Bembix harenarum Arnold, 1929

Gess, Friedrich W. & Gess, Sarah K., 2014, Geographical distributions of Bembix (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae, Bembicinae) in southern Africa, with notes on biology, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 36, pp. 53-130 : 81

Bembix harenarum Arnold Fig. 8f

Bembex harenarum Arnold, 1929: 371, figs 35, 35a, pl. 6, figs 28, 29, ♂, ♀ (Syntypes, South Africa, Plettenberg Bay, in TMSA) (in revision of southern African Sphecidae ); Arnold 1930: 21 (in checklist of Afrotropical Sphecidae ).

Bembix harenarum Arnold, Lohrmann 1948: 448 (member of fuscipennis species group of Bembix ); Bohart and Menke 1976: 546 (in checklist of world Sphecidae ); Gess and Gess 1998: 351, Fig. 22.18 (habitat); Pulawski 2013: 34 (in catalogue of world Sphecidae sensu lato).

Material examined.

SOUTH AFRICA: EASTERN CAPE: Port St. Johns [31.38S, 29.33E], xii.1961 (F. W. and S. K. Gess), 6 ♀♀, 8 ♂♂ [SAMC]; same locality and collectors, iii.1967, 11 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Rietrivier Mouth near Port Alfred [33.33S, 27.01E], 28.i.1973 (F.W. Gess), 1 ♀; same locality, 19.ii.1978 (D.W. Gess), 1 ♀; Zwartkops [now Swartkops] [33.52S, 25.36E], Algoa Bay, ii.1919 (C. B. Krüger), 1♀ (seashore dunes); Klipbaai [circa 34.11S, 24.43E], between Oyster and Cape St Francis bays, 9-12.i.1988 (R.W. Gess and W. Archer), 6 ♀♀ (1 ♀ with prey: Tabanidae ). WESTERN CAPE: Grootrivier [ Nature’s Valley], Knysna Dist.[33.59S, 23.34E], i.1955 (P.M.D. Martin), 1 ♂; same locality, 1.1958 (P.M.D. Martin), 1 ♀; Nature’s Valley, 8.iii.1970 (L.C. Starke), 1 ♀ [SANC]; Nature’s Valley, Tsitsikama Forest, 28.xii.1966 (C. Jacot-Guillarmod), 7 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ (1 ♂ bearing pollinia of Asclepiadaceae on all its claws); Wilderness [33.59S, 22.35E], George, 25.i.1922 (Brauns), 1 ♂; Plettenberg Bay [34.03S, 23.22E], i.1920 (Brauns),1 ♀ ("See Strand") [SAMC]; Brenton-on-Sea [34.04S, 23.01E]), Knysna, iv.1977 (F.W. Gess), 1 ♀ (littoral zone) - [all AMGS unless otherwise indicated].

Additional records extracted from database of specimens in collection of SAMC are from Plettenberg Bay and Bredasdorp, no sexes or determiners given.

Geographical distribution.

The species appears to have a strictly coastal distribution ( Fig. 9f ). Known from Port St Johns to Brenton-on-Sea near Knysna and, if the unconfirmed record from SAMC is included, Bredasdorp.

Floral associations.

Recorded from one plant family Apocynaceae (formerly Asclepiadaceae , based on pollinia carried on claws).

Nesting.

Unknown, probably in the supra-littoral dunes.

Prey.

Recorded taking one family of Diptera : Tabanidae (one female captured with tabanid prey).

Figures

Figure 8. a Bembix spp.: Bembix diversipennis, female, male b Bembix flavicincta, female c Bembix fraudulenta, female, male d Bembix fuscipennis, southern melanistic form, female, male e Bembix fuscipennis, northern yellow form, female f Bembix harenarum, female, male. (approximate lengths of females: a 27 mm; b 22.5 mm; c 12.5 mm; d 18.5 mm; e 18 mm; f 15.5 mm)

Figure 9. Distributions of collection records of Bembix spp.: a Bembix diversipennis b Bembix flavicincta c Bembix fraudulenta d Bembix fuscipennis e Bembix gracilens f Bembix harenarum.