Sphecodopsis atricapillata, Pöllein & Kuhlmann, 2025

Sphecodopsis atricapillata sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:711E47D5-5872-4DC6-BE7F-5F48B057C2AD

Figs 33–36 View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig

Diagnosis

The female of S. atricapillata 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. 34C View Fig ; body length 7–9 mm; metasoma partially red ( Fig. 33B View Fig ); fore tibia and tarsi usually black ( Fig. 33A View Fig ); T6 covered with black hair ( Fig. 34B View Fig ); head and mesosoma with conspicuously dense, long, black hair ( Fig. 33C–D View Fig ); T5 with black hair on the disc and bright white hair on the apical margin ( Fig. 34B View Fig ); T6 apically slightly rounded ( Fig. 34B View Fig ); mesoscutum very densely punctate (i =0–0.25 d), surface appears rugged ( Fig. 33D View Fig ). 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. 35B View Fig ); fore legs usually black ( Fig. 35A View Fig ); head and mesosoma with conspicuously dense, long, black hair ( Fig. 35C–D View Fig ); mesoscutum more finely punctate ( Fig. 35D View Fig ); gonostylus shorter than gonocoxa and apically broader ( Fig. 36C–D View Fig ); penis valves less distinctly curved downward ( Fig. 36C–D View Fig ).

Etymology

The species is named for its conspicuous black hair.

Type material (50 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; N Cape , Nieuwoudtville, Glen Lyon , garden ; 31°24′03″ S, 19°08′34″ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 23 Aug. 2003; MK leg.; on Chrysanthemum sp. ; SAMC. GoogleMaps

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; Namaqualand , Hester Malan N.R. ; [29°38′ S, 17°58′ E]; 18 Jul. 1985; MSt leg.; SANC GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; 8 km WNW of Leliefontein, Fynbos , roadside ; 30°15′58″ S, 18°03′17″ E; 1190 m a.s.l.; 10 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 14 Sep. 2017; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; 12 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Avontuur, Fynbos ; 31°16′18″ S, 19°02′55″ E; 770 m a.s.l.; 25 Aug. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 30 Aug. 2018; RCMK GoogleMaps • 5 ♀♀, 1 ♂; N Cape , Fynbos , 2 km W of Nieuwoudtville, near Grasberg ; 31°21′05″ S, 19°05′49″ E; 742 m a.s.l.; 23 Aug. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; N Cape, Nieuwoudtville, Flower Reserve East ; 31°21′56″ S, 19°08′52″ E; 735 m a.s.l.; 3 Sep. 2003; MK leg.; on Oxalis sp. ; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 7 Sep. 2003; RCMK GoogleMaps • 2 ♀♀; N Cape, Nieuwoudtville, Flower Reserve East ; 31°21′56″ S, 19°08′52″ E; 735 m a.s.l.; 11 Sep. 2003; MK leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 7 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂; N Cape, Nieuwoudtville, Glen Lyon , garden ; 31°24′03″ S, 19°08′34″ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 23 Aug. 2003; MK leg.; on Chrysanthemum sp. ; RCMK GoogleMaps • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 27 Aug. 2003; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; N Cape, Nieuwoudtville, Glen Lyon, Renosterveld ; 31°24′03″ S, 19°08′34″ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 27 Aug. 2003; MK leg.; on Oxalis sp. ; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; N Cape, Nieuwoudtville, Glen Lyon, Renosterveld ; 31°24′03″ S, 19°08′34″ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 30 Aug. 2003; MK leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 2 ♀♀; N Cape, Nieuwoudtville, Glen Lyon, Renosterveld ; 31°24′03″ S, 19°08′34″ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 7 Sep. 2003; MK leg.; on Oxalis sp. ; RCMK GoogleMaps • 2 ♀♀; N Cape, Nieuwoudtville, Glen Lyon, Renosterveld ; 31°24′03″ S, 19°08′34″ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 11 Sep. 2003; MK leg.; 1 ind. on Eriocephalus ericoides ; RCMK GoogleMaps • 2 ♀♀; N Cape, Nieuwoudtville, Glen Lyon, Renosterveld ; 31°24′03″ S, 19°08′34″ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 12 Sep. 2003; MK leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 11 Aug. 2004; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂; Keiski Mts , 3 km E of Farm M’Vera, shale; 31°45′29″ S, 19°54′13″ E; 1190 m a.s.l.; 30 Aug. 2016; MK leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 15 Sep. 2016; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Keiski Mts , 5 km S of Farm Nooiensrivier, burned area ; 31°45′47″ S, 19°50′17″ E; 1275 m a.s.l.; 29 Aug. 2011; MK leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Ouberg Pass, 27 km SE of Vanrhynsdorp, Fynbos ; 31°48′07″ S, 18°55′00″ E; 380 m a.s.l.; 13 Aug. 2012; MK leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; W Cape, S of Lamberts Bay ; [32°04′ S, 18°20′ E]; 7 Oct. 1999; MH leg.; RCMS GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; 6 km NNW of Farm Kanariesfontein, 30 km W of Sutherland, roadside ; 32°22′17″ S, 20°22′50″ E; 1310 m a.s.l.; 16 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMS GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; RCMK GoogleMaps .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 6.7–8.7 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 very dense (i =0–0.25 d), coarse and deep punctation ( Fig. 33C View Fig ). Surface between punctures slightly matt. Antenna black.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula reddish-brown. Mesoscutum slightly matt. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum very densely (i =0–0.25 d) and finely but deeply punctate ( Fig. 33D View Fig ). Propodeum with dense (i=0.25–0.5 d), coarse and deep punctation, metapostnotum matt ( Fig. 34A View Fig ). Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter yellowish-white hair ( Fig. 33D View Fig ). Metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, dark brown hair, metapostnotum without hair ( Figs 33D View Fig , 34A View Fig ).

WINGS. Fuscous; wing venation brown and stigma dark brown to black ( Fig. 33A View Fig ). 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; loose patches with dense, white pubescence apically on the tibia, except anterior leg, generally with less hair ( Fig. 33A View Fig ).

METASOMA. Integument of T1 dark basally. Rest of T1 and T2 red, T3 and T4 to a variable extent red, from completely red to completely black; T5 and T6 black. T1–T4 sparsely covered with short, white and black hair ( Fig. 33B 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 and shorter yellowish-white hair underneath ( Fig. 34B View Fig ). Shape of S6 ( Fig. 34C View Fig ) as illustrated.

Male

BODY LENGTH. 5.6–7.4 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 fairly dense (i=0–0.25 d), coarse and deep punctation ( Fig. 35C View Fig ). Surface between punctures slightly matt. Antenna black.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula reddish-brown. Mesoscutum slightly matt. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum fairly densely (i=0–0.25 d) and finely but deeply punctate ( Fig. 35D View Fig ). Propodeum with dense (i= 0.25–0.5 d), coarse and deep punctation, metapostnotum matt ( Fig. 35E View Fig ). Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, yellowish-white hair ( Fig. 35D View Fig ). Metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, dark brown hair, metapostnotum without hair ( Fig. 35D–E View Fig ).

WINGS. Fuscous; wing venation dark brown and stigma dark brown to black ( Fig. 35A View Fig ).

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; scattered patches with dense white pubescence apically on the tibia, except anterior leg generally with less hair ( Fig. 35A View Fig ).

METASOMA. Integument of T1 dark basally. Rest of T1 and T2 red, T3 to a variable extent red, from basal half red to completely black and T4–T7 black. T1–T3 sparsely covered with short, white and black hair, from T4 increasingly more and longer hair ( Fig. 35B View Fig ). T6 marginal zone with bright white hair, disc with long, black hair. T7 covered with short, yellowish-white hair and longer, black hair ( Fig. 35F View Fig ).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 36C–D View Fig ), S7 ( Fig. 36A View Fig ) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 36B View Fig ) as illustrated.

Distribution

The species has been found in Namaqualand and the Roggeveld Mts southward to Sutherland.

Host bees

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

July–October.