Sphecodopsis roggeveldensis, Pöllein & Kuhlmann, 2025

Sphecodopsis roggeveldensis sp. nov.

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Figs 45–46 View Fig View Fig

Diagnosis

The female of S. roggeveldensis 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. 46C View Fig ; body length around 5 mm; metasoma partially red ( Fig. 45B View Fig ); fore tibia and tarsi usually black ( Fig. 45A View Fig ); T6 covered with black hair ( Fig. 46B View Fig ); head and mesosoma with conspicuously dense, long, black hair ( Fig. 45C–D View Fig ); T5 with black hair on the disc and bright white hair on the apical margin ( Fig. 46B View Fig ); T6 apically slightly rounded ( Fig. 46B View Fig ); mesoscutum with more dispersed punctation (i=0.25–0.5 d), surface smooth ( Fig. 45D View Fig ). The male is unknown.

Etymology

The species is named after the Roggeveld Mts where it was discovered.

Type material (3 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; Roggeveld Mts , 2 km SE of Farm Allemansdam, burnt area ; 31°49′32″ S, 19°59′55″ E; 1290 m a.s.l.; 29 Aug. 2018; MK leg.; SAMC. GoogleMaps

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; Roggeveld Mts , 2 km S of Farm Perdekloof, river , dolerite ; 31°47′35″ S, 19°58′16″ E; 1220 m a.s.l.; 1 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 20 Sep. 2022; RCMK GoogleMaps .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 5.2 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. 45C View Fig ). Surface between punctures slightly matt. Antenna black.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula orange. Mesoscutum slightly shiny.Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely (i=0.25–0.5 d) and finely but deeply punctate ( Fig. 45D View Fig ). Propodeum with dense (i=0.25– 0.5 d), coarse and shallow punctation, metapostnotum matt ( Fig. 46A View Fig ). Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, white hair ( Fig. 45D View Fig ). Metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, dark brown hair, metapostnotum glabrous ( Figs 45D View Fig , 46A View Fig ).

WINGS. Fuscous; wing venation dark brown and stigma dark brown to black ( Fig. 45A View Fig ). LEGS. Integument black. Coxa and trochanter sparsely covered with long, black hair and shorter white hair. Femur with few long, black hairs. Tibia and tarsi sparsely covered with long, black hair and covered with shorter white hair; patches with dense white pubescence apically on the tibia of hind legs ( Fig. 45A View Fig ).

METASOMA. Integument of T1 dark basally. Rest of T1 and T2 red, T3 to a variable extent black, from T3 basal half red to almost completely black; T4–T6 black. T1–T4 sparsely covered with short, white and black hair ( Fig. 45B View Fig ). T5 marginal zone with bright white hair, disc covered with long, black hair. T6 narrow and almost straight apically, with dense, long, black hair ( Fig. 46B View Fig ). Shape of S6 ( Fig. 46C View Fig ) as illustrated.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Only known from the northern part of the Roggeveld Mts.

Host bees

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

August–September.