Neocorynura iguaquensis Smith-Pardo & Gonzalez, 2006
The nests of N. iguaquensis were usually found scattered in nearly vertical banks (20–40 cm high) along ditches and trails, and in grazed pastures around the visitor’s center at Iguaque National Park (Colombia). The banks with nests face east and were sparsely covered with mosses. The soil in flat ground and banks was loose, black, wet to very wet clay. Nests of N. iguaquensis were shallow, and consisted of a short main burrow ending in a single chamber containing only one earthen cell cluster supported by pillars and rootlets. The nest entrance was round and constricted, and lacked an earthen turret; a nearly circular tumulus was usually deposited outside the entrance. The main burrow widened gradually in diameter toward the bottom of the nest and entered the cell cavity commonly above the cell cluster. The general direction of the main burrow was variable, being horizontally inclined upward or downward in those nests located in the banks, to almost vertical for those nests in flat ground. Two of the nests excavated in 2000 had a single blind burrow extending beyond the nearly spheroid cell cavity. The inner wall of the main burrow and cell cavity was smooth, presumably not lined with hydrophobic secreted material. The cell cluster was separated from the wall of the cell cavity and was supported by 1–5 earthen pillars; cell clusters in the pasture were frequently tightly supported by rootlets in addition to pillars. Cell clusters were rough on the outside and cells were generally not externally discernible. As in most halictine bees, cells were slightly flattened on the bottom surface with a rounded oval upper surface; their inner walls were smooth and lined with a yellowish waterproof substance. Most cells were vertical with their bases slightly diverging within the cluster, although some were nearly horizontal; cell closures were loose and concave on the inner face. Complete pollen masses were nearly spherical but were flattened on the bottom (~5mm in diameter and 3mm high), and were placed on the flatter side of the cell at the end opposite the entrance (see Gonzalez et al. 2006).
Males and females of easily recognized by the distinctive color pattern,
N. iguaquensis can be with the head and mesosoma mainly black, contrasting with the legs, sterna and T1 and T2 largely orange; remainder of terga mainly dark brown to black. This species can be distinguished from other species with similar body color such as N. papallactensis Engel by the sulcate gena and postgena, and the base of propodeum metallic green, basally sulcate and distally imbricate. In N. papallactens, the gena is strongly imbricate to rugose, and the basal area of the propodeum is microareolate to rugose, mainly dull green with weak coppery reflections. ,