New records of bees of the genus Sphecodes Latreille in the Palaearctic part of China (Hymenoptera, Halictidae)

Abstract. The available information about the cleptoparastic bees of the genus Sphecodes in the Palaearctic part of China is summarized. Twenty-four species are currently known from this area including 16 newly recorded. Based on type specimens, new synonymies have been proposed for Sphecodescristatus Hagens, 1882 = S.alfkeni Meyer, 1922, syn. n.; S.longulus Hagens, 1882 = S.subfasciatus Blüthgen, 1934, syn. n.; S.nippon Meyer, 1922 = S.kansuensis Blüthgen, 1934, syn. n.; Sphecodespieli Cockerell, 1931 = S.orientalis Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2014, syn. n. Lectotypes are designated for Sphecodesalfkeni Meyer, 1922 and S.pellucidusniveipennis Meyer, 1925. Illustrated keys to males and females of all species known from Palaearctic China and an updated checklist of the 33 Chinese species of Sphecodes are provided.