Bembix zinni Gess, 1986

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 : 100-101

Bembix zinni Gess Fig. 15d

Bembix zinni Gess, 1986: 140, figs 9-19, ♂, ♀ (Holotype, ♂, South Africa, Laingsburg District, Merweville, in SAMC); S. Gess 1996: 266, 284 (flower visiting records); Gess and Gess 2003: 126 (flower visiting records); Pulawski 2013: 93 (in catalogue of Sphecidae sensu lato).

Material examined.

NAMIBIA: 24 km N [of] Palm Wag (19.43S, 13.51E), 18.iii.1999 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 2 ♀♀ [AMGS]; Western end of Grootberg Pass (19.47S, 14.17E), 19.iii.2004 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting white flowers of Heliotropium tubulosum E. Mey. ex. DC., Boraginaceae ) [AMGS]; Two Palms, Uniab River (19.53S, 13.54E), 27.iii.2004 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ (at water) [AMGS]; same locality, 28.iii.2004 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 4 ♀♀ (visiting white flowers [of] Heliotropium tubulosum ) [AMGS]; road D344 WNW [of] Omatjete (20.57S, 15.14E), 15.iii.2004 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 2 ♀♀ [AMGS]; Uis to Omaruru (21.14S, 15.00E), 21.iii.2004, (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting yellow flowers [of] Cleome sp., Capparaceae ) [AMGS]; Gobabis [22.30S, 18.58E], 12.xii.1983 (Empey), 2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ [AMGS]; Nomtsas (24.25S, 16.51E), 18.iii.1997, 3 ♀♀ (1 ♀ visiting deep pink flowers of Sesuvium sesuvioides (Fenzl) Verdc., Aizoaceae : non-Mesembryanthema; 2 ♀♀ visiting white flowers of Limeum argute-carinatum Wawra & Peyr., Molluginaceae ); 18 km SE [of] Stampriet on [road] C15 to Gochas (24.28S, 18.30E), 29.iii.2000, 1 ♀ (visiting white flowers of Limeum argute-carinatum ); Gross Nabas, 24 km SE [of] Stampriet (24.30S, 18.32E), 30.iii.2000, 7 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (1 ♀ visiting orange/pink flowers of Indigofera sp., Papilionaceae ; 6 ♀♀, 1 ♂ visiting white flowers of Limeum argute-carinatum ); S [of] Maltahöhe, on [road] D811 (25.15S, 17.01E), 23.iii.1999, 1 ♀; 8, 10 & 24.iii.1999, 8 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ (1 ♀ visiting white flowers of Limeum sp.); 2 km from [road] C17 on [road] R511 to Mata Mata (25.37S, 19.25E), 8.iii.2000, 1 ♀ 1 ♂ (♂ visiting white flowers of Limeum argute-carinatum ); Köes to Gochas (25.39S, 19.24E), 8.iii.2000, 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (♀ with prey: Bombyliidae ); Keetmanshoop/Aus, 96 km E of Aus (26.42S, 17.11E), 28.ii.2000, 1 ♀ - (all F.W. and S.K. Gess) [all AMGS]; Karasburg [28.00S, 18.43E], 14.xii.1974 (Empey), 8 ♀♀; same locality, 5.i.1975 (Empey), 4 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ [AMGS]. SOUTH AFRICA: NORTHERN CAPE: Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, Nossob River bed, circa 20 km S of Nossob Rest Camp [circa 25.30S, 20.38E], 8.iii.1990 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ (on yellow flowers Tribulus cristatus Presl., Zygophyllaceae ); Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, Nossob River bed, 11 km NNE of Twee Rivieren [26.24S, 20.41E], 8-11.iii.1990 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 3 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ (1 ♀ on yellow flowers of Pentzia incana (Thunb.) Kuntze, Asteraceae ; 2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ (on white flowers of Limeum aethiopicum Burm.) - (all F.W. and S.K. Gess) [all AMGS]; WESTERN CAPE: Merweville, Laingsburg Dist. [32.40S, 21.31E], i-ii.1947 and i.1959 (H. Zinn), holotype ♂, paratype ♂, 4 paratype ♀♀ [SAMC], paratype ♂, 3 paratype ♀♀ [AMGS].

Geographical distribution.

Previously known only from the type locality. The here listed data indicate an extensive and continuous distribution ranging in the north from Palm Wag in Namibia to, in the south, the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa. At present the type locality, Merweville in the Western Cape, appears separated from the above, most probably due to a hiatus of collecting ( Fig. 16d ). It is probably at the southern limit of the species’ distribution.

Floral associations.

Recorded from seven plant families: Apiaceae ( Deverra denudata (Viv.) Pfisterer & Podl.); Molluginaceae ( Limeum aethiopicum Burm. and Limeum argute-carinatum Wawra & Peyr.); ( Aizoaceae (non-Mesembryanthema, Sesuvium sesuvioides (Fenzl) Verdc.); Asteraceae ( Pentzia incana (Thunb.) Kuntze); Boraginaceae ( Heliotropium tubulosum E. Mey. ex. DC.); Capparaceae ( Cleome sp.); Fabaceae ( Papilionoideae , Indigofera sp.; Zygophyllaceae ( Tribulus cristatus Presl.).

Nesting.

Unknown.

Prey.

Unknown.

Figures

Figure 15. Bembix spp.: a Bembix triangulifera, female, male b Bembix ulula, female, male c Bembix venusta, female, male d Bembix zinni, female, male. (approximate lengths of females: a 14.5 mm; b 15.5 mm; c 22 mm; d 14 mm)

Figure 16. Distributions of collection records of Bembix spp.: a Bembix triangulifera b Bembix ulula c Bembix venusta d Bembix zinni.