Bembix moebii Handlirsch, 1893

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 : 89-91

Bembix moebii Handlirsch Fig. 11e

Bembex moebii Handlirsch, 1893: 775, pl. 2, fig. 2, pl. 7, fig. 1, ♂, ♀, (Syntypes, Mozambique, Delagoa Bay [Maputo], in ZMHB); Dalla Torre 1897: 508 (in catalogue of world Hymenoptera ).

Bembex moebii Handlirsch & Arnold, 1929: 343, figs 13, 13a, pl. 6, fig. 7, ♂, ♀ (nesting situation) (in revision of southern African Sphecidae ); Arnold 1930: 21 (in checklist of Afrotropical Sphecidae ).

Bembix mobii (sic) Handlirsch & Parker, 1929: 83 (in revision of Stizini and Bembicini ), ♂.

Bembix moebii Handlirsch & Giordani Soika, 1939: 105 (Mai Daro, Eritrea); R. Bohart and Menke 1976: 547 (listed in checklist of world Sphecidae ); Gess 1986: 154, 158 (prey); Pulawski 2013: 49 (in catalogue of world Sphecidae sensu lato).

Bembex testaceicauda Cameron, 1910: 144, ♀ (Holotype or syntype, South Africa, former Transvaal, no locality, in TMSA); Brauns 1911: 241 (synonymised with Bembix moebii ).

Note.

This species was described by Handlirsch (1893) from Delagoa Bay (Mozambique). Arnold (1929) recorded the species from Delagoa Bay and from four localities in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe): Victoria Falls, Sawmills, Sabyati Valley and Umtali. Parker (1929) doubtfully referred to this species a specimen labelled "Bosum, 22-4-14, Tessman". The synonym, Bembix testaceicauda , was described by Cameron (1910) from the neighbourhood of Pretoria (Gauteng).

Material examined.

TANZANIA: Old Shinyanga [3.34S, 33.24E), 7.xii.1954 (E. Burtt), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]. ZAMBIA: Abercorn [now Mbala] [8.50S, 31.24E], x.1943 (Nat.Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♀, 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; same locality, viii.1945 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Kafue Hoek (sic), [15.44S, 28.10E], 15.xii.1955 (C.B. Cottrell), 1 ♀ [AMGS]. ZIMBABWE: Victoria Falls [17.55S, 25.50E], 15.xi.1920 (G. Arnold), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; same locality, 18.xi.1920 (Rhodesia Museum), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Katambora, Zambesi R. [? ], ix.1957 (Nat.Museum S. Rhodesia), 2 ♂♂ [1 ♂ SAMC ex NMBZ; 1 ♂ AMGS]; Sanyati Valley [17.58S, 29.17E], ix.-x.1925 (R.H.R. Stevenson), 5 ♂♂ [2 ♂♂ SAMC ex NMBZ; 3 ♂♂ AMGS]; same locality, ix.-xii.1925 (R.H.R. Stevenson), 2 ♂♂ [1 ♂ AMGS, 1 ♂ SAMC ex NMBZ]; Matetsi [18.15S, 25.55E], x.1933 (R.H.R. Stevenson), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; same locality, xii.1935 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ];Wankie [18.20S, 26.30E], 24.xii.1946 (collector undecipherable), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; Umtali [18.57S, 32.40E], 19.x.1939 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Sawmills [19.35S, 28.02E], 10.xii.1926 (R.H.R. Stevenson), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; same data but 11.xii.1926, 1♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; same locality, 12.xii.1926 (Rhod. Museum), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Sawmills Rd, Nyamandhlovu [19.52S, 28.15E], 27.xi.1960 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 1♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Nyamandhlovu [19.52S, 28.15E], xi.1966 (Nat.Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]. ANGOLA: Sambo (SE 1216 Cc) [13.03S, 16.08E], 10.x.1972 (no collector recorded), 1 ♀ [NMNW]. BOTSWANA: Khwaai R., 3000' [feet], (19.08S, 23.48E), 80 m[iles] N. of Maun, 10.xii.1968 (Pinhey-Falc. Exp., Nat. Mus. Bulawayo), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; same data except date 12.xii.1968, 1 ♀. MOZAMBIQUE: Salone Forest, 25 m[iles] S [of] Marromeu [18.20S, 35.56E], 10.xi.1967 (E. Pinhey, Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Dondo [19.41S, 34.45E], xii.1960 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Dondo Forest, 27.x.1963 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Dondo Forest, 28.x.1963 (Nat, Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Dondo Forest, Dondo, 13.xi.1967 (E. Pinhey, Nat. Mus. Bulawayo), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Beira [19.49S, 34.52E], xii.1960 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♀, 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Hmselezwe River [co-ordinates ?], 23.xi.1939 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Msappa R. [co-ordinates ?], 6.x.1950 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 2 ♀♀, (1 ♀ partial gynandromorph: antennae ♂; body ♀), [SAMC Old Shinyanga ex NMBZ], 3 ♂♂ [AMGS]; Msappa R.(co-ordinates ?) Chimanimani Mts [circa 19.52S, 33.06E], 6.x.1950 (Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]. NAMIBIA: Andara, Kavango (SE 1821 Ab) [18.04S, 21.29E], 20-25.vii.1971 (no collector recorded), 3 ♂♂ [NMNW]; Popa Falla, Kavango (18.07S, 21.33E) 26-31.vii.1971 (no collector recorded), 4 ♂♂ [NMNW]. SOUTH AFRICA: LIMPOPO: Waterberg Dist. [24.22S, 28.24E], 1898-99 (v. Jutrzencka), 2 ♀♀ [AMGS]; KWAZULU-NATAL: Ngwxala Hill [? co-ordinates], no date (no collector recorded), 1 ♀ [DMSA].

Geographical distribution.

A widespread species in northern southern Africa ( Fig. 12e ) northwards to Tanzania and recorded from Ethiopia in northeast Africa but not from northwest Africa.

Floral associations.

Unknown.

Nesting.

Nests in shady situations such as “ant-bear” holes and sandy ground under dwellings built on piles.

Prey.

Recorded taking one family of Diptera : Tabanidae .

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.