Redivivoides simulans Michener, 1981

Kuhlmann, Michael, 2012, Revision of the South African endemic bee genus Redivivoides Michener, 1981 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Melittidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 34, pp. 1-34 : 19-24

Redivivoides simulans Michener, 1981

Figs 12 , 13 , 14

Redivivoides simulans Michener, 1981: 121-122 , figs 80, 82-84 (p. 43), 97 (p. 48), Holotype ♀ (type locality: Clanwilliam , South Africa) ( Snow Entomological Museum , University of Kansas, Lawrence).

Diagnosis

Females of R. simulans can be separated from other Redivivoides species by a combination of the following characters: metasomal terga at least partly red (at least on a narrow stripe on the apical part of the discs of T1 – T3), metasomal terga with surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 12D ), scutum at least on the disc between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 12C ), and head about as long as wide ( Fig. 12B ). These characters also apply to males ( Fig. 13C ) but genitalia and S6 – S8 ( Fig. 13 D–H) should be checked to avoid potential confusion with the unknown male of R. kamieskroonensis .

Both sexes of R. simulans were described in detail by Michener (1981).

Material examined

Specimens examined (56 specimens): SOUTH AFRICA: 2 ♀♀, 40 km N Port Nolloth [28°54’3” S, 16°44’3” E], 11 Sep. 2001 ( CUIC, RCMK) ; 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Skurfkop St., 3118AB [31°10’ S, 18°20’ E], 18 Aug. 1983, V.B. Whitehead, white Hermannia prostrate ( SAMC) ; 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Farm Sarrisam, 3017DA [30°40’ S, 17°40’ E], 14 Aug. 1993, K. Steiner, Hermannia sp. ( SAMC) ; 1 ♀, Ouberg Pass, 27 km SE Vanrhynsdorp , Fynbos [31°48’07” S, 18°55’00” E], 380 m, 9 Aug. 2011, M. Kuhlmann ( RCMK) ; 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, near Ratelfontein [31°56’ S, 18°31’ E], 21 Sep. 2007, C. Eardley ( SANC) ; 1 ♀, Koinonia [32°01’42” S, 18°39’34” E], 24 Sep. 2011, C. Eardley ( SANC) ; 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂, Ratelfontein / Olaf Bergfontein [32°02’ S, 18°35’ E], 7 Oct. 1995, F.W., S.K. & R.W. Gess, visiting yellow fls. semiprostrate Hermannia sp., Sterculiaceae , 95/96/273 ( AMGS) ; 2 ♀♀, Trawal , 15 km SSW [32°02’ S, 18°35’ E], 21 Sep. 2007, T.L. Griswold ( EMUS) ; 1 ♀, 1 ♂, S Skurfkop [32°03’26”S, 18°40’27” E], 24 Sep. 2011, C. Eardley ( SANC) ; 1 ♀, Lamberts Bay [32°04’21” S, 18°22’12” E], 160 m, 13 Sep. 2005, C. Eardley ( SANC) ; 5 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 5 km N Clanwilliam [32°08’1” S, 18°51’3” E], 94 m, 20 Sep. 2001 ( CUIC) ; 2 ♀♀, 11 km N Clanwilliam [32°05’08” S, 18°49’25” E], 21 Sep. 2011, C. Eardley ( SANC) ; 1 ♀, 20 mi. W. of Clanwilliam [32°09’ S, 18°36’ E], 19 Sep. 1966, C.D. Michener ( SAMC) ; 1 ♂, 9 km W Clanwilliam [32°10’11” S, 18°48’21” E], 22 Sep. 2011, C. Eardley ( SANC) ; 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Clanwilliam [32°10’ S, 18°53’ E], 8 Sep. 1966, M. & C.D. Michener ( EMUS) ; 1 ♀, Droogerivier, Sandberg Sta. , 3218BC [32°18’ S, 18°37’ E], 24 Aug. 1987, V.B. Whitehead, Homeria ( SAMC) ; 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, Farm Droogerivier, 3218BC [32°18’ S, 18°37’ E], 8 Sep. 1987, K. Steiner, Lessertia rigida ( SAMC) ; 1 ♂, Droogerivier, Sandberg Sta. , 3218BC [32°18’ S, 18°37’ E], 27 Aug. 1987, V.B. Whitehead, Homeria ( SAMC) ; 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, Klein Alexandershoek to Het Kruis [32°20’ S, 18°46’ E], 26 Sep. 1985, F.W. & S.K. Gess ( AMGS) ; 1 ♀, Citrusdal [32°36’42” S, 18°59’49” E], 12 Sep. 2005, C. Eardley ( SANC) ; 2 ♀♀, Sauer, 26 km W Piketberg [32°50’36” S, 18°33’58” E], 21 Oct. 2008, C. Eardley ( SANC) ; 5 ♀♀, Sauer, 26 km W Piketberg [32°50'37” S, 18°33’58” E], 21 Oct. 2008, BN Danforth, on Hermannia ( CUIC) ; 4 ♀♀, Sauer [32°50’ S, 18°34’ E], 21 Oct. 2008, T.L. Griswold ( EMUS) ; 1 ♀, Atlantis , 3 km W, [33°34’ S, 18°27’ E], 150 m, 8-12 Oct. 2002, M. E. Irwin, F.D. Parker ( EMUS) ; 1 ♀, Ganzekraal, 3318CB [33°40’ S, 18°20’ E], 22 Sep. 1999, K. Steiner, Nemesia affinis ( SAMC) .

Additional material

Additional records from the database of the South African Museum, Cape Town (material in SAMC, no data on number or sex of specimens available): SOUTH AFRICA: Goegap Reserve, 4 km from tarred road on circular drive, Springbok [29°40’ S, 18°00’ E], 13 Aug. 1993, Whitehead, Zygophyllum ; Klipfontein [29°44’ S, 17°33’], 3 Aug. 1988, Whitehead, Zygophyllum , Bowesdorp, L. Namaqualand [30°09’ S, 17°56’ E], Sep. 1941, South African Museum ; Grootvlei, Kamieskroon [30°10’ S, 17°50’ E], 24 Aug. 1990, Whitehead, Indigofera ; Farm Dik Nek on road to Hondeklipbaai [30°19’ S, 17°17’ E], 14 Aug. 1993, Whitehead ; Farm Dik Nek [30°19’ S, 17°17’ E] 130 m, 9 Aug. 1991, 14 Aug. 1993, Steiner ( SAMC) ; Diknek, Garies [30°19’ S, 17°17’ E], 18 Aug. 1995, Whitehead / Macpherson, Nemesia ; Wallekraal, Namaqualand [30°22’ S, 17°29’ E], Oct. 1950, South African Museum ; Garies, Little Namaqualand [30°33’ S, 17°58’ E], Jun. 1930, South African Museum ; Garies , 9 km E. of Soutfontein [30°33’ S, 17°58’ E], 22 Aug. 1990, Whitehead, Lebeckia ; Kotzesrus, 12.6 km N. on rd to Groenrivier [30°58’ S, 17°49’ E], 12 Aug. 1997, Whitehead, Heliophila ; Kotzesrus, Hardevlei [30°58’ S, 17°49’ E], 28 Aug. 1997, Whitehead, Hermannia ; Nieuwoudtville [31°22’ S, 19°07’ E], 31 Aug. 1985, Whitehead / Macpherson, Lotonotis serpens ; Garies , Farm Sariesaam [30°40’ S, 17°40’ E], 14 Aug. 1993, Steiner ; 6.5 km N of Klawer t/o on N7 [31°45’ S, 18°39’ E], 6 Aug. 1989, Steiner, Homeria minuata ; Skurfkop station [31°56’ S, 18°36’ E], 18 Aug. 1983, Whitehead, Hermannia ; Lamberts Bay [32°05’ S, 18°18’E], 28Sep.1977, Whitehead ; Farm Skarpdam [32°05’S, 18.22’E], 9Sep.1987, Steiner / Whitehead, Nemesia ; 12 km N of Clanwilliam [32°05’ S, 18°52’ E], 11 Aug. 1985, Whitehead, Hermannia ; 11 km N of Clanwilliam [32°06’ S, 18°52’ E], 21 Aug. 1985, Whitehead / Macpherson ; Kompagniesdrif , 19 km E. of Lamberts Bay [32°08’ S, 18°29’ E], 14 Sep. 1984, Whitehead, Hermannia ; Graafwater [32°08’ S, 18°35’ E], Oct. 1947, South African Museum Expedition ; 10 km E of Bidouw Valley [32°08’ S, 19°19’ E], 8 Sep. 1985, Picker ; Clanwilliam [32°10’ S, 18°53’ E], 11 Aug. 1984, Picker ; Ramskop campsite, Clanwilliam [32°10’ S, 18°53’ E], 22 Aug. 1984, Whitehead / Macpherson, Trachyandra muricata ; Leipoldtville, Elands Bay [32°12’ S, 18°28’ E], Oct. 1947, South African Museum Expedition ; Elands Bay [32°17’ S, 18°20’ E], 20 Sep. 1988, Whitehead, Polycarena seluginoides ; Elands Bay [32°17’ S, 18°20’ E], 26 Sep. 1985, Whitehead, Hermannia ; Farm Skerpheuwel [32°18’ S, 18°20’ E], 28 Aug. 1987, Steiner, Nemesia ; Farm Droogerivier [32°18’ S, 18°37’ E], 8 Sep. 1987, Steiner ; Droogerivier ( Droërivier ), Sandberg sta. [32°18’ S, 18°37’ E], 27 Aug. 1987, Whitehead, Homeria ; 11 Aug. 1988, Whitehead, Cysticapnos ; 8 Sep. 1987, Steiner, Lessertia rigida ; Farm Droogerivier ( Droërivier ) [32°18’ S, 18°37’ E], 27 Aug. 1987, 8 Sep. 1987, Steiner, Lessertia rigida / Cysticapnos vesicarius ; Paleisheuwel, Alexanderhoek [32°18’ S, 18°43’ E], 12 Sep. 1991, Whitehead, Cysticapnos ; Holfontein , 20 km S of Clanwilliam [32°20’ S, 18°55’ E], 29 Aug. 1984, Whitehead / Steiner, Hermannia ; 28.8 km N of Citrusdal t/o [32°20’ S, 19°00’ E], 8 Aug. 1984, Whitehead, Hermannia ; Farm Klawervlei , 23 km south of Clanwilliam [32°23’ S, 18°56’ E], 20 Aug. 1984, Whitehead, Hermannia , Lachenalia mutabilis ; Koraanshoogte , 13.5 km north of Citrusdal t/o [32°28’ S, 19°00’ E], 20 Aug. 1984, Whitehead / Macpherson, Hermannia ; Oorwinningsfontein , 33 km N of Piketberg [32°36’ S, 18°44’ E], 30 Aug. 1987, Whitehead, Hermannia ; 30 Jul. 1987, Whitehead, Hermannia ; Eendekuil, Aroenfontein [32°40’ S, 18°53’ E], 19 Aug.1992, Whitehead ; 1 km S of Droëryskloof Sta., Eendekuil [32°40’ S, 18°53’ E], 30 Aug. 1986, Whitehead, Hermannia ; Sauer, Suurfontein [32°50’ S, 18°40’ E], 1 Sep. 1994, Whitehead / Macpherson, Nemesia ; Piketberg [32°54’ S, 18°44’ E], 21 Sep. 1985, Whitehead ; Berg River, Jantjiesfontein [33°05’ S, 18°25’ E], 25 Sep. 1991, Whitehead ; Hopefield, Jantjiesfontein [33°05’ S, 18°25’ E], 17 Sep. 1991, Whitehead, Indigofera ; 12 km SE of Yzerfontein t/o [33°20’ S, 18°17’ E], 28 Sep. 1988, Whitehead, Nemesia versicolor ; between Darling and Yzerfontein [33°20’ S, 18°17’ E], 18 Sep. 1986, Steiner, Heliophila ; Montagu Rocks, Bainskloof [33°35’ S, 19°08’ E], 31 Sep. 1990, Steiner, Moraea ramosissima ; Ganzekraal [33°40’ S, 18°20’ E], 22 Sep. 1999, Steiner, Nemesia affinis ; Darling road, 18 Sep. 1986, Whitehead, Heliophila .

Distribution

This is the most common and widespread of all Redivivoides species and has been found in most parts of the winter rainfall area ( Fig. 14 ).

Floral hosts

Asphodelaceae : Trachyandra muricata ; Brassicaceae : Heliophila spec.; Fabaceae : Indigofera spec., Lebeckia spec., Lessertia rigida , Lotonotis hirsuta (= serpens ); Fumariaceae : Cysticapnos vesicaria ; Hyacinthaceae : Lachenalia mutabilis ; Iridaceae : Moraea miniata , M. ramosissima , Moraea spec.; Scrophulariaceae : Nemesia affinis , N. versicolor , Nemesia spec., Polycarena phyllopodioides (= seluginoides ); Sterculiaceae : Hermannia spec.; Zygophyllaceae : Zygophyllum spec.

Seasonal activity

(June) July – October.

Figures

Fig. 12. Redivivoides simulans Michener, 1981, ♀. A. Lateral view. B. Head. C. Scutum and scutellum. D. Metasoma (dorsal view). Scale bar: 1 mm.

Fig. 13. Redivivoides simulans Michener, 1981, ♂. A. Lateral view. B. Scutum and scutellum. C. Metasoma (dorsal view). D. S6 (ventral view). E. S7 (dorsal view). F. S8, apical end (backscattered electron image). G. Genitalia (dorsal view). H. Genitalia (lateral view). Scale bar: 1 mm.

Fig. 14. Distribution of Redivivoides simulans Michener, 1981 in South Africa.