Megachile discolor Smith.

Eardley, Connal, 2012, A taxonomic revision of the southern African species of the subgenus Creightonella Cockerell (Apoidea: Megachilidae: Megachile Latreille), Zootaxa 3159, pp. 1-35 : 21-23

Megachile discolor Smith.

Figs 12–14

Megachile discolor Smith, 1853: 157 , female lectotype (here designated) (NHML) Gambia. Creightoniella [!] discolor (Smith) : Pasteels 1965: 13, 15, 20, 33, 36–37, 38, 39.

Megachile fulleborni Friese, 1903: 281 , female and male syntypes (type depository unknown) Kenya; Cockerell 1930: 513, syn.; Pasteels 1965: 36.

Discussion. Smith (1853) described this species from Gambia. It is common in collections from the equatorial and savannah regions of Africa. A type specimen is in NHML, but it has a lectotype label, although such has never been designated. Smith (1853) does not indicate how many specimens he studied and the specimen in the NHML is here designated as the lectotype. It has been studied and is distinct. Friese (1903) described fulleborni and both Meade–Waldo (1912) and Cockerell (1930) synonymized it with discolor . The type material has not been located and in the absence of data to the contrary, Meade–Waldo (1912) and Cockerell’s (1930) decisions are agreed.

Diagnosis. Female. Vestiture on face and gena white, vertex orange; mesosomal dorsum orange, mesopleuron and venter, fore and middle legs black, propodeum and hind leg white; metasoma white (T1 and distal fringes on T2–T5 densely pubescent, discs sparsely pubescent); T5–T6 with white and black hairs intermixed ( Fig. 12a–b ); scopa white. Lengths: face 3.1–4.5 mm, scutum 2.5–2.8 mm, forewing 9.1–11.7 mm, body 12.1–14.0 mm. Structure. Clypeus about three times as wide as long, gently convex, densely punctuate, ventral edge straight ( Fig. 12a ), clypeocellus: clypeus 1:0.5; scopal hairs blunt distally.

Male. Vestiture on face and gena white, vertex orange; mesosomal dorsum orange, mesopleuron and venter, fore and middle legs black, propodeum and hind leg white; metasoma white (T1 and distal fringes on T2–T5 densely pubescent, discs sparsely pubescent) ( Fig. 12c–e ). Lengths: face 2.9–3.2 mm, scutum 2.0– 2.2 mm, forewing 8.8–9.5 mm, body 10.9–12.0 mm. Structure. Clypeus weakly convex, ventral edge convex, mediolateral and median regions concave; mandible three apical teeth, one large tooth on ventral edge; foretarsus unmodified; T6 weakly shield–like, with well developed mediolongitudinal carina, posterolateral lobe and posteromedian spine ( Fig. 12e , 13a ), distal endge not toothed; T7 with mediolongitudinal carina and posteromedian spine; S3–S4 not modified; S7, S8 as illustrated ( Fig. 13b–c ); gonocoxite resembles M. cognata (cf. Fig. 2 ).

Distribution ( Fig. 14 ). This species is widespread in Africa. In southern Africa it appears to be absent from the winter rainfall areas.

Biology. Megachile discolor has been collected on flowers of Acacia tortilis , Aspilia africana , Berkheya heterophylla , Guiera senegalensis , Justicia sp., Mimosa pigra , Parkia sp. and Virectaria multiflora .

Material examined. Type material. Female holotype of Megachile discolour : ‘ type B.M. TYPE HYM 17a 2209, Megachile discolor Sm. Type Gambia, W. AFRICA., type F. Sm. Coll 79.22, W. Africa, LECTOTYPE Creightonella discolor (Smith) det. Vd. Za 1992’, in NHML.

Additional material. Zimbabwe. Wankie [18.22S 26.29E], xii.1923, C. Taylor (1 male, SAMC); Rekomitjie Research Station [15.49S 29.08E], 4.xi.1973, R. Phelps (1 female, SANC); Harare [17.50S 31.03E], xi.1919, G. Marshall (1 female, SAMC); Sabi Valley [21.18S 32.23E], ii.1939 (1 female, SAMC); Umvumvumvu [19.32S 32.30E], vi.1932, P. Sheppard (5 females 2 males, TMSA); Hillside [17.50S 31.05E], 4.ii.1923 (1 males, TMSA); Rhodesdale [18.20S 31.25E], 8–18.xi.1923, R. Stevenson (2 females 2 males, TMSA); Bulawayo [20.09S 28.35E], i. xii.1923, (1 female 2 males, TMSA). Namibia. Outjo [20.07S 15.30E], i.1925 (2 females, SAMC); Namutoni [18.48S 16.59E], 1919, J. Breyer (3 females 1 male, TMSA); Rehoboth [23.29S 17.05E], xi.1937 – i.1938 (1 male, SAMC); Omaruru [21.26S 15.56E], Karibib, 15.xi.1984, F Herbst (1 specimen, AMSA); Okahandja [21.40S 17.20E], 17.xii.1983, H. Empey (1 specimen, AMSA); Windhoek [22.34S 17.50E], 17.viii.1975, R. Watmough (1 male, SANC); idem, 8.iii.1966, 22.xii.1966, F. Gess (2 specimens, AMSA); On 201 from 26, Karasburg, 27.09S 19.01E, 5.iii.2000, F. Gess, S. Gess (1 specimen, AMSA). Botswana. Metsimaklaba [24.32S 25.29E], 7– 12.iii.1930, V.L. Kalahari Expedition (2 female, TMSA); Farmers Brigade [22.23S 26.43E], 5km SE Serowe, 8.ii.1984, xi.1985, P. Forchhammer (1 female 1 male, SANC). South Africa. Kruger National Park, Lanner Gorge, 23.27S 31.08E, 402m, 28.i.1984, M. Mansell (1 female, SANC); Happy Rest, 22.57S 29.44E, 8.i.2004, C. Eardley (1 male, SANC); Tshipise [22.36S 30.10E], 1.ix.1984, F. Herbst (1 specimen, AMSA); Swadini [24.32S 25.29E], Blyde River, 22–23.ii.1983, F. Herbst (2 specimens, AMSA); Blyde River, 21.ii.1983, F. Herbst (1 specimen, AMSA); Manoutsa [24.26S 30.37E], Pilgrim's Rest, 19.xi.1982, F. Herbst (2 specimens, AMSA); Matlabas [24.16S 27.19E], 6.xii.1980, F. Herbst (1 specimen, AMSA); Kaapmuiden [25.32S 31.19E], 20.x.1918, R. Tucker (2 males, SAMC); Wylliespoort, Ingwe Motel, 22.58S 29.57E, 20–22.i.1982, 31.i.1984, C. Eardley (1 female 1 male, SANC); Nylsvley [24.39S 28.42E], x.1978, C. Eardley (1 female, SANC); Soutpan, 25.24S 28.06E, 6.xi.1983, C. Eardley (2 females, SANC); Mfongosi [28.44S 30.49E], iii–iv.1916, iii.1917, iv–xi.1934 (1 female 5 males, SAMC); Mkuzi, Indunagazi [27.38S 32.15E], 21.i.1947, H. Munro (1 male, SANC); Umfolozi Game Reserve [28.19S 32.10E], 18.ii.1987, A. Weaving (2 specimens, AMSA); Weenen [28.50S 30.06E], 273m, i– iii.1924, H. Thomasset, (4 male, SANC); Barberton [25.47S 31.03E], iii.1979, C. Eardley (1 female 2 males, SANC); Kuruman [27.27S 23.26E], 8.iv.1933, G. van Son (1 male, TMSA); Kroonstad [27.39S 27.14E], 18.i.1948, 31.xii.1965, J. Brothers (2 specimens, AMSA); Sandveld Nature Reserve, 27.40S 25.45E, 24– 25.ii.1923, C. Eardley (1 male, SANC); Bloemfontein [29.08S 26.12E], 6.ii.1915, (1 female, SANC); Tussen–die–Rievere Nature Reserve, 30.30S 26.12E, 20–26.i.1994, C. Eardley (1 male, SANC); Port St. John [31.38S 29.32E], x.1916, H. Swinny (1 female, TMSA); Willowmore [33.17S 23.29E], December to March, H. Brauns (2 females 10 males, TMSA); Pearston [32.35S 25.08E], 18.ii.1971, H. Empey (1 female, SANC); Rietbron [32.54S 23.09E], iii.1965, H. Empey (2 females, SANC); Beaufort West [32.21S 22.35E], ii.1958 (5 males, SAMC); Graaff–Reinet [31.15S 24.33E], 14.iii.1969, L. Starke (1 male, SANC); idem, M. Strydom (1 female, SANC); Vlakwater-Lynton, Grahamstown [33.18S 26.32E], 20.xi.1990, F. Gess, S. Gess (1 specimen, AMSA); Clifton, 18km NW of Grahamstown, 7.i.1979, 29.i.1986, 15.i.–8.ii.1981, F. Gess, S. Gess, D.Gess (11 specimens, AMSA); Hilton, Grahamstown, 17.ii.1983, D. Gess (1 specimen, AMSA); Strowan, Grahamstown, 9.xii.2001, F. Herbst (1 specimen, AMSA); Resolution [33.10S 26.37E], 30.i.1928, A. Watson (1 male, TMSA); Fort Beaufort [32.47S 26.38E], 20.i.1960, C. Jacot Guillarmod (1 specimen, AMSA); Onverwacht, Oudtshoorn [33.51S 24.26E], 9.xii.1986, R. Gess (1 specimen, AMSA); Tierberg [33.20S 22.16E] (Study Site), Prince Albert Dist., 26.xi.1987, 16.xi.1994, F. Gess, S. Gess, R. Gess (60 specimens, AMSA).

Figures

FIGURE 14. Known distribution of Megachile discolor.

FIGURE 12 a – e. Megachile discolor. a. Female face. b. Female habitus. c. Male face. d. Male habitus. e. Male T 6 – T 7.

FIGURE 13 a – e. Megachile discolor, male a. T 6. b. S 8. c. S 7.

FIGURE 2 a – f. Megachile cognata. a. Female mandible. b – f. Male. b. T 6. c. S 4. d. S 6. e. S 8. f. Genital capsule.