Rediviva neliana Cockerell 1931
Creators: name: Melin, Annalie
name: Manning, John C.
name: Colville, Jonathan F.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Melittidae
Rediviva
Rediviva neliana

description: Rediviva neliana Cockerell 1931
Figs 4, 7, 10–12
Rediviva neliana Cockerell 1931: 401–402, male holotype (NHML)
Notomelitta neliana (Cockerell); Cockerell 1933: 128, gen. nov.
Rediviva neliana; Michener 1981: 46–47 (syn. nov. for Notomelitta)
Rediviva politissima (Cockerell 1934); Steiner and Whitehead 1988: 260–261, 273 (syn. nov.)
Rediviva whiteheadi Kuhlmann 2012: 75–78, female holotype (SAMC), syn. nov.
Diagnosis. Female: Galea pointed apically, not acutely, curved, beak-like (Fig. 4C), T3 with long white or yellow hairs intermixed with few to many black hairs on disc (Fig. 12C). Male: Ventral margin of the apical plate of S8 with three shallow emarginations (Fig. 7I), integument of the metasomal terga 1–2 black (Fig. 11C), galea pointed apically, not acutely (Fig. 4D), hairs on median lobes of S7 yellow (Fig. 7J), galea curved apically, beak-like (Fig. 4D); ventral margin of the apical plate of S8 with three shallow emarginations with two lateral notches pronounced (Fig. 7I); yellow hairs on disc of T2; T7 orange-yellow hairs.
Material examined (188 specimens)
Type material. [1] (in NHML): South Africa: Eastern Cape Province: HOLOTYPE: ♂: “Lady Grey / 2 Feb 1924 / R. I. Nel ”; “Pres. by / Imp. Inst. / Brit. Mus. / 1931-292”; det.: “ Rediviva / neliana / Ckll TYPE ”; “B. M. TYPE / HYM. / 17a 1394”, Round red card “ Type ”; det.: “ Rediviva neliana / sub. sp. neliana / V. B. Whitehead X III 86 ”; “ NHMUK 010576336 ” with barcode. “ R. neliana / B.M. TYPE / HYM. / 17a. 1394”, Genitalia and hidden sterna dissected stored in pinned microvial next to specimen.
Additional material examined: Eastern Cape Province: 1 ♀ / “ South Afr., C.P. / Joubert’s Pass / 3027 CC / 16 Mar 1989 / K. Steiner ”; “ Diascia / integerrima ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “912”; SAM-HYMB002810; 2 ♀ / same data but “Lady Grey / V. B. Whitehead / 18 II 1986 ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “379–380”; SAM-HYM-B002813; 2 ♀ / same data but “ 1850 m / 26 III 88 ”; SAM-HYM-B002815; 1 ♀ / same data but foreleg glued on card labelled individually “909”; SAM-HYM-B002816; 1 ♀ / “ S. Afr., C.P. / Joubert’s Pass / Lady Grey / 1850 m 3027 CB / 17 March 1989 / V. B. Whitehead / D. integerrima ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “903”; SAM-HYM-B002840; 1 ♀ / same data but “ V. B. Whitehead / 18 II 1986 / D. integerrima ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “378”; “ Paratype / Rediviva / whiteheadi sp. n. / M. Kuhlmann det. 2011”; SAM- HYM-B009869”; 1 ♀ / same data but “ 17 March 1989 ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “904”; “ Paratype / Rediviva / whiteheadi sp. n. / M. Kuhlmann det. 2011”; SAM-HYM-B008109; 1 ♀ / “ South Afr., C.P. / Joubert’s Pass / 3027 CC / 17 Mar 1989 / K. Steiner / elev. 1850 m ”; “ Diascia / integerrima ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “910, 914”; SAM-HYM-B008110 (specimen originally part of R. neliana series SAM-HYM-B002813); 6 ♀ / same data but “ -30.71518, 27.255, 1864m, / 19 March 2020, A. Melin, / J.F. Colville, Host plant / Diascia integerrima ”; 7 ♀ / same data but “summit, -30.7056, 27.276246, / 2282m, 19 March 2021, / A. Melin, J.F. Colville, / Host plant Diascia integerrima ”; 2 ♀ / “ South Afr. C.P. / 8.7 km S of New / England turnoff on Lundean’s Nek Rd. / elev. 1820 m / 16 Mar 1989 / 3027 DD / K. Steiner ”; “ Diascia / integerrima ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “893–894”; SAM-HYM-B002797; 1 ♀ / same data but “ Rd to Lundean’s Nek / V. B. Whitehead ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “891”; SAM-HYM-B002849; 1 ♀ / “ S. Afr., C. P. / Rd. to Lundean’s / Nek, 3027 DD / 16 March 1989 / V. B. Whitehead / D. integerrima / Pollinaria of D. tysonii ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “982”; “ Paratype / Rediviva / whiteheadi sp. n. / M. Kuhlmann det. 2011”; SAM-HYM-B009867; 4 ♀ / “ S. Afr., C.P. / Ono West / 6.2 km N. of Clanville / 3027 CC / 17. 3. 89 / V. B. Whitehead / D. capsularis ”; “ Rediviva neliana det. V. B. Whitehead 20 X 1990 ”; SAM-HYM-B002802; 1 ♀ / same data but “ 6.3 km N.”; SAM-HYM-002803; 1 ♀ / same data but “3027 CC / elev. 1550 m / 26 Mar 1988 / K. Steiner ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “785”; SAM-HYM-B008114; 1 ♀ / same data but “ 10 III 91 / V. B. Whitehead ”; SAM-HYM-B008111; 1 ♀ / same data but “ 11.7 km NE Clanville / elev. 1780 m / 24 March 1994 ”; “ Host plant: / Diascia / integerrima ”; “ Rediviva neliana / Cockerell / det. C. Eardley 2006”; SAM-HYM-B009767; 1 ♀ / same data but “ 6.5 km NE of Clanville / 3027 CD / elev. 1480 m ”; Host plant: / Diascia / capsularis ”; SAM-HYMB009850; 1 ♀ / “ S. Afr., CP / Clanville Rd. / 4.6 km N of Clifford T /O / V. B. Whitehead / 25 I 1986 ”; “ Diascia / integerrima ”; SAM-HYM-B002800; 3 ♀ / “ South Afr., C.P. / 6.25 km N of / Clanville / 3027 CC / elev. 1540 m / 17 Mar 1989 / K. Steiner ”; “ Diascia / capsularis ”; SAM-HYM-B002801; 3 ♀ / same data but “ 10 III 91 ”; SAM-HYM-B002804; 2 ♀ / same data but “ 11.3 km N of Clanville ”; SAM-HYM-B002555; 4 ♀ / same data but “ 6.2 km Sth / 1550 m 3027 CC / 26. 3. 1988 / V. B. Whitehead ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “775, 777, 780, 786”; SAM-HYM-B008113; 1 ♀ / S. Afr. / Clanville Rd. / 4.6 km N of / Clifford T /O / V. B. Whitehead / 18. 1. 1986 ”; “ Diascia / integerrima ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “108”; “ Paratype / Rediviva / whiteheadi sp. n. / M. Kuhlmann det. 2011”; SAM-HYM-B009868 (specimen originally part of R. neliana series SAM-HYMB002800); 8 ♀ / “ S. Afr., C.P. / 4.5 km S. Rossouw / 1540 m 3127 CC / 17 III 89 / V. B. Whitehead / D. capsularis ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “918–923, 1902–1903”; SAM-HYM-B002826; 11 ♀ / same data but “ K. Steiner ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “924–928, 930–932”; SAM-HYM-B002821; 1 ♀ / same data but foreleg glued on card labelled individually “539”; SAM-HYM-B008112; 3 ♀ / same data but forelegs glued on card labelled individually “211, 376–377”; SAM-HYM-B009767; 1 ♀ / same data but “ 2.7 km N of Rossouw / 3127 AB / 25 Jan 1986 ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “210”; SAM-HYM-B002822; 1 ♀ / same data but “ 1.7 km N / Roussouw, Clifford / Clanville Rd junc. / 2390 m / V. B. Whitehead ”; “ Diascia / integerrima ”; SAM-HYM-B002824; 1 ♀ / same data but “ 4 km S / Roussouw ”; “ Diascia capsularis ”; SAM-HYM-002825; 4 ♀ / same data but “ 4 km S / Roussouw / 3127 AB / 18 II 1986 ”; SAM-HYM-B002554; 6 ♀ / “ S. Afr., C.P. / 4.6 km S. of / Rossouw / 3127 AB, 10.III.91 / V. B. Whitehead ”; “ D. capsularis ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “1896–1901”; “ Holotype ” or “ Paratype ” / Rediviva / whiteheadi sp. n. / M. Kuhlmann det. 2011”; SAM-HYMB009873 ”; 1 ♀ / “ South Afr., C.P. / 10.7 km N of Rossouw / 3127 AB / 10 III 91 / V. B. Whitehead ”; “ D. capsularis ”; SAM-HYM-B008116 [accession no. not valid]; 6 ♀ / “ South Africa, C.P. / Farm Brosteriee / 3126 BC / elev. C. 1800 m / 15 March 1994 / V. B. Whitehead ”; “ Diascia / integerrima ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “1789–1792”; SAM-HYM-B010719; 3 ♀ / “E. Cape / Molteno / Brosterlea / 3226 BC / 12 Apr 1997 / V. B. Whitehead ”; “ D. capsularis ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “1804–1806”; SAM-HYM-B010716; 5 ♀ / same data but “elev. 1850 m / K. Steiner ”; “ Host plants: / Diascia / integerrima ”; ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “1798–1802”; SAM-HYM-B010717; 3 ♀ / same data but forelegs glued on card labelled individually “1794, 1796–1797”; SAM-HYM-B010718; 1 ♀ / same data but “ 3 km W of Brosterlea / 3126 AD / 12 Apr. 1997 / K. Steiner ”; “ Host plant: / Diascia / capsularis ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “1808”; SAM-HYM-B012344; 9 ♀ / “ South Africa, C.P. / 3 km W of Brosteriee / 3126 BC / elev. 1850 m / 15 March 1994 / V. B. Whitehead ”; “ Host plant: / Diascia / capsularis ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “1779–1786, 1788”; SAM-HYM-B010720 [series to be split]; 2 ♀ / “ South Afr., C.P. / Hangklip / elev. 1860 m / 3126 DD / 18 Mar. 1989 / K. Steiner ”; “ Diascia / capsularis ” or “ Diascia / stachyoides; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “1821–1822”; “ Paratype ” / Rediviva / whiteheadi sp. n. / M. Kuhlmann det. 2011”; SAM-HYM-B009866; 2 ♀ / “ S. Afr., CP / Hogsback – / 20 km N. on / Whittlesea Rd / V. B. Whitehead / 2.1986”; “ Diascia capsularis ”; SAM-HYMB002828; 1 ♀ / same data but “ Risingham / 3226 DB / 25 Apr 1992 ”; “ Rediviva neliana / Cockerell / det. C. Eardley 2006”; SAM-HYM-B009766; 1 ♀ / “ S. Afr., C.P. / Risingham Farm / Hogsback / 3226 BD / 16 Apr. 1991 / V. B. Whitehead / D. capsularis ”; “ Paratype / Rediviva / whiteheadi sp. n. / M. Kuhlmann det. 2011”; SAM-HYMB009871; 1 ♀ / same data but “ 29 March 1995 ”; “ Paratype / Rediviva / whiteheadi sp. n. / M. Kuhlmann det. 2011”; SAM-HYM-B008117; 1 ♀ / “ S. Afr., C. P. / 6 km E of Rhodes / 3028 CA 1850 m / 17 Mar 89 / V. B. Whitehead / D. integerrima ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “1830”; SAM-HYM-B002846; 1 ♀ / same data; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “1829”; SAM-HYM-B002798; 1 ♀ / “ South Africa: Cape / Btwn Rhodes & Naudes Nek / elev. 1830 m / 30 Jan 1986 / K. Steiner ”; “ Diascia integerrima ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “1823”; SAM-HYM-B023548; 1 ♀ / “ Foot of Naudes Nek / 3028 CA / 15 Mar 1989 / elev. 1950 m / K. Steiner ”; “ Wahlenbergia / krebsii ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “1826”; SAM-HYM-B023549; 1 ♀ / same data but “ Diascia / integerrima ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “1827”; SAM-HYM-B023551; 1 ♀ / “ S. Afr., C.P. / 6 km E of / Rhodes / 3028 CA / 17 Mar. 1989 / V. B. Whitehead / D. integerrima ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “1828”; “ Paratype / Rediviva / whiteheadi sp. n. / M. Kuhlmann det. 2011”; SAM-HYM-B009870 (specimen originally part of R. neliana series SAM-HYM-B002846).
Free State Province: 1 ♀ / “South Afr., O. F. S. / 2828 DA / Goldengate Park / elev. 2160 m / 2 Feb 1988 / K. Steiner ”; “ Diascia / integerrima ”; SAM-HYM-B010492; 2 ♀ / same data but “camping ground / 11 Feb 1986 ”; “ Wahlenbergia undulata 1513”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “395–396”; SAM-HYM-B002857; 1 ♀ / same data but “elev. 1880 m ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “393”; SAM-HYM-B002858; 2 ♀ 3 ♂ / same data but“ 2 Feb 1988 ”;forelegs glued on card labelled individually “765–766, 769–771”; SAM-HYM-B002859; 1 ♀ / same data but “ 27 March 1994 ”; “Host plant: Wahlenbergia / cuspidata ”; “ Rediviva neliana / Cockerell / det. C. Eardley 2006”; SAM-HYM-B009765; 2 ♀ / same data but “ 11 Feb 1986 ”; “ Diascia / integerrima ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “217–218”; SAM-HYM-B003076; 1 ♀ 1 ♂ / same data but “elev. 1880 m / 2 Feb 1988 ”; “ Wahlenbergia / cuspidata ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “763, 772”; SAM-HYM-B003077; 1 ♂ / same data but “ 11 Feb 1986 ”; “ Diascia / integerrima ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “397”; SAM-HYM-B002893; 1 ♂ / same data but “ Klein Caledon Riv. / 2. 2. 1988 / V. B. Whitehead ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “767”; SAM-HYM-B002861; 1 ♀ 3 ♂ / same data but “ 17 Feb 1986 ”; Genitalia and hidden sterna dissected and stored in pinned microvial below two specimens; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “104–105, 216, 394”; SAM-HYM-B002862; 2 ♀ 2 ♂ / same data but “ Oribi loop, / -28.513525, 28.649874, 2049 m, / 04 February 2020, A. Melin, / J.F. Colville, Host plant / Wahlenbergia ”; 1 ♀ 1 ♂ / same data but “In copula”; 4 ♀ / “ Clarens OFS / Golden Gate / Highlands N. Pk / 2150 m 2828 DA / 3. 2. 1988 / V. B. Whitehead ”; “ Diascia / integerrima ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “759, 760, 761, 768”; SAM-HYM-B003075 [series to be split]; 1 ♀ / “South Afr., O. F. S. / 2828 DA / Goldengate Park / elev. 2160 m / 2 Feb 1988 / K. Steiner ”; “ Diascia integerrima ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “764”; SAM-HYM-B002855 [series to be split]; 3 ♀ / “O.F.S. / Golden Gate / Highlands Nat. Pk. / V. B. Whitehead / 11. 2. 1986 ”; “ Diascia / integerrima ”; forelegs glued on card labelled individually “212, 214–215”; SAM-HYM-B002860 [series to be split]; 1 ♂ / “ S. Afr., O. F. S / 3027 AC / Aasvoelberg / elev. 1810 m / 5 Feb 1996 / K. Steiner”; “Host plant: / Cyphia ”; “ Rediviva neliana / Cockerell / det. C. Eardley 2006”; SAM-HYM-B009764;
KwaZulu-Natal Province: 4 ♀ / “ South Afr., Natal / 2929 AB / Cathedral Peak / Btwn Nek & / Ndedema Gorge / elev. 1770 m / 7 FEB 1988 / K. Steiner ”; “ Buchenroedera ”; foreleg glued on card labelled individually “855”; SAM-HYM-B002911; 1 ♂ / “ S.Afr., Natal / Cathedral Peak / 18 II 87 / 1520 m / V. B. Whitehead / Wahlenbergia ”; SAM-HYM-B002913.
Redescription. ♂. Measurements. (n = 10): body length (BL) 10.94 mm (range 9.89–12.07 mm), inter-tegular distance 2.65 mm (range 2.38–2.81 mm), foreleg (FL) 8.24 mm (range 7.77–8.69 mm), FL: BL 0.76 (range 0.70– 0.87), head width 3.65 mm (3.34–3.83 mm), head length 2.91 mm (2.71–2.99 mm), malar space (length: width) 0.34 (range 0.28–0.40). Integumental colour. Black except legs reddish-brown, mediotarus, basitarsus and tibia of the hindlegs and the basitarsus and mediotarsus of the midlegs yellow (Fig. 11A); antennae variable, all black to black with anterior surface reddish brown. Head. Labrum covered with yellow hairs (Fig. 11B). Long yellow branched hairs on the clypeus (dense), paraocular area, supraclypeal area and frons, with branched black hairs on the vertex around the ocelli, with branched black hairs along inner and outer eye margin. Galea pointed apically, not acutely, beak-like (Fig. 4D). Mesosoma. Disc of scutum finely punctured, punctures less than one diameter apart to greater than one diameter apart, surface between punctures shiny; scutellum puncture diameter size variable, punctures less than a diameter apart, surface between punctures shiny. Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum, propodeum covered in yellow branched hairs (Fig. 11D). Metasoma. Disc on T1 with sparse long sub-erect yellow hairs; disc on T2 with yellow hairs on disc, discs on T3–T5 black, yellow apical bands on T1–T5, fimbria on T6 black and on T7 orange-yellow. Median and lateral lobes of S6 well developed with yellow hairs (Fig. 7K), and with translucent area on apical third; median lobes of S7 (Fig. 7J) long, spatulate, terminating in long-branched, yellow-orange hairs, lateral lobes large, striate, translucent; the long apical process of the S8 with slightly convex lateral margins (Fig. 7I shown by black arrow), with sublateral yellow hairs, ventral margin of apical plate with three shallow emarginations and two medial notches with two lateral notches pronounced. Genital capsule (Fig. 7L) with gonostylus extending a little beyond the penis valves, with long unbranched yellow hairs on the apical third.
Description. ♀. Measurements. (n = 10): body length (BL) 12.01 mm (10.06–13.03 mm), inter-tegular distance 3.05 mm (2.71–3.32 mm), foreleg (FL) 10.57 mm (9.64–11.67 mm), FL: BL 0.88 (range 0.79–1.03), head width 4.01 mm (3.90–4.10 mm), head length 3.09 mm (2.95–3.20 mm), malar space (length: width) 0.40 (range 0.32–0.58). Integumental colour. Black except anterior surface of the antenna and the tips of mandible dark reddish-brown (Figs 12A–B). Head. Labrum covered with long dark brown to black unbranched hairs (Fig. 12B). Long branched black hairs intermixed with sparse yellow on the clypeus, with pale yellow branched hairs intermixed with sparse black hairs on the paraocular area and supraclypeal area, frons with branched pale-yellow hairs, and branched black hairs on the vertex around the ocelli, and along the inner and outer eye margin. Galea pointed apically, not acutely, beak-like (Fig. 4C). Mesosoma. Disc of scutum densely punctured, punctures less than one diameter apart, surface between punctures shiny; scutellum punctures irregular ranging from dense to sparse, surface between punctures shiny. Scutum, scutellum, metanotum covered in orange-yellow branched with erect branched black hairs on the disc of the scutum, the mesepisternum and propodeum covered in pale yellow branched hairs (Fig. 12D). Legs. Forelegs elongate, covered with yellow hairs, tarsus with dark brown to black hairs apart from the tibia and basitarsus of the foreleg with dark brown to black hairs, orange hairs on outer surface basitarsus, and dense oil-collecting black hairs on tarsomeres 2–5; middle leg with orange to dark brown hairs on outer surface and orange on the inner surface of the tibia and basitarsus; scopal hairs on the hind tibia and basitarsus orange and basitarsal brush black (Fig. 12A).
Metasoma. White apical tergal hair bands on T1–T4 (Fig. 12C). Discs on T1–T2 with long white hairs; disc on T3 covered in long white or yellow hairs intermixed with black hairs, few to many; disc on T4 with black hairs, fimbriae of T5 black, orange-yellow laterally, fimbriae of T6 black.
Flight period. Late January to early May.
Host flower records. R. neliana specimens were collected from the oil-secreting host plants Diascia barberae, D. capsularis, D. integerrima, D. stachyoides and D. tysonii. They were also recorded on the nectar host plants Wahlenbergia sp., W. cuspidata, W. undulata, Cyphia sp., Buchenroedera sp.
Distribution. (Fig. 10) Rediviva neliana is distributed across the Grassland biome in the summer-rainfall region and has been collected from Platberg (KwaZulu-Natal part of the Escarpment (sensu Clark et al. 2011b)), at the northeastern boundary of its known range, towards Golden Gate Highlands National Park extending down the main Drakensberg Escarpment towards Cathedral Peak. In the southern part of the Drakensberg Mountain Centre (Carbutt 2019), R. neliana extends from the type locality at Lady Grey eastwards towards Naude’s Nek and southwards to Rossouw. The southwestern boundary of the known range is the Mountain Zebra National Park (Sneeuberg Mountain complex in the south-east Great Escarpment (Clark et al. 2009)) and its southernmost boundary is around Hogsback (Great Winterberg–Amatholes part of the Escarpment (Clark et al. 2014)).
Vegetation types: Southern Drakensberg Highland Grassland, Stormberg Plateau Grassland, Zastron Moist Grassland, Besemkaree Koppies Shrubland, Lesotho Highland Basalt Grassland, Tarkastad Montane Shrubland, Amathole Montane Grassland, Northern Drakensberg Highland Grassland, Senqu Montane Shrubland, Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland, Eastern Free State Sandy Grassland, Basotho Montane Shrubland.
Comments. Rediviva neliana is one of four species considered to be part of the R. neliana group. The female specimens assigned as R. whiteheadi (Kuhlmann 2012b) have been re-assigned as R. neliana. A.M. & J.F.C. collected an in copula pair which enabled us to identify the previously unknown females of R. neliana.
Associated organisms: Meloe Linnaeus (Coleoptera, Meloidae) triungulin larvae (n=5) were found attached to the pubescence on one female specimen from Golden Gate Highlands National Park (Table 2). The association between Meloe and Rediviva has been recorded for several Rediviva species (Bologna & Pinto 1998).
description: Published as part of Melin, Annalie, Manning, John C. & Colville, Jonathan F., 2024, Species circumscription within the Rediviva neliana group (Hymenoptera: Melittidae), with the description of the new species Rediviva volgeli sp. nov. Melin & Colville, pp. 245-284 in Zootaxa 5507 (2) on pages 261-266, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5507.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/13757643