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A faunistic study of the bees (Apoidea) of a semi-desert in the Transverse Neovolcanic Belt of central Mexico was carried out by systematic monthly collecting, during one year. A total of 259 species, 69 genera and seven families were recorded; 44 are undescribed species, 46 are new records for the state of Puebla and. of these, 3 are also new records tor Mexico. The greatest diversity, at the familial level, was found for Apidae, with 33 genera and 92 species and, at the generic level, for Lasioglossum Curtis with 29 species, and Perdita Smith, with 20 species. The greatest monthly diversity was observed during September, when 57 genera were active. The main biogeographic elements found. at the generic level, are of cosmopolitan affinity (22%), neotropical affinity (20%) and of neartic affinity (13%). Our results agree with the prediction that the Tehuacan desert would present a number of species intermediate between the xeric regions of the US and the mesic areas of the Mexican Plateau. Also, the number of species common to the deserts of Sonora and Chihuahua. on the one hand, and Tehuacan. on the other, is low, reflecting differences in the floristic composition of the three regions.