Bembix liturata R.Turner, 1917

Gess, Friedrich W. & Gess, Sarah K., 2014, Geographical distributions of Bembix (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae, Bembicinae) in southern Africa, with notes on biology, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 36, pp. 53-130 : 82-83

Bembix liturata R.Turner Fig. 11b

Bembex liturata R. Turner, 1917a: 440, ♂, ♀ (Syntypes, South Africa, Eastern Cape, Willowmore, in BMNH); Arnold 1929: 370, figs 34, 34a-c, pl. 6, figs 26, 27, ♂, ♀ (in revision of southern Africa Sphecidae ); Arnold 1930: 21 (in checklist of Afrotropical Sphecidae ); Guiglia 1931: 157 (Eritrea, Dankalia, Gaarre N Assaab).

Bembix liturata R. Turner, R. Bohart & Menke, 1976: 547 (in checklist of world Sphecidae ); Pulawski 2013: 41 (in catalogue of world Sphecidae sensu lato).

Note.

This species was described by Turner from Willowmore and recorded from the same locality by Arnold.

In the females the sixth tergite is not always black (as stated in Arnold’s key) but may be ferruginous or even yellow at the apex, in which case the general appearance ia much like that of Bembix capensis . Such specimens are, however, distinguishable by the pale markings on the tergite being yellowish white (not yellow), by the greater amount of yellow and lesser amount of ferruginous (if any) on the sterna, by the shape of the black mark on the clypeus, by the more gracile form of the second flagellar segment, and by the fact that the labrum at the baso-lateral angles (and sometimes laterally) is finely but distinctly pilose (almost glabrose in capensis).

The subspecies Bembix liturata flavopicta Arnold cannot be upheld as the material examined shows that the species may vary considerably in the degree of development of the light markings. Specimens from Willowmore are usually melanistic, Bembix liturata flavopicta has the light markings well developed, specimens from Merveville are intermediate.

Material examined.

ZIMBABWE: Matetsi [18.15S, 25.55E], 7.ix.1934 (R.H.R. Stevenson), 1 ♂; same locality and collector, 9.ix. 1934, 1 ♂; same locality and collector, 12.ix.1934, 1 ♀; same locality and collector, 28.x.1934, 1 ♀. NORTHERN CAPE: ?.... Kloof, Fraserburg [31.55S, 21.31E], xi.1935 (Mus. Staff), 1 ♂ [SAMC]. WESTERN CAPE: Liebendal [Station] [31.36S, 18.24E], xi.1953 (S.A.M.), 1 ♀ [SAMC]; Murraysburg Dist[rict] [circa 31.58S, 23.47E], xi.1935 (Mus. Staff), 2 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Bushmans Riv[er], Letjiesbosch, Koup [32.34S, 22.16E], xi.1935 (Mus. Staff), 1 ♀ [SAMC]; Merweville Distr[ict] [32.40S, 21.31], i-ii. 1947 (H. Zinn), 3 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Dikbome, Merweville, Koup [32.54S, 21.22E], i.1953 (H. Zinn), 7 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂ [SAMC]; Rietbron [32.54S, 23.08E], 11.i.1965 (H.N. Empey), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; Nieuveld Escarpment, Rietvlei [32.20S, 21.30E], i.1949 (Zinn-Hesse Mus. Exp.), 1 ♂ [SAMC]; Rooinek [Pass], Laingsberg Distr. [33.20S, 20.52E], i.1949 (Zinn-Hesse Mus. Exp.), 1 ♀, 1 ♂ [SAMC]; 43 km ENE of Ceres on road to Sutherland [33.12S, 19.44E], 2-3.xii.1989 (R.W. Gess), 2 ♂♂ (1 ♂ on flowers of Athanasia spp., Asteraceae ); same locality and dates (H.W. Gess), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; Oudtshoorn, Onverwacht (33.37S, 22.14E), 9.-12.xii.1986 (F.W. Gess), 3 ♀♀; same locality and dates (R.W. Gess), 2 ♂♂ (on flowers of Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd., Fabaceae ) [AMGS]; EASTERN CAPE: Aberdeen [32.28S, 24.02E], xi.1935 (Mus. Staff), 1 ♀ [SAMC]; Willowmore [33.15S, 23.30E], 1.xi.1899 (Brauns), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; same locality and collector, 10.i.1900, 1 ♀ [DMSA], 17.xi.1916, 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ], no date, 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ].

Geographical distribution.

Known principally from the southern Nama-Karoo of South Africa. The single record from Zimbabwe suggests that further records are required to establish the distribution pattern. ( Fig. 12b )

Floral associations.

Recorded from two plant families: Asteraceae ( Athanasia spp.); and Fabaceae ( Mimosoideae , Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd.).

Nesting.

Unknown.

Prey.

Unknown.

Figures

Figure 11. Bembix species: a Bembix karroensis, female, male b Bembix liturita, female, male c Bembix loupata, male d Bembix melanopa, female, male e Bembix moebii, female, male f Bembix monedula, female, male. (approximate lengths of - females: a 15.5 mm; b 16 mm; d 15.5 mm; e 21 mm; f 24 mm - male: c 15 mm)

Figure 12. Distributions of collection records of Bembix spp.: a Bembix karroensis b Bembix liturata c Bembix loupata d Bembix melanopa e Bembix moebii f Bembix monedula.