Bembix fuscipennis Lepeletier

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 : 78-81

Bembix fuscipennis Lepeletier Fig. 8d, e

Bembex fuscipennis Lepeletier, 1845: 271, ♂, ♀ (Syntypes, "Cape of Good Hope", depository ?); F. Smith 1856 (in catalogue of Hymenoptera in British Museum); Taschenberg 1870: 19 (South Africa: Cape area); Handlirsch 1893: 850, pl. 3, figs 2, 25, pl. 7, fig. 29, ♂, ♀ (in revision of world Bembicini ); Dalla Torre 1897: 505 (in catalogue of world Hymenoptera ); Arnold 1929: 373, figs 36, 36a, 36b, pl. 6, fig. 30, ♂, ♀ (in revision of southern African Sphecidae ); Arnold 1930: 21 (in checklist of Afrotropical Sphecidae ); Schouteden 1930: 96 (Zaire); Cuthbertson 1939 (prey and nest parasite, Craticulina tabaniformis (Fabricius), Sarcophagidae ); Berland 1950: 296 (Niger, Aïr area); Pagliano 2011: 121 (specimens in collection of Spinola, Torino).

Bembix fuscipennis Lepeletier, J. Parker 1929: 91 (in revision of Stizini and Bembicini ); Giordani Soika 1939: 105 (Eritrea: Keren); Guiglia 1943: 75 (Ethiopia: Gamo Gofa: Sagan - Omo Region); J. Parker 1942: 206, pl. 18, figs 15, 18 (valid species); Lohrmann 1948: 448 (member of fuscipennis species group of Bembix ); Guiglia 1950: 240 (Ethiopia: Gamo Gofa: Caschei); Arnold 1951: 138, figs 30, 30a (discussion of male genitalia); Leclercq 1955: 408 (Ruanda); de Beaumont 1967: 506 (South Africa, Natal); Gess 1981: 21 (South Africa: 18 km WNW Grahamstown, nesting in friable soil); R. Bohart and Menke 1976: 546 (in checklist of world Sphecidae ); Casolari and Casolari Moreno 1980: 115 (specimens in M. Spinola collection); Gess 1981: 21 (nesting in friable soil); Gess 1986: 158 (prey); Guichard 1989: 145 (Saudi Arabia, Yemen); Gess and Gess 2003: 123 (flower visiting records); Gadallah and Assery 2004: 230 (in catalogue of Sphecidae of Saudi Arabia); Pulawski 2013: 30-31 (in catalogue of world Sphecidae sensu lato).

Bembex stevensoni J. Parker, 1929: 92, ♂, ♀ (Holotype, ♂, Zimbabwe, Bulawayo in USNM); Arnold 1931: 214, synonymised with Bembex fuscipennis ; J. Parker 1942: 2006 (valid species); Arnold 1951: 138 (discussion of male genitalia).

Note.

In this species there is a marked north-south variation in colouration. Specimens examined (as listed below under Material examined) from the north, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and northern South Africa, are characterised by the entire clypeus brownish amber, whereas in specimens examined from the south only the anterior third to half of the clypeus is brownish amber, the rest of the clypeus is black. A certain degree of ovelap of the two colour forms is noted in specimens examined from the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

This observation is supported by the published descriptions: Parker (1929) in recording a female from Tabora (Tanzania) and a male from Bulawyo (Zimbabwe) stated that "The clypeus of the female before me is entirely ferruginous"; Arnold (1929) recording specimens from Zimbabwe and northern South Africa stated, "labrum and clypeus brownish amber yellow"; Handlirsch (1893) referring to specimens examined by him from “Transvaal”, "Port Natal" and "Cape of Good Hope", that is from both the north and the south, noted, "Corpus nigrum, orbitus, magine apicali clipei (raro toto clipeo) et labro ferrugineo-luteis, ….”. Lepeletier (1845) in his description of both sexes from the "Cap de Bonne-Espérance” stated inter alia, "Clypeus niger, margine antico ferrugineo, …”.

Indeed, specimens from the north are altogether less melanistic than those from the south. The pale colouring of the streak on each side of the face, the spots behind the antennal sockets, the band of spots below the ocellar region, the flagellum, the yellow spot on the posterior angles of the epinotal dorsum and the pale bands on the tergites are all greatly reduced in specimens from the south as compared with specimens from the north.

Material examined.

MALAWI: Domira B[ay] [13.35S, 34.27E], Lake Nyasa [now Lake Malawi], (alt.1760 [feet]), no date given (C.B. Casey), 1 ♀ [DMSA]. ZAMBIA: Abercorn [now Mbala] [8.50S, 31.24E], 19.vii.1945 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]. Z1MBABWE: Salisbury [now Harare] [17.48S, 31.03E], 27.x.1914 (J. O’Neil), 1 ♀; Sabi Valley [20.20S, 32.20E], iii.1939 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♀ [SAMC]; Victoria Falls [17.55S, 25.50E], 1.i.1920 (G. Arnold), 1 ♀; same locality, 2.i.1920 (G. Arnold), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; same locality, 16.xi.1942 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia) 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Inyanga (4000') [18.16S, 32.43E], xii.1920 (Rhodesia Museum), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Bulawayo [20.07S, 28.32E], 30.ix.1923 (Rhodesia Museum), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; same locality, 28.v.1923 (R. Stevenson), 1 ♂; same locality, 18.ii.1924 (R.H.R. Stevenson), 1 ♂ [SANC]; same locality, 10.xii.1924 (R.H.R. Stevenson), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; same locality, 19.xii.1924 (R.H.R. Stevenson), 1 ♀ [SANC]; 7 m[iles] S of Chiturapodzi [??], Limpopo R[iver], 1.v.1968 (Nat.Mus. R. S. Exp), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Sawmills [19.35S, 28.02E], 25.x.1919 (G. Arnold), 1♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Same locality, 23.x.1922 (Rhodesia Museum), 1 ♂ [DMSA]; same locality, 22-27.xii.1923 (R.H.R. Stevenson), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; same locality, 25.xii.1925 (Rhod. Museum), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; 1 ♀ [AMGS]; Umtali [18.57S, 32.40E], 17.iv.1923 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 2 ♂♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Turk Mine [19.44S, 28.48E], 10.xi.1957 (Nat.Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]. MOZAMBIQUE: Dondo [19.41S, 34.45E], 3.ii.1924 (R.H.R. Stevenson), 1 ♀ [DMSA]. NAMIBIA: circa 13 km E of Okongwati, Opuwa road (17.31S, 13.22E), 24.iii.2004 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ (at water) [AMGS]; 7 km N of Palmwag (19.51S, 13.54E), 26.iii.2004 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ (at water) [AMGS]; near Two Palms, Uniab River (19.53S, 13.54E), 27.iii.2004 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ (at water) [AMGS]; 20 km E of Outjo (20.17S, 16.09E), 6.iv.1998 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Geigeria pectidea (DC) Harv., Asteraceae ) [AMGS]; 32 km W of Omaruru on road 2315 (21.29S, 15.43E), 2.iv.1998 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; between Omaruru and Wilhelmstal (21.31S, 16.03E), 3.iv.1998 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 12 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (11 ♀♀, 1 ♂ visiting deep pink flowers of Hermbstaedtia odorata (Burch.) T. Cooke, Amaranthaceae ) [AMGS]; Otjitundu River 42 km by road west of Okahandja (21.54S, 16.31E), 2.iv.2004 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Nidorella resedifolia DC., Asteraceae ) [AMGS]; 15 km W of Karibib on road to Usakos (21.56S, 15.42E), 5.iv.1998 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 2 ♀♀ (1 ♀ visiting yellow flowers of Osteospermum sp., Asteraceae ) [AMGS]; Okahandja [21.59S, 16.55E], 27.xii.1977 (Empey), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; 18 km W of1237/C26 junction (23.09S, 16.42E), 11.iii.1999 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting deep pink flowers of Hermbstaedtia sp., Amaranthaceae ) [AMGS]; Mariental [24.38S, 17.58E], 28.iii.1977 (Empey), 3 ♀♀ [AMGS]; G[rea]t Karas Mountains, xi.1936 (Mus. Staff), 1 ♂ [SAMC]. SOUTH AFRICA: LIMPOPO: Afguns, Ellisras [now Lephalale] [23.50S, 27.41E], 3.iv.1972 (Empey), 1 ♂ [AMGS]. MPUMALANGA: Kruger National Park, Onder Sabie [25.7S, 31.55E], 22.v.1969 (M.W. Strydom), 1 ♀ [SANC]; same locality, 2.vi.1969 (M.W. Strydom), 1 ♂ [SANC]; Kruger National Park, Malelane [25.28S, 31.31E], 30.v.1969 (M.W. Strydom), 1 ♀ [SANC]. NORTH WEST PROVINCE: Crystal Waters, Breedtsnek [circa 25.45S, 27.15E], 8.xi.1962 (H.N. Empey), 1 ♂ [AMGS]. FREE STATE: Bloemfontein [29.06S, 26.07E], 20.ii8i.1931 (C. Jacot-Guillarmod), 1 ♀. KWAZULU-NATAL: Umbilo [29.54S, 30.59E], 17/x.1915 (L. Bevis) 1 ♂ [DMSA]; Durban [29.49S, 31.01E], 7.iv.1913 (W. Haygarth), 2 ♀♀ [DMSA]; same locality, ii.1914 (W. Haygarth), 1 ♀ [SAMC]; same locality, 10.iii.1914 (W. Haygarth), 1 ♂ [DMSA]; same locality, 1.iii.1959 (C. Booth), 1 ♀ [SAMC]; Berea, Durban [29.51S, 30.60E], 27.xi.1958 (Empey), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Tugela Ferry [28.44S, 30.27E], 13.xi.1971 (Empey), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; Ladysmith [28.32S, 29.46E], 21.iii.1963 (H.N. Empey), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; Umtentweni [30.42S, 30.28E], 5.xi.1972 (Empey), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; Mfongosi [28.43S, 30.48E], iii.1914 (W.E. Jones), 1 ♂ [SAMC]; same locality, iv.1916 (W.E. Jones), 1 ♀ [SAMC]; same locality, 1923 ([The] Misses Jones), 1 ♀, 1 ♂; Stella B[ush], i.1915 (Marley), 1 ♀ [SAMC]. NORTHERN CAPE: Olifantshoek [27.57S, 22.42E], 10.xii.1978 (Empey), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Prieska [29.40S, 22.42E], 1.i.1978 (Empey), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; Namaqualand, Kamiesberg to Sors Sors (30.10S, 18.01E), 1 ♂ (visiting blue flowers of Anchusa capensis Thunb., Boraginaceae ) [AMGS]; Colesburg/Norvalspont, Vanwyksfontein farm (30.39S, 25.23E), 23.ii.2000 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Tribulus terrestris L., Zygophyllaceae ) [AMGS]; Vanwyksfontein [farm], 5 m[iles] W of Norvalspont [30.39S, 25.23E], 7.v.1980 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 4 ♀♀ [AMGS]; Vanwyksfontein [farm], 8 km W of Norvalspont [30.39S, 25.23E], 14-19.iv.1982 (F.W. Gess), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; Vanwyksfontein [farm], 8 km W of Norvalspont, 15.i.1985 (D.W. Gess), 1 ♂ (on flowering Acacia karroo Hayne, Fabaceae , Mimosoideae ); same locality and collector, 17.i.1985, 1 ♂ (on flowering Acacia karroo ); same locality and collector, 24.i.1985, 2 ♀♀ [AMGS]; Vanwyksfontein [farm], 8 km W of Norvalspont, 28-30.xi.1988 (R.W. Gess), 3 ♂♂; same locality and dates (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀, 3 ♂♂ [AMGS]; Thee Kloof, Fraserburg Div[ision] [32.05S, 20.41E], xi.1935 (Mus.Staff), 9 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Tanqua Karoo, Renoster Riv. [circa 32.16S, 20.05E], xi.1952 (Mus. Expd.), 1 ♂ [SAMC]; Tankwa Karoo [circa 32.15S, 19.45E], i.1949 (Zinn-Hesse Mus. Exp.), 1 ♀ [SAMC]; Warrenton [28.09S, 24.47E], x.1939 (Mus. Staff), 1 ♂ [SAMC]; Van Schalkwyks Kraal, Venterstad Div[ision], x.1935 (Mus.Staff), 1 ♂ [SAMC]; Colesberg [30.45S, 25.05E], 12.iii.1969 (M.W. Strydom), 1 ♀ [SANC]; same locality and date (L.C. Starke), 1 ♀ [SANC]; Victoria West [31.25S, 23.04E], 10.i.1965 (H.N. Empey), 3 ♀♀, 1 ♂ [AMGS]; EASTERN CAPE: Middelburg [31.30S, 25.00E], 2.xi.1972 (E. Holm), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; Middelburg Div[ision] [circa 31.30S, 25.00E], xi.1935(Mus. Staff), 4 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Resolution, Grahamstown [33.08S, 26.37E], 1930 (Miss Walton), 1 ♀ [SAMC]; Nieu Bethesda [31.51S, 24.34E], 30.i.2002 (F.J. Herbst), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Mountain Zebra Park (32.15S, 25.27E), 12-16.ii.1988 (A.J. Weaving), 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ [AMGS]; same locality, 23-29.iii.1988 (A.J. Weaving), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Graaff- Reinet [32.13S, 24.32E], 3.i.1978 (Empey), 2 ♂♂ [AMGS]; Ecca Pass, Grahamstown [33.13S, 26.37E], 25.i.1974 (R. Bayliss), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; Whittlesea [32.10S, 26.50E], 21.ii.1971 (Empey), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; Kudu Reserve, Double Drift [33.06S, 26.47E], 15.iii.1984 (A.J. Weaving), 2 ♂♂ [AMGS]; Aberdeen [32.28S, 24.02E], xi.1935 (Mus. Staff), 1 ♀, 3 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Gardiner’s Drift, Adelaide [circa 32.42S, 26.18E], iii.1954 (S. A. Museum), 8 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Fort Beaufort, Umdala [Mdala] [32.48S, 26.41E], iii.1954 (S. A. Museum), 1 ♂ [SAMC]; Hendrik Verwoerd [now Gariep] Dam [30.30S, 25.45E], 12.iii.1969 9.l. (L.C. Starke), 1 ♀; same locality and date (M.W. Strydom), 1 ♀ [SANC]; Jeffreys Bay [34.2S, 24.55E], 17.iii.1970 (L.C. Starke), 1 ♀ [SANC]; Graaff-Reinet [32.13S, 24.32E], 14.iii.1969 (L.C. Starke), 2 ♂♂ [SANC]; Jansenville [32.57S, 24.40E], 13.iii.1970 (L.C. Starke),1 ♂ [SANC]; Carlisle Bridge [33.05S, 26.14E], 14.i.1965 (H.N. Empey), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Queenstown [31.52S, 26.52E], 1951 (S. Straw), 2 ♀♀; same locality, 13.xi.1999 (F.J. Herbst), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Bedford [32.40S, 26.10E], iii.1960 (Langridge), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; [west of] Riebeek East, Swartwaterspoort [33.11S, 25.59E], i.1988 (R.W. Gess), 1 ♀ (with prey: Bombyliidae ) [AMGS]; Grahamstown [33.19S, 26.31E], 21.ix.1952 (N. Gane), 1 ♀; Middelburg [31.30S, 25.00E], 3.ii.1957 (E.McC. Callan), 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂; Willowmore [33.15S, 23.30E], i.1914 (Rhodesia Museum), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Willowmore, 12.i.1965 (H.N. Empey), 2 ♂♂ [AMGS]; Alicedale [33.15S, 26.04E], 2.xii.1970 (F.W. Gess), 1 ♀, 3 ♂♂; same locality, 2.xii.1970 (J.G.H. Londt), 2 ♂♂ [AMGS]. WESTERN CAPE: Caledon Dist[rict], Nuweberg Forest Stat[ion] [34.04S, 19.08E], 5.i.1990 (P. Goldblatt), 2 ♀♀ (on open flowers of Micranthus plantagineus [ Micranthus alopecuroides (L.) Rothm.)] Iridaceae ) [AMGS]; Prince Albert Dist[rict], Tierberg (Study Site) (33.10S, 22.16E), 26.xi.-5.xii.1987 (F.W., S.K. and R.W. Gess), 3 ♂♂ (on cream flowers of Gomphocarpus filiformis (E. Mey.) D. Dietr., Asclepiadaceae ) [AMGS]; Prince Albert Dist[rict], Tierberg (Res. Stat.) (33.08S, 22.16E), 26.xi.- 5.xii.1987 (F.W., S.K. and R.W. Gess), 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Oudtshoorn, Onverwacht (33.38S, 22.14E), (R.W. Gess), 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (on flowers of Acacia caffra (Thunb) Willd., Fabaceae ) [AMGS]; Oudtshoorn, Zebra [33.46S, 22.19E], x.1951 (Mus. Exped.), 1 ♀ [SAMC]; Touwsrivier [33.20S, 20.02E], 9.i.1975 (Empey), 1 ♀, 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Ouberg Pass, by road 27 km NE of Montagu (33.40S, 20.16E), 3.xii.1986 (S.K. Gess), 1 ♀, 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Rietbron [32.54S, 23.08E], 11.i.1965 (H.N. Empey), 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Rietbron [32.54S, 23.08E], 19.ii.1971 (Empey), 2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ [AMGS]; 16.5 km from Clanwilliam on old road to Citrusdal [32.16S, 18.57E], 13.x.1990 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Bergsoom Farm, Citrusdal, 17 &18.i.2009 (D.W. and G.M. Gess), 1 ♀, 3 ♂♂ (on Acacia karroo Hayne, Fabaceae ) [AMGS]; Clanwilliam District, Klein Alexandershoek (32.20S, 18.46E), 6.x.1988 (D.W. Gess), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Bulshoek, Cl[an]w[illiam] [32.00S, 18.47E], xii.1956 (S. A. M.), 2 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Merweville Distr[ict] [32.40S, 21.31], i.-ii.1947 (H. Zinn), 13 ♀♀[SAMC]; Merweville, Laingsburg Distr[ict] [32.40S, 21.31E], i.1959 (H. Zinn), 1 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Dikbome, Merweville, Koup [32.54S, 21.22E], i.1953 (H. Zinn), 4 ♀♀, 13 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Beaufort West Dist[rict] [circa 32.18S, 22.36E], ii.1958 (S. A. M. sic [South African Museum]), 6 ♀♀, 8 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Beaufort West, Oukloof [circa 32.18S, 22.36E], i.1949 (Zinn-Hesse Mus,Exp.), 2 ♀♀[SAMC]; Nieuveld Escarpment, Rietvlei [32.20S, 21.30E], i.1949 (Zinn-Hesse Mus. Exp.), 2 ♀♀ [SAMC]; Murraysburg Disr[rict] [circa 31.58S, 23.47E], iii.1931 (Museum Staff), 18 ♀♀, 20 ♂♂ [SAMC], same locality, xi.1935 (Museum Staff), 20 ♀♀, 25 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Constable [33.16S, 20.17E], ii.1958 [Hesse et al.], 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ [SAMC]; Koup, Laingsburg Dist[rict][circa 33.24S, 21.07E], ix.1937 (Museum Staff), 1 ♀ [SAMC]; Seven Weeks Poort [33.22S, 21.25E], ii.1935 (K.H. Barnard], 1 ♀ [SAMC]; Spitzkop. Meirings Poort [32.3S, 22.49E]. i.1935 (Museum Staff), 2 ♀♀ [SAMC]; Richmond Dist[rict] [circa 31.23S, 23.56E], iii.1931 (Museum Staff), 1 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Spitzkop, Laingsburg Dist. [33.3S, 20.35E],iii.1938 (Mus. Staff), 1 ♂ [SAMC]; Moordenaars Karroo, Laingsberg Div. [circa 32.58S, 20.49E], iii.1937 (Mus. Staff), 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ [SAMC].

Geographical distribution.

Widespread in southern Africa ( Fig. 9d ), extending northwards to Ethiopia in the northeast and Zaire in the northwest.

Floral associations.

Recorded from seven plant families: Asteraceae ( Geigeria pectidea (DC) Harv., Osteospermum sp., Nidorella resedifolia DC.); Amaranthaceae ( Hermbstaedtia odorata (Burch.) T. Cooke); Boraginaceae ( Anchusa capensis Thunb.); Zygophyllaceae ( Tribulus terrestris L.); Fabaceae ( Mimosoideae , Acacia Karroo Hayne, Acacia caffra (Thunb) Willd.); Apocynaceae (formerly Asclepiadaceae , Gomphocarpus filiformis (E. Mey.) D. Dietr); Iridaceae ( Micranthus alopecuroides (L.) Rothm.).

Nesting.

Unknown.

Prey.

Recorded taking seven families of Diptera : Tabanidae , Bombyliidae , Syrphidae , Muscidae , Calliphoridae , Sarcophagidae , and Tachinidae .

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.