Sphecodopsis catastropha, 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 : 75-77

Sphecodopsis catastropha sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:44AD2A28-7943-41C5-A59E-51D935555398

Figs 57–58

Diagnosis

The female of S. catastropha 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 nine times as long as its apical width ( Fig. 58C ); metasoma completely black ( Fig. 57B ); punctation of mesoscutum denser (i=0.25–0.5 d) and finer ( Fig. 57D ). The male is unknown.

Etymology

The name refers to the catastrophic condition the only known specimen was initially in. Noun in apposition.

Type material (1 specimen)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; Leliefontein , slope; 30°14′ S, 18°09′ E; 23 Sep. 2003; yellow + white trap; CM leg.; SAMC.

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 5.3 mm.

HEAD. Head wider than long. Vertex slightly rounded, ocelli highest point. Integument black, except part of mandibles reddish-brown. Face sparsely covered with short, black hair mixed with yellowish-white hair. Face with dense (i =0.25–0.5 d) and fine but deep punctation ( Fig. 57C ). 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. 57D ). Propodeum with dense (i =0.5–1 d), fine and shallow punctation, metapostnotum matt ( Fig. 58A ). Mesoscutum sparsely covered with short, black hair, mixed with shorter white hair. Mesoscutellum covered with short yellowish-white hair mixed with few longer, black hairs ( Fig. 57D ). Propodeum and metanotum sparsely covered with short, white hair metapostnotum glabrous ( Figs 57D , 58A ). Mesepisternum covered with short white hair mixed with few longer black hairs.

WINGS. Fuscous; wing venation brown and stigma brown ( Fig. 57A ).

LEGS. Integument black. Coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsi covered with short, white hair ( Fig. 57A ). METASOMA. Integument of T1–T6 black. T1 and T2 with few short, golden hairs, from T3 increasingly more and longer hair ( Fig. 57B ). T5 disc with long golden hairs, marginal zone sparsely covered with short, white hairs. T6 almost straight apically, densely covered with short, golden hair ( Fig. 58B ). Shape of S6 ( Fig. 58C ) as illustrated.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Only known from the type locality in the Kamiesberg Mts.

Host bees

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

September.

Figures

Fig. 57.Sphecodopsis catastropha sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (SAMC). A. Habitus (lateral view).B. Metasoma (dorsal view). C. Head. D. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum (dorsal view).

Fig. 58. Sphecodopsis catastropha sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (SAMC). A. Propodeum. B. T5 and T6. C. S6.