Anthidiellum (Pycnanthidium) absonulum (Cockerell)

Eardley, Connal, 2018, Taxonomic revision of the sub-Saharan Anthidiellum Cockerell (Apoidea: Megachilidae: Anthidiini), Zootaxa 4402 (2), pp. 201-250 : 224-226

Anthidiellum (Pycnanthidium) absonulum (Cockerell)

( Figs 18–20 )

Anthidium absonulum COcKERELL, 1932: 526–527, MALE HOLOtyPE (NHML, EXAMINED) KAtANgA, ELIZABEtHVILLE, DEMOcRAtIc REPUBLIc OF tHE CONgO.

Anthidiellum absonulum (COcKERELL): COcKERELL 1936B: 455.

Anthidiellum (Pygnanthidiellum) absonulum (COcKERELL): PAStEELS 1984: 96, 99–100.

Anthidium auriscopatum StRAND, 1912: 308, tWO FEMALE SyNtyPES (ONE IN ZMHB, EXAMINED) MAKOMO, HINtERLAND, EqUAtORIAL GUINEA. syn. nov.

Anthidiellum auriscopatum (StRAND): MAVROMOUStAKIS 1936 A: 44–45; PAStEELS 1984: 99, SyN.

Diagnosis. This species belongs to a species-group in which the upper margin of the clypeus is rounded (see Fig. 1a ). The female can only be separated from its most similar congener, A. otavicum , by fine sculpture medioventrally on the propodeum. This region is glabrous and shiny in A. otavicum . The interantennal socket area and supraclypeus are black, as in A. spilognathum and A. polyochrum . The male S3 is devoid of a median spine, as in A. otavicum . S4 has a uniquely bifid posteromedian tubercle with its posterior extremities acutely pointed, and the S5 posterior comb has shorter setae laterally than medially.

Description. Female. Integument black with pale yellow maculation on lower face (mediolongitudinal interantennal socket area black), posterolateral vertex, mandible, pronotal lobe, lateral scutum, axilla, posterolateral scutellum, tibiae proximal dorsal surfaces, hind basitarsus center of outer surface (remainder of legs black), lateral T1–T3, T4 (broken crossband), T5 cross-bands ( Fig. 18a–c ), T6 center (margins black); T1–T5 black or blackish, metasomal venter blackish. Scopa very pale yellow. Lengths: face 2.0– 2.2 mm; scutum 1.4–1.6 mm; forewing 4.0– 4.6 mm; body 5.0– 5.7 mm. Structure. Head. Epistomal suture convex above; lower epistomal suture projection adjacent to opposite inner antennal socket edge ( Fig. 1a ); preoccipital area rounded; omaulus carinate; fore and middle femora with sparse, plumose vestiture posteriorly; hind basitarsus wide (length 1.5x width) ( Fig. 18c ); propodeum coarsely striate dorsolaterally, vertical surface punctate dorsally, mostly smooth and shiny ventrally, finely sculptured medioventrally; T1–T5 distal margins impunctate.

Male. Integument black with variable pale yellow maculation on lower face (mediolongitudinal region of interantennal area black), posterolateral vertex, mandible, pronotal lobe, lateral scutum, axilla, posterolateral scutellum, dorsal tibiae (middle and hind tibiae anterocentral regions black), outer surface of hind basitarsus (weakly circumscribed with black or blackish-orange), lateral T1–T3, cross-bands on T4–T6, entire T7; sometimes posteroventral fore and middle femora; distal margins of T1–T4 black or blackish, T5–T6 translucent orange (Fig. 19a–c), metasomal venter blackish-orange (Fig. 19d). Lengths: head 1.4–2.0 mm; scutum 1.0– 1.3 mm; forewing 3.4–4.2 mm; body 3.5–5.2 mm. Structure. Head. Preoccipital area rounded on gena; omaulus carinate; forebasitarsus short, dense posterior fringe; propodeum coarsely striate dorsolaterally, vertical surface punctate dorsally, smooth and shiny ventrally; distal margins of T1–T4 impunctate; T6–T7 not swollen medioposteriorly; T7 distal edge truncate in dorsal view, obtusely pointed in ventral view; S2–S3 slight mediolongitudinal keels (not spinose); S3 distal fringe on mesal one-third of distal edge (Fig. 19d); S4 narrowly concave mediolongitudinally with well developed bifid, black tubercle posteromedially (Fig. 19d); S5 entire posterior edge with a of comb short black setae, shorter laterally than medially, narrowly interrupted medially (Fig. 19d, i); S6–S8 and gonocoxa as illustrated (Fig. 19e–h).

Distribution ( Fig. 20 ). Although known from limited records, Anthidiellum absonulum is widespread through Africa.

Material examined. Type material. Male holotype of Anthidium absonulum : ‘Elisabethville Sept. 11 J.O., Anthidium absonulum Ckll. TYPE., T.D.A. Cockerell. B.M. 1936–415, Type, B.M. TYPE HYM 17a 1881, BMNH€#971055’, NHML. Female paratype of Anthidium auriscopatum : ‘Sp. Guinea Hintld MakomoTessmann S.G., Anthidium auriscopatum ♀ det., Type’, ZMHB.

Additional material. Mali. Segou, 60km SW, 1.viii.1991, M. Schwarz (1♂ SC). Nigeria. Gashaka Gumfi National Park, 30km SE Serti , 07.21N 11.32E, 24.iv–8.v.2011, J Halada (3♂ SC) . Benin. Save, 15km SE, 8– 25.iv.2000, J. Halada (22♀4♂ SC). Central African Republic. Bangui, 90km NNE 05.03N 18.47E , 14.iii.2010, J. Halada (1♀ 3♂ SC); Bangui, 40km N, 04.41N 18.36E , 8.v.2009, J. Halada (3♂ SC); Bamingui , 45km SSW, 07.15N 20.03E , 14.v.2009, J. Halada (2♀ 7♂ SC); Ndele , 100km SW, 07.47N 20.14E , 15.v.2009, J Halada (1♀ 4♂ SC); Ndele , 35km E, 08.29N 20.57E , 17.v.2009, J Halada (5♂ SC); Kaga Bandoro , 40km S, 06.41N 19.07E , 14.iv.2010, J. Halada (2♀ 6♂ SC). Mozambique . Manje , 15km SSE, 15.29S 33.16E , Kadlecova (2♂ SC); Masiene , xii.1923, R.F. Lawrence (1♀ SAMC—B004301). Zimbabwe. Khami, 27.x.1938 (1specimen SAMC B004308), Bulawayo 19.xii.1919, (1specimen SAMC B004309). South Africa. Kloof, 2.ii.1915, Marley (1♀ SAMC B004300); Roodeplaat, 25.36.10S 28.21.05E , 6–12.iii.2012, C. Eardley (1♂ SANC).

FIGURE 19. Anthidiellum absonulum , MALE. A. FAcE. B. HABItUS. c. T6–T7. D. S5. E. GONOStyLUS. F. S8. g. S7. H. S 6. I. S5.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Anthidiellum, FEMALE,FAcE SHOWINg SHAPE OF cLyPEUS.A.DIStINctLy ROUNDED ABOVE.B.SLIgHt ROUNDED ABOVE.

FIGURE 18. Anthidiellum absonulum.A–B FEMALE.A.HABItUS.B. FAcE.c–D. MALE.c. HABItUS.

FIGURE 20.KNOWN DIStRIBUtION OF Anthidiellum absonulum.