@article{Onuferko_Packer_Genaro_2021, title={Brachymelecta Linsley, 1939, previously the rarest North American bee genus, was described from an aberrant specimen and is the senior synonym for Xeromelecta Linsley, 1939}, volume={754}, url={https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/1393}, DOI={10.5852/ejt.2021.754.1393}, abstractNote={<p>The bee genus <em>Brachymelecta</em> Linsley, 1939 has until now been represented by a single specimen, which has puzzled melittologists since its original description as <em>Melecta</em>?<em> mucida</em> Cresson, 1879. Through detailed morphological comparison and images, we show that the holotype is no more than an unusual specimen of a widespread species, most recently known as <em>Xeromelecta californica</em> (Cresson, 1878). We demonstrate that the diagnostic generic features for <em>Brachymelecta</em> fall within the range of morphological variation observed within <em>X. californica</em>. Although the names <em>Brachymelecta</em> and <em>Xeromelecta</em> Linsley, 1939 were published simultaneously, the former was proposed as a genus whereas the latter was proposed as a subgenus of <em>Melecta</em> Latreille, 1802. Thus, the following synonymies are proposed: <em>Xeromelecta</em> syn. nov. under <em>Brachymelecta</em> (since precedence must be given to the name that originally had the higher taxonomic rank) and <em>M.</em>? <em>mucida</em> syn. nov. under <em>B. californica</em>. Additionally, we present updated taxon concepts for and an identification key to the six known species now in <em>Brachymelecta </em>— <em>B. alayoi</em> (Michener, 1988), <em>B. californica</em>, <em>B. haitensis</em> (Michener, 1948), <em>B. interrupta</em> (Cresson, 1872), <em>B. larreae</em> (Cockerell, 1900), and <em>B. tibialis</em> (Fabricius, 1793)<em> </em>— along with redescriptions and a diagnosis for the genus. The male of <em>B. alayoi</em> and females of <em>B. haitensis</em> and <em>B. tibialis</em> are described for the first time. Furthermore, a phylogeny based on combined molecular and morphological data is proposed for <em>Brachymelecta</em>, and the evolution of the genus is explored in a historical biogeographic context.</p>}, number={1}, journal={European Journal of Taxonomy}, author={Onuferko , Thomas M. and Packer , Laurence and Genaro , Julio A.}, year={2021}, month={Jun.}, pages={1-51} }