Sphecodopsis atra, 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 : 73-75

Sphecodopsis atra sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DC4BA407-AAC3-4EFB-B8B1-51CDCBFE2082

Figs 55–56

Diagnosis

The female of S. atra 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 five times as long as its apical width ( Fig. 56C ); metasoma completely black ( Fig. 55B ); punctation of the mesoscutum more dispersed (i =0.5–1 d) and coarser ( Fig. 55D ). The male is unknown.

Etymology

The name refers to the black colour of the species.

Type material (3 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; W Cape, 25 km S of Bredasdorp , coast; [34°40′ S, 20°02′ E]; 23 Oct. 1999; MH leg.; RCMS.

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; RCMK .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 4.5–4.9 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, yellowish-white hair. Face with dense (i=0.25–0.5 d), coarse and deep punctation, except clypeus with dense (i =0.25–1 d) and fine but deep punctation ( Fig. 55C ). Surface between punctures slightly shiny. Antenna black and reddish-brown.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula reddish-brown. Mesoscutum slightly shiny. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely (i=0.5–1 d), coarsely and deeply punctate ( Fig. 55D ). Propodeum with dense (i=0.5–1 d) and fine but deep punctation, metapostnotum matt ( Fig. 56A ). Mesoscutum, metanotum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, white hair, metapostnotum glabrous ( Figs 55D , 56A ). Mesoscutellum sparsely covered with longer, yellowish-white hair. Mesepisternum with short, white hair ( Fig. 55D ).

WINGS. Yellowish; wing venation brown and stigma brown ( Fig. 55A ).

LEGS. Integument black to reddish-brown. Coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsi covered with short, white hair ( Fig. 55A ).

METASOMA. Integument of T1–T6 black. T1 and T2 with sparse short, white and golden hair, from T3 increasingly more and longer hair ( Fig. 55B ). T5 disc with long golden hairs, marginal zone covered with short, white hairs. T6 slightly rounded apically and with a hair fringe, densely covered with short, golden hair ( Fig. 56B ). Shape of S6 ( Fig. 56C ) as illustrated.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Only known from the type locality at the coast near Bredasdorp.

Host bees

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

October.

Figures

Fig. 55. Sphecodopsis atra sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (RCMK). A. Habitus (lateral view). B. Metasoma (dorsal view). C. Head. D. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum (dorsal view).

Fig. 56. Sphecodopsis atra sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (RCMK). A. Propodeum. B. T5 and T6. C. S6.