Eickwortapis

Eickwortapis; Temporal range: Burdigalian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Halictidae
Genus:	† Eickwortapis
Species:	†E. dominicana
Binomial name
	†Eickwortapis dominicana; Michener & Poinar, 1996

Last updated January 04, 2024

Eickwortapis is an extinct monotypic genus of sweat bee in the Halictidae subfamily Halictinae which contains the single species Eickwortapis dominicana.^[1]

The genus name Eickwortapis is derived from a combination of Eickwort in honor of halictid systematist Dr. George Eickwort and the Latin apis, meaning "bee". The species is named in reference to the Miocene (Burdigalian stage) Dominican amber from deposits on the island of Hispaniola which entombs the specimens. The species, averaging 5 millimetres (0.20 in) long, was described from two partial females and a single complete male specimen in one polished piece of amber which is housed in the Poinar Amber Collection at the University of California, Berkeley.^[1] The male is numbered "H 10-70" and designated the holotype, while the two females are numbered "H 10-70B" and ""H 10-70C" are both designated Paratypes.^[1] The amber specimens with the three bees was first studied by Drs Charles Michener & George Poinar.^[1] They published the type description in the Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society volume number 69 and published in 1996.^[1] The male is well preserved in a curled position with the metasoma and the posterior surface of the propedium visible. Female paratype "H 10-70B" is mostly complete however the majority of the head was removed during polishing of the amber, likewise the female paratype "H 10-70C" is also a partial due to the dorsum of the thorax and vertex being removed.^[1]

In general Eickwortapis has a blackish body with an indistinct metallic coloration, possibly brassy greenish.^[1] The wing veins and stigma of the females are black while those of the male are a brown tone.^[1] The underside of the males antenna are yellowish brown with the males legs being a brownish.^[1]Eickwortapis is one of only five Halictidae genera which are known from the Dominican amber record, and one of three which are totally extinct.^[2] Closely related to the extinct genus Nesagapostemon and the living Caenohalictus, Eickwortapis is placed with both in the halicted tribe Caenohalictini. It can be identified from Nesagapostemon and Caenohalictus by a group of features.^[1] The basal area of the Propodeum, not slanting in profile, is only half of the length of the vertical posterior surface in Nesagapostemon.^[1]Eickwortapis has a longer basal area on the Propodeum and it does slant in profile. The living species Caenohalictus eberhardorum has long hairs on the eyes and denser scopa.^[1] The Eickwortapis holotype is the only male halictid to have been documented from Dominican amber.^[2]

Related Research Articles

Halictidae is the second-largest family of bees with nearly 4,500 species. They are commonly called sweat bees, as they are often attracted to perspiration. Halictid species are an extremely diverse group that can vary greatly in appearance. These bees occur all over the world and are found on every continent except Antarctica. Usually dark-colored and often metallic, halictids are found in various sizes, colors and patterns. Several species are all or partly green and a few are red, purple, or blue. A number of them have yellow markings, especially the males, which commonly have yellow faces, a pattern widespread among the various families of bees. The family is one of many with short tongues and is best distinguished by the arcuate basal vein found on the wing. Females in this family tend to be larger than the males. They are the group for which the term 'eusocial' was first coined by entomologist, Suzanne Batra.

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Oligochlora is an extinct genus of sweat bee in the Halictidae subfamily Halictinae. The genus currently contains six species, all of which are known from the early Miocene Burdigalian stage Dominican amber deposits on the island of Hispaniola.

Nesagapostemon is an extinct monotypic genus of sweat bee in the Halictidae subfamily Halictinae. At present, it contains the single species Nesagapostemon moronei.

Protosialis casca is an extinct species of alderfly in the Sialidae subfamily Sialinae. The species is solely known from the early Miocene, Burdigalian stage, Dominican amber deposits on the island of Hispaniola. Protosialis casca is one of only two known alderfly species present in the West Indies, the only other species is the living Protosialis bifasciata native to Cuba.

Protomycena is an extinct monotypic genus of gilled fungus in the family Mycenaceae, of order Agaricales. At present it contains the single species Protomycena electra, known from a single specimen collected in an amber mine in the Cordillera Septentrional area of the Dominican Republic. The fruit body of the fungus has a convex cap that is 5 mm (0.2 in) in diameter, with distantly spaced gills on the underside. The curved stipe is smooth and cylindrical, measuring 0.75 mm (0.030 in) thick by 10 mm (0.39 in) long, and lacks a ring. It resembles extant species of the genus Mycena. Protomycena is one of only five known agaric fungus species known in the fossil record and the second to be described from Dominican amber.

Dryinus grimaldii is an extinct species of wasp in the dryinid genus Dryinus. The species is solely known from the early Miocene, Burdigalian stage, Dominican amber deposits on the island of Hispaniola.

Termitaradus avitinquilinus is an extinct species of termite bug in the family Termitaphididae known from several possibly Miocene fossils found in the Dominican Republic. T. avitinquilinus is the first species in the genus Termitaradus to have been described from fossils found in Dominican amber and is one of four species from New World amber, the others being Termitaradus protera, Termitaradus dominicanus and Termitaradus mitnicki.

Anthophorula (Anthophorula) persephone is an extinct species of bee in the subfamily Apinae known from a pair of possibly Miocene fossils found on Hispaniola. A. persephone is the first species of the bee tribe Exomalopsini to have been described from fossils found in Dominican amber and is the only species of Anthophorula found in the West Indies.

Acropyga glaesaria is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Formicinae known from a group of possibly Miocene fossils found on Hispaniola. A. glaesaria is the first species of the ant genus Acropyga to have been described from fossils found in Dominican amber and is the one of several species of Acropyga found in the West Indies. As with other members of the genus, A. glaesaria was most likely trophobiotic.

Acanthognathus poinari is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae known from a single possibly Miocene fossil found on Hispaniola. A. poinari is the first species of the ant genus Acanthognathus to have been described from fossils found in Dominican amber and is one of several species of Acanthognathus found in the Greater Antillas.

Anochetus corayi is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Ponerinae known from one possibly Miocene fossil found on Hispaniola. A. corayi is one of eight species in the ant genus Anochetus to have been described from fossils found in Dominican amber and is one of a number of Anochetus species found in the Greater Antillies.

Anochetus exstinctus is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Ponerinae known from two possibly Miocene fossils found on Hispaniola. A. exstinctus is one of eight species in the ant genus Anochetus to have been described from fossils found in Dominican amber and is one of a number of Anochetus species found in the Greater Antillies.

Pseudarmadillo cristatus is an extinct species of isopod (woodlouse) in the family Delatorreiidae known from a series of possibly Miocene fossils found on Hispaniola. At the time of description P. cristatus was one of two Pseudarmadillo species known from the fossil record and one of only two from Hispaniola.

Aphaenogaster amphioceanica is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae known from a single possibly Miocene fossil found in amber on Hispaniola. At the time of description A. amphioceanica was one of two Aphaenogaster species known from the Caribbean islands.

Pseudarmadillo tuberculatus is an extinct species of isopod in the family Delatorreiidae known from a series of possibly Miocene fossils found on Hispaniola. At the time of description P. tuberculatus was one of two Pseudarmadillo species known from the fossil record and one of only two from Hispaniola.

Azteca alpha is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Dolichoderinae known from possibly Miocene fossils found on Hispaniola. A. alpha is one of only two species in the genus Azteca to have been described from fossils, both found in Dominican amber. It is the host for a fossil nematode, and has been preserved with scale insects.

Azteca eumeces is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Dolichoderinae known from possibly Miocene fossils found on Hispaniola. A. eumeces is one of only two species in the ant genus Azteca to have been described from fossils, both found in Dominican amber.

Zatania electra is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Formicinae known from three possibly Miocene fossils found on Hispaniola. Z. electra is one of several Zatania species found in the Greater Antilles.

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Michener, C.D.; Poinar G. (1996). "The Known Bee Fauna of the Dominican Amber". Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. 69 (4): 353–361. JSTOR 25085730.
1 2 Engel, M.S. (2009). "Two new halictine bees in Miocene Amber from the Dominican Republic (Hymenoptera, Halictidae)". ZooKeys (29): 1–12. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.29.257 . hdl: 1808/5625 .

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[MandP1996-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Michener, C.D.; Poinar G. (1996). "The Known Bee Fauna of the Dominican Amber". Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. 69 (4): 353–361. JSTOR 25085730.

[Engel2009-2] 1 2 Engel, M.S. (2009). "Two new halictine bees in Miocene Amber from the Dominican Republic (Hymenoptera, Halictidae)". ZooKeys (29): 1–12. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.29.257 . hdl: 1808/5625 .

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