Bembix olivata Dahlbom, 1845

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 : 95-96

Bembix olivata Dahlbom Fig. 13c

Bembex olivata Dahlbom, 1845: 491, ♀ (Holotype or syntype, ♀, South Africa, Cape of Good Hope, in Lund or Stockholm); Handlirsch 1893: 812, pl. 2, fig. 17, pl. 5, fig. 23, ♂, ♀ (in revision of world Bembicini ); Dalla Torre 1897: 510 (in catalogue of world Hymenoptera ); Magretti 1899: 51 (Somalia); Bingham 1902: 211 (Malawi); Cameron 1910: 144 (Olifants River [Mpumalanga] South Africa); Schouteden 1930: 96 (Zaire).

Bembix olivata Dahlbom, R. Bohart and Menke 1976: 548 (in checklist of world Sphecidae ); Pulawski 2013: 63 (in catalogue of world Sphecidae sensu lato).

Bembex intermedia Dahlbom, 1845: 491, ♀ (Holotype or syntypes, ♀, South Africa, Port Natal (now Durban), in Lund or Stockholm); Handlirsch 1893: 812 (tentatively synonymised with Bembex olivata , in revision of world Bembicini ); Arnold 1929: 358, figs 23, 23a, 23b, pl. 6, fig. 19, ♂, ♀ (in revision of southern African Sphecidae as valid name for Bembex olivata ); Arnold 1930: 21 (in checklist of Afrotropical Sphecidae ); Arnold 1935: 503 (Metsimaklaba, Kalahari, 12.iii.1930, Vernay-Lang Expedition, 3 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀).

Bembix intermedia Dahlbom & Arnold, 1951: 138 (Ethiopia, Danakil, Mille River, vii.1946, K.M. Guichard, ♀); Gess and Gess 2003: 124 (flower visiting records).

Material examined.

NAMIBIA.Swakopmund (21.51S, 14.05E), 12.iv.1998 (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 1 ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Senecio sp. Asteraceae ) [AMGS]; Swakopmund, 12.iv.1998 (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 1 ♀ 2 ♂♂ (visiting yellow flowers of Zygophyllum simplex L., Zygophyllaceae ) [AMGS]; Rooibank, Kuiseb R. (23.11S, 14.49E), 10.iv.1998, (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 3 ♂♂ (visiting yellow flowers of Geigeria pectidea (DC.) Harv.), Asteraceae ) [AMGS]; Rooibank, Kuiseb R., 10.iv.1998, (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 3 ♂♂ (visiting yellow flowers of Zygophyllum simplex L., Zygophyllaceae ) [AMGS]; Hakos/Weissenfels (28.18S, 16.23E), 21.iii.2000 (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (visiting white flowers of Selago dinteri Rolfe, Scrophulariaceae ) [AMGS]; Rehoboth (23.10S, 16.42E), 11.iii.1999, (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 4 ♂♂ (visiting pink flowers of Hermbstaedtia odorata (Burch.) T. Cooke, Amaranthaceae ) [AMGS]; Aranos/Stampriet (24.30S, 18.32E), 27.iii.2000 (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 9 ♂♂ (visiting pink flowers of Hermbstaedtia odorata (Burch.) T. Cooke, Amaranthaceae ) [AMGS]; Koes/Gochas (25.40S, 19.24E), 7.iii.2000 (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 1 ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Tribulus sp., Zygophyllaceae ) [AMGS]; Gross Nabas (24.30S, 18.32E), 30.iii.2000 (F.W. and S. K. Gess) 1 ♀ (visiting white flowers of Limeum argute-carinatum Wawra & Peyr., Molluginaceae ) [AMGS]; Karasberge (27.09S, 19.01E) 5.iii.2000 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting white flowers of Limeum argute-carinatum Wawra & Peyr., Molluginaceae ) [AMGS]. NORTHERN CAPE: Twee Rivieren (26.24S, 20.40E), 8-11.iii.1990 (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 27 ♀♀, 27 ♂♂ (visiting yellow flowers of Deverra denudata (Viv.) Pfisterer & Podl., Apiaceae ) [AMGS].

Additional records extracted from database of specimens in collection of SAMC were determined by G. Arnold and H. Brauns, from Namibia and from KwaZulu-Natal, Mfongosi [28.43S, 30.48E].

Geographical distribution.

In southern Africa recorded from the northwestern Namibian coast at Swakopmund south eastwards through Namibia to the southern Kalahari and also from KwaZulu-Natal ( Fig. 14c ). Also recorded from Ethiopia and Somalia in the northeast and Zaire in the northwest. The overall distribution is therefore unclear and further records are required to establish a distribution pattern.

Floral associations.

Recorded from six plant families: Molluginaceae ( Limeum argute-carinatum Wawra & Peyr); Amaranthaceae ( Hermbstaedtia odorata (Burch.) T. Cooke); Apiaceae ( Deverra denudata (Viv.) Pfisterer & Podl. ); Asteraceae ( Geigeria pectidea (DC.) Harv.) and Senecio sp.); Scrophulariaceae ( Selago dinteri Rolfe); Zygophyllaceae ( Tribulus sp. and Zygophyllum simplex L.).

Nesting.

Unknown.

Prey.

Unknown.

Figures

Figure 13. Bembix spp.: a Bembix namibensis, female, male b Bembix ochracea, female, male c Bembix olivata, female, male d Bembix regnata, female, male e Bembix scaura, female, male f Bembix sibilans, female, male. (approximate lengths of females: a 20.5 mm; b 16.5 mm; c 15.5 mm; d 18 mm; e 20 mm; f 19.5 mm)

Figure 14. Distributions of collection records of Bembix spp.: a Bembix namibensis b Bembix ochracea c Bembix olivata d Bembix regnata e Bembix scaura f Bembix sibilans.