Odontochrydium irregulare (Mocsáry, 1914)

(Figs 1A–1B, 2A–2F, 4A–4F, 5A–5F)

Chrysis (Pentachrysis) irregularis Mocsáry, 1914: 60 . Holotype ♀; Malawi: Lilongwe (NHMUK) (examined).

Odontochrydium irregulare: Kimsey & Bohart 1991: 516 (fig. 127), 517 (figs 128a-e), 519 (tax., Malawi (not Tanzania), South Africa, cat.); Madl & Rosa 2012: 107.

Odontochrydium Trautmanni Brauns, 1928: 389 . Syntypes ♂, ♀; South Africa, Natal Province, Malvern (Ditsong) (examined), synonymized by Kimsey & Bohart (1991: 519).

Chrysis (Trichrysis) trautmanni: Edney 1952: 406 (tax.); Edney 1953: 532 (key, tax., descr., South Africa, Zimbabwe), pl. 1 (fig. e).

Material examined. ANGOLA (new record): 1♀, Mocamedes Distr.: Bruco, 26.II.-2.III.1972, Southern African Exp. British Museum 1972-I, NHMUK010812298 (NHMUK) . DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (new record): 2♀, Kapanga (NHMW) . MALAWI: 1♀, holotype, ( Central Angoniland) Lilongwe Distr., 4,000–5,000 ft, 28.V–2.VI.1910, leg. S.A. Neave, NHMUK010812294 (NHMUK) ; 1♂, (Nyasaland) Mlanje [currently Mulanje], 29.IV.1913, leg. S.A. Neave, NHMUK010812295 (NHMUK) . NAMIBIA (new record): 1♀, Waterberg, 15– 17.I.1993, leg. F. Koch (MfN) ; 1♀, Waterberg, Main-Camp, 9–11.II.2007, 20°30’S / 17°14’E, leg. F. Koch (MfN); 1♀, Popa Falls, Kavango, 2.III.1994, 18°07’S / 21°35’E, leg. H. Schumann (MfN) ; 1♀, East Caprivi, Katima Mulilo, 17°29’S / 24°17’E, 4–7.III.1992, leg. F. Koch (MfN) . SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀, Western Transvaal Retief's Kloof Nature Reserve, 30.III.1960, Empey Collection (NMLS) ; 1♀, Limpopo, Modimolle, 30.XII.2008, leg. Snižek (PRPC) ; 1♀, Western Cape, S of Barrydale, 16.XII.2002, leg. Snižek (GLAC) ; 1♂, Cape Prov., Worcester. I.1934, leg. R.E. Turner (Brit. Mus. 1934-106), NHMUK010812296 (NHMUK); 1♂, 1♀, Mpumalanga, Blyde River Canyon Reserve, 24°39’S / 30°50’E, 1–3.IV.2001, leg. F. Koch (MfN) . UGANDA: 1♀, Pro. Tero Forest, S.E. Buddu 3,800ft, 26–30.IX.1911, leg. S.A. Neave (NMLS) . ZIMBABWE: 1♂, S . Rhodesia Umtali Christmas Pass, V.1932, leg. J. Ogilvie (NMLS) ; 1♀, same data, NHMUK010812297 (NHMUK); 1♂, Mavhuradonha, 15 km SE Muzarabani, 17.12.1998, leg. M. Halada (GLAC).

Diagnosis. Odontochrydium irregulare (Figs 1A, 1B) differs from O. bicristatum sp. nov. (Figs 1C, 1D) by

having the unmodified median mesoscutal area (with two longitudinal ridges in O. bicristatum (Fig. 6D, 7D)), the mesoscutum evenly punctate (vs. reticulate-foveate, with enlarged foveae medially on median area of mesoscutum); the metasoma evenly punctate, with mid-sized punctures (Figs 2A, 4A, 5A) (vs. with scattered, large punctures (Figs 6A, 7A)). It differs from the Indian O. xui sp. nov. by having the metasomal tergite 3 surface in lateral view evenly bent (vs. forming a concave angle at pit row level in O. xui) and longer MS (1.5 – 1.6 × MOD) (vs. 1 × MOD).

Distribution. Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Remarks. Odontochrydium irregulare is widespread in the south-eastern Afrotropical Region (Kimsey & Bohart 1991; Madl & Rosa 2012). The species is rather variable in colour and shape of the apical teeth on metasomal tergite 3 (Kimsey & Bohart 1991). In particular, the coloration varies from blue to green or purple, and the median apical tooth may be stouter with a trace of a median longitudinal carina (Fig. 2F) or acute with a median carina (Fig. 4F) (form described as O. trautmanni, synonymised by Kimsey & Bohart 1991). I observed a third variation (specimen from the Democratic Republic of Congo) with median tooth distinctly longer and wider than the lateral teeth. O. irregulare, although widespread, is quite an uncommon species, seemingly known through a limited number of specimens. It is therefore difficult to evaluate whether the described variations match with the range of variability of O. irregulare, or conversely represent different, closely related species. A future investigation based on more material is required.