FOSSIL HONEY-BEES AND EVOLUTION IN THE GENUS APIS (HYMENOPTERA, APIDAE)

A partial revision is provided for some of the more well-known fossil honey bee species. Apis henshawi is diagnosed, the holotype described, and a complete taxonomic history presented. The following names are n ewly synonymized under A. henshawi: A. henshawi dormiens and A. aquise xtana. A new species, A. vetustus sp. n., is recognized from Oligocene strata. Synapis petrefacta is officially transferred into the genus A pis (new combination) and A. fota and A. shandongica are placed into s ynonymy with A. miocenica (new synonymies). The authorship of A. melis uga is discussed and the name considered to be a nomen dubium. A phylo geny is proposed for Apis which incorporates the known fossil species and evolution in the genus discussed. No honey bees are known from bef ore the Oligocene. (C) Inra/DIB/AGIB/Elsevier, Paris.