Afroheriades can be distinguished from all other Osmiini by the combination of posterolateral angle of scutum with marginal ridge non-carinate, with dense patch of long hairs laterally (Fig. 11) and T1 with juncture between anterior and dorsal faces not carinate. Afroheriades is morphologically similar to Pseudoheriades sharing a two-segmented maxillary palpus, female T6 with distinct apical hyaline flange, male T7 quadrately surrounded by T6, and male S3 with gradulus projecting into thin, basal hyaline lamella. In addition to the characters that distinguish it from all other Osmiini, Afroheriades differs from Pseudoheriades in: pronotal lobe and omaulus rounded; and male S3 without midapical spine. In Pseudoheriades the pronotal lobe and omaulus are distinctly lamellate; marginal ridge of posterolateral angle of scutum carinate, without dense patch of long hairs; T1 with distinct carina separating anterior and dorsal surfaces; and male S3 with midapical spine.

Two species groups can be recognized in Afroheriades: one includes a rather robust form with the basal area of propodeum well below the level of the scutellum [Afroheriades primus (Peters)]; the other includes the remaining species, which have a more elongate mesosoma and the base of the propodeum at the same plane as the scutellum. If a phylogenetic analysis shows that these two groups are natural, they could be subgenerically separated as Afroheriades s.str. and Archeriades, as suggested by Michener (2007). For now, we treat them as species groups. Below are the species currently recognized in Afroheriades; the synonyms presented here are based on the study of the types by the senior author. Afroheriades capensis Griswold, in Michener (2007: 452), is a nomen nudum.

Osmia dolichocephala Friese, 1925: 505 (Holotype: AMNH; ♀, Cape Province, South Africa)

Archeriades hennigi Peters, 1978: 340 (Holotype: SAM; ♀, Cape Province, South Africa), new junior synonym.

Eriades reicherti Brauns, 1929: 140 (Lectotype: TMP; ♀, Cape Province, South Africa), new junior synonym.

Archeriades geminus Peters, 1978: 339 (Holotype: SAM; ♀, Cape Province, South Africa)

Eriades larvatus Friese, 1909: 316 (Lectotype: ZMB; ♂, Cape Province, South Africa)

Pseudoheriades primus Peters, 1970: 157 (Holotype: SAM; ♂, Cape Province, South Africa)

♂ (Fig. 1), South Africa, [Northern Cape]: Studer's Pass (km 23), -30.4288°, 18.0592°, 806 m, 17 Sep 2007, T.L. Griswold (SAM).

10♂, 4♀, same data as holotype; 1♂, same data except Lebeckia sp.; 1♂ Concordia, 6 km N, -29.4859°, 17.9445°, 14 Sep 2007, T. L. Griswold; 10♂ 3♀, De Kruis, 14 km S, -30.503°, 18.1367°, 17 Sep 2007, T. L. Griswold; 2♀, Nieuwoudtville Falls, 6.5 km N of Nieuwandtville, -31.3197°, 19.1174°, 18 Sep 2007, T. L. Griswold; 1♀, Namaqualand, Bowesdorp, Sept 1941; 1♂, Garies, Namaqualand, June 1930. Western Cape: 1♂, Hoek se Berg, -32.1159°, 19.1734°, 20 Sep 2007, T. L. Griswold; 1♀, Pakhuis Pass, NE, -32.0922°, 19.0673°, 20 Sep 2007, T. L. Griswold; Worcester, IX-25-75, R.M. Bohart; 2♂, 1♀, Pakhuis Pass, 32.08S, 19.02E, 7.ix.1987, C. D. Eardley; 2♀, 5 km E Montagu, X 10 [19]75, R. M. Bohart; 2♀, 16 km E Clanwilliam, Pakhuis Pass, 700 m, 32°08.1'S, 18°59.7'E, 8 Sept 2001; 2♀, 7 km W Nieuwoudtville, 31°22.60'S, 19°01.16'E, 830m 9/X/2002, pantrap, F. D. Parker, M. E. Irwin; 1♀, Stradfontein, W of Muizenberg, 25 m, 34°04.86'S, 18°32.47'E, 7/X/2002, F. D. Parker, M. E. Irwin; 1♂, Cape Peninsula, Hout Bay, 18-IX-1967, E. S. Ross & A. R. Stephen (BBSL, CUIC, DZUP, SAM, SANC, SEMC, UCDC).

The male of Afroheriades hyalinus is unique among Afroheriades in the S5 with erect, oval tuft of bristles (Figs. 4, 6). In addition, males can be recognized by the combination of: antennal flagellum unmodified (Fig. 2); T7 without a lateral spine (Fig. 4); basal zone of the propodeum bounded posteriorly by a carina (Fig. 3); and anterior-facing surface of T1 with fine, sparse, punctures smaller than those on dorsal face. The female can be easily recognized by the combination of: head about as long as broad (Fig. 12); clypeus sparsely punctate, not produced ventrally; hypostomal carina with anterior limb (i.e., portion of carina curving towards posterior margin of mandibular socket) longer than the straight, posterior limb (Fig. 13); basal zone of propodeum horizontal, scarcely longer than length of metanotum, broader laterally than medially; and anterior face of T1 very finely, sparsely punctate.

Male: Body length 4.4 mm (3.7– 4.4 mm); forewing length 2.9 mm (2.6–2.9 mm). Head length equal to width (Fig. 2); ocellocular distance greater than ocellar diameter; ocelloccipital distance equal to ocellar diameter; compound eyes converging ventrally; antennal scape not enlarged, tapered; length of F2 twice length of F1, F1–F4 not expanded laterally, F2–F10 not roundly produced ventrally, F7 longer than wide; mouthparts in repose slightly exceeding fossa. Mesosoma elongate, cylindrical; pronotum roundly produced laterally; scutellum flat; metanotum horizontal in lateral view, midline length in dorsal view equal to length of basal zone of propodeum; propodeum with basal zone horizontal, surface pitted, bounded posteriorly by carina (Fig. 3). T6 roundly emarginate apically, apicolaterally rounded; apical margin of T7 convex, laterally without elongate spine (Fig. 4); S1 without subapical carina; S2 not thickened basally, with gradulus projecting into a thin, hyaline lamella apically reaching nearly to margin of segment (Fig. 4); S3 with margin transverse (Fig. 5); S6–S8, and genital capsule as in figures 7–10.

Integument smooth and shiny between punctures; punctation on interantennal area moderate, approximately one puncture width apart; on scutum moderate, approximately one puncture width apart; on disc of T3 sparse, more than one puncture width apart.

Body black except flagellomeres, tegula, legs dark brown. Wings hyaline with weak green and coppery highlights; veins, stigma, prestigma dark brown.

Pubescence white; dense, appressed, obscuring surface on clypeus, interantennal area, paraocular area; lower gena covered with sparse, loosely plumose hair; S2 with short, wedge-shaped fringe; S4 without median longitudinal hair tuft or carina; S5 with erect, oval tuft of bristles on disc (Fig. 6).

Female: As in male except: Body length 3.5–4.4 mm; forewing length 2.7–3.3 mm. Ocellocular distance 0.6–0.7 times interocellar distance; ocelloccipital distance 0.9–1.0 times interocellar distance; clypeus sparsely punctate, with margin truncate, crenulate; mandible tridentate, ventral margin not angled basally; gena ventrally without longitudinal carina, long curled hair, or ventral impunctate region; hypostomal carina higher posteriorly, curving towards posterior margin of mandibular socket, with anterior limb (curved portion) longer than posterior limb (straight portion), angle between limbs obtuse, area anterior to anterior limb of hypostomal carina raised (Fig. 13); labrum with medial area punctate, apical margin upturned; stipes without ventral fringe of long curled bristles. Dense pubescence restricted to paraocular area; hairs on fore tarsomeres simple, with tips wavy. S1 at most with preapical hump.

The specific epithet makes reference to the thin, hyaline lamella of S2 that projects from the gradulus distally nearly to the posterior margin of the sternum.

Noteriades can be easily separated from all other megachilid genera by the following combination of characters: small (4.5–10 mm), compact, hoplitiform bees with arolia present on all legs in both sexes; preoccipital carina complete; malar space linear; clypeus slightly projecting over clypeal-labral articulation; clypeus and usually supraclypeus with median longitudinal carina; pronotal lobe and omaulus carinate; scutellum carinate posteriorly; and propodeum vertical, without subhorizontal basal zone. Female. Mandible quadridentate, without differentiated cutting edges; T6 nearly vertical, except for apical hyaline flange. Male. Mandible bidentate; T1–T4 exposed dorsally, T5 and T6 curved ventrally, covering T7, S3 and remaining sterna; T6 without preapical carina; S1 subapically produced over its apical margin, forming a double carina; volsella distinct, with well-developed digitus and cuspis, and heavily sclerotized teeth resembling those of short-tongued bee families and within the Megachilidae, Pararhophites (Fideliinae).

Griswold (1985; 1994) provided the first synoptic list of species of Noteriades, transferring most of them from Heriades. The species list presented in Table 1 is provisional; an on-going revision of the genus by the authors has revealed several undescribed species as well as new synonyms.

♀ (Figs. 14–17), Thailand: NW. Chiangmai Prov. Chiangdao; 450 m. IV-5-11-1958 / T. C. Maa, Collector, No. 321 (BPBM).

6♂, same data as holotype, except one by “native collector” (BBSL, BPBM, CAS); 1♀ with the following label data: [Myanmar, see comments below] Carin Asciuii Chebá, 900-1000 m, L. Fea, IV-[18?]88/ Mus. Civ. Genova (MCSN).

This species is most similar to Noteriades spinosus, sharing with it the following characters: clypeus with median longitudinal carina extending onto supraclypeal area; juxtantennal carina absent (Fig. 16); and scutum with unmodified posterolateral angle, not spined or sharply angled, without tomentum obscuring integument (Fig. 17). It can be easily separated from Noteriades spinosus by: larger body size; head slightly broader than long (Fig. 16); and scutellum with posterior margin rounded, not projecting laterally into small, curved spine.

Female: Body length 9.0mm (8.0 mm); forewing length 5.6 mm (5.4 mm). Head slightly broader than long (Fig. 16); compound eyes subparallel, about 2.4 times longer than broad, 1.3 times wider than gena in profile; interantennal distance 1.9 times median ocellar diameter, 1.6 times antennocular distance; interocellar distance 1.4 times median ocellar diameter, shorter than ocellocular distance; ocelloccipital distance slightly longer than median ocellar diameter; clypeus about twice as broad as long, flat in profile, distal margin crenulate, median longitudinal carina distinct, extending onto supraclypeal area; juxtantennal carina absent; scape 2.4 times longer than wide, pedicel 1.3 times longer than broad, about twice as long as F1, F1 broader than long, about as long as F2, remaining flagellomeres progressively increasing in length, apical flagellomere longer than broad. Scutum with posterolateral angle not spined or sharply angled (Fig. 17); scutellum with posterior margin broadly rounded, without lateral spine.

Mandible and labrum with outer surfaces dull, minutely roughened, irregularly punctate, punctures slightly coarser on basal half of mandible, condylar and outer ridges smooth and shiny; clypeus with small (one-sixth to one-fifth times median ocellar diameter), contiguous punctures, smaller, denser on disc, smooth, shiny between punctures; supraclypeus with punctures as on sides of clypeus, punctures becoming larger (one-fourth times median ocellus diameter), slightly sparser on frons and superior paraocular area; inferior paraocular area with dense punctures smaller than on clypeus; vertex and gena with large (one-third to one-half times median ocellar diameter), coarse punctures, largest on gena; hypostomal area with punctures shallow, faint, separated by two puncture widths or less, integument smooth and shiny between punctures as on face. Mesosoma somewhat dull, imbricate between punctures except smooth and shiny on anterior surface of mesepisternum, metepisternum and most segments of legs; scutum uniformly punctate, punctures nearly contiguous, small (one-fourth to one-fifth times median ocellar diameter); axilla and scutellum with large (one-third to one-half times median ocellar diameter), coarse punctures as on gena (Figs. 15, 17); pronotum with punctures smaller than on scutum; anterior surface of mesepisternum minutely and densely punctate dorsally, impunctate ventrally; mesepisternum with large (one-fourth times median ocellar diameter) punctures separated by a puncture width or more, punctures becoming smaller and denser ventrally; metepisternum with small, contiguous punctures as on lateral surface of pronotum; metanotum and propodeal triangle shagreened, punctures faint, sparse on metanotum, remaining areas of propodeum with small, contiguous punctures; coxae finely, densely punctate, remaining areas of legs with large impunctate areas, punctures larger, sparser on hind legs. Metasomal terga and sterna smooth and shiny to finely imbricate, punctures smaller, denser than on scutum, punctures coarser, contiguous on distal terga (particularly T6), smaller, scattered on anterior face of T1.

Integument black throughout except tegula, legs, and metasomal sterna largely dark reddish brown. Wings light brownish with weak green or coppery highlights; veins, stigma, prestigma dark brown.

Pubescence in general short, sparse, white except yellowish on labrum, mandible, clypeal margin, and inner surfaces of tarsi; mandible and labrum with outer surfaces covered by dense, minute, erect hairs; paraocular area, dorsal surface of pronotum, pronotal lobe, lateral surfaces of coxae and propodeum with long, minutely branched hairs obscuring integument or nearly so; T1–T4 (also on T5 in paratype) with apical hair bands, medially interrupted on T1 and T2.

Male: As in female except longer and denser body pubescence, apical hair bands present on basal two terga only, coarser punctation, stronger median longitudinal carina of clypeus, and the following: Body length 8.0mm; forewing length 5.1 mm. Head 1.2 times broader than long (Fig. 19); compound eyes converging below, 1.4 times wider than gena in profile; interantennal distance about twice as long as median ocellar diameter and antennocular distance; interocellar distance 1.6 times median ocellar diameter, subequal to ocellocular distance; clypeus 1.6 times broader than long, with distal margin not as crenulate as in female; antennal flagellum long, surpassing distal margin of scutellum, scape robust, 1.6 times longer than wide, pedicel broader than long, longer than F1, F1 about one-third length of F2, remaining flagellomeres much longer than broad. S5, S6 and S8, and genital capsule as in figures 20–23.

This species is named after Mrs. Jennifer Lyman Strange, for her courage.

The locality of the female paratype, Carin Chebá, is now known to be Karen Hills, Kayin (or Karan) State, Myanmar, a mountainous region about 40 km NE of Toungoo; the approximate coordinates are 19°13'N, 96°35'E (Jendek 2000: 189). The year this specimen was collected is not clear; it seems likely that it was 1888.

♀ (Fig. 24), Thailand: Chiangmai Prov [sic]., Doi Inthanon Nat. Park, Mae Ya waterfall / 28 March 1993, Leg. G. R. Ballmer (BBSL).

(n = 9♀) Thailand: 7♀, Chiang Mai, 23 April 1988, W. J. Pulawski cllr; 2♀, NW Chiangmai Prov., Chiangdao, 450 m, iv-5-11-1958 [April 5-11, 1958] / T.C. Maa, Collector, No. 320, 336 (BBSL, BPBM, CAS).

This species is most similar to Noteriades jenniferae (see above). It can be easily separated from that species and all other Noteriades by the combination of: relatively small body size, head shape (about as long as broad, Fig. 25), and posterior margin of scutellum with small, curved spine laterally (Fig. 27).

Female. Body length 7.8 mm (7.1–7.8 mm); forewing length 4.8 mm (4.2–4.8 mm). Head about as long as broad (Fig. 25); compound eyes subparallel, about 2.4 times longer than broad, 1.3 times wider than gena in profile; interantennal distance about twice as long as median ocellar diameter, 1.5 times antennocular distance; interocellar distance 1.6 times median ocellar diameter, about as long as ocellocular distance; ocelloccipital distance 1.6 times median ocellar diameter; clypeus 1.7 times broader than long, flat in profile, distal margin crenulate, slightly projecting over clypeal-labral articulation, median longitudinal carina distinct on basal half, absent on distal half (thin but extending along clypeal length in some paratypes), extending onto supraclypeal area; juxtantennal carina absent; scape 2.6 times longer than wide, pedicel 1.4 times longer than broad, about twice as long as F1, F1 broader than long, about as long as F2, remaining flagellomeres progressively increasing in length, apical flagellomere longer than broad. Scutum with posterolateral angle not spined or sharply angled; scutellum with posterior margin rounded, laterally with small, curved spine (Fig. 27).

Mandible and labrum with outer surfaces dull, minutely roughened, irregularly punctate, punctures coarser on basal half of mandible, condylar and outer ridges smooth and shiny; clypeus with small (one-sixth to one-fifth times median ocellar diameter), rather shallow, contiguous punctures, smaller on disc, smooth, shiny between punctures; supraclypeus with coarser punctures than on clypeus, punctures becoming larger (one-third times median ocellus diameter) on frons, superior paraocular area, and vertex; inferior paraocular area with dense, shallow, smaller punctures than on clypeus; gena with large (one-half to two-thirds times median ocellar diameter), coarse punctures; hypostomal area with punctures small (about one-third times median ocellar diameter), shallower than on gena. Mesosoma weakly shiny, weakly imbricate between punctures except smooth and shiny on anterior surface of mesepisternum, metepisternum, propodeum and most segments of legs; scutum uniformly punctate (Fig. 26), punctures contiguous, small (one-fourth to one-third times median ocellar diameter); axilla as on scutum; scutellum with large (one-half times median ocellar diameter), coarse punctures; pronotum with smaller punctures than on scutum; anterior surface of mesepisternum minutely and densely punctate dorsally, impunctate ventrally; mesepisternum with small (one-third times median ocellar diameter) punctures separated by a puncture width or more, integument becoming shinier with smaller and denser punctures ventrally; metepisternum with coarse, contiguous punctures as on scutum; metanotum imbricate with sparse, coarse punctures; propodeal triangle smooth and shiny, impunctate, except imbricate and sparsely punctate basally; lateral and posterior surfaces of propodeum weakly shiny, with punctures contiguous, small (about-fifth times median ocellar diameter or less), faint; coxae finely, densely punctate, remaining areas of legs with large impunctate areas, punctures larger, sparser on hind legs. Metasomal terga and sterna weakly shiny, finely imbricate, punctures smaller, denser than on scutum, punctures coarser, contiguous on distal terga (particularly on T6), smaller, scattered on anterior face of T1.

Integument black throughout except tegula, legs, and metasomal sterna largely dark reddish brown. Wings light brownish with weak green or coppery highlights; veins, stigma, prestigma dark brown.

Pubescence in general short, sparse, white except yellowish on labrum, mandible, clypeal margin, and inner surfaces of tarsi; mandible and labrum with outer surfaces covered by dense, minute, erect hairs; paraocular area, dorsal surface of pronotum, pronotal lobe, mesepisternum near wing bases, lateral surfaces of coxae, and lateral surface of propodeum with long, minutely branched hairs obscuring integument or nearly so; T1–T4 with apical hair bands, medially interrupted on T1 and T2.

Male: Unknown.

The specific epithet makes reference to the curved posterolateral spine of the scutellum that distinguishes this species.

Specimens of this species were used in the molecular analysis of the Osmiini by Praz et al. (2008).