Hoplitis (Stenosmia) minima ( Schulthess, 1924 )

Müller, Andreas, 2014, Palaearctic Hoplitis bees of the subgenus Stenosmia (Megachilidae, Osmiini): biology, taxonomy and key to species, Zootaxa 3765 (4), pp. 301-316 : 307

Hoplitis (Stenosmia) minima ( Schulthess, 1924)

Osmia minima Schulthess, 1924: 314 .

Type material: Lectotype ♂, by designation of Zanden (1986), “ Kairouan ” ( Tunisia), Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich.

Osmia (Stenosmia) minutissima Warncke, 1991: 404 . Nomen novum with same type specimen for preoccupied Osmia minima Schulthess (not Apis florisomnis minima Christ, 1791 ).

New records. ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: Arava valley, Iddan, 28.4.2010, 6.– 17.3.2011. MOROCCO: Tagounite, 60km S Zagora, 23.4.1995. OMAN: Al Masna’ah, 28.2.2008; Birkat al Mauwz, 1.3.2008. TUNISIA: Nefta, 22.3.2001, 28.3.2006, 25.4.2012; 15km W Nefta, 22.3.2001; Tozeur, 23.3.2001; Kebili, 8.4.2001; Medenine, 10km S Zarzis, 22.4.2012. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: N Ajman, 11.3.2008; Liwa Oasis, 10km S Arada, 10.1.2011; Liwa Desert, 8km S Arada, 4.– 13.1.2011; Jebel Hafit, 3.3.2011.

Distribution. From northern Africa ( Morocco, Tunisia) to Israel and Palestine and to the Arabian Peninsula ( Oman, United Arab Emirates).

Pollen hosts. Oligolectic on Zygophyllaceae : 38 of 39 pollen loads (11 localities, 5 countries) consisted of Zygophyllaceae pollen, and large numbers of males and females of H. minima have been observed on the flowers of Zygophyllum album in southern Tunisia ( Figs. 1, 2 ). One pollen load consisted of pollen of Brassicaceae , indicating that flowers of this plant family might occasionally be exploited as well.

Nesting biology. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 1 – 5. 1 – 3: Sandy slope at the shore of a salt lake near Medenine in southern Tunisia (Fig. 1), where females of Hoplitis minima collected pollen on the flowers of Zygophyllum album (Fig. 2) and males of Hoplitis hartliebi patrolled flowers of Frankenia cf. laevis (Fig. 3). 4: Hoplitis minima, head of female. 5: Hoplitis jordanica, terga 4 – 7 of male.