Megachile (Pseudomegachile) tecta Radoszkowski 1888

Dorchin, Achik & Praz, Christophe J., 2018, Taxonomic revision of the Western Palaearctic bees of the subgenus Pseudomegachile (Hymenoptera, Apiformes, Megachilidae, Megachile), Zootaxa 4524 (3), pp. 251-307 : 303-304

Megachile (Pseudomegachile) tecta Radoszkowski 1888

Megachile tecta Radoszkowski 1888: 339 , ♀ nec ♂, “Askhabat” [Ashgabat, Turkmenistan; the male from Egypt is certainly not conspecific].

Megachile stolzmanni Radoszkowski 1893: 46 , ♀ nec ♂, “Sérax” [Sarakhs, Iran]. Lectotype ♀, designation of Alfken 1936: 309, ISZP. New synonymy.

Megachile flavidula Rebmann 1970b: 157 , ♀, “O-Afghanistan, Gulbahar , 1700m ” [ Afghanistan]. Holotype ♀, paratype ♀, SMNK, SMFD. New synonymy.

Distribution: Iran, Central Asia.

Note: 1. The lectotype female of M. stolzmanni is likely an atypical female of M. tecta ; the clypeus has particularly coarse punctation (considerable variation is observed in this characteristics in M. tecta ) and the integument of tergites 1 and 2 is ferruginous. For now, we consider M. stolzmanni as a synonym of M. tecta , but study of more specimens from Central Asia would be important to document the intraspecific variation within M. tecta .

2. One female collected in Turkey (5kmO Ürgüp/ Nevşehir 1100m, 24.08.1991, leg. Halada), is sculpturally similar to M. tecta , although the metasomal vestiture is grey and not fulvous, and the specimen is comparatively large. The identity of this specimen is uncertain and future work including more specimens and ideally DNA sequences is needed to confirm this record.

3. In the Radoszkowski collection (ISZP), only two females of M. tecta are preserved. These females are labeled “Tachkend” [Tashkent, Uzbekistan] and are thus likely not syntypes. We were not able to locate syntype specimens of M. tecta .

Pollen hosts: Pollen-collecting females were caught on the plant genus Alhagi (Fabaceae) (C. Praz, unpublished).

Nesting biology: Unknown.

Material examined: Type material: Holotype ♀ of M. stolzmanni ( ISZP) [see note above]; holotype ♀ ( SMNK), paratypes ♀ ( SMNK, SMFD) of M. flavidula .

Additional material: IRAN: Kerman Prov. Jupar 1900m N30°05 E57°12, 1.6.2010, Mi Halada leg.; Mehdi Abad Bahadpran, 10.6.2012, L. Dehghan leg.; KAZAKHSTAN: Kosapan (Djambul) Moyunkum Desert, 18– 20.7.1991, S. Becvar leg.; KYRGYZSTAN: E-Terskei Mt. R. Arashan, 2000m 42°28N 78°32E, 24.8.1999, Makogonova leg.; UZBEKISTAN: Beruni, Sand Dunes 41°39N 60°59E, 25.5.2008, C. Praz & I. Abdullaev leg.; Bukara 39°45N 64°28E, 2.6.2008, C. Praz & A. Khamraev leg.; Bukara Prov. Bukara 39°45'64°28, 2.6.2008, C. Praz & A. Khamraev leg.; Czirczik 41,1N 69,1E, 28.5.1994, J. Halada leg.; Karakalpakstan Beruni. Sand dunes 41°39'60°59, 25.5.2008, C. Praz & I. Abdullaev leg.; Kashkadaria Region nr Shakhrisabz 39°03N 66°50E, 6.7.1999, S. L. Zonstein leg.; Khiva 41°22N 60°21E, 27.5.2008, C. Praz & I. Abdullaev leg.; Tashkent 41°22N 69°19E, 25.5.2000, S. L. Zonstein leg.; Tchatkal Mts Bashkyzylsai r. 41°11N 69°50E, 2.8.1999, Makogonova leg.