Sphecodopsis minuta, Pöllein & Kuhlmann, 2025

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 : 85-88

Sphecodopsis minuta sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2DCEBB40-135C-4FFD-B4E9-DAD96D1B5816

Figs 65–66

Diagnosis

The female of S. minuta sp. nov. is unknown. The male can be separated from that of all other species of the genus by the combination of the following characters: metasoma at least partially red ( Fig. 65B); fore legs usually black ( Fig. 65A); head, mesosoma and propodeum with white hair ( Fig. 65C–E); gonostylus inclined inward, penis valves narrower, slightly shorter than gonostylus ( Fig. 66C–D); S8 apically slightly notched ( Fig. 66B).

Etymology

The species is named for its small size.

Type material (2 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♂; N Cape, Nieuwoudtville, Flower Reserve East; 31°21′56′′ S, 19°08′52′′ E; 735 m a.s.l.; 21 Aug. 2004; MK leg.; SAMC.

Paratype

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♂; Ouberg Pass , 27 km SE of Vanrhynsdorp, Fynbos; 31°48′07′′ S, 18°55′00′′ E; 380 m a.s.l.; 8 Aug. 2012; MK leg.; RCMK .

Description

Female

Unknown.

Male

BODY LENGTH. 4.2–5.3 mm.

HEAD. Head wider than long. Vertex slightly rounded, ocelli highest point. Integument black, except part of mandibles red. Face covered with short, yellowish-white hair. Face with dense (i= 0.5–1 d) and fine but deep punctation ( Fig. 65C). Surface between punctures slightly matt. Antenna brown.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula orange. Mesoscutum slightly matt. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely (i= 0.25–1 d), coarsely and deeply punctate ( Fig. 65D). Propodeum with dense (i=0.5–1 d), fine and shallow punctation, metapostnotum matt ( Fig. 65E). Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and metanotum covered with short, golden hair ( Fig. 65D). Propodeum sparsely covered with short, white hair, metapostnotum glabrous ( Fig. 65E). Mesepisternum covered with relatively long, white hair.

WINGS. Yellowish; wing venation brown and stigma brown ( Fig. 65A).

LEGS. Integument black. Coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsi sparsely covered with short, white hair ( Fig. 65A).

METASOMA. Integument of T1 red, except base of T1 black. T2–T4 to a variable extent red, from T2 basal half red to T4 completely red. T5–T7 black. T1 and T2 with few short, white and golden hairs, from T3 increasingly more and longer hair ( Fig. 65B). T6 disc covered with long, white hair, marginal zone with few short, white hairs. T7 covered with short, golden hair ( Fig. 65F).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 66C–D), S7 ( Fig. 66A) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 66B) as illustrated.

Distribution

Only known from the wider vicinity of Nieuwoudtville.

Host bees

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

August.