Rediviva whiteheadi Kuhlmann, 2012, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Kuhlmann, Michael
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Melittidae
Rediviva
Rediviva whiteheadi

description: Rediviva whiteheadi sp. nov.
(Figs 2 a–d, 3a–d, 4a–d, 5)
Diagnosis. The female of R. whiteheadi can be separated from the other Rediviva species of the summer rainfall region (including R. steineri) by a combination of the following characters: malar space short (Fig. 2 b), T1–2 black (Fig. 2 d), foreleg elongate, slightly longer than midleg and with tarsal pilosity blackish to dark orange-brown (Fig. 2 a) and scopa orange. The male is characterized by a short malar space (Fig. 3 b), black T1–2 (Fig. 3 d), moderately punctate clypeus (Fig. 3 b), disc of T2 with single black hairs embedded in pallid vestiture, disc of T3 only with black hairs and S7–8 and genitalia as in Figs 4 a–d.
In the key to the Rediviva species of the summer rainfall region of eastern South Africa and Lesotho (Whitehead et al. 2008) the female of R. whiteheadi runs to R. pallidula Whitehead & Steiner, which is very similar, but it can easily be distinguished from that species by the tarsal pilosity being blackish to dark orangebrown (orange in R. pallidula). Additionally, the disc of the scutum between punctures is smooth and shiny (Fig. 2 c) (matt and shagreened in R. pallidula). The male runs to R. brunnea Whitehead & Steiner but it can be easily distinguished from this species by the form of its S7 (Fig. 4 a).
Description. Female. Bl = 11.0–14.0 mm. Head. Head wider than long. Integument black except tips of mandible partly dark reddish-brown. Face sparsely covered with long, whitish-grey to yellowish-brown, erect hairs, along inner eye margins, on vertex and antennal scape black hairs intermixed (Fig. 2 b). Clypeus convex in profile, apicolaterally impunctate; medially covered with small punctures that become gradually larger laterally; surface between punctures shiny (Fig. 2 b). Malar area medially narrow, almost linear. Antenna black, ventrally yellowishbrown. Mesosoma. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures superficially shagreened and slightly shiny; densely (i = 0.5–1.0d) and finely punctate (Fig. 2 c). Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum covered with long orange-brown erect hairs, on the disc of mesoscutum a few black hairs intermixed. Wings. Yellowish-brown; wing venation dark brown. Legs. Foreleg long, 9.0–9.6 mm (femur–claw) (Fig. 2 a). Integument black. Vestiture orange, forelegs dorsally with blackish hairs, scopa orange, apical half of the hind basitarsus with black hairs. Metasoma. Integument black. Discs of T1–T2 covered with long appressed yellowish hairs on T3 intermixed with black hairs and on T4–T5 only with black hairs; apical tergal hair band well developed on T1–T4 (Fig. 2 d). Prepygidial fimbria dorsally black, lateral margin orange to yellowish, pygidial fimbria black. T1 almost impunctate, polished and shiny, T2–T4 superficially and minutely punctate, shiny (Fig. 2 d).
Male. Bl = 12.0 mm. Head. Head wider than long. Integument black except tip of mandible partly dark reddishbrown. Face covered with long, whitish-grey, erect hairs, along inner eye margins, on vertex and antennal scape black hairs intermixed (Fig. 3 b). Clypeus convex with a shallow longitudinal median depression. Clypeus finely and densely punctate (i = d), in median depression more finely and dense; surface between punctures shiny (Fig. 3 b). Malar area medially narrow, almost linear. Antenna brown, dorsally a bit darker (Fig. 3 a). Mesosoma. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures superficially shagreened and slightly shiny; densely (i = 0.5–1.0d) and finely punctate (Fig. 3 c). Scutellum anteriorly more sparsely punctate with denser punctation apically, surface anteriorly smooth and shiny, apically shagreened and matt. Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum covered with yellowish-white erect hairs, on mesoscutum and scutellum a few black hairs intermixed. Wings. Slightly yellowish-brown; wing venation brown. Legs. Integument black, tibiae and tarsi extensively redbrown. Vestiture whitish. Metasoma. Integument black. Discs of T1–T2 covered with short erect yellow hairs, on T3–T6 with black hair (Figs 3 a, d); apical tergal hair band of T1 inconspicuous, on T2–T4 progressively narrower consisting of yellowish hairs (Fig. 3 d). Disc of T1 sparsely punctate and shiny, T2–T5 densely and finely punctate (i <d) (Fig. 3 d). Terminalia. Genitalia (Fig. 4 c–d), apical plate of S6 (Fig. 4 b) and S7 (Fig. 4 a) as illustrated.
Type material (18 specimens). Holotype, female, “S. Afr., C.P., 4.6km S. of Rossouw, 3127AB [27°20'E 31°10'S], 10.III.91, V.B. Whitehead / D. capsularis / (foreleg mounted on card): 1898 / SAM-HYM-B009873” (SAMC).
Paratypes: 7 Ƥ, same dates as holotype (SAMC, RCMK); 2 Ƥ, South Africa, Hangklip, 3126DD [26°50'E 31°50'S], 1760m, 18.iii.1989, K. Steiner / Diascia capsularis / SAM-HYM-B009866, other Ƥ on Diascia stachyoides (SAMC); 1 Ƥ, South Africa, Clanville Rd. 4.6km N of Clifford T/O [27°27'E 31°03'S], 18.i.1986, V.B. Whitehead / Diascia integerrima / SAM-HYM-B002800 / SAM-HYM-B009868 (SAMC); 1 Ƥ, South Africa, Risingham Farm, Hogsback, 3226BD [26°50'E 32°20'S], 16.iv.1991, V.B. Whitehead, D. capsularis / SAM-HYM- B009871 (SAMC); 1 Ƥ, idem., 29.iii.1995 / SAM-HYM-B008117 (SAMC); 1 Ƥ, South Africa, Jouberts Pass, Lady Grey [27°20'E 30°40'S], 18.ii.1986, V.B. Whitehead / Diascia integerrima / SAM-HYM-B002813 / SAM- HYM-B009869 (SAMC); 1 Ƥ, idem., 17.iii.1989 / SAM-HYM-B008108 (SAMC); 1 Ƥ, South Africa, 6km E of Rhodes, 3028CA [28°10'E 30°40'S], 17.iii.1989, V.B. Whitehead, D. integerrima / SAM-HYM-B002846 / SAM- HYM-B009870 (SAMC); 1 Ƥ, South Africa, Rd. to Lundean´s Nek, 3027DD [27°50'E 30°50'S], 16.iii.1989, V.B. Whitehead, D. integerrima, pollinaria of D. tysonii / SAM-HYM-B009867 (SAMC); 1 3, South Africa, Farm Vaalkop, 3224BD [24°50'E 32°20'S], 1400m, 29.iii.1994, V.B. Whitehead / Host plant: Cyphia triphylla / SAM- HYM-B009872 (SAMC).
Etymology. This species is dedicated to the late Vin (Vincent Booth) Whitehead (1921–2005) who did groundbreaking work on the taxonomy of Rediviva bees (Robertson & Cochrane 2005). The present paper is built on his achievements.
General distribution. Southern parts of the Drakensberg Mountains and higher ground in the northern part of the Eastern Cape Province (Fig. 5).
Floral hosts. Specimens were collected on Cyphia triphylla (Lobeliaceae), Disperis tysonii (Orchidaceae), Diascia capsularis, D. integerrima and D. stachyoides (Scrophulariaceae).
Seasonal activity (first–last observations). I–IV.
description: Published as part of Kuhlmann, Michael, 2012, Two new species of the South African endemic bee genus Rediviva Friese (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Melittidae), pp. 71-78 in Zootaxa 3517 on pages 75-78, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.282611