Sphecodopsis capensis
Creators: name: Pöllein, Daniela
name: Kuhlmann, Michael
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Apidae
Sphecodopsis
Sphecodopsis capensis

description: Sphecodopsis capensis (Friese, 1915)
Figs 5–8
Omachtes capensis Friese, 1915: 296–297, holotype ♀ (type locality: ‘Kapland’ (= Cape Colony), South Africa) (ZMHB), examined.
Diagnosis
The female of S. capensis can be separated from that of all other species of this species group by the combination of the following characters: S6 pointed posteriorly, matt on surface and rounded apically (Fig. 6D); T6 broad and rounded apically (Fig. 6C); punctation on mesoscutum slightly more dispersed (i =0.25–1 d) and coarser, individual punctures clearly separated (Fig. 5D). The male is here described for the first time and can be separated from that of all other species of this species group by the combination of the following characters: T2 completely, T1 and T3–T5 to a variable extent red (Fig. 7B); fore legs usually black (Fig. 7A); head and mesosoma with black hair (Fig. 7C); mesoscutum densely, coarsely and deeply punctate, matt or slightly shiny (Fig. 7D); propodeum covered with white hair mixed with at least a few black hairs (Fig. 7E); metapostnotum twice as wide as high (Fig. 7E); gonostylus longer than gonocoxa (Fig. 8C–D) and straight dorsally (Fig. 8D).
Additional material examined (49 specimens)
SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; 8 km WNW of Leliefontein, Fynbos, roadside; 30°15′58″ S, 18°03′17″ E; 1190 m a.s.l.; 14 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 3 ♀♀; Kamiesberg Mts, 5 km SE of Leliefontein, roadside; 30°20′09″ S, 18°06′24″ E; 1400 m a.s.l.; 5 Oct. 2014; MK leg.; RCMK • 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 11 Sep. 2016; RCMK • 1 ♀; N Cape, Fynbos, 15 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Engelsepunt; 31°14′31″ S, 18°59′08″ E; 830 m a.s.l.; 7 Oct. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; 12 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Avontuur, Fynbos; 31°16′18″ S, 19°02′55″ E; 770 m a.s.l.; 1 Sep. 2009; MK leg.; RCMK • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 24 Aug. 2012; RCMK • 1 ♀; Nieuwoudtville, Hantam Botanical Garden, Renosterveld at entrance; 31°23′25″ S, 19°07′56″ E; 730 m a.s.l.; 2 Sep. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; 20 km S of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Papkuilsfontein, Fynbos; 31°33′16″ S, 19°08′31″ E; 680 m a.s.l.; 27 Aug. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 20 Sep. 2014; RCMK • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 30 Aug. 2018; RCMK • 1 ♀; 18 km S of Calvinia, Nooiensrivier Pad, dolerite; 31°37′16″ S, 19°46′20″ E; 1100 m a.s.l.; 31 Aug. 2016; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Keiski Mts, 3 km E of Farm M’Vera, shale; 31°45′29″ S, 19°54′13″ E; 1190 m a.s.l.; 15 Sep. 2016; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Keiski Mts, 5 km S of Farm Nooiensrivier, new burned area; 31°45′41″ S, 19°50′17″ E; 1270 m a.s.l.; 1 Oct. 2014; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Keiski Mts, 5 km S of Farm Nooiensrivier, burned area; 31°45′47″ S, 19°50′17″ E; 1275 m a.s.l.; 28 Sep. 2009; MK leg.; RCMK • 5 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 4 Oct. 2009; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 12 Sep. 2010; RCMK • 1 ♀; Roggeveld Mts, 2 km S of Farm Perdekloof, rivier, dolerite; 31°47′35″ S, 19°58′16″ E; 1220 m a.s.l.; 2 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; Roggeveld Mts, 1.5 km S of Farm Allemansdam, Renosterveld; 31°49′25″ S, 19°59′38″ E; 1285 m a.s.l.; 11 Sep. 2018; MK leg.; RCMK • 2 ♀♀; Roggeveld Mts, 2 km SE of Farm Allemansdam, burnt area; 31°49′32″ S, 19°59′55″ E; 1290 m a.s.l.; 2 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 24 Aug. 2018; RCMK • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 29 Aug. 2018; RCMK • 1 ♀; Tankwa Karoo, Gannaga Pass / Lodge; 32°06′24″ S, 20°07′40″ E; 1290 m a.s.l.; 21 Sep. 2016; HE leg.; RCMK • 2 ♀♀; Roggeveld Mts, 2 km S of Farm Houdenbek, roadside; 32°18′03″ S, 20°23′16″ E; 1280 m a.s.l.; 16 Sep. 2018; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; 6 km NNW of Farm Kanariesfontein, 30 km W of Sutherland, roadside; 32°22′17″ S, 20°22′50″ E; 1310 m a.s.l.; 16 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; 3 km NW of Farm Kanolfontein, 22 km W of Sutherland, roadside; 32°23′17″ S, 20°26′32″ E; 1350 m a.s.l.; 18 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Cape Province, 28 km E of Velddrif; [32°47′ S, 18°10′ E]; 15 Oct. 1972; SANC • 1 ♀; Cape Province, Kommetjie; [34°08′ S, 18°20′ E]; 12 Oct. 1972; SANC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 25 Oct. 1972; SANC • 3 ♀♀; Bredasdorp, Div. Pearly Beach; [34°40′ S, 19°30′ E]; 1 Sep. 1959; SAM leg.; SANC.
Description
Female
BODY LENGTH. 5.9–8.8 mm.
HEAD. Head distinctly wider than long. Vertex almost straight and flat, except for the ocelli. Integument black, except part of mandibles reddish-brown. Face covered with long, black hair (Fig. 5C). Face and clypeus with fairly dense (i= 0–0.25 d), coarse and deep punctation, except supraclypeal area more dispersed (i =0.5–1 d) (Fig. 5C). Surface between punctures slightly matt. Antenna black.
MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula reddish-brown. Mesoscutum slightly shiny. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and propodeum densely (i =0.25–0.5 d) and finely but deeply punctate, metapostnotum matt (Figs 5D, 6A). Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, metanotum and mesepisternum sparsely covered with long, black hair mixed with shorter, yellowish-white hair (Fig. 5D). Propodeum covered with short, yellowish-white hair and few long, black hairs posteriorly, metapostnotum glabrous (Fig. 6A).
WINGS. Fuscous; wing venation brown to dark brown and stigma dark brown to black (Fig. 5A). LEGS. Integument black. Coxa and trochanter sparsely covered with long, black hair and shorter white hair. Femur with few long, black hair. Tibia and tarsi sparsely covered with long, black hair and densely covered with shorter white hair. Patches with very dense white pubescence apically on the tibia, particularly conspicuous on middle and hind tibia, anterior leg generally less hairy (Fig. 5A).
METASOMA. Integument of T1 dark basally, rest of T1 and T2 red, T3–T5 to a variable extent red, from completely red to completely black; T6 black. T1–T3 sparsely covered with short white and black hair, from T4 with increasingly more and longer hair (Fig. 5B). T5 marginal zone with bright white hair, disc covered with long, black hair (Fig. 6B). T6 broad and rounded apically (Fig. 6C), with long, black hair and shorter, bright white hair underneath. Shape of S6 (Fig. 6D) as illustrated.
Male
BODY LENGTH. 7.8–9.0 mm.
HEAD. Head distinctly wider than long. Vertex almost straight and flat, except for the ocelli. Integument black, except part of mandibles reddish-brown. Face covered with long, black hair. Face and clypeus with fairly dense (i=0–0.25 d), coarse and deep punctation, except supraclypeal area more dispersed (i=0.5–1 d) (Fig. 7C). Surface between punctures slightly matt. Antenna black.
MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula dark brown to black. Mesoscutum slightly shiny. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and propodeum densely (i =0.25–0.5 d) and finely but deeply punctate, metapostnotum matt (Fig. 7D–E). Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, metanotum and mesepisternum sparsely covered with long, black, erect hair mixed with shorter, yellowish-white hair (Fig. 7D). Propodeum covered with short, yellowish-white hair and few long, black hairs, metapostnotum glabrous (Fig. 7E).
WINGS. Fuscous; wing venation dark brown and stigma dark brown to black (Fig. 7A).
LEGS. Integument black. Coxa and trochanter sparsely covered with long, black hair and shorter white hair. Femur with few long, black hair. Tibia and tarsi sparsely covered with long, black hair and densely covered with shorter white hair. Patches with very dense white pubescence apically on the tibia, particularly conspicuous on middle and hind tibia, anterior leg generally less hairy (Fig. 7A).
METASOMA. Integument of T1 dark basally. Rest of T1–T3 red, T4 to a variable extent red, from basal half red to completely black; T5–T7 black. T1–T3 sparsely covered with short white and black hair, from T4 increasingly more and longer hair. T4–T6 marginal zone with bright white hair increasingly denser, disc with long, black hair (Fig. 7B). T7 covered with short, bright white hair, only few longer, black hairs (Fig. 7F).
TERMINALIA. Genitalia (Fig. 8C–D), S7 (Fig. 8A) and terminal plate of S8 (Fig. 8B) as illustrated.
Distribution
Found throughout western South Africa from Namaqualand in the north to the Cape Peninsula in the south (Eardley & Brothers 1997).
Host bees
Confirmed host bee is Scrapter niger Lepeletier & Serville, 1828 (= S. longula Friese, 1912) (Rozen & Michener 1968).
Seasonal activity
August–November (Eardley & Brothers 1997).
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 10-15, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.980.2805, http://zenodo.org/record/14981767