Heriades Spinola, 1808

Heriades Spinola View in CoL

Type-species: Apis truncorum Linnaeus 1758 , designation by Latreille 1810.

Diagnosis for the genus in the Western Hemisphere: small-sized bees, 4 to 8 mm; integument usually black, sometimes dark amber with punctures on its entire surface; maxillary palpi short; scutellum gently convex, posterior margin rounded; propodeum with basal, transverse zone with line of pits set off from declivous posterior surface by carina; mesopleuron elongate ventrally; omaulus sharp but not carinate; hind coxa carinate; tarsi segments with two to four broad and cordate; metasoma elongate, parallel sided; T1 with anterior surface concave set off from dorsal surface by carina; terga with tergal fasciae of plumose hairs present at least from T1 to T3. Male. mandibles bidentate; T7 curled under metasoma, with one bump or broad elevation in basal area; metasoma in repose usually with S1 to S3 visible; S3 quadrate with discal hair velvety; S4 to S8 notably less sclerotized; S5 truncate with posterior margin modified, bearing hairs. Female. mandible tridentate; labrum with subapical tuft of hairs; T6 with subapical carina and subapical linear tuft.