The colour of the flagellum is variable, as in asserta. Two females were found with a few white hairs on T5 forming the narrowest of longitudinal lines.

Along the east coast of New South Wales and Queensland (Fig. 8).

40 females and 27 males.

Holotype: female: Millstream Falls, 17.6427S 145.4588E, 4 Jul 2007, R. Leijs & M. Batley, DNA voucher RB312 (RL867), SAMA 32-002623.

Allotype: male, Iron Range, QLD, 1 Jul 2007, 12.7465S 143.2556E, R.Leijs & M. Batley, SAMA 32-002633.

Paratypes: male, female, 23 km SW of Agnes Water, QLD, 24.3500S 151.9333E, 31 Jan 2007, M. Batley, DNA vouchers RB194, RB195, AM K-290886, AM K-290887.

Amegilla indistincta is distinguished from other Australian Zonamegilla species by the following combination of characters: Tergal hair bands usually with a yellowish tint. Hind tibia of females with a short dark streak (≤ 0.4× length hind tibia); pale hair on T5 forming a relatively small medial patch (Fig. 30). Apical margin of T5 of males lacking a patch of dense, dark hair; medial ridge of S7 very broad and apical projection truncate (Fig. 43).

Female: holotype.

Length 14 mm; forewing length 9 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.4× width of eye; galea in repose just reaching mid coxa; length of f1 3× length of f2, 0.9× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.6× length of f10; length of f3–9 0.9× width; IOD 1.3× OOD; OS 0.6× OOD; length of marginal cell 0.8× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; length of cu-v of hind wing approximately half the length of second abscissa of M+Cu; length of vein M of hind wing 2.2× length of second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.5× length of vannal lobe. Coloration. Yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, scape, clypeus, paraocular and supraclypeal areas; inverted T-shape on clypeus; small brown spot on f2. Pubescence. Head: labrum and clypeus white, paraocular areas and frons white intermixed with black hairs, light ginger intermixed with black hairs near ocelli and on vertex; gena white, light ginger towards vertex. Thorax: scutum light orange intermixed with black hair; pleura light orange with few black hairs under wing base, white ventrally; thoracic sterna white; propodeum laterally light orange with few black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of tibia and tarsus greyish white, inner surface of tarsus brown; mid legs dark, except white hair on apex of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basal part of basitarsus; apex of tibia with brown spot; posterior proximal part of femur with narrow line of white hair; hind legs black, except greyish white hair on apex of femur, scopa, white hair on basal part of basitarsus and on apex of tibia; basitibial streak black, 0.4× length of femur. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T4 greyish white with green-blue iridescence; T5 laterally white, fimbria dark brown, medial patch of dispersed short white hairs around a denser longitudinal line (Fig. 30); S3, S4 dark with posterolateral patches of white hair; S5 dark. Punctation. Head: clypeus with dense, large, deep punctures, 0.1–0.5 puncture widths apart; labrum with somewhat shiny, with close, medium sized, deep punctures, 0.1–0.8 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close punctures, 0.2–0.7 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with close punctures, 0.8–1.5 puncture widths apart.

Male: allotype.

Length 12 mm; forewing length 9 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes 0.5× length of eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.6× width of eye; galea in repose reaching mid coxa; length of f1 1.5× length of f2, 0.6× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 0.8× length of f1; f3–10 as long as wide; IOD 1.3× OOD; OS 0.6× OOD. Wings: length of marginal cell 0.8× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; length of vein M of hind wing 2.1× length of second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.4× length of vannal lobe. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 moderately wide and shallow; S7 with wide medial ridge and truncate apical projection, hair pattern almost inverted T-shaped, apical half weak (Fig. 43); S8 apical emargination deep. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly ginger, some black hairs on clypeus, paraocular areas, frons, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white, ginger towards vertex. Thorax: scutum ginger intermixed with black hair; pleura ginger, white ventrally; propodeum laterally light ginger. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of tibia and tarsus light ginger, inner surface of tarsus brown; mid legs black, except white hair on apex of femur, posteriorly on proximal end of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus; hind legs black, except ginger hair on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia, apex of tibia white. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T5 light ginger; T6 with few long white hairs on apical margin, remaining hair black when viewed from behind, brown when viewed from the side; S2–S5 medially dark, laterally with white patches; S6 dark. Punctation. Head: clypeus punctures 0.5–3.0 puncture widths apart; labrum with small, shallow punctures 0.5–2.0 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close small, shallow punctures, 0.2–1.0 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 somewhat shiny, with open, fine, shallow punctures, 0.8–2.0 puncture widths apart.

In the subtropics and tropics along the east coast of Queensland (Fig. 9).

The specific epithet refers to the fact that specimens of this species were found among the type series of other species described by Rayment (indistincta in Latin means ’not distinguished’).

Amegilla indistincta is closely related to karlba and superficially resembles thorogoodi and asserta. Females may be distinguished from asserta by the length of the hind tibial streak and from karlba and thorogoodi by the relatively small patch of pale hair on T5. Males may be distinguished from asserta by the absence of a hair patchon S5, and from thorogoodi by the shape of S7 (Fig. 43). While the tergal hair bands of female indistincta are less blue than those of thorogoodi, this colour difference may prove unreliable for separating the species.

Males of indistincta are not easily distinguishable from those of karlba, but the small number of specimens available all had a truncate apical projection on S7 (Fig. 43), while the projection is blunt but rounded in karlba (Fig. 44).

28 females and 19 males.

Holotype: female, 12km NNW of Mt Cahill, NT, 12.46S 132.39E, 20 Jun 1973, T. Weir & T. Angeles, MAGNT I004902.

Allotype: male, 19km NE by E of Mt Cahill, NT, 12.47S 132.51E, 16.xi.1972, T. Weir & A. Allwood, MAGNT I004897.

Paratypes: male, 16km E by N of Mt Cahill, NT, 12.8333S 132.8500E, 16.xi.1972, T. Weir & A. Allwood, MAGNT I004895; 2 females, 19km E by N of Mt Cahill, NT, 12.5000S 132.5200E, 14 Jun 1973, J.C. Cardale, ANIC 32-33723, 33725; female, male, 19km E by N of Mt Cahill, NT, 12.5000S 132.5200E, 16 Nov 1972, J.C. Cardale, ANIC 32-33757, 34386; 4 males, 19km NE by E of Mt Cahill, NT, 12.47S 132.51E, 16.xi.1972, T. Weir & A. Allwood, MAGNT I004894, I004896, I004898, I004899; female, Litchfield NP, NT, 13.1167S 130.7833E, G. Williams & W. Pulawski, AM K-290928, DNA voucher RB330.

Amegilla karlba is distinguished from other Australian Zonamegilla species by the following characters: Metasomal hair bands of both sexes yellow ochre coloured; hair on outer face of the hind tibia usually orange or brown. Basitibial hair streak on hind leg of females short; hind basitarsus less than half covered with pale hair; T5 with pale hair reaching lateral margins. S7 of males with a broad medial ridge resulting in small, lightly pigmented windows and a broad but distinct apical projection (Fig. 44).

Female: holotype.

Length 13 mm; forewing length 9 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.3× width of eye; galea in repose reaching mid coxa; length of f1 3.1× length of f2, 0.7× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.6× length of f10; f3–9 as long as wide; IOD 1.2× OOD; OS 0.6× OOD; length of marginal cell 0.8× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; cu-v of hind wing 2.7× length of second abscissa of M+Cu; length of vein M of hind wing 2× length of second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 2× length of vannal lobe. Coloration. Yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, scape, clypeus, paraocular and supraclypeal areas; inverted T-shape on clypeus; distal part of flagellum orange-brown ventrally from f2. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly pale yellow, darker towards vertex; scattered black robust hairs on clypeus, paraocular areas, frons, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white, pale yellow towards vertex. Thorax: scutum ginger intermixed with black hair; pleura ginger under wing base, turning white ventrally; thoracic sterna pale brown; propodeum laterally ginger with scattered black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of foretibia and -tarsus light brown, inner surface of tarsus brown; mid legs dark, except pale brown hair on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia, slightly darker than on foretibia, posteriorly proximal end of femur with narrow line of white hair, apex of tibia with brown spot, basitarsus white basally; hind legs black, except pale brown hair on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia, a patch of pale brown hair on base of basitarsus, small white tuft on apex of tibia; basitibial streak brown, 0.25× length of femur. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T4 yellow ochre with orange and weak light blue iridescence; T5 laterally with moderately dense white hairs, fimbria brown; T5 entirely covered with open pale yellow ochre hairs, a denser longitudinal line extends into fimbria (Fig. 31); S3, S4 dark, posterolateral patches of pale yellow hairs; S5 dark. Punctation. Head: clypeus with dense to close, medium sized, deep punctures, 0.2–0.7 puncture widths apart; labrum somewhat shiny, with close to dense, small, deep punctures, 0.1–0.5 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close punctures, 0.2–1.5 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with close punctures 0.2–0.8, puncture widths apart.

Male: allotype.

Length 11 mm; forewing length 8 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes 0.7× length of eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.6× width of eye; galea in repose reaching mid coxa; length of f1 1.8× length of f2, 0.5× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 0.9× length of f11; length of f3–10 1.3× width; IOD 1.4× OOD; OS 0.7× OOD. Wings: length of marginal cell 0.8× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; length of vein M of hind wing 2.2× length of second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.4× length of vannal lobe. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 very shallow, moderately wide; S7 with very broad medial ridge leaving small, lightly pigmented windows, apical projection very broad, but distinct and not truncate, hair pattern almost inverted T-shaped (Fig. 44); S8 apical emargination deep. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly pale yellow, darker towards vertex; scattered black robust hairs on clypeus, paraocular areas, frons, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white, pale yellow towards the vertex. Thorax: scutum ginger intermixed with black hair; pleura ginger under wing base, becoming white ventrally; propodeum laterally ginger with scattered black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of tibia and tarsus pale brown, inner surface of tarsus brown; mid legs dark, except pale brown hair on apex of femur, posteriorly on proximal end of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus; hind legs black, except ginger hair on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia, a few light ginger hairs on base of basitarsus, apex of tibia white. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T5 yellow ochre with orange and weak light blue iridescence; T6 yellow ochre hairs on apical margin, remaining hair black when viewed from behind, brown when viewed from the side; S2–S5 brown with narrow white lateral patches. Punctation. Head: clypeus with punctures 1.0–3.0 puncture widths apart, interspaces rough pit-reticulate; labrum with small, shallow punctures, 0.5–2.0 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum somewhat shiny, close to open, medium, shallow punctures 0.2–2.0 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 somewhat shiny, with close, fine, shallow punctures, 0.5–1.5 puncture widths apart.

Arnhem Land, Kakadu, Kimberleys (Fig. 10).

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition referring to the colour of the tergal hair bands (karlba in the language of the Kuninjku people of Western Arnhemland means yellow ochre (Evans et al. 2002)).

Amegilla karlba is similar to indistincta and, to a lesser extent, viridicingulata. Females may be distinguished from viridicingulata by the extent of pale hair on the hind basitarsus and from indistincta the more extensive area of white hair on T5 (Fig. 31). Hair on the hind tibia of female karlba is usually more orange than that in indistincta. Males of karlba may be distinguished by the shape of S7, differing from adelaidae and walkeri in the width of the medial ridge and from viridicingulata by the presence of an apical projection. Colour variation may make it difficult to distinguish males from those of indistincta, though the species are probably allopatric. Truncation of the apical projection of S7 may prove to be diagnostic for indistincta but examination of a greater number of specimens is needed.

229 females and 132males.

Syntypes of murrayensis, male, female, Gunbower, VIC, 16 Mar. 1940, No. G500, “Type” & “allotype”, ANIC 32-034560-1; male, Gunbower, 3 Feb. 1934, 20, ANIC 32-034208.

Syntypes of longula, male, female, Orroroo, SA, 3 & 10 Feb. 1940, ANIC 32-034558-9.

The results of DNA analyses of specimens from across the complete geographical range showed no geographical pattern with respect to sequence variation. The uncorrected sequence divergence was found to be 0–1.3% (Table 1), which is well below the usual limits for conspecific individuals.

The syntypes of murrayensis and longula were examined and considered to be conspecific. Type material for subsalteri, presumed to be the holotype by monotypy, was not found, but from Rayment’s description and drawings (Rayment 1947) together with the collection locality, subsalteri is believed to be conspecific with murrayensis.

Amegilla murrayensis is a relatively small species with pale yellow face marks and narrow (about 0.3x the width of the disc on T2) apical hair bands which are usually pale blue, occasionally with an orange tint, but never bright orange; female hind tibia with a dark streak at least 0.5× as long as the tibia; T5 with a patch of scattered white hair that narrows laterally and with a longitudinal line of denser white hair that does not intrude significantly into the prepygidial fimbria. Both sexes can be distinguished from other species by hair bands on T1–4 that appear broader laterally below the gradulus because of numerous scattered pale hairs on the disc (Figs 16, 17).

Female: Sunnyside, N of Murray Bridge, 35.0500S 139.3600E, 27 Feb 2003, R.Leijs & K. Hogendoorn, SAMA 32-002635.

Length 12 mm; forewing length 8 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.5 width of eye; galea in repose reaching half-way between fore and mid coxae; length of f1 2.8× length of f2, 0.9× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.6× length of f10; length of f3–9 0.9× width; IOD 1.4× OOD; OS 0.8× OOD. Coloration. Yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, scape, clypeus, paraocular and supraclypeal areas; inverted T-shape on clypeus. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly pale yellow with scattered black robust hairs on clypeus, paraocular areas, between antennae, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white. Thorax: scutum ginger intermixed with black hairs; pleura ginger with scattered black hairs under wing base, white ventrally; thoracic sterna white; propodeum laterally light ginger with scattered black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hairs, outer surface of fore tibia and tarsus white, inner surface of tarsus dark; mid legs dark, except white hairs on apex of the femur, posteriorly on proximal one third of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus; hind legs black, except white hairs on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia; basitibial streak black, 0.6–0.9 length of femur. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T4 white with iridescence varying from light blue to greenish orange; T5 laterally with long white hairs and few dispersed short hairs (Fig. 32), fimbria black, medial patch around the fimbria, narrowing laterally; S3, S4 dark, posterolateral patches of white hairs; S5 black, laterally with small white patches. Punctation. Head: clypeus with close, medium sized, deep punctures, 0.3–1.0 puncture widths apart; labrum shiny, with close, small punctures of intermediate depth, 0.2–0.9 puncture widths apart, interspaces almost smooth. Thorax: scutum somewhat shiny, with close punctures, 0.2–0.8 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with close to open punctures, 0.5–2.0 puncture widths apart.

Male: Coen, 13.94415S 143.20022E, QLD, 27 June 2007, SAMA 32-002584, R. Leijs & M. Batley, DNA voucher RB280 (RL783).

Length 11 mm; forewing length 8 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes 0.7 length of eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.5 width of eye; galea in repose reaching halfway between fore and mid coxae; length of f1 1.5× length of f2, 0.5× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 0.8× length of f11; length of f3–10 1.2× width; IOD 1.5× OOD; OS 0.7× OOD. Wings: length of marginal cell 0.8× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; length of vein M of hind wing 2.6 times as long as second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.5× length of vannal lobe. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 wide and deep; S7 windows small, median hair brush 3–4× width, lateral wings of hair brush well developed making an angle of 60° with long axis of brush (Fig. 45); S8 apical emargination deep. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly pale brown with scattered black robust hairs on clypeus, paraocular areas, between antennae, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white. Thorax: scutum light brown intermixed with black hairs; pleura brown with scattered black hairs under wing base, white ventrally; propodeum laterally light brown with scattered black hairs. Legs: foreleg: femur posteriorly with long white hairs, outer surface of tibia and tarsus white, inner surface of and tarsus dark; mid legs dark, except white hairs on the apex of femur, posteriorly on proximal one third of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus; hind legs black, except white hairs on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia, small white patch on outer base of basitarsus. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T5 white; T6, T7 black when viewed from behind, light brown when viewed from the side; S2–S5: S3, S4 medially dark, lateral thirds white, S5 medially dark, lateral quarters white. Punctation. Head: clypeus with punctures 1.0–3.0 puncture widths apart; labrum with medium, shallow punctures 0.5–1.5 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close, small, shallow punctures 0.3–1.0 puncture widths apart, interspaces smooth. Metasoma: T1–T5 with shiny, open, fine, shallow punctures, 1.0–3.0 puncture widths apart.

Males from southern Western Australia often have more black hairs on the clypeus and paraclypeal areas than specimens from northern Queensland or specimens from the Lofty Ranges in South Australia. There is also some variation in the width of the pale patch on T5 in fresh females. Some specimens from the NW Pilbarra and Barrow Island are seemingly larger, have wider tergal bands and a more intense patch of pale hairs on female T5 and have almost ivory face marks and white apical bands on T1–4. These specimens are sufficiently different from murrayensis and may belong to an undescribed species. Future collections and molecular work may shed light on their identity.

There were some problems with the molecular delineation of murrayensis and pulchra, as mentioned in the Results and Discussion section. The sequences obtained with the M202/M70 primers resulted in two morphologically similar clades of murrayensis specimens, often with specimens from the same localities in different clades (Suppl. material 1: Fig. S1). It also resulted in a number of specimens now believed to be pulchra to appear in one of the murrayensis clades. Using the CO1 barcoding primers (M414/M423, Hebert et al. 2004) the two murrayensis clades collapsed into one (Suppl. material 1: Fig. S2). These problems may have been caused by amplification of a mitochondrial copy in the nuclear genome.

Amegilla murrayensis is the most widespread and common species in the subgenus Zonamegilla. Below 30°S the species is active from November until March, with a peak in January. In the north of the continent they can be found year round possibly with a peak in May.

Widespread throughout Australia, but not found in Tasmania (Fig. 11).

26 females and 40 males.

Holotype: female, N of Bamaga, Qld, 10.84117S 142.42316E, 28 Jun 2007, R. Leijs & M. Batley, DNA voucher RB287 (RL795), SAMA 32-002622.

Allotype: male, N of Bamaga, Qld, 10.84117S 142.42316E, 28 Jun 2007, R. Leijs & M. Batley, DNA voucher RB286 (RL793), SAMA 32-002619.

Paratypes: 2 males, 2 females, same locality data as holotype, ABTC (RL794, RL 796), in absolute ethanol; female, N of Bamaga, Qld, 10.75744S 142.50475E, 28 Jun 2007, R. Leijs & M. Batley, ABTC (RL808), in absolute ethanol; 2 males, N of Bamaga, Qld, 10.74721S 142.58459E, 28 Jun 2007, R. Leijs & M. Batley, ABTC (RL812), in absolute ethanol; 4 females, N of Lockerby, Qld, 10.78141S 142.48837E, 29 Jun 2007, R. Leijs & M. Batley, ABTC (RL818, RL819), in absolute ethanol; 2 males, Iron Range, Qld, 10.74302S 142.23521E, 1 Jul 2007, R. Leijs & M. Batley, DNA voucher RB301 (RL837), SAMA 32-002620.

Amegilla paeninsulae is a distinctive species with orange tergal hair bands, sometimes with green iridescence, orange pubescence on the scutum, orange scopa on the hind legs and no dark basitibial streak in females. Females have T5 covered with scattered orange hair and an orange medial streak (Fig. 33). Males have S7 with a small rounded head and no lightly pigmented windows (Fig. 46).

Female: holotype

Length 14 mm; forewing length 9 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.4× width of eye; galea in repose reaching just past forecoxa; length of f1 3× length of f2, equal to length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.4× length of f10; f3–9 as long as wide; IOD 1.5× OOD; OS 0.5× OOD. Coloration. Yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, scape, clypeus, paraocular and supraclypeal areas, inverted T-shape on clypeus; distal part of flagellum brown ventrally from f2 onwards. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, clypeus light ginger intermixed with black, hairs in paraocular areas, frons, near ocelli and on vertex, ginger hair darker towards the top; gena white, light ginger towards vertex. Thorax: scutum ginger intermixed with black hair; pleura ginger with scattered black hair under wing base, light ginger ventrally; thoracic sterna light ginger; propodeum laterally ginger with scattered black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long, light ginger hair intermixed with some black hairs, outer surface of foretibia and -tarsus light ginger, inner surface of tarsus brown, coxa light ginger; mid legs black, except light ginger hair on apex of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus and a small patch of light ginger hair on posterior proximal part of femur; hind legs black, except ginger on apex of femur, posterior rim of outer surface of tibia and basal part of basitarsus; basitibial streak absent. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T4 orange-brown with orange and green iridescence; T5 laterally with moderately long light ginger hairs (Fig. 33), fimbria brown, T5 covered with short, light ginger hairs, with light ginger medial streak overlapping the fimbria; S3, S4 very narrow light ginger posterolateral patches; S5 brown. Punctation. Head: clypeus with close large, deep punctures, 0.2–1.5 puncture widths apart; labrum somewhat shiny, with close, medium, shallow punctures, 0.2–1.0 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close to open punctures 0.2–3.0 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with close to open punctures, 1.0–2.0 puncture widths apart, interspaces transverse pit-reticulate.

Male: allotype.

Length 12 mm; forewing length 8 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes 0.7× length of eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.5× width of eye; galea in repose reaching past mid coxa; length of f1 1.6× length of f2, 0.5× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 0.9× length of f11; length of f3–10 1.3× width; IOD 1.3× OOD; OS 0.6× OOD. Wings: length of marginal cell 0.9× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; length of vein M of hind wing 2.1× length second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.4× length of vannal lobe. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 wide and deep; S7 windows absent; S7 median hair brush, broad 2× width; S7 with a small rounded head, very wide medial ridge leaving no lightly pigmented windows, no apical projection and a flattened apical margin (Fig. 46); S8 apical emargination deep. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, clypeus and paraocular areas black, remaining areas predominantly ginger with scattered black hairs on frons, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white, light ginger towards vertex. Thorax: scutum orange brown intermixed with black hair; pleura orange brown, intermixed with black hair, whitish ventrally; thoracic sterna greyish white; propodeum laterally orange-brown with scattered black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with light ginger hair, outer surface of foretibia and -tarsus orange-brown, inner surface of tarsus brown, coxa greyish white; mid legs dark, except orange-brown on apex of femur, posteriorly proximally on femur and on outer surface of tibia and tarsus; hind legs black, except orange-brown hair on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia and tarsus, light ginger tuft on apex of tibia. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T5 orange-brown with orange and green iridescence; T6 with black medial patch, remaining hair orange when viewed from behind, light brown when viewed from the side, T7 black when viewed from behind with a few orange hairs laterally, brown when viewed from the side; S2–S5 medially light orange, laterally with light orange patches; S6 light orange. Punctation. Head: clypeus punctures 1.0–4.0 puncture widths apart; labrum with medium, shallow punctures 0.8–3.0 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close to sparse, medium, shallow punctures 0.2–4 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 somewhat shiny, with close to open, fine, shallow punctures, 1.0–2.0 puncture widths apart; interspaces pit-reticulate.

Most males have predominantly orange tergal bands, while those of females are usually a mixture of iridescent green and orange. The hair on the sterna and coxae of most males is pale orange and some males lack the medial brown patch on T6.

In tropical rainforest patches on Cape York, Queensland (Fig. 10).

The specific epithet refers to its distribution on Cape York Peninsula.

171 females and 182 males.

Lectotype of pulchra, male, “pulchra type Sm.”, “Anthophora pulchra type” BMNH 17B.666b, here designated.

Another, female, specimen in the British Museum bore the following labels: Moreton Bay; pulchra type ♀ Sm; Anthophora pulchra type; Amegilla niveocincta SM D.B. Baker 2008: BMNH 17B.666a. As the specimen was unlike any Australian species, we have no reason to doubt Baker’s identification and the corollary that there has been a labelling error.

Syntype of townleyella, female, Lismore, NSW, 8 Feb 1940, “Type, Anthophora salteritownleyella”, ANIC 32-034170.

Lectotype of parapulchra, female, Hunters Hill, Sydney, Dec. 1939, “No 28”, “Type, Anthophora parapulchra”, ANIC 32-034562, here designated.

Syntypes of holmesi: female, Como, NSW, 4 Apr. 1940, “Type, Anthophora holmesi”, ANIC 32-034573; male, Sydney, NSW, 20 Mar. 1940, “Allotype, Anthophora perpulchraholmesi” , ANIC 32-034574; female, Woollahra, NSW, 26 Mar. 1940, ANIC 32-033648; male, Hunters Hill HS, NSW, 20 Mar. 1940, ANIC 32-033651.

Holotype of salteri (by monotypy): male, N.S.Wales, BMNH 17B.665.

Holotype of shaffereyella (by monotypy): male, Mossman, Queensland, Feb. 1940, Anthophora salterishafferyella, ANIC 32-033534.

Lectotype of perpulchrawallaciella: female, Hunters Hill, NSW, 20 Mar. 1940, “type, Anthophora perpulchra wallaciella”, ANIC 32-034571, here designated.

Examination of the above types indicated that holmesi, parapulchra, salteri and townleyella were conspecific with pulchra. The holotype of shafferyella had a dense hair patch on S5 an orange tint in the tergal hair bands like adelaidae, as suggested by Rayment (1947) but the shape of S7 was unmistakably that of pulchra, not adelaidae. When examined carefully, the type of salteri was found to be indistinguishable from pulchra. In particular, it was found that the emargination of S5 was normal, though the hair pattern made it appear superficially as reported by Cockerell (1905).

For diagnosis and description we used specimens from the Sydney area because they vary less compared to those from the Brisbane area (see also under variation and remarks)

Amegilla pulchra is a species with ivory face marks and paraocular areas with some long dark hairs. Tergites with pale blue or white hair bands that are not broadened laterally below the lateral arm of the gradulus (Figs 18, 19). Female T5 with a broad oval patch of white hair, usually not extended laterally, and a medial line of denser white hair that does not extend greatly into the prepygidial fimbria; female hind tibia with dark streak at least 0.5× times as long as the tibia. Male S6 with tuft dark hair apicomedially; S7 with narrow rounded head and small windows.

Female: East Kurrajong, 33.500S 150.767E, NSW, 8 Jan 2003, R Spooner Hart, DNA voucher RB083 (RL494), SAMA 32-002612.

Length 14 mm; forewing length 9 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.4× width of eye; galea in repose reaching half-way between coxa of fore and mid legs; length of f1 2.8× length of f2, 0.8× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.6× length of f10; length of f3–9 0.9× width; IOD 1.2× OOD; OS 0.6× OOD. Coloration. Ivory marks on labrum, mandibles, scape, clypeus, paraocular and supraclypeal areas; inverted T-shape on clypeus. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly pale, darker towards vertex with scattered black robust hairs on clypeus, paraocular areas, between antennae, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white, ginger towards vertex. Thorax: scutum ginger intermixed with many black hairs, therefore overall darker than other species; pleura ginger with scattered black hair under wing base, white ventrally; thoracic sterna white; propodeum laterally ginger with scattered black hair. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of foretibia and -tarsus greyish white, inner surface of tarsus dark; mid legs black, except white hair on apex of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus, contiguous short white hairs on posterior proximal part of femur; hind legs black except white hair on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia, very small white patch on basal part of basitarsus; basitibial streak black, 0.8× length of femur. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T4 white with very weak light blue iridescence; T5 laterally with moderately long white hair (Fig. 34), fimbria dark, medial patch ovoid with weak medial stripe; S3, S4 dark, posterolateral patches of white hairs; S5 dark, laterally with small white patches. Punctation. Head: clypeus with close, medium, deep punctures, 0.1–0.8 puncture widths apart; labrum somewhat shiny, with close to open, small punctures of intermediate depth, 0.5–2.0 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum somewhat shiny, with close punctures, 0.2–1.0 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with open punctures, 0.8–1.5 puncture widths apart.

Male: Northbridge, 33.800S 151.217E, NSW, 27 Feb 2003, M. Bell, DNA voucher RB078 (RL487), SAMA 32-002611.

Length 12 mm; forewing length 8 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes 0.5× length of eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.5× width of eye; galea in repose reaching just past forecoxa; length of f1 2× length of f2, 0.6× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.1× length of f11; length of f3–10 1.2× width; IOD 1.4× OOD; OS 0.7× OOD. Wings: length of marginal cell 0.8× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; length of vein M of hind wing 2.8× length second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.4× length of vannal lobe. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 narrow and deep; S7 windows medium size, median hair brush 3× width, lateral wings of hair brush narrow but well developed with 110° angle between them (Fig. 47). Pubescence. Head: labrum white, clypeus and paraocular marks predominantly black, remaining pubescence grey, scattered black hairs between antennae, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white. Thorax: scutum pale brown intermixed with black hair; pleura pale brown with scattered black hair under wing base, white ventrally; propodeum laterally pale brown with scattered black hair. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of tibia and tarsus greyish, inner surface of tarsus dark; mid legs dark, except white hair on the apex of femur, a small patch near the apex of the femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus; hind legs dark, except white hair on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia, small white patch on outer base of basitarsus. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T5 white, lacking iridescence; parts that are not covered by hair bands dark brown; T6, T7 black when viewed from behind, brown when viewed from side; S2–S5 medial 50% dark, laterally white. Punctation. Head: clypeus with punctures 1.0–2.0 puncture widths apart; labrum with medium, shallow punctures 0.7–1.5 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum somewhat shiny, with close, medium, shallow punctures 0.4–0.9 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 somewhat shiny, with open, fine, shallow punctures, 1.0–2.0 puncture widths apart.

Most specimens of pulchra in collections have relatively narrow white bands with small amounts of green-blue iridescence and ivory face markings. However, examination of a series of fresh specimens collected from the Brisbane area on two consecutive days showed iridescent bands that varied in colour from green-blue to orange or white. Some specimens also had yellowish face marks and specimens varied with respect to the shape of the white patch on female T5, some approaching those found in murrayensis. There was however no correlation with sequenced mitochondrial DNA, because the majority of those specimens shared the same mitochondrial haplotypes (Suppl. material 1: Fig. S2).

In all phylogenetic analyses murrayensis and pulchra appeared as sister species (Fig. 2, Suppl. material 1: S1, S2). As mentioned in the Results and Discussion section and under the remarks for murrayensis there are some unresolved problems with the genetics of the two species, probably due to the presence of a mitochondrial copy in the nuclear genome, which makes molecular identification of these two species not straightforward. DNA barcoding of pulchra specimens using the standard barcoding primers (Hebert et al. 2004) resulted in two distinct clades, separating morphologically similar specimens with identical collection details (Suppl. material 1: Fig. S2). Future results of DNA barcoding of pulchra specimens should therefore be interpreted with caution. Additionally, morphological variation of the above mentioned specimens collected in the Brisbane area and museum specimens from that area and others incidentally showed murrayensis characters such as pale yellow face markings and hair patch that reaches the lateral margins of the female T5. This may be a consequence of intraspecific variability, but it is also possible that these character states result from hybridization with murrayensis. Hybridization regularly occurs between closely related species that historically had allopatric distributions, but that in more recent time became in secondary contact (Kawakami and Butlin 2012) as could be the case with pulchra and murrayensis when their distribution patterns are considered (Fig. 2I, J). Unfortunately, testing above hypotheses about nuclear paralogues and introgression is beyond the scope of this paper.

Mainly east of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales and Queensland (Fig. 12). This species has also been found on Fiji. Specimens from the Pacific islands had mitochondrial haplotypes identical to those from the Brisbane area and were probably introduced there (Groom et al. 2014).

95 females and 68 males.

Holotype of thorogoodi: male, Proserpine, QLD, 15 Nov. 1937, ANIC 32-033973. (Hidden sterna and genitalia missing.)

Amegilla thorogoodi is distinguished from other Australian Zonamegilla species by the following characters: Scutal hair of both sexes brown; apical tergal hair bands predominantly blue. Hind basitibial streak of females short; pale pubescence of T5 forming a large medial patch (Fig. 35). Apical margin of S5 of males lacking a medial patch of dense hair; S7 with a moderately narrow medial ridge, a rounded apical projection and a Y-shaped brush (Fig. 48).

Female: Iron Range, 12.743S 143.2352E, 1 Jul 2007, R. Leijs & M. Batley, DNA voucher RB302 (RL838), SAMA 32-002603.

Length 13.5 mm; forewing length 9 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes equal to the length of the eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.4× width of eye; galea in repose reaching just reaching mid coxa; length of f1 3.2× length of f2, 0.8× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.5× length of f10; length of f3–9 0.8× width; IOD 1.6× OOD; OS 0.5× OOD. Coloration. Black except labrum, mandibles, scape, clypeus, paraocular and supraclypeal areas with pale yellow marks; pale mark on clypeus inverted T-shaped. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas pale yellow, darker towards vertex with scattered black robust hairs on clypeus, paraocular areas, between antennae, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white, ginger towards vertex. Thorax: scutum ginger intermixed with black hair; pleura ginger with scattered black hair under wing base, white ventrally; thoracic sterna white; propodeum laterally light ginger with scattered black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, foretibia and -tarsus whitish on outer surface, dark on inner surface; mid legs black, except greyish white hair on apex of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus and a dense patch of short white hair on posterior proximal part of femur; hind legs black, except white hair on apex of femur; tibia white on posterior rim, greyish-white with orange tinge in scopal area and black anteriorly; whitish patch on basal part of basitarsus; basitibial streak black, 0.3x length of femur. Metasoma: apical hair bands on margin T1–T4 iridescent blue with orange tinge, especially across anterior edge; T5 laterally with moderately long white hairs (Fig. 35), fimbria dark, medial patch distinct, complete, narrowing laterally, iridescence weak light blue, medial stripe overlapping fimbria; S3, S4 dark, posterolateral patches of white hairs; S5 dark. Punctation. Head: clypeus with close, medium sized, deep punctures, 0.1–0.8 puncture widths apart; labrum somewhat shiny, with close, small, shallow punctures, 0.3–1.0 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with punctures 0.1–1.5 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with open, punctures, 0.5–1.5 puncture widths apart.

Male: Bloomfield near rubbish tip, 15.9011S 143.34161E, Qld, 2 Jul 2007, DNA voucher RB311 (RL865), SAMA 32-002599.

Length 13 mm; forewing length 8 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes 0.7× length of eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.4× width of eye; galea in repose reaching halfway between fore and mid coxae; length of f1 2.1× length of f2, 0.5× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and as long f11; length of f3–10 1.3× width; IOD 1.6× OOD; OS 0.7× OOD. Wings: length of marginal cell 0.9× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; length of vein M of hind wing 1.8× length of second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.4× length of vannal lobe. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 wide and very shallow; S7 head large, medial ridge moderately narrow resulting in a narrow apical projection, large weakly pigmented windows and an inverted Y-shaped brush (Fig. 48); S8 apical emargination deep. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, remaining areas predominantly pale yellow, darker towards the vertex; scattered black robust hairs on clypeus, paraocular areas, frons, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white. Thorax: scutum ginger intermixed with black hairs; pleura ginger, white ventrally; propodeum laterally light ginger with scattered black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of tibia, tarsus light ginger, inner surface of tarsus dark; mid legs black, except white hair on apex of femur, posteriorly proximally on femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus; hind legs black, except white hair on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia, white patch on base of basitarsus, orange tuft near inner tibial spur. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T5 white with orange tinge and blue-green iridescence; T6 white on apical margin, remaining hair black when viewed from behind, brown when viewed from side; S2–S5 medially dark, laterally with white patches; s6 dark and few robust white hairs laterally. Punctation. Head: clypeus punctures 1.5–3.0 puncture widths apart; labrum: with small, shallow punctures 0.1–1.5 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close small, shallow punctures, 0.2–1.5 puncture widths apart. Abdomen: T1–T5 somewhat shiny, with open, shallow punctures, 0.8–2.0 puncture widths apart.

Variation in the colour of the tergal bands caused by fading of the colour and varying amounts of orange can complicate identification, but no other significant variation was observed. Only two specimens had scutal hair with a grey appearance.

In the subtropics and tropics along the east coast of Queensland (Fig. 13), also found in southern Papua New Guinea.

Closely related to the allopatric species walkeri, but easily distinguished by the brown scutal hair in both sexes. Similar to A. asserta and A. indistincta, but females distinguished by the length of the hind basitibial streak. Males may be distinguished from those of asserta by the absence of a hair patch on S5 and from indistincta by the colour of the tergal hair bands and the shape of S7 (Fig. 48).

16 females and 27males.

Holotype: Female, Cooktown, Qld, 15.4898S 145.2413E, 3 Jul 2007, R. Leijs & M. Batley, DNA voucher RB308 (RL857), SAMA 32-002624.

Allotype: Cooktown, Qld, 15.4898S 145.2413E, 3 Jul 2007, R. Leijs & M. Batley, DNA voucher RB309 (RL859), SAMA 32-002625.

Paratypes: 4 males, 3 females, same locality data as holotype, SAMA 32-002626, DNA voucher RB310 (RL860), ABTC (RL855, RL856, RL858) in absolute alcohol; male, Cooktown, Qld, 15.4667S 145.2500E, 17 Jul 1982, N.W. Rodd, AM K-316266; female, Cooktown, Qld, 15.4667S 145.2500E, 15 Jul 1982, N.W. Rodd, AM K-316267.

Amegilla viridicingulata is a distinctive species with orange-brown scutal pubescence, tergal hair bands with green iridescence and orange hair on the hind legs in both sexes. Females have a hind tibial scopa without a dark streak and T5 with a broad area of scattered white hair above the fimbria (Fig. 36). Males have pale hair across the sterna, particularly S3, 4 and a distinctive S7 (Fig. 49).

Female: holotype.

Length 12 mm; forewing length 8.5 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.44× width of eye; galea in repose reaching reaching mid coxa; length of f1 4× length of f2, 0.9× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.6× length of f10; f3–9 as long as wide; IOD 1.3× OOD; OS 0.5× OOD. Coloration. Pale yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, scape, clypeus, paraocular and supraclypeal areas, inverted T-shape on clypeus; f2 red-brown ventrally, remainder of flagellum brown ventrally. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, light ginger intermixed with black hair on clypeus, paraocular areas, frons, near ocelli and on vertex, gena white, light ginger towards vertex. Thorax: scutum ginger intermixed with black hair; pleura ginger with few black hairs under wing base, white ventrally; thoracic sterna light ginger; propodeum laterally ginger with few black hairs. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of tibia and tarsus light ginger, inner surface of tarsus brown; mid legs black, except light ginger hair on apex of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus and a narrow line of light ginger hairs on posterior proximal part of femur; hind legs black, except ginger hair on apex of femur, posterior rim of the outer surface of tibia and basal part of basitarsus, a white tuft on the apex of tibia; basitibial streak absent. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T4 light orange-brown with clear green iridescence; T5 laterally white, fimbria brown, medial patch well developed, centrally white, laterally greyish-white and narrowing, medial streak overlapping fimbria (Fig. 36); S3, S4 dark with posterolateral patches of white hair; S5 dark. Punctation. Head: clypeus with close, medium, deep punctures, 0.1–1.0 puncture widths apart; labrum somewhat shiny, with close, small, shallow punctures, 0.3–1.0 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with close punctures 0.1–0.7 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with close to open punctures, 0.5–2.0 puncture widths apart.

Male: allotype.

Length 11 mm; forewing length 8 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes 0.7× length of eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.5× width of eye; galea in repose reaching halfway between fore and mid coxae; length of f1 1.6× length of f2, 0.5× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 0.8× length of f11; length of f3–10 1.3× width; IOD 1.3× OOD; OS 0.5× OOD. Wings: length of marginal cell equal to distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; length of vein M of hind wing 1.6× length second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.3× length of vannal lobe. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 wide and shallow; S7 with very wide medial ridge, resulting in a flattened apex with no apical projection, very small weakly pigmented areas and an inverted T-shaped brush, weak and broadened towards the apex (Fig. 49); S8 apical emargination deep. Pubescence. Head: labrum white; clypeus and paraocular areas predominantly black, remaining areas with scattered black hair on frons, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white, ginger towards vertex. Thorax: scutum ginger intermixed with black hair; pleura light brown with green iridescence; propodeum laterally ginger. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white greyish hair, outer surface of tibia and tarsus pale brown, inner surface of tarsus brown; mid legs dark, except pale brown hair on the apex of femur, posteriorly proximally on femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus; hind legs black, except light ginger hair on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia, light ginger patch on base of basitarsus, white tuft on apex of tibia. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T5 light orange-brown with green iridescence; T6 with a row of pale ginger hair on apical margin, remaining hair black when viewed from behind, brown when viewed from the side; T7 black; S2–S5 greyish white. Punctation. Head: clypeus punctures 0.5–2.0 puncture widths apart; labrum: medium, shallow punctures 0.8–2.5 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, close to open, medium, shallow punctures, 0.2–2.5 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 somewhat shiny, with close to open, fine, shallow punctures, 1.0–2.0 puncture widths apart.

Some males had white metasomal hair bands with blue reflections, making them difficult to recognise before dissection.

Coastal NE Queensland (Fig. 14).

The specific epithet is a Latin adjective meaning green banded.

Holotype of walkeri, female, Baudin I. Long Reef, WA, 91-155, 4593, BMNH 17B.663.

Holotype of darwini, male, P. Darwin, Turner Coll. 1910-7, 11-02, “Anthophora darwini, Ckll”, BMNH 17B.448.

The holotype of darwini bears a label “Amegilla=walkeri, M.A. Lieftinck, 1958”. Examination the type specimens confirmed Lieftinck’s and Brook’s (1988) decisions to synonymise darwini with walkeri.

66 females and 63 males.

Both sexes of walkeri have grey pubescence on the scutum due of a mixture of black and white hair and conspicuous light blue, metallic hair bands on the terga. Females have a broad band of white hair bordering the fimbria on T5 (Fig. 37).

Female: Darwin, East Point, 28 Feb.2006, 12.4130S 130.8300E, D. A. Young, SAMA 32-002593, DNA voucher RB127 (RL714).

Length 12 mm; forewing length 8.5 mm.

Structure. Head: clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.4× width of eye; galea in repose reaching just past fore coxa; length of f1 2.6× length of f2, 0.7× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 1.6× length of f10; length of f3–9 1.1× width; IOD 1.3× OOD; OS 0.5× OOD. Coloration. Yellow marks on labrum, mandibles, scape, clypeus, paraocular and supraclypeal areas; inverted T-shape on clypeus; f2 orange, f3–10 brown ventrally. Pubescence. Head: white, intermixed with black hair on clypeus, paraocular areas, frons, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white. Thorax: scutum white intermixed with black hair, producing an overall grey appearance; pleura white with scattered black hair under wing base; thoracic sterna white; propodeum laterally white with scattered black hair. Legs: fore femur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of tibia and tarsus white, inner surface of tarsus dark; mid legs black, except white hair on the apex of femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus and a dense streak of short white hair on posterior proximal part of femur; hind legs black, except white hair on apex of femur, posterior rim of the outer surface of tibia, white patch on basal part of basitarsus; basitibial streak black, 0.4× length of femur. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T4 white with clear light blue iridescence; T5 laterally with moderately long white hair (Fig. 37), fimbria dark, a broad patch of scattered white hair above fimbria with a denser medial stripe overlapping fimbria; S3, S4 dark, posterolateral patches of white hair; S5 dark. Punctation. Head: clypeus with close, medium sized, deep punctures, 0.1–1.0 puncture widths apart; labrum somewhat shiny, with close, medium punctures of intermediate depth, 0.1–0.8 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum somewhat shiny, with close, punctures, 0.2–1.2 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 with open punctures, 0.8–1.8 puncture widths apart.

Male: Darwin, East Point, 28 Feb.2006, 12.4130S 130.8300E, D. A. Young, SAMA 32-002596, DNA voucher RB126 (RL713).

Length 10 mm; forewing length 7 mm.

Structure. Head: shortest distance between eyes 0.7× length of eye; clypeus protuberant, in profile 0.5× width of eye; galea in repose reaching just past mid coxa; length of f1 1.8× length of f2, 0.9× length of scape (excluding basal bulb) and 0.9× length of f11; length of f3–10 1.2× width; IOD 1.3× OOD; OS 0.6× OOD. Wings: length of marginal cell 0.9× distance from apex of marginal cell to wing tip; length of vein M of hind wing 1.6× length of second abscissa of M+Cu; length of jugal lobe about 0.4× length of vannal lobe. Metasoma: apicomedial emargination of S5 wide and shallow; S7 head large, medial ridge moderately narrow resulting in a narrow, rounded apical projection, large weakly pigmented windows and an inverted Y-shaped brush (Fig. 50); S8 apical emargination of intermediate depth. Pubescence. Head: labrum white, black hair on clypeus, white and scattered black hair on paraocular areas, on frons, near ocelli and on vertex; gena white. Thorax: scutum white intermixed with black hair, producing an overall grey appearance; pleura white with scattered black hair under wing base; propodeum laterally white with scattered black hair. Legs: forefemur posteriorly with long white hair, outer surface of tibia and tarsus white, inner surface of tarsus dark; mid legs dark, except white hair on the apex of femur, posteriorly proximally on femur and on outer surface of tibia and basitarsus; hind legs dark, except white hair on apex of femur and outer surface of tibia, a few white hairs on base of basitarsus. Metasoma: apical hair bands on T1–T5 white with clear light blue iridescence; T6, T7 black when viewed from behind, brown when viewed laterally; S2–S5 medially dark, laterally with white patches. Punctation. Head: clypeus medium, shallow punctures 1.0–2.0 puncture widths apart; labrum: small, shallow punctures 0.7–2.0 puncture widths apart. Thorax: scutum shiny, with open, small, shallow punctures 0.5–2.5 puncture widths apart. Metasoma: T1–T5 somewhat shiny, with open, fine, shallow punctures, 1.0–2.0 puncture widths apart.

In tropical areas of the Northern Territories and Western Australia (Kimberleys) (Fig. 13).

Closely related to the allopatric species thorogoodi from which it can be distinguished by the colour of the thoracic hair.