Dioxys atlanticus Saunders, 1904

Bogusch, Petr, 2023, European cuckoo bees of the tribe Dioxyini (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae): distribution, annotated checklist and identification key, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 96, pp. 599-628 : 599

Dioxys atlanticus Saunders, 1904 stat. nov.

Dioxys atlanticus Saunders, 1904: 232.

Diagnosis.

This species is small (5-7 mm in total length) and completely black with well-developed apical bands on metasomal terga (Fig. 5A, B ). It is generally similar to Dioxys lanzarotensis , from which it can be identified by denser punctation on metasomal terga (Fig. 5C ) and clypeus. It is morphologically similar to D. moestus , which is probably its near relative, rather than to D. cinctus , into which it was previously classified as a subspecies ( Warncke 1977). The dark colouration of tibial spurs reported by Warncke (1977) was not observed in any specimen I have studied (Fig. 5D ). Based on the morphology and distribution, it is clearly a separate species. Syntypes (a male and a female from Santa Cruz, Tenerife) from the Natural History Museum London were studied.

Distribution.

This species was described from a male and a female from the Canary Islands (Tenerife), where it was also recorded on two other islands - Lanzarote and Gran Canaria ( Hohmann et al. 1993) (Fig. 6 ). It was also recorded in Egypt ( Warncke 1977) and currently in Sardinia (Orroli, 02.vi.2011, 6 ♀♀, G. Pagliano lgt., P. Bogusch det., coll. Biologiezentrum Linz, Austria). Based on the records, the species occurs in the Canary Islands and several parts of North Africa, South Europe and perhaps the Middle East, but it is very rare and hard to find. Specimens from Sardinia correspond in size, morphology and colouration with those of the Canary Islands and with both syntypes.

Biology and hosts.

The species occurs in open habitats - steppes, semideserts, in rocky areas with shrubby vegetation. Little is known about its biology. Hosts unknown.

Conservation status: Nieto et al. (2014) listed this species as DD - data deficient. There are quite recent records from the Canary Islands and new records from Sardinia (Italy). In my opinion, it should be VU - vulnerable because of its restricted distribution area.

Figures

Figure 5. Dioxys atlanticus A female, dorsal view B male, dorsal view C female, mesosoma dorsal view D female, tibial spur on fore leg E male, last metasomal segments, ventral view. Red scale bars represent the length of 1 mm, blue scale bars 100 µm.

Figure 6. Dioxys atlanticus, distribution in Canary Islands.