Sphecodopsis rufipes, Pöllein & Kuhlmann, 2025

Pöllein, Daniela & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2025, Taxonomic revision of the southern African bee genus Sphecodopsis Bischoff, 1923 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Nomadinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 980, pp. 1-157 : 114-118

Sphecodopsis rufipes sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2408BA3C-C284-4D10-B396-E24FC8E30DC8

Figs 87–90

Diagnosis

The female of S. rufipes sp. nov. can be separated from that of all other species of the genus by the combination of the following characters: S6 bifid posteriorly, apical notch about one and a half times as long as its apical width ( Fig. 88C ); metasoma partially red ( Fig. 87B ); fore tibia and tarsi completely or largely red ( Fig. 87A ); head wider than long, vertex flat ( Fig. 87C ); T5 apically without fringe ( Fig. 88B ); head and mesoscutum with black hair, interspersed with lighter hair ( Fig. 87C–D ); mesoscutum shiny, sparsely and shallowly punctate ( Fig. 87D ); 2 nd antennal segment 1.5 times as long as 3 rd segment ( Fig. 87C ); metapostnotum wider than high, distinctly shagreened and matt ( Fig. 88A ). The male can be separated from that of all other species of this genus by the combination of the following characters: metasoma at least partially red ( Fig. 89B ); fore tibia and tarsi completely red or light red ( Fig. 89A ); mesoscutum sparsely (i=1–2 d) punctate, shiny ( Fig. 89D ); metapostnotum with few hairs in upper corners and matt ( Fig. 89E ).

Etymology

The species is named for its red Legs.

Type material (7 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; 20 km S of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Papkuilsfontein , Fynbos; 31°33′16″ S, 19°08′31″ E; 680 m a.s.l.; 27 Aug. 2012; MK leg.; SAMC.

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 4 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂; 20 km S of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Papkuilsfontein , Fynbos; 31°33′16″ S, 19°08′31″ E; 680 m a.s.l.; 27 Aug. 2012; MK leg.; RCMK .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 6.1–7.4 mm.

HEAD. Head wider than long. Vertex almost straight and flat, except for the ocelli. Integument black, except part of mandibles red or reddish-brown. Face covered with long, black hair and patches of long white hair above base of antenna. Face and clypeus with dense (i=0.5–1 d), fine and shallow punctation, supraclypeal area with more dispersed (i= 0.5–2 d) punctation ( Fig. 87C ). Surface between punctures slightly shiny. Antenna black.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula orange. Mesoscutum matt. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum sparsely (i =1–2 d), finely and shallow punctate ( Fig. 87D ). Propodeum densely (i=0.5–1 d), finely and shallow punctate, metapostnotum matt ( Fig. 88A ). Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and mesepisternum sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, white hair ( Fig. 87D ). Metanotum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, white hair, metapostnotum only with few hairs in upper corners ( Figs 87D , 88A ).

WINGS. Fuscous; wing venation brown and stigma dark brown to black ( Fig. 87A ).

LEGS. Integument of coxa and trochanter reddish-brown to black, trochanter apically red, tibia and tarsi red. Coxa, trochanter and femur covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter white hair. Tibia and tarsus very sparsely covered with long, black hair and covered with shorter white hair; very loose patches with white pubescence apically on the tibia on hind legs ( Fig. 87A ).

METASOMA. Integument of T1 and T2 red, T3 to a variable extent red, from basal quarter red to only marginal zone black; T4–T6 black. T1 and T2 sparsely covered with short white and black hair, from T3 increasingly more and longer, black hair ( Fig. 87B ). T6 narrow and almost straight apically, with short, white hair mixed with short, brown hair and a few long, black hairs, apical margin with very short, dense, golden hair ( Fig. 88B ). Shape of S6 ( Fig. 88C ) as illustrated.

Male

BODY LENGTH. 6.1–7.2 mm.

HEAD. Head wider than long. Vertex almost straight and flat, except for the ocelli. Integument black, except part of mandibles red or reddish-brown. Face covered with long, black hair and patches of long white hair above base of antenna. Face and clypeus with dense (i=0.5–1 d), fine and shallow punctation, supraclypeal area with more dispersed (i= 0.5–2 d) punctation ( Fig. 89C ). Surface between punctures slightly shiny. Antenna black.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula orange. Mesoscutum slightly shiny.Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum sparsely (i =1–2 d), finely and shallowly punctate ( Fig. 89D ). Propodeum densely (i= 1–2 d), finely and shallowly punctate, metapostnotum matt ( Fig. 89E ). Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and mesepisternum sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, white hair ( Fig. 89D ). Metanotum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, white hair, metapostnotum only with few hairs in upper corners ( Fig. 89E ).

WINGS. Fuscous; wing venation brown and stigma dark brown to black ( Fig. 89A ).

LEGS. Integument of coxa and trochanter reddish-brown to black, trochanter apically red, tibia and tarsi red. Coxa, trochanter and femur covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, white hair. Tibia and tarsi very sparsely covered with long, black hair and with shorter, white hair; very loose patches of white pubescence apically on the tibia, except on anterior legs ( Fig. 89A ).

METASOMA. Integument of T1 and T2 red, T3 marginal zone black and T4–T7 black. T1 and T2 sparsely covered with short, white and black hair, from T3 increasingly more and longer black hair ( Fig. 89B ). T7 covered with short, yellowish-white hair and longer, black hair ( Fig. 89F ).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 90C–D ), S7 ( Fig. 90A ) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 90B ) as illustrated.

Distribution

Only known from the type locality on the farm Papkuilsfontein south of Nieuwoudtville.

Host bees

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

August.

Figures

Fig. 87. Sphecodopsis rufipes sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (RCMK). A. Habitus (lateral view). B. Metasoma (dorsal view). C. Head. D. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum (dorsal view).

Fig. 88. Sphecodopsis rufipes sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (RCMK). A. Propodeum. B. T5 and T6. C. S6.

Fig. 89. Sphecodopsis rufipes sp. nov., paratype, ♂ (RCMK). A. Habitus (lateral view). B. Metasoma (dorsal view). C. Head. D. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum (dorsal view). E. Propodeum. F. T4–T7 (dorsal view).

Fig. 90. Sphecodopsis rufipes sp. nov., paratype, ♂ (RCMK). A. S7 (dorsal view). B. S8 (dorsal view). C. Genital (dorsal view). D. Genital (lateral view).