Plesianthidium (Spinanthidium) namaquaense Eardley & Griswold

Eardley, Connal & Griswold, Terry, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Plesianthidium Cameron (Apoidea: Megachilidae: Anthidiini), an endemic southern African bee genus, Zootaxa 3973 (1), pp. 1-56 : 49-51

Plesianthidium (Spinanthidium) namaquaense Eardley & Griswold , sp. nov.

( Figs 30–31 )

Diagnosis. Both sexes of Plesianthidium namaquaense can be distinguished from all Plesianthidium , except P. n el i by the combination of terga with orange distal bands and legs black ( Figs 30 a, c). Females differ from P. neli in the typically larger size, clypeus sparsely punctate medially ( Fig. 30 b), scutum contiguously punctate, and T5 with moderately narrow impunctate margin (approximately 2 puncture widths). Males differ from P. neli in the larger body size, clypeus strongly punctate throughout, distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge longer (2x ocellar diameter), and T5 with moderately narrow impunctate margin (approximately 2 puncture widths). The structure of the male T7 and S6–S8 does not differ between P. namaquaense and P. neli .

Description. Female. Lengths: face 3.2 mm; scutum 2.5 mm; forewing 7.9 mm; body 8.9 mm. Integument black, except tegula and distal margins of T1–T5 translucent orange; distal ends of tibiae and all tarsi orange ( Fig. 30 a). Pubescence white, except vertex and scutum orangish ( Figs 30 a, b), scopa pale yellow. Metasomal terga without distal fasciae. Preoccipital ridge rounded; distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge twice ocellar diameter; supraclypeus convex; clypeus gently convex, ventral region not modified, ventral edge crenulate, sparsely punctate, shiny between punctures; mandible with two distinct teeth and three small teeth; maxillary palpus 2-segmented; scutum densely, mostly contiguously punctate, shiny between punctures; tegula sparsely punctate medially; propodeum glabrous medioventrally; T2–T3 punctate distally; T6 weakly shouldered, not expanded laterally, without mediolongitudinal carina.

Male. Lengths: face 3.1 mm; scutum 2.6 mm; forewing 8.8 mm; body 10.2 mm. Integument black, except tegula and distal margins of T1–T6 translucent orange ( Fig. 30 c). Pubescence white, except vertex and scutum orangish ( Figs 30 c, d). Metasomal terga without distal fasciae. Preoccipital ridge rounded; distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge twice ocellar diameter; supraclypeus distinctly convex; clypeus distinctly convex, densely punctate throughout; mandible with three distinct teeth; maxillary palpus 2-segmented; scutum densely punctate medially, dull between punctures; tegula densely punctate; propodeum mostly impunctate posteriorly; hind trochanter without ventral spine; T6 without mediolongitudinal carina, with large posteromedially tubercle, with distinct lateral spines, with narrow impunctate distal margin, without distal flange (cf. Fig. 28 a); T7 posterior edge tridentate with moderately large lateral and median teeth, all spines narrow, median blunt, lateral pointed (cf. Figs 28 a, b); S4 without apicomedian comb; S5 posterior edge shallowly concave; S6 broadly convex with slight posteromedian truncation (cf. Fig. 28 c); S7 disc short, with broad, rounded posterior concavity (cf. Fig. 28 d); S8 with disc long, strongly concave posterolaterally, truncate posteromedially, sides straight (cf. Fig. 28 e); gonostylus concave apicolaterally (cf. Fig. 28 f).

Etymology. This species is named for Namaqualand, the region that includes the type locality, which is in South Africa.

Distribution ( Fig. 31 ). This species is largely known from the coastal sandveld of central Namaqualand.

Type material. (28 specimens). Holotype, male. South Africa. Redelinghuys, near, 32.32S 18.27E, 2005. ix.18, C. Eardley (1♂ SANC 19294). South Africa. Redelinghuys, near, 32.32S 18.27E, 2005. ix.18, C. Eardley (1♀ 3♂ paratypes SANC 19287, 19298, 19299); Bowesdorp, 1931. xi.1 (2♀ 4♂ paratypes SAMC 004418); Ratelfontein and Olaf Bergfontein, between, 32.01S 18.33.E, 1995. x. 8, F.W. Gess (1♂ paratype AMGC 2894); Clanwilliam 5 km W, Graafwater road, 32.10S 18.50E, 1987. x.8–13, F. W. Gess (2♂ paratypes AMGC 2888, 1886); Jakkalsvlei, Clanwilliam, 1978. ix.27, V. Whitehead (1♀ 1♂ paratypes SAMC 006923); Klein Alexandershoek, Clanwilliam District, 32.20S 18.46E, 1987. x.8–13, F. W. Gess (1♂ paratype AMGC 2883); Skurfkop, near 32.0666S 18.71666E, 2007. ix.20–21, C.D. Eardley (2♂ paratypes SANC 12203, 19293); Skurfkop S, 32.0572S 18.6741E, 2011. ix.24, C.D. Eardley (1♂ paratype SANC 19313); Skurfkop, 25 NW, 32.0558S 18.6742E, 2007. ix.21, T.L. Griswold (1♂ paratype BLCU 722940); Hoek se Berg, 32.1478S 19.1844E, 2011. ix.23, L. Packer (1♀PC 15279 C3); Die Berg, near, 32.2097S 18.7475E, 2005. ix.20, C.D. Eardley (1♂ paratype SANC 19314); Piekenierskloof, Paleisheuwel, 32.37S 18.57E, 1990. x.6, F.W. Gess (1♂ paratype AMGC 2903); Citrusdal District, 1948. xi.1 (1♂ SAMC 006919); Lammerskraal, Prince Albert District, 1946. ix.1 (3♂ SAMC 006918); Stellenbosch, 1926. x.5, H. Brauns (1♂ SAMC 004419).

Figures

FIGURE 28. Plesianthidium (Spinanthidium) neli (Brauns), male. a. T 6 – T 7. b. T 7. c. S 6. d. S 7. e. S 8. f. Genitalia.

FIGURE 30. Plesianthidium (Spinanthidium) namaquaense Eardley & Griswold. a – b. Female. a. Habitus. b. Face. c – d. Male. c. Habitus. d. Face.

FIGURE 31. Known distribution of Plesianthidium (Spinanthidium) namaquaense Eardley & Griswold.