Hofferia mauritanica ( Lucas, 1849 )

Müller, Andreas & Trunz, Vincent, 2014, Palaearctic osmiine bees of the genera Hofferia and Stenoheriades (Megachilidae, Osmiini): biology, taxonomy and key to species, Zootaxa 3765 (2), pp. 175-186 : 177-178

Hofferia mauritanica ( Lucas, 1849)

Chelostoma mauritanicum Lucas, 1849: 205 . Type material: Holotype ♀, “lac Tonga ” ( Algeria). Eriades obtusus Friese, 1897: 193 . Type material: Lectotype ♂, by designation of Tkalců (1984), “ Algeria ”, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. Synonymy in Alfken (1914).

New records. ALGERIA: Tikjda Kabylie, 26. – 28.6.1954 ; Constantine, 25.5.– 16.6.2005 ; Constantine, 20.4.– 23.5.2008 ; Guelma, 1.6.2008 ; Skikda, 2.6.2008 ; Mila, Ouledbazer, 18.4. – 26.5.2013 ; Mila, Redjas, 1.6.2013. MOROCCO: Meknes, 16.– 17.7.1931 ; Tizi-n-Tichka, 2.7.1987; Kenitra, 30.4.1990 ; Amouguer, 50km W Rich, 23.5.1995 ; Bhalil, 10km NW Sefrou, 28.5.1995 ; Oujda, Jbel Mahseur, 26.5.1996 ; Oujda, Oued Oussera, 29.5.1996 ; Ifrane env., 17.5.2003 ; Volubilis, 2.5km NW Moulay-Idriss, 2.6.2007. TUNISIA: Hammam-Liv, 22.5.1913 ; Tabarka, 4.7.1972 ; Zaghouan mountains, 1.– 2.6.1993 ; 10km S Nefza, 18.4.2001.

Distribution. Northern Africa from Morocco to Tunisia.

Pollen hosts. Oligolectic on Carduoideae (Asteraceae) (based on 27 pollen samples from 11 different localities). Flower records: Centaurea acaulis , C. calcitrapa , C. nicaensis , C. solstitialis , Galactites tomentosa , Onopordum illyricum , O. macracanthum (label records).

Nesting biology. Unknown.