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The genus Ceratina is split into five subgenera (text verbatim
from Eardley et al. 2010):
Subgenus Ceratina (Ceratina)
Latreille
These are the common, mostly shiny black, small carpenter bees
without scalelike setae along the posterior edges of the metasomal terga.
Ceratina rhodura Cockerell and Ceratina whiteheadi Eardley
& Daly have a red metasoma. Bees of this subgenus occur through much of
the Old World. In sub-Saharan Africa there are about 20 species.
Subgenus Ceratina (Copoceratina) Terzo and Pauly
Copoceratina has two species. One is African, Ceratina minuta
Friese, the other occurs in Madagascar and the Seychelles. They are
weakly metallic.
Subgenus Ceratina (Ctenoceratina) Daly and Moure
Ctenoceratina and Simioceratina have scales modified
to look like teeth along the terga margins. They are common. The slope
of the propodeum, in relation to the scutum, separates these two
subgenera and in learning how to separate them the comparison of these
two subgenera is needed for accuracy. The subgenus is widespread in
sub-Saharan Africa and includes 10 species.
Subgenus Ceratina (Hirashima) Terzo and Pauly
These closely resemble Ceratina s. str. However, they are
dull black and more deeply punctured, Ceratina s. str. being
shiny black. There are nine species in southern Africa and more surely
occur through the rest of sub-Saharan Africa.
Subgenus Ceratina (Megaceratina) Hirashima
Ceratina (Megaceratina) is the subgenus of the largest
tropical, small carpenter bee, Ceratina sculpturata (Smith). The
metasoma has orangish-red maculations.
Subgenus Ceratina (Pithitis) Klug
This subgenus represents the fairly common, strongly sculptured,
metallic (mostly blue or green) bees. They resemble Ceratina (Protopithitis),
which is much less common. It appears to occur throughout the Old World.
Two widespread species occur in southern Africa, several more possibly
occur in tropical Africa.
Subgenus Ceratina (Protopithitis) Hirashima
Ceratina (Protopithitis) are fairly rare and occur in
tropical Africa. There are two described species, one intrudes into
southern Africa.
Subgenus Ceratina (Simioceratina) Daly and Moure
This subgenus superficially resembles Ceratina (Ctenoceratina),
and after comparing these two subgenera it is fairly easy to identify
the declivous propodeum. There are three species that occur, fairly
frequently, through most of sub-Saharan Africa. |
