Hoplitis (Anthocopa) conchophila Kuhlmann, 2011

Kuhlmann, M., Gess, F. G., Koch, F. & Gess, S. K., 2011, Southern African osmiine bees: taxonomic notes, two new species, a key to Wainia, and biological observations (Hymenoptera: Anthophila: Megachilidae), Zootaxa 3108, pp. 1-24 : 3-5

Hoplitis (Anthocopa) conchophila Kuhlmann spec. nov.

( Figs 1a–d, 2a–b)

Hoplitis (Anthocopa) sp.: Gess and Gess, 1999: 148 (nesting in snail shells).

Hoplitis sp. : Koch 2006 (reared from snail shells).

Hoplitis (Anthocopa) sp. 1: Gess and Gess, 2008: 104 (nesting in snail shells).

Diagnosis. The male belongs to a group of three described species with four apical processes at T7 ( Figs. 2a, c, e, g), namely H. ogilviae (Cockerell) , H. orthodonta (Cockerell) and H. piliventris (Friese) . Genitalia and T7 of these species are illustrated in figure 2 to facilitate their differentiation. Hoplitis conchophila can be separated from them by the relatively long and slender apical processes of T 7 in combination with the characteristic shape of the gonostylus and the penis valves ( Figs. 2b, d, f, h). Diagnosing the female is much more difficult because of the general morphological uniformity of the Hoplitis species of the subgenus Anthocopa . This is caused by the subtle morphological characters used for species differentiation, with unclear individual variation of the many species only known from the type. However, the irregularly shaped apical margin of the clypeus ( Fig. 1a) in combination with the pilosity pattern of the metasomal terga ( Fig. 1c) and the relatively fine puncturation of the scutum ( Fig. 1b) seem to characterize the female.

Description

Female. Bl = 9.0–10.0 mm. Head. Head slightly wider than long. Integument black except mandibles medially dark reddish-brown. Face medially densely covered with long white to orangish-brown, erect setae ( Fig. 1a). Mandibles tridentate. Clypeus sparsely covered with greyish-white to orange-brown setae, vertex with sparse long, erect orange-brown pilosity. Clypeus strongly convex, densely and finely punctate, surface between punctures shiny, apical margin irregularly formed ( Fig. 1a). Paraocular area finely and densely punctate; surface smooth and shiny. Antennae black, ventrally dark orangish-brown. Mesosoma. Integument black, tegulae reddish-brown. Scutum on disc between punctures smooth and shiny; disc densely and finely punctate (i <0.5d) ( Fig. 1b). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 1b. Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with long orangishbrown, erect setae ( Fig. 1b). Wings. Slightly brownish transparent, veins and stigma reddish-brown. Legs. Integument yellowish-brown to dark brown. Vestiture yellowish-brown. Metasoma. Integument black except narrow margins of T brownish to reddish translucent. T1-T5 with yellowish-white apical setal bands; T1 densely covered with long, erect yellowish-brown setae, pilosity on T1-T5 shorter, on T4-T5 medially with few dark setae ( Fig. 1c); terga shiny, punctation as in Fig. 1c. Scopa orangish-brown.

Male. Bl = 9.0–10.0 mm. Head. Head slightly wider than long. Integument black except mandibles medially dark reddish-brown. Face densely covered with long, erect white setae, vertex with long, sparse greyish pilosity. Mandibles tridentate. Paraocular area finely to minutely (between ocellus and eye) and densely punctate; surface smooth and shiny. Antennae black, ventrally dark orangish-brown. Mesosoma. Integument as in female. Mesosoma anteriorly with long white pilosity, apically orangish-brown. Wings. As in female. Legs. Integument yellowish-brown to blackish. Vestiture whitish to yellowish-brown. Metasoma. Integument and pilosity as in female but puncturation slightly finer and more dense. T7 with four apical processes ( Fig. 2a). Metasomal sterna S3-S6 as illustrated ( Fig. 1d). Genitalia. Genitalia as illustrated ( Fig. 2b).

Type material ( 9 specimens). Holotype, male. (blue label): R.S.A., Yellow Dunes , Northern Cape Prov., 28°37´S / 16°40´E, collected 13.X.2001, leg. F. Koch ( ZMHB).

Paratypes. 3♀, 5 ♂. 2 ♀, 2 ♂, same dates as holotype (1 ♂, 1 ♀ ZMHB; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ RCMK); 2 ♂, same locality as holotype but collected 17.X.2007; 1 ♀, 96/97/105 / sheltering in snail shell Trigonephrus sp. , Acavidae [with nest]/ N Cape Province, Richtersveld, W of Brandkaros, 28.29S 16.40E, 13.ix.1996, F.W., S.K. & R.W. Gess / Hoplitis (Anthocopa) sp. 1, det. F.W. Gess (handwritten) ( AMGS); 1 ♂, 96/97/136 / ex snail shell Trigonephrus sp. , Acavidae / N Cape Province, Richtersveld, W of Brandkaros, 28.29S 16.40E, 15.ix.1996, F.W., S.K. & R.W. Gess / Hoplitis (Anthocopa) sp. 1 det. F.W. Gess (handwritten) ( AMGS).

Etymology. Conchology is the scientific study of mollusc shells. Because this species nests in snail shells it is named “conchophila” to stress the fact that it is “shell loving”.

Distribution. Only known from the type localities.

Flower visiting. Unknown.

Nesting. This bee was found in winter-rainfall desertic sandy areas north and south of the Orange River, nesting in empty shells of Trigonephrus Pilsbry (Dorcasiidae) ( Figure 10 a and b). In the nests examined ( Gess and Gess 1999, 2008) the walls of the cells, positioned within the crown of the shell are constructed from petals ( Figure 10c). The petals pieces from two nests (voucher specimens AMGS), one from south of Rosh Pinah and one west of Brandkaros, were identified as having been cut from the pink petals of Sarcocaulon (Geraniaceae) growing in the vicinity of the nests. Pollen from the provision of the Brandkaros nest was examined and was found to match that from the Sarcocaulon flowers.