Sphecodopsis subtilis Pöllein & Kuhlmann, 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Pöllein, Daniela
name: Kuhlmann, Michael
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Apidae
Sphecodopsis
Sphecodopsis subtilis

description: Sphecodopsis subtilis sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 2E30712B-7E0C-462A-8C6D-031D5343EB30
Figs 29–32
Diagnosis
The female of S. subtilis sp. nov. can be separated from that of all other species of the genus by the combination of the following characters: S6 bifid posteriorly, tips slightly more curved inward, apical notch with a small tip distally (Fig. 30C); body length max. 5.2 mm; metasoma partially red (Fig. 29B); fore tibia and tarsi usually black (Fig. 29A); T6 covered with black hair (Fig. 30B); head and mesosoma with short black hair, mixed with white hair (Fig. 29C–D); propodeum covered with short, white hair only (Fig. 30A); punctation of mesoscutum slightly coarser and more dispersed (i=0.25–1 d) (Fig. 29D). The male can be separated from that of all other species of the genus by the combination of the following characters: metasoma at least partially red (Fig. 31B); fore legs usually black (Fig. 31A); head and mesosoma with black hair, mixed with lighter hair (Fig. 31C–D); mesoscutum densely, coarsely and deeply punctate, matt or slightly shiny (Fig. 31D); propodeum only covered with white hair (Fig. 31E); genitalia shortened and broad (Fig. 32C).
Etymology
The name refers to the relatively fine and subtle punctation of the species.
Type material (3 specimens)
Holotype
SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; Farm Kanolfontein, 20 km W of Sutherland, roadside; 32°24′43″ S, 20°27′28″ E; 1385 m a.s.l.; 7 Sep. 2012; MK leg.; SAMC.
Paratypes
SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; Keiski Mts, 5 km S of Farm Nooiensrivier, burnt area; 31°45′47″ S, 19°50′17″ E; 1275 m a.s.l.; 29 Aug. 2011; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; Roggeveld Mts, 2 km SE of Farm Allemansdam, burnt area; 31°49′32″ S, 19°59′55″ E; 1290 m a.s.l.; 24 Aug. 2018; MK leg.; RCMK.
Description
Female
BODY LENGTH. 5.2 mm.
HEAD. Head wider than long. Vertex slightly rounded, ocelli highest point. Integument black, except part of mandibles red or reddish-brown. Face covered with long, black hair mixed with short, white hair, with dense (i =0.25–1 d) and fine but deep punctation; clypeus and supraclypeal area with punctation more dispersed (i=0.5–1.5 d) (Fig. 29C). Surface between punctures matt. Antenna reddish-brown to dark brown.
MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula red. Mesoscutum slightly shiny. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely (i=0.25–1 d), finely and shallowly punctate (Fig. 29D). Propodeum with dense (i=0.5–1 d), fine and shallow punctation, metapostnotum matt (Fig. 30A). Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and mesepisternum sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, white hair (Fig. 29D). Metanotum and propodeum very sparsely covered with short, white hair, metapostnotum glabrous (Figs 29D, 30A).
WINGS. Yellowish-brown; wing venation brown and stigma brown to dark brown (Fig. 29A). LEGS. Integument black. Coxa, trochanter and femur sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter white hair. Tibia and tarsi very sparsely covered with short, black hair mixed with short white hair (Fig. 29A).
METASOMA. Integument of T1 and T2 red, T3 marginal zone black and T4–T6 black. T1 and T2 with few short, white and black hairs, from T3 increasingly more and longer black hair (Fig. 29B). T5 marginal zone with few white, short hairs. T6 covered with long, black hair and short, white hair underneath, narrow and almost straight apically (Fig. 30B). Shape of S6 (Fig. 30C) as illustrated.
Male
BODY LENGTH. 4.8 mm.
HEAD. Head wider than long. Vertex slightly rounded, ocelli highest point. Integument black, except part of mandibles red or reddish-brown. Face covered with long, black hair mixed with short, white hair. Face with dense (i =0.25–0.5 d) and fine but deep punctation, clypeus and supraclypeal area with more dispersed punctation (i =0.5–1.5 d) (Fig. 31C). Surface between punctures matt. Antenna reddish-brown to dark brown.
MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula reddish-brown. Mesoscutum matt. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely (i=0.25–0.5 d), finely and shallowly punctate (Fig. 31D). Propodeum with dense (i= 0.5–1 d), fine and shallow, metapostnotum matt (Fig. 31E). Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and mesepisternum sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, white hair (Fig. 31D). Metanotum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, white hair, metapostnotum glabrous (Fig. 31D–E).
WINGS. Yellowish-brown; wing venation brown and stigma dark brown to black (Fig. 31A). LEGS. Integument black. Coxa, trochanter and femur sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter white hair. Tibia and tarsi very sparsely covered with short, black hair mixed with short white hair (Fig. 31A).
METASOMA. Integument of T1 black basally. T1–T3 red and T4–T7 black. T1 and T2 very sparsely covered with short white and black hair, from T3 increasingly more and longer black hair (Fig. 31B). T7 covered with short, gold hair and longer, black hair (Fig. 31F).
TERMINALIA. Genitalia (Fig. 32C), S7 (Fig. 32A) and terminal plate of S8 (Fig. 32B) as illustrated.
Distribution
Only known from the Keiskie Mts and Roggeveld Mts between Calvinia and Sutherland.
Host bees
Unknown.
Seasonal activity
August–September.
Comment
Since males and females were not found together, the sex assignment is not absolutely clear. The specimens obviously belong to the same species group, they were found at neighbouring sites only 3 km away and share subtle characteristics that allow for sex association. The other two species of the group, where the male is unknown, only occur at greater distances and in completely different habitats (S. acuta sp. nov.: Fynbos; S. angulata sp. nov.: Succulent Karoo).
description: Published as part of Pöllein, Daniela & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2025, Taxonomic revision of the southern African bee genus Sphecodopsis Bischoff, 1923 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Nomadinae), pp. 1-157 in European Journal of Taxonomy 980 on pages 40-45, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.980.2805, http://zenodo.org/record/14981767