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.