Bembix albicapilla Arnold, 1946

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 : 58

Bembix albicapilla Arnold Fig. 1b

Bembix albicapilla Arnold, 1946: 93, figs 40, 40a-c, ♂ (Holotype, ♂, Zimbabwe, Insuza River, in SAMC ex NMBZ); R. Bohart and Menke 1976: 545 (in checklist of world Sphecidae ); Pulawski 2013: 2 (in catalogue of world Sphecidae sensu lato).

Material examined.

ZIMBABWE. Holotype, Insuza R. [circa 19.56S, 25.50E], Forest, Vic. Road, 24.xii.1939, 1 ♂; Sawmills [19.35S, 28.02E], 25.xii.1939 (R.H.R. Stevenson), 1 ♂, [both SAMC ex NMBZ].

Arnold described Bembix albicapilla from the unique male specimen from Insuza Forest.The specimen from Sawmills is generally melanistic when compared with the type. Most noticeable in this respect is the labrum which instead of being wholly ocreous as in the type is mostly black except for a narrow ochreous treak in the midline, somewhat expanded distally but not reaching proximal third. In addition the lemon yellow band on the first tergite is widely interrupted in the middle and the black spots on the second and third tergites are fused with the transverse basal black bands.

Geographical distribution.

Recorded from two sites in Zimbabwe ( Fig. 2b ).

Floral associations.

Unknown.

Nesting.

Unknown.

Prey.

Unknown.

Figures

Figure 1. Bembix spp.: a Bembix albata, female, male b Bembix albicapilla, female c Bembix albofasciata, female, male d Bembix anomalipes, female, male e Bembix arnoldi, female, male f Bembix atrospinosa, female, male. (approximate lengths of females: a 21 mm; b 18.5 mm; c 17 mm; d 19.5 mm; e 17 mm; f 19.5 mm)

Figure 2. Distributions of collection records of Bembix spp.: a Bembix albata b Bembix albicapilla c Bembix albofasciata d Bembix anomalipes e Bembix arnoldi f Bembix atrospinosa.