From sea to sky, or from sky to sea? Refining a clade of Chilean bees

Chilicola Spinola is a diverse genus of small colletid bees found mostly in Chile, comprising 15 subgenera. Of these, Chilicola (Heteroediscelis) is the latest to receive thorough taxonomic revision, having a total 16 species, 7 of which are newly described following extensive sampling by the presenting author. Together with Chilicola s.str. and Chilicola (Chilioediscelis), they form a terminal clade within the genus, with a combined phylogeny that is previously unexplored. Moreover, these bees occupy a remarkable diversity of habitats, ranging from the arid northern Atacama Desert to the moist southern temperate forests, and from 0-3000+ m a.s.l. In light of this, I will present the results of a phylogenetic analysis placing all three subgenera into a clear evolutionary context, as well as the results of biogeographic analyses, approaching an explanation for how – and when – these bees diversified over the course of Chile’s rich geologic past.