Sphecodopsis villosa ( Friese, 1909 )

Pöllein, Daniela & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2025, Taxonomic revision of the southern African bee genus Sphecodopsis Bischoff, 1923 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Nomadinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 980, pp. 1-157 : 123-125

Sphecodopsis villosa ( Friese, 1909)

Figs 95–96

Pasites villosus Friese, 1909: 438–439 , holotype ♂ (type locality: Zeerust, South Africa) (ZMHB), examined.

Diagnosis

The female of S. villosa is unknown. The male can be separated from that of all other species by the combination of the following characters: metasoma at least partially red ( Fig. 95B); fore legs usually black, with small reddish spots ( Fig. 95A); head and mesosoma with black hair, sometimes mixed with lighter hair ( Fig. 95C–D); mesoscutum sparsely, finely and shallowly punctate, very shiny ( Fig. 95D); metapostnotum almost twice as wide as high ( Fig. 95E); gonostylus, broad, rounded posteriorly and slightly bent inward ( Fig. 96C–D).

This characteristic species was described in detail by Eardley & Brothers (1997). Thus, to facilitate the identification only images are provided ( Figs 95–96) without repeating the description.

Additional material examined

None.

Distribution

Only known from the type locality Zeerust in NE South Africa. The specimen collected in Vanrhynsdorp, Namaqualand ( Eardley & Brothers 1997: 404), could not be checked but it is unlikely that it represents the same species as it was collected in the Succulent Karoo biome in the winter rainfall region that is climatically completely different from the Savanna biome with summer rainfall around Zeerust.

Host bees

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

Unknown.

Isolated species