Rediviva (Gigaviva), 2020

Kuhlmann, Michael, Jürgensen, Lea-Sophie & Michez, Denis, 2020, Subgeneric classification of the bee genus Rediviva Friese (Hymenoptera: Apiformes: Melittidae), Zootaxa 4790 (2), pp. 318-328 : 322-325

Rediviva (Gigaviva) subgen. nov.

Type species: Rediviva (Gigaviva) gigas Whitehead & Steiner 1993 , designated here.

The only species in this subgenus is R. gigas .

Diagnosis. The subgenus is monotypic and contains only R. gigas which is the largest species of the genus (15–18 mm). Males are characterised by a combination of S7 without lateral lobes (with lateral lobes in all other species except Redivivoides karooensis and R. namaquaensis ), median lobes basally twice as broad as long ( Whitehead & Steiner 2001: Figs 5B–C) (as broad as long or longer in other subgenera) and S8 apically broadened with margin deeply cleft (strait, notched, emarginate or semi-circular in other subgenera) ( Whitehead & Steiner 2001: Figs 5D, 64G).

Females show a unique combination of a broadened hind tibia and basitarsus with the scopa consisting of densely plumose pubescence for transporting floral oil ( Fig. 3f ) (in Redivivoides hind tibia not broadened and without plumose pubescence) and a tridentate mandible (bidentate in other subgenera). The species has an isolated position within the genus and, among others, collects oil on flowers of Tritoniopsis parviflora (Iridaceae) ( Manning & Goldblatt 2002, 2005) and Ixianthes retzioides (Scrophulariaceae) ( Whitehead & Steiner 1993, Steiner & Whitehead 1996) that are not used by any other Rediviva species ( Kuhlmann & Hollens 2015).

Etymology. The new subgeneric name is a combination of the first part of the specific epithet of the type species R. gigas and the last part of the generic name Rediviva . The gender of the name is feminine.

Distribution. The species is only known from the southwestern part of the winter rainfall region ( Whitehead & Steiner 2001).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Rediviva (Albiviva) albifasciata Whitehead & Steiner ♀: a. metasoma with distinct white apical hair bands. R. (s. str.) whiteheadi Kuhlmann ♀: b. metasoma with indistinct yellowish apical hair bands. R. (Redivivoides) capensis (Kuhlmann) ♀: c. hind leg. R. (Deriviva) intermedia Whitehead & Steiner ♀: d. front leg, coxa with apical hairy spine (s). R. (Deriviva) intermixta Cockerell ♀: e. hind basitarsus with shiny scale-like projection; f. hind leg.