Hoplitis (Anthocopa) karooensis ( Brauns, 1926 ) Kuhlmann & Gess & Koch & Gess, 2011

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 : 6

Hoplitis (Anthocopa) karooensis ( Brauns, 1926) comb. nov.

Osmia karooensis Brauns, 1926: 215–217 .

Female lectotype: Capland, Willowmore, 7.ix.1909, Dr. H. Brauns leg. ( TMSA) ( Peters 1984: 383) .

Hoplitis (Anthocopa) sp. C: Gess and Gess 2003: 178 (flower visiting).

Flower visiting. Females have been collected variously from flowers of: Asteraceae ( Arctotheca calendula (L.) Levyns) in Namaqualand (1 specimen); Campanulaceae (four species of Wahlenbergia ) in Namaqualand (10 specimens), and in and west of the Olifants River Valley; Fabaceae ( Papilionoideae , Aspalathus spinescens Thunb. ) in the Olifants River Valley (one specimen); Malvaceae ( Hermannia species ) west of the Olifants River Valley (two specimens); and Neuradaceae ( Grielum humifusum Thunb. ) in Namaqualand (one specimen) ( Gess & Gess 2003 as Hoplitis (Anthocopa) sp. C) ( Gess and Gess 2003).

Nesting. A nesting aggregation was investigated at Clanwilliam in the Olifants River Valley, Western Cape in 1988 (Gess and Gess unpublished). The nests, in level sandy ground near the base of a shrub, Aspalathus spinescens Thunb. ( Fabaceae : Papilionoideae ), were multicellular burrows each surmounted by a curved turret constructed from cemented sand (voucher specimen AMGS) ( Figure 10d). In the sample of eight nests investigated the depth of the burrow including the cells was 50-70 mm. The turret and main shaft were of equal inner diameter, 4.5 mm (average of eight nests). The flask-like cells, clustered at the base of the shaft, had well cemented walls, such that they could be removed intact (voucher specimens AMGS) ( Figure 10e). The nature of the substance used for cementing the walls of the turrets, shafts and cell walls was not established but it seems probable that it was plant resin. The cells had been lined with petals. Pollen from the provisions was examined and found to be of mixed sizes and sculpturing. It was not identified.