Sphecodopsis microscopica, 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 : 82-85

Sphecodopsis microscopica sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:86F371F1-6556-4232-BFE2-042D66CBE1AB

Figs 63–64

Diagnosis

The female of S. microscopica 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 seven times as long as its apical width, more or less spatulate, shape as shown in Fig. 64C ; body length 3.5–5.8 mm; metasoma partially red ( Fig. 63B ); fore tibia and tarsi usually black, sometimes with small reddish spots ( Fig. 63A ); T6 covered with only thin golden hair ( Fig. 64B ); head and mesosoma with light hair ( Fig. 63C–D ); propodeum very sparsely covered with short white hair ( Fig. 64A ); T6 almost straight apically with a distinct fringe, hair laterally much longer than medially ( Fig. 64B ). The male is unknown.

Etymology

The species is named for its minute size.

Type material (13 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; Gemsbokrivier-Pad , 4.5 km NE of Grootdrif, roadside; 31°25′54″ S, 18°55′16″ E; 170 m a.s.l.; 22 Aug. 2012; MK leg.; SAMC.

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; W Cape, Knersvlakte, Sukkulent Karoo , 30 km N of Vanrhynsdorp; 31°22′23″ S, 18°42′37″ E; 146 m a.s.l.; 5–6 Sep. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Gemsbokrivier-Pad , 4.5 km NE of Grootdrif, roadside; 31°25′54″ S, 18°55′16″ E; 170 m a.s.l.; 15 Aug. 2011; MK leg.; RCMK • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 6 Sep. 2016; RCMK • 1 ♀; W Cape, Knersvlakte, Kaapse Drif ; 31°26′01″ S, 18°47′34″ E; 22 Sep. 1999; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 23 Sep. 1999; RCMK • 1 ♀; Knersvlakte , roadside, 23 km ESE of Vanrhynsdorp; 31°44′06″ S, 18°55′32″ E; 200 m a.s.l.; 17 Aug. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 2 ♀♀; Keiski Mts , 3 km E of Farm M’Vera, shale; 31°45′29″ S, 19°54′13″ E; 1190 m a.s.l.; 28 Sep. 2022; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; SANC • 1 ♀; Roggeveld Mts , 2 km S of Farm Houdenbek, roadside; 32°18′03″ S, 20°23′16″ E; 1280 m a.s.l.; 16 Sep. 2018; MK leg.; RCMK .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 3.2–4.5 mm.

HEAD. Head wider than long. Vertex slightly rounded, ocelli highest point. Integument black, except part of mandibles red. Face covered with short, yellowish-white hair. Face with dense (i =0.25–0.5 d) and fine but deep punctation ( Fig. 63C ). Surface between punctures slightly shiny.Antenna black.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula reddish-brown. Mesoscutum slightly shiny. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely (i= 0.25–0.5 d) and finely but deeply punctate ( Fig. 63D ). Propodeum with dense (i =0.5–1 d), fine and shallow punctation, metapostnotum matt ( Fig. 64A ). Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and metanotum sparsely covered with short, white hair ( Fig. 63D ). Propodeum sparsely covered with few short white hairs, metapostnotum glabrous ( Fig. 64A ). Mesepisternum covered with slightly long, white hair.

WINGS. Yellowish; wing venation brown and stigma brown ( Fig. 63A ).

LEGS. Integument black, except tibia apically light red. Coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsi covered with short, white hair ( Fig. 63A ).

METASOMA. Integument of T1–T2 red, T3 to a variable extent red, from completely black to only black on the disc, T4–T6 black. T1 and T2 with few short, white and golden hairs, from T3 increasingly more and longer hair ( Fig. 63B ). T5 disc covered with long, white hair, marginal zone covered with short, white hairs. T6 almost square and straight apically with a small, short hair fringe on either side, densely covered with short golden and white hair ( Fig. 64B ). Shape of S6 ( Fig. 64C ) as illustrated.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

So far, the species has been recorded in the Knersvlakte, the Keiskie Mts and the Roggeveld Mts.

Host bees

Likely hosts are equally small species of euryglossiform Scrapter ( Kuhlmann 2014; Kuhlmann & Friehs 2020) that were found in association with this cuckoo bee.

Seasonal activity

August–September.

Figures

Fig. 63. Sphecodopsis microscopica sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (Gemsbokrivier-Pad, RCMK). A. Habitus (lateral view). B. Metasoma (dorsal view). C. Head. D. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum (dorsal view).

Fig. 64. Sphecodopsis microscopica sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (Gemsbokrivier-Pad, RCMK). A. Propodeum. B. T5 and T6. C. S6.