Hofferia schmiedeknechti ( Schletterer, 1889 )

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 : 178

Hofferia schmiedeknechti ( Schletterer, 1889)

Chelostoma schmiedeknechti Schletterer, 1889: 638 . Type material: Holotype ♀, “Süd-Ungarn (Mehadia)” ( Romania), Hungarian Natural History Museum Budapest. Type species of Hofferia .

Heriades tumida Benoist, 1928: 332 . Type material: Holotype ♂, “Taurus” ( Turkey), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle Paris. Synonymy in Zanden (1990).

Heriades gibba Benoist, 1928: 333 . Type material: Holotype ♂, “Taurus” ( Turkey), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle Paris. Synonymy in Zanden (1990).

New records. BULGARIA: Sozopol, 22.6.1963, 6.7.1977 ; Slancev Brjag, 25.7.1968, 20.6.1971, 1.– 30.6.1972, 2.6.– 7.7.2008 ; Pisatel, 6.7.1976; Biser-Harmanli, 28.6.1978 ; Albena, 6.7.1978; Varna-Vinica, 11.– 21.7.1978 ; Ropotamo, 11.7.1979 ; Lozenec, 16.6.2008 ; 25km NE Svilengrad, 20.6.2008 . GREECE, Epirus: Preveza, 25.6.1997 ; Lesvos: Sigri, 31.5.– 2.6.2012; Vatousa, 4.6.2012; Peloponnes: Olympia, 4.– 11.7.1979, 4.– 6.6.1995, 27.5.1998; 17km SW Kalavrita, 1.6.1993; Sparta, Amyklai, 19.5.1995; Avia, Kalamata, 9.– 10.6.1995, 26.6.1996; 5.5.2000; Diavolitsi, Karnasi, 12.6.1995; Ano Karnes (Likeos mountains), 17.6.1995; Chlemoutsi (Elis), 19.6.1995; Sparta, Menelaion, 5.6.1996; Hosiari, 8.6.1996; Samikon, 15.5.1997; Kotili (Likeos mountains), 21.– 22.6.1997, 17.6.1998; Mavromati, Ithome, 24.6.1997, 2.6.1998; Mistras, Parori, 10.7.1997; Kalogria (Achaia), 14.– 18.5.2000; Langada (Mani), 26.4.2001; 10km W Korinthos, 5.6.2005; Skoutari (Mani), 26.5.2006; Kato Loussi, 8.7.2006. ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: Banyas, 26.5.1991; Mt. Tabor, 28.5.1991; Mt. Meron, 30.5.1991; 40km NE Haifa, 1km E Hurfeish, 15.5.1996; Mt. Carmel, 29.5.2000; Golan, 1km NW Kefahr Hanasi, 23.5.2011; Golan, Lehavot HaBashan, 3.5.2013. JORDAN: North Shuna env., 29.– 30.4.1996; Ajlun, 1.5.2006. SYRIA: Apamea, 29.4.1995. TURKEY, Ankara: around Camlidere, 17.6.2006; Artvin: Yusufeli/Ishan, 20.5.1993; Aydin: between Kuyucak and Buharli, 28.5.2005; Bolu: Ciller, 20km W Mudurnu; Hakkari: 10km N Uludere, 4.6.1980; 10km NE Oramar, 29.6.1985; 25km E Gözeldere, 22.6.2010; Mersin: Kilik. Taurus, Namrun, 16.6.– 3.7.1979 .

Literature records. MACEDONIA: Ohrid, 7.6.1965 ( Zanden, 1989).

Distribution. Southeastern Europe ( Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, southern Romania) to easternmost Turkey and southwards to the Levant ( Syria, Jordan, Israel and Palestine).

Pollen hosts. Oligolectic on Carduoideae (Asteraceae) (based on 15 pollen samples from 13 different localities, the pollen content of three brood cells from the same nest and field observations; Tkalců, 1984); one pollen load contained pollen grains of the Anthemis type, suggesting that species of Asteroideae are occasionally exploited as pollen sources as well. Flower records: Carduus acanthoides , C. thoermeri , Onopordum tauricum ( Tkalců, 1984) ; Silybum marianum , Centaurea spec. (personal observation).

Nesting biology. Beetle burrows in dead wood ( Figs. 1–3 ; Tkalců, 1984). The nests are closed with a thick plug of plant resin mixed with small pebbles ( Fig. 3 ); resin is also used for the construction of the thin walls that separate the linearly arranged brood cells.

Figures

FIGURE 1 – 3. 1: Nesting site of Hofferia schmiedeknechti on the Golan Heights in northeastern Israel, near Lehavot HaBashan; several females nested in trunk and branches of this dead Cupressus tree (Photo D. Bénon). 2: Female of Hofferia schmiedeknechti entering her nest in a beetle burrow in a dead Cupressus tree (Photo D. Bénon). 3: Opened nest of Hofferia schmiedeknechti with three linearly arranged brood cells; the nest is plugged with dark plant resin of unknown origin mixed with small pebbles; the cell walls also consist of resin.