Sphecodopsis leliefonteinensis, 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 : 58-60

Sphecodopsis leliefonteinensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CAC680C2-6D6C-40CE-8604-4B5013AA8E5B

Figs 43–44

Diagnosis

The female of S. leliefonteinensis sp. nov. can be separated from that of all other species of the genus by the combination of the following characters: S6 bifid posteriorly, apical notch about as long as its apical width, shape as shown in Fig. 44C ; metasoma partially red ( Fig. 43B ); fore tibia and tarsi usually black ( Fig. 43A ); T6 covered with black hair ( Fig. 44B ); head and mesosoma with conspicuously dense, long, black hair ( Fig. 43C–D ); T5 only with long black hair ( Fig. 44B ). The male is unknown.

Etymology

The species is named after the village Leliefontein where it was discovered.

Type material (1 specimen)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; 8 km WNW of Leliefontein, Fynbos , roadside; 30°15′58″ S, 18°03′17″ E; 1190 m a.s.l.; 14 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; SAMC.

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 7.3 mm.

HEAD. Head distinctly wider than long. Vertex almost straight and flat, except for the ocelli. Integument black, except part of mandibles red or reddish-brown. Face covered with long, black hair. Face and clypeus with dense (i=0.25–0.5 d), coarse and deep punctation ( Fig. 43C ). Surface between punctures slightly matt. Antenna black.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula orange. Mesoscutum slightly matt. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely (i=0.25–0.5 d) and finely but deeply punctate ( Fig. 43D ). Propodeum with dense (i=0.25– 0.5 d), coarse and shallow punctation, metapostnotum matt ( Fig. 44A ). Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, yellowish-white hair ( Fig. 43D ). Metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, dark brown hair, metapostnotum without hair ( Figs 43D , 44A ).

WINGS. Fuscous; wing venation dark brown and stigma dark brown to black ( Fig. 43A ).

LEGS. Integument black. Coxa and trochanter sparsely covered with long, black hair and shorter white hair. Femur with few long, black hair. Tibia and tarsi sparsely covered with long, black hair and covered with shorter white hair; patches with dense white pubescence apically on the tibia, anterior leg generally with less hair ( Fig. 43A ).

METASOMA. Integument of T1–T4 red and T5 and T6 black. T1–T4 sparsely covered with short white and black hair ( Fig. 43B ). T5 covered with long, black hair. T6 with dense long, black hair, narrow and almost straight apically ( Fig. 44B ). Shape of S6 ( Fig. 44C ) as illustrated.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Only known from the type locality in the Kamiesberg Mts.

Host bees

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

September.

Figures

Fig. 43. Sphecodopsis leliefonteinensis sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (SAMC). A. Habitus (lateral view). B. Metasoma (dorsal view). C. Head. D. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum (dorsal view).

Fig. 44. Sphecodopsis leliefonteinensis sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (SAMC). A. Propodeum. B. T5 and T6. C. S6.