ZOOLOGIA 31 (5): 503–515, October, 2014 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1984-46702014000500011 Taxonomic revision of Parasarus (Hymenoptera: Apidae s.l.: Protandrenini), a South American genus of bees Kelli dos Santos Ramos Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo. Avenida Nazaré, 04263-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. E-mail:
[email protected] ABSTRACT. Parasarus Ruz, 1993 comprises small black bees (3-5 mm long) endemic to xeric regions of South America, mainly along of the Andean Cordillera. Prior to this study, the genus included only the type-species P. atacamensis Ruz, 1993 (from northern Chile) which has mesoscutum strongly reticulated and inner hind tibial spur curved apically. In this paper, a taxonomic revision of Parasarus is presented and two new species are described: P. specularis sp. nov. (from central to northwest Argentina) diagnosed mainly by pygidial plate of female extremely acute apically and labral plate yellow in male; and P. spiniventris sp. nov. (only recorded from central portion of Chile) diagnosed by antennal socket below middle of face, subantennal area as long as broad, metapostnotum smooth, and sternum 3 of male with a tuft of stiff hairs. The morphological variation related to the type-species was studied and not considered sufficiently to recog- nized distinct species into P. atacamensis. Distribution maps, floral associations, key to species of the genus, and illustra- tions of general external morphology and genitalia are also provided. KEY WORDS. Andreninae; Apoidea; new species; taxonomy. Protandrenini is the most diverse group of Andreninae MATERIAL AND METHODS bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae s.l.) in the Neotropical region by number of genera with more than 400 species described (MOURE The material examined belongs to the following collec- et al.