Hoplitis (Tkalcua)

Müller, Andreas & Mauss, Volker, 2016, Palaearctic Hoplitis bees of the subgenera Formicapis and Tkalcua (Megachilidae, Osmiini): biology, taxonomy and key to species, Zootaxa 4127 (1), pp. 105-120 : 117-118

Key to the species of Hoplitis (Tkalcua)

The female of Hoplitis emiratensis is still unknown.

Females

1 Clypeus apically with deep median incision of semicircular shape, from which a narrow and shallow longitudinal groove extends towards its base ( Fig. 19 ). Antennal segments 4–12 yellowish. Mandible three-toothed ( Fig. 19 ). Apex of inner spur of hind leg curved almost at right angles. Stigma yellowish. Terga 1–5 of unworn specimens with uninterrupted white hair bands. Body length 5–6mm. Morocco to Tunisia, Israel................................................ Hoplitis paralias

- Clypeus apically without deep median incision but with weak median impression at its declivous apical third ( Fig. 20 ). Antenna entirely black. Mandible four-toothed ( Fig. 20 ). Apex of inner spur of hind leg only slightly curved. Stigma blackish. Terga 1–5 with broadly interrupted white hair bands. Body length 5–6mm. Canary Islands............... Hoplitis zandeni

Males

1 Second segment of labial palpus distinctly less than 1.5x as long as first segment ( Fig. 22 ). Brightened parts of mandible yellow. Appressed white pilosity on lateral sides of tergum 1 almost reaching base of horizontal part of tergum 1 ( Fig. 23 ). Carina separating anterior concavity of tergum 1 from its horizontal part with row of strong white hairs ( Fig. 23 ). Disc of tergum 5 densely covered with appressed white pilosity. Head less than 0.9x as long as wide. Body length 4–5mm. Arabian Peninsula..................................................................................... Hoplitis emiratensis

- Second segment of labial palpus 1.75– 2 x as long as first segment. Brightened parts of mandible reddish-brown or mandible entirely black. Appressed white pilosity on lateral sides of tergum 1 less extended and restricted to posterior half of horizontal part of tergum 1. Carina separating anterior concavity of tergum 1 from its horizontal part without row of strong white hairs. Disc of tergum 5 without dense appressed white pilosity. Head 0.9x as long as wide or longer......................... 2

2 Antennal segments 6–12 about 1.25x as long as wide. Antennal segments 4–13 yellowish. Stigma yellowish. Second segment of labial palpus about 2x as long as first segment. Terga 1–5 of unworn specimens with uninterrupted white hair bands. Apical margins of sterna 1–2 with rather dense white hair bands. Gonoforceps of about equal width along its entire length, its apical half yellowish-brown. Body length 5–5.5mm. Morocco to Tunisia, Israel............................ Hoplitis paralias

- Antennal segments 6–12 about 1.5x as long as wide. Antenna entirely black. Stigma blackish except for its centre, which is light brown. Second segment of labial palpus about 1.75x as long as first segment. Terga 1–5 with white hair bands, which are broadly interrupted on terga 1–4. Apical margins of sterna 1–4 sparsely ciliated with long white hairs. Apical half of gonoforceps broadened and blackish ( Fig. 21 ). Body length 5–6mm. Canary Islands......................... Hoplitis zandeni

Figures

FIGURE 19 – 24. 19: Hoplitis paralias, clypeus of female. 20: Hoplitis zandeni, clypeus of female. 21: Hoplitis zandeni, tergum 7 and genitalia of male. 22: Hoplitis emiratensis, head and proboscis of male. 23: Hoplitis emiratensis, metasoma of male. 24: Hoplitis emiratensis, tergum 7 and genitalia of male.