A review of the Augochloropsis (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) and keys to the shiny green Halictinae of the midwestern United States.

Augochloropsis and other shiny green Halictinae have had various taxonomic issues and are often misiden)tified. One prevailing taxonomic issue is that Augochloropsis metallica (Fabricius) has two subspecies, that have long been recognized as morphologically distinct (Augochloropsis metallica metallica and Augochloropsis metallica fulgida (Smith), but the subspecies are inconsistently applied in the literature. Here, we review the Augochloropsis of the Midwest and further address the Augochloropsis species in the broader United States to resolve the outstanding taxonomic issues with the midwestern species. We provide identification keys and diag)noses for the genera and species of the shiny green Halictinae of the midwestern United States, which includes the genera Agapostemon, Augochlora, Augochlorella, and Augochloropsis. This work results in taxonomic changes to Augochloropsis. Augochloropsis sumptuosa (Smith) is split into two species, with the name Augochloropsis sumptuosa retained for the eastern form, and Augochloropsis humeralis (Patton), stat. nov., reinstated for the western form. Augochloropsis metallica is split into five species, with two of those species occurring in the mid-western United States: Augochloropsis metallica and Augochloropsis viridula (Smith), stat. nov. Examination of the holotype of Augochloropsis fulgida (Smith) revealed that it does not agree with the prevailing concept of Augochloropsis metallica fulgida; it is reinstated as Augochloropsis fulgida, stat. nov., but is currently known only from the holotype female from Florida. Augochloropsis cuprea (Smith), long considered to be a synonym of Augochloropsis metallica, is also distinct, and we are reinstating Augochloropsis cuprea, stat. nov., though the range of this species is unclear. We further recognize Augochloropsis fulvofimbriata (Friese), stat. nov., from South and Central America, as distinct. These changes result in a total of three Augochloropsis species in the Midwest and seven named species in the United States. We are aware of additional species from the southern and southwestern United States that are undescribed, and we highlight additional taxonomic work that remains to be done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]