Sphecodopsis aquifolia, 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 : 7-10

Sphecodopsis aquifolia sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:05A6C7DE-75CD-4AEB-9C89-B594736533A9

Figs 3–4

Diagnosis

The female of S. aquifolia sp. nov. can be separated from that of all other species of this genus by the combination of the following characters: S6 pointed posteriorly, shiny on surface and more pointed apically ( Fig. 4D ); T6 broad and rounded apically ( Fig. 4C ); Punctation on mesoscutum dense (i=0.25– 0.5 d) and fine, individual punctures not always clearly separated ( Fig. 3D ). The male is unknown.

Etymology

The name refers to the undivided tip of the female S6.

Type material (7 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; Roggeveld Mts , 2 km SE of Farm Allemansdam, burnt area; 31°49′32″ S, 19°59′55″ E; 1290 m a.s.l.; 2 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; SAMC.

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; Keiski Mts , 3 km E of Farm M’Vera, shale; 31°45′29″ S, 19°54′13″ E; 1190 m a.s.l.; 30 Aug. 2016; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Keiskie Mts , 5 km S of Farm Nooiensrivier, new burned area; 31°45′41″ S, 19°50′17″ E; 1270 m a.s.l.; 1 Oct. 2014; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; RCMK • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; 29 Aug. 2018; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; 20 Sep. 2022; RCMK .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 7.4–8.9 mm.

HEAD. Head distinctly wider than long. Vertex almost straight and flat, except for the ocelli. Integument black, except part of mandibles reddish-brown. Face covered with long, black hair. Face and clypeus with dense (i=0.25–0.5 d), coarse and deep punctation, except supraclypeal area with more dispersed (i=1–1.5 d) punctation ( Fig. 3C ). Surface between punctures slightly matt. Antenna black.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula dark brown to black. Mesoscutum slightly matt. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely (i =0.25–1 d) and fairly finely but deeply punctate ( Fig. 3D ). Propodeum with dense (i =0.25–0.5 d) and fine but deep punctation, metapostnotum matt ( Fig. 4A ). Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, metanotum and mesepisternum sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, yellowish-white hair ( Fig. 3D ). Propodeum covered with short, yellowish-white hair and few long, black hairs, metapostnotum without hair ( Fig. 4A ).

WINGS. Fuscous; wing venation dark brown and stigma dark brown to black ( Fig. 3A ).

LEGS. Integument black. Coxa and trochanter sparsely covered with long, black hair and shorter white hair. Femur with few long, black hair. Tibia and tarsi covered with long, black hair and densely covered with shorter white hair; patches with very dense white pubescence apically on the tibia, particularly conspicuous on middle and hind tibia, anterior leg generally less hairy ( Fig. 3A ).

METASOMA. Integument of T1 dark basally. Rest of T1–T3 red, T4 with extension of red coloration, from basal half red to completely black, T5–T6 black. T1–T3 sparsely covered with short, white and black hair, from T4 increasingly more and longer hair ( Fig. 3B ). T5 marginal zone with bright white hair, disc covered with long, black hair ( Fig. 4B ). T6 with dense long, black hair and shorter, bright white hair underneath, broad and rounded apically ( Fig. 4C ). Shape of S6 ( Fig. 4D ) as illustrated.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Only known from the Keiskie Mts and the northern part of the Roggeveld Mts south of Calvinia.

Host bees

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

August–October.

Figures

Fig. 3. Sphecodopsis aquifolia sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (Farm Allemansdam, RCMK). A. Habitus (lateral view). B. Metasoma (dorsal view). C. Head. D. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum (dorsal view).

Fig. 4. Sphecodopsis aquifolia sp.nov., paratype,♀ (Farm Allemansdam, RCMK). A. Propodeum. B. T5. C. T6. D. S6.