Pachyanthidium (Trichanthidium) benguelense (Vachal)

Eardley, Connal & Griswold, Terry, 2017, Taxonomic revision of the Afrotropical species of Pachyanthidium Friese (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae: Anthidiini), Zootaxa 4237 (3), pp. 401-453 : 412-417

Pachyanthidium (Trichanthidium) benguelense (Vachal)

( Figs 7–9 )

Anthidium benguelense Vachal, 1903: 374 , male holotype (MNHN) Angola.

Anthidium (Pachyanthidium) benguelense Vachal : Friese 1905: 66.

Trichanthidium benguelense (Vachal) : Pasteels 1969: 69 –70.

Pachyanthidium (Trichanthidium) benguelense (Vachal) : Pasteels 1984: 151.

Pachyanthidium (Trichanthidium) occipitale Cockerell, 1930: 52 , female holotype ( RMAC) Democratic Republic of the Congo; Pasteels 1984: 151, syn.

Pachyanthidium (Trichanthidium) occipitale umtalicum Mavromoustakis, 1939: 349 , female holotype (TMSA) Zimbabwe; Pasteels 1984: 151, syn.

Pachyanthidium (Trichanthidium) occipitale natalicum Mavromoustakis, 1939: 349 , female holotype (TMSA) South Africa; Pasteels 1984: 151, syn.

Diagnosis. The presence of a ventral carina on the mid femur will distinguish P. benguelense from all Pachyanthidium not in the subgenus Trichanthidium , as will the combination of hairy eyes, lateral spines on T2–T5 and no arolia. From other Trichanthidium the female can be distinguished by T1 having a large patch of long, stout setae; other Trichanthidium have short and/or slender setae. The male can be distinguished by the presence on T6 of a dorsolateral angle in addition to the ventrolateral spine ( Fig. 8 b) and T7 trispinose spines slender and of similar lengths ( Fig. 8 b, c). These in combination with the colour of the integument are diagnostic for this species.

Description. FEMALE. Lengths: head 2.3–3.3 mm; scutum 1.2–2.1 mm; forewing 4.9–6.7 mm; body 4.4–6.4 mm. Integument mostly black with reddish-orange as follows ( Fig. 7 a, b): entire clypeus, antenna (especially scape and pedicel), most of mandible, posterior margins of vertex and gena, most of pronotum including pronotal lobe, part of mesepisternum, lateral margin of axilla, lateral and sometimes posterior regions of scutellum, virtually entire legs, lateral marks on terga, most of T6 and all sterna; yellow spots common dorsolaterally on T3–T4 and sometimes T5 (yellow on metasoma may be absent). Structure ( Figs 7–8 ). Preoccipital margin distinctly lamellate (longer than median ocellus diameter); eye hairy; clypeus with ventral margin smooth, convex; mandible spatulate, with broad outer tooth, 2 very small inner teeth; lateral margin of scutum slightly lamellate; pronotal lobe strongly lamellate; omaulus strongly lamellate; forebasitarsus short and narrow, length 1.7x width, 0.3x foretibia length; arolia absent; T1–T5 with lateral spines; T6 gently swollen laterally, without spines, truncate posteriorly.

MALE. Lengths: head 2.3–2.7 mm; scutum 2.1–2.5 mm; forewing 5.5–6.0 mm; body 4.2–5.8 mm. Integument black except yellow clypeus and mandible ( Fig. 7 c), T1 with or without small lateral, comma-shaped, chevronshaped maculation laterally on T2–T5 and irregular markings on posterolateral regions of T6–T7. Structure. Preoccipital ridge distinctly lamellate; eye hairy; supraclypeus slightly raised; subantennal suture bowed gently outwards (inconspicuous); antennal flagellum length 1.33x eye length, 5.3x scape length; clypeus ventral edge straight, smooth; mandible 3–toothed; lateral margin of scutum slightly lamellate; arolia absent; hind basitarsus narrow, width one–third length; T1 unmodified laterally; T2–T6 each with small posterolateral spine; T6 extended posteromedially with very small posteromedial spine; T7 with posterolateral swelling; T7 with posterolateral and median spines of similar size; terminalia as illustrated Fig. 8 .

Distribution. This species appears to be widely distributed along the eastern region of Africa from southeastern Egypt and Somalia to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa ( Fig. 9 ).

Biology. It has been collected on flowers of Aspalathus spinescens (Fabaceae) and Senecio sp. ( Asteraceae ) ( Eardley and Urban 2010) and Hypoestes forskaolii and Justicia sp. ( Acanthaceae ), Ocimum urticifolium (Lamiaceae) , Stylosanthes guianensis (Fabaceae) and Asteraceae .

Material examined. Type material. Female holotype of Pachyanthidium occipitale : ‘Lubumbashi Katanga BCgo 11.45S 27.40E 10.vi.1920, Mich. Bequaert Coll., MUSEE DU CONGO Lubumbashi 10–vi–1920 (Dr M. Bequaert) Don Dr L. Bequaert) R.DET. S 1895, Pachyanthidium occipitale Ckll TYPE, TYPE’, RMAC . Female holotype of Pachyanthidium occipitale umtalicum : ‘ Umtali District S. Rhodesia 21.11.1931 P. A . Shepard, Type, COLLECTION TRANSVAAL MUSEUM, Pachyanthidium (Trichanthidium) benguelense Vachal J. Pasteels det., 1981, SANC Pretoria Database No . HYTM02962, TYPE Hym2118 Pachyanthidium . (Trichanthidium) occipitale umtalicum Mavromoustakis ♀,’ TMSA. Female holotype of Pachyanthidium occipitale natalicum : ‘ Hluhluwe 4.11.28 Marley, COLLECTION TRANSVAAL MUSEUM, Trichanthidium occipitale subsp. umtalicum m, G. Mavromoustakis det., TYPE Hym 2118 Pachyanthidium . (Trichanthidium) occipitale natalicum Mavromoustakis ♀, Pachyanthidium (Trichanthidium) occipitale subsp. umtalicum m. G. Mavromoustakis det., Pachyanthidium (Trichanthidium) benguelense Vachal J. Pasteels det., 1981, SANC Pretoria Database No . HYTM02963,’ TMSA.

Additional material. Ethiopia. Mechara, 2010. xii.6–25, on Stylosanthes guianensis (1♀ RBINS) ; Bako , 2011. i.12, on Ocimum urticifolium (2♀ 1♂ RBINS) ; Mt. Haregoma , on Hypoestes forskaolii (2♀ RBINS); Paso Mile, 2010 . xi.17, on Hypoestes forskaolii (2♀ RBINS); Gibe , 2011. v.20, (1♀ RBINS) ; Didessa River, near Dembi, 2011. vi.16–17, (1♀ RBINS); Milkay, 2011 . i.1, on Asteraceae (1♀ RBINS); W Ilubabor pr. 1150m, 60km E Tepi , 2007 . iv.7, J. Halada (1♀ MSAA). Kenya. Lake Bogoria , 1982. xii.8, T. & R. Griswold (1♀ BBSL); idem, 1005m, 2011 . ix.10, L. Packer M.N. Mutiso D. Martins (1♀ YU); Marich Pass Field Studies Centre, 1999 . vi.14, W.J. Pulawski J.S. Schweikert (1♂ BBSL); Loruk, 2.2km SSW, Lake Baringo, west side, 2012 . x.10, B. Danforth, T. Griswold, L. Packer, D. Martins, C. NjowMki, M. Nzisa Muliso, W. Tiren, on Justicia sp., (1♀ Cornell); Voi, 2000. v.21–22, V.F. Lee W.J. Pulawski. Burundi. Mutambara , 829m, 2010. xi.8, C. Eardley (1♀ 1♂ SANC) . Tanzania. Dodoma pr., 60km N Kondoa , 157m, 2006. xii.19, J. Halada (1♀ MSAA) ; Dodoma, 25km N, 2003. i.4, W.J. Pulawski (1♀ BBSL) ; Iringa pr., 100km N Iringa, 660m, 2007. i.9, J. Halada (1♀ MSAA) ; Ukerewe I, F. Conrads (1♀ SANC). Zanzibar, Unguja Ukua, 1985 . iii.10, A. Mochi (2♂ BBSL) . Malawi. Fort Lister , Mt. Mulanje, 1100m, 1983. xii.2–4 (1♀ SANC) ; Rukuru River, 1989. iii.29, J. Ranaivo (1♀ BBSL) . Zambia. Petauke, 32km E, 1995. iii.24–26, W.J. Pulawski (1♂ BBSL) ; Wildlife Camp at Luangwa River, 7km SW Mfuwe , 1998. iii.7–9, W.J. Pulawski (1♂ BBSL) . Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls, 1920. i.4 (1♀ TMSA) ; idem, 1998. iii.28–31, W.J. Pulawski (1♂ 2♀ BBSL); Matopas Hills, 40km N Bulawayo, 1967 . iii.27, C.D. Michener (1♀ BBSL); Lake Kyle , 1985. iv.16, J. Gustenleitner (3♀ 2♂ MSAA) ; Gweru, 70km SW, Nalatale Ruins area , 2011.xii, J. Halada (1♀ MSAA) ; Sawmills, 1923. xii.22–27, R. H. R. Stevenson (1♀ TMSA); Harare, A. Watsham (1♀ SANC); Witchwood Valley, Umtali district , 1959 . i.27, A. C. vanBruggen (1♀ SANC) ; Umtali district , 1931. i.11, 1931 . iii.29, 1931. iv.12, 1931. xi. 21, P. A. Sheppard (4♀ TMSA); Umtali Heights, 1420m, 1958 . iii.13, E.S. Ross R.E. Leech (1♀ CAS); Bulawayo, 1923. ix. 28, 1924 . iii.20, R. H. R. Stevenson (1♀ 1♂ TMSA); Bulawayo, 1922 . xii.20, Swinburne, R. H. R. Stevenson (1♀ 1♂ TMSA). South Africa . Malta, 1928.i, G. vonSon (1♀ TMSA) ; Mogol Nature Reserve, Ellisras district , 1982. i.25–26, C. Eardley (1♀ 1♂ SANC); idem, 1985 . xii.3, J. Donaldson (1♂ SANC); idem, 1979. xi.19-23, S.J. van Tonder, C. Kok, G.L. Prinsloo, M.W. Mansell (1♂ BBSL); Nylsvley Nature Reserve, 1978.x, C. Eardley (1♀ SANC); Schoemanville, Dam Wall, 1975. xii.12, H. Empey (1♂ SANC); Skukuza, 2010. xi.29–30, C. Eardley (1♀ SANC); Skukuza, N’Watinwambu River-bank, 1998. iii.25, M. Generani P.I. Scaramozzino (1♀ BBSL); Skukuza Camp , 1998. iii.25, M. Generani P.I. Scaramozzino (1♀ BBSL) ; Kosi Bay, 1990. xi.10–11, C.D. Eardley (1♂ BBSL) ; Hoedspruit, 35km W, 2009.xii.. 19, 470m, J. Halada (1♀ MSAA); Louis Trichardt, 12km N, Ingwe Hotel , 1990. xi.4, L. Stange R. Miller (1♂ FSCA) ; Soutpanbergs , 15 km N Louis Trichardt, 1988. ii.8, Faukner (1♂ SDMC) ; Hartbeeshoek Radio Station , ca 45km WSW Pretoria, 1996. i.10, W.J. Pulawski (1♂ BBSL) ; Sutton Game Farm , 19km N Hluhlwe, 1998. i.3, L. Packer (1♂ YU); TK Reserve, near Loskop Dam, 1985. xii.9–11, C. Eardley (1♂ SANC) ; Soutpan , 2005. iii.2, C. Eardley (1♂ SANC) ; Silverton, Pretoria , 1962. i.6, H. Empey (1♂ SANC) ; Swartkops , 1963. x.19, H. Empey (1♀ SANC) ; Escourt , 1975. ii.5, H. Empey (1♀ SANC) ; Port St. John , 1916.ix–x, H. H. Swinny (1♀ 1♂ TMSA); Coedmore, near Durban, 1955 . x.16, C. F. Jacot–Guillarmod (1♀ AMGS 2596); Widenham, 1984. iii.25, A. J. Weaving (1♀ AMGS 2604 ); Stainbank Bush, Durban, 1966 . ix.25, F. Herbst (1♂ AMGS 14541); St Lucia, 1966. ix.24, F. Herbst (1♀ AMGS 14542); Nagle Dam District , 1966. ix.24, 1970 . ii.21, F. Herbst (2♀ AMGS 14543, 14544).

Discussion. Material from the northern part of the range of P. benguelense differs consistently in tergal markings, density of medioposterior punctation of T1, and in the form of T6 of females. It is possible that these differences are of specific value. If so, P. occipitale or one of the subspecies described by Mavromoustakis would probably apply.

Pachyanthidium carinaticeps was incorrectly synonymised with P. benguelense by Pasteels (1984). Here it is synonymised with P. cucullatum . We were not able to study the types of Anthidium benguelense and A. denticulatum . The description of the former, a male, specifically mentions tergal maculations and a median spine on T7, a combination that only matches the species concept here used. The latter best fits the known distribution of P. benguelense .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Pachyanthidium benguelense (Vachal). a – b. Female. a. Face. b. Habitus. c – d. Male. c. Face. d. Habitus.

FIGURE 8. Pachyanthidium benguelense (Vachal). a. Female T 6. b – g. Male. b. T 6 – T 7. c. T 7. d – f. S 6 – S 8. g. Genitalia, dorsal view.

FIGURE 9. Pachyanthidium benguelense (Vachal), known distribution.