Taxonomic studies on the subgenus Megachile (Dactylomegachile) in Argentina (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

This contribution deals with the most common and frequently collected species of Megachile (Dactylomegachile) in Argentina. The taxonomy of seven species is clarified, presenting sex associations for all but one of the species, M. binota, the male sex of which remains unknown. In most cases sex associations are based on specimens reared from trapnests. The following new synonymies are proposed: M. nigella Vachal is a junior synonym of M. ctenophora Holmberg; M. parsonsiae Schrottky and M. riojanensis Mitchell are junior synonyms of M. infima Vachal; M. trochantina Vachal and M. perspicua Mitchell are junior synonyms of M. leucografa Friese; M. albopunctata Jorgensen is a junior synonym of M. tetrazona Friese; M. suspecta Vachal and M. impudens Mitchell are junior synonyms of M. vagata Vachal. Redescriptions, distributional data, and a key to the studied species are given.