Wainia (Wainiella) sakaniensis (Cockerell, 1936)

Kuhlmann, M., Gess, F. G., Koch, F. & Gess, S. K., 2011, Southern African osmiine bees: taxonomic notes, two new species, a key to Wainia, and biological observations (Hymenoptera: Anthophila: Megachilidae), Zootaxa 3108, pp. 1-24 : 19

Wainia (Wainiella) sakaniensis (Cockerell, 1936)

( Figs 5a–b, 9–d)

Heriades sakaniensis Cockerell, 1936a: 355 .

Heriades albobarbatus Cockerell, 1937a: 501–502 . syn. nov.

Heriades debilicornis Cockerell, 1940: 114 . syn. nov.

Heriades perpolitus Cockerell, 1947: 558–559 . syn. nov.

Heriades otaviensis Cockerell, 1947: 560–561 . syn. nov.

Wainia (Wainiella) albobarbata (Cockerell) : Griswold and Michener 1998: 234.

Wainia (Wainiella) sakaniensis (Cockerell) : Griswold and Michener 1998: 234.

Wainia (Wainiella) sp. A.: Gess and Gess 2003: 182 (flower visiting).

Examination of the types of W. sakaniensis and W. albobarbata revealed the synonymy of both species. This view is supported by the fact that the male holotype of Heriades debilicornis (= H. albobarbatus ) and the holotype of H. sakaniensis have been collected at the same site and date ( Belgian Congo, Sakania, ix.1931) but by different collectors ( H. debilicornis by J. Ogilvie; H. sakaniensis by L. Ogilvie). The synonymy of H. otaviensis (= H. albobarbatus ) and H. sakaniensis has already been recognized by D.S. Peters who labelled the female holotype of the former as “ Noteriades sakaniensis (Cockerell) , det. 1979” but he never published this.

Flower visiting. Four females were collected from pinkish-red flowers of Indigofera sp. ( Fabaceae , Papilionoideae ) on the Gydo Pass, Ceres.

Nesting. There are no records of nesting for this species.