Sphecodopsis felix, Pöllein & Kuhlmann, 2025

Pöllein, Daniela & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2025, Taxonomic revision of the southern African bee genus Sphecodopsis Bischoff, 1923 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Nomadinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 980, pp. 1-157 : 53-58

Sphecodopsis felix sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C8C37AE0-39CF-4F10-BBA8-4F1CCA447577

Figs 39–42

Diagnosis

The female of S. felix 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. 40C; metasoma partially red ( Fig. 39B); fore tibia and tarsi usually black ( Fig. 39A); T6 covered with black hair ( Fig. 40B); head and mesosoma with conspicuously dense, long, black hair ( Fig. 39C–D); T5 with black hair on the disc and bright white hair on the apical margin ( Fig. 40B); T6 apically truncate ( Fig. 40B). 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. 41B); fore legs usually black ( Fig. 41A); head and mesosoma with conspicuously dense, long, black hair ( Fig. 41C–D); mesoscutum more sparsely punctate ( Fig. 41D); gonostylus shorter than gonocoxa and apically narrower, penis valves strongly curved downward ( Fig. 42C–D).

Etymology

The species is dedicated to my (DP) beloved partner Felix Baumgart for his continuous encouragement and support during the making of this publication. Noun in apposition.

Type material (46 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; 12 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Avontuur , Fynbos; 31°16′18″ S, 19°02′55″ E; 770 m a.s.l.; 3 Sep. 2012; MK leg.; SAMC.

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 2 ♀♀; W Cape, top Kamiesberg ; 30°10′31″ S, 18°00′53″ E; 15 Sep. 2012; CE leg.; SANC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; QM leg.; SANC • 3 ♀♀; W Cape, near Nourivier ; 30°13′01″ S, 18°07′04″ E; 15 Sep. 2012; CE leg.; SANC • 4 ♀♀; W Cape, near Nourivier ; 30°14′03″ S, 18°03′42″ E; 15 Sep. 2012; CE leg.; SANC • 3 ♀♀; W Cape, between Garies and Hondeklipbaai ; 30°27′58″ S, 17°41′45″ E; 14 Sep. 2012; CE leg.; SANC • 2 ♀♀; N Cape, Fynbos, 15 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Engelsepunt ; 31°14′31″ S, 18°59′08″ E; 830 m a.s.l.; 24 Sep. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; 12 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Avontuur, Fynbos ; 31°16′18″ S, 19°02′55″ E; 770 m a.s.l.; 19 Sep. 2009; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 24 Aug. 2012; RCMK • 2 ♂♂; N Cape, Nieuwoudtville, Flower Reserve East; 31°21′56″ S, 19°08′52″ E; 735 m a.s.l.; 7 Sep. 2003; MK leg.; on Oxalis sp. ; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 11 Sep. 2003; RCMK • 1 ♂; C.P., Nieuwoudtville ; [31°22′ S, 19°07′ E]; 21 Jul. 1986; VBW leg.; SANC • 1 ♀; Plateau Hantam Mts , near antenna, 9 km N of Calvinia; 31°22′29″ S, 19°47′03″ E; 1570 m a.s.l.; 7 Sep. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 30 Aug. 2011; RCMK • 1 ♂; Nieuwoudtville, path to Farm Glen Lyon, slope; 31°23′25″ S, 19°08′28″ E; 737 m a.s.l.; 3 Sep. 2007; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; 20 km S of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Papkuilsfontein, Fynbos ; 31°33′16″ S, 19°08′31″ E; 680 m a.s.l.; 15 Aug. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 11 Aug. 2011; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 27 Aug. 2012; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 20 Sep. 2014; RCMK • 1 ♀; 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 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 13 Sep. 2016; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 15 Sep. 2016; RCMK • 1 ♀; Keiski Mts , 5 km S of Farm Nooiensrivier, burned area, shale; 31°45′47″ S, 19°50′17″ E; 1275 m a.s.l.; 29 Aug. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Roggeveld Mts , 2 km S of Farm Perdekloof, rivier, dolerite; 31°47′35″ S, 19°58′16″ E; 1220 m a.s.l.; 28 Sep. 2022; MK leg.; RCMK • 5 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 20 Sep. 2022; RCMK • 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 • 1 ♀; W Cape, 30 km NE of Lambert’s Bay ; 31°48′52″ S, 18°26′21″ E; 16 Sep. 2012; CE leg.; SANC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 23 Aug. 2012; SANC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 30 Aug. 2012; SANC • 1 ♀; Roggeveld Mts , 2 km SE of Farm Allemansdam, burnt area; 31°49′32″ S, 19°59′55″ E; 1290 m a.s.l.; 20 Sep. 2022; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; W Cape, Rietvlei ; 32°08′46″ S, 18°46′21″ E; 22 Sep. 2011; CE leg.; SANC .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 5.8–7.2 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, except supraclypeal with more dispersed (i =0.5–1 d) and shallower punctation ( Fig. 39C). 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), finely and deeply punctate ( Fig. 39D). Propodeum with dense (i =0.25–0.5 d), relatively coarse and shallow punctation, metapostnotum matt ( Fig. 40A). Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely covered with fairly long, black hair mixed with shorter, yellowish-white hair ( Fig. 39D). Metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, dark brown hair, metapostnotum glabrous ( Figs 39D, 40A).

WINGS. Fuscous; wing venation dark brown and stigma dark brown to black ( Fig. 39A).

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; patches with dense white pubescence apically on the tibia, except anterior leg with less hair ( Fig. 39A).

METASOMA. Integument of T1 dark basally. Rest of T1 and T2 red, T3 and T4 to a variable extent red, from T3 basal quarter red to T4 basal half red; T5 and T6 black. T1–T4 sparsely covered with short white and black hair ( Fig. 39B). T5 marginal zone with bright white hair, disc covered with long, black hair. T6 with dense long, black hair, narrow and straight apically ( Fig. 40B). Shape of S6 ( Fig. 40C) as illustrated.

Male

BODY LENGTH. 6.0– 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 dense (i= 0–0.25 d), coarse and deep punctation, supraclypeal area with more dispersed (i=1–1.5 d) and less deep punctation ( Fig. 41C). Surface between punctures slightly matt. Antenna black.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula reddish-brown. Mesoscutum slightly shiny. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely (i=0.25–0.5 d) and finely but deeply punctate ( Fig. 41D). Propodeum dense (i=0.25–0.5 d) and relatively coarse and shallow punctation, metapostnotum matt ( Fig. 41E). Mesoscutum densely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter yellowish-white hair ( Fig. 41D). Mesoscutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, dark brown hair, metapostnotum glabrous ( Fig. 41D–E).

WINGS. Yellowish-brown; wing venation brown and stigma dark brown to black ( Fig. 41A). 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; patches with dense white pubescence apically on the tibia, anterior leg generally with less hair ( Fig. 41A).

METASOMA. Integument of T1 dark basally. Rest of T1 red, T2–T4 to a variable extension red, from T2 basal half red to T4 basal quarter red and T5–T7 black. T1–T3 sparsely covered with short, white and black hair, from T4 increasingly more and longer hair. T4–T6 marginal zone with bright white hair increasingly denser, disc with long, black hair ( Fig. 41B). T7 covered with short, bright white hair and longer, black hair ( Fig. 41F).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 42C–D), S7 ( Fig. 42A) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 42B) as illustrated.

Distribution

Found in various parts of Namaqualand.

Host bees

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

July–September.