Hoplitis adunca
Creators: name: Müller, Andreas
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Megachilidae
Hoplitis
Hoplitis adunca

description: Key to the European species of the Hoplitis adunca species group
Based on a molecular phylogeny of the genus Hoplitis, Sedivy et al. (2013b) merged the former Hoplitis subgenera Annosmia Warncke, Bytinskia Mavromoustakis, Coloplitis Griswold and Hoplitis Klug into a single subgenus Hoplitis. This enlarged taxon is currently divided into five species groups (Müller 2015). Two of these groups occur in Europe, i.e. the Hoplitis adunca species group and the Hoplitis annulata species group, which correspond to the former subgenera Hoplitis and Annosmia, respectively (Michener 2007). The males of these two groups distinctly differ by i) the shape of tergum 7, which is evenly rounded to truncate in the Hoplitis adunca species group but deeply bifid in the Hoplitis annulata species group, ii) the form of the mandible, which is usually twotoothed in the former but always three-toothed in the latter, and iii) the shape of the last antennal segment, which is apically hooked down in the Hoplitis annulata species group but only rarely so in the Hoplitis adunca species group. In contrast, no clear morphological characters are known that unambiguously separate the females of the two species groups. The following identification key comprises all 25 species of the Hoplitis adunca species group known to occur in Europe including the Canary Islands and Cyprus but excluding the Caucasus.
Compared to the males, which are rather well characterized by the shape of both the antenna and the membraneous appendage of sternum 6, the females of the Hoplitis adunca species group are morphologically highly uniform and notoriously difficult to identify. To facilitate identification, the European distribution area and the pollen host preferences are detailed for each species in Table 1. However, our present knowledge on the distribution of numerous species is far from complete and might partly even contain errors. In fact, due to the difficult identification of numerous species, which has resulted in many misidentifications on the one hand and in substantial amounts of undetermined material in collections on the other hand, much work is still needed to clarify the exact distribution of the representatives of the Hoplitis adunca species group in Europe. The key is tailored to European populations. As North African and Asian populations of several species slightly differ morphologically from those of Europe, the proper identification of females from outside Europe might not always be possible.
Two females and two males of Hoplitis adunca all collected at the same day and locality in western Sardinia are unusually small and have a shorter proboscis and a narrower vertex compared to mainland individuals of H. adunca, from which they otherwise do not differ morphologically. Similarly, a single Hoplitis male from Crete differs from males of Hoplitis pici, which it otherwise closely resembles, by the shape of both the genitalia and the last antennal segment. More material from Sardinia and Crete is needed to judge whether these specimens are merely aberrant specimens of H. adunca and H. pici, respectively, or whether they should be assigned to new (sub)species. These two still enigmatic taxa are not included in the key.
Females
1 Galea of proboscis with specialized pollen-harvesting bristles, which are curved at an angle of 45–90 O in their apical third. Tibial spur of fore leg apically truncate or rounded, without projecting tooth........................................ 2 - Galea of proboscis with unspecialized bristles, which are straight along their whole length. Tibial spur of fore leg apically prolonged into a shorter or longer tooth..................................................................... 3 2(1) Curved bristles limited to the basal half of the galea. Tibial spur of fore leg apically truncate. Body length 8–9mm ........................................................................................ Hoplitis lithodorae Müller - Curved bristles covering the whole galea except for a short apical zone. Tibial spur of fore leg apically rounded. Body length 7.5–9mm ............................................................................ Hoplitis pici (Friese)
3(1) Clypeus densely covered with specialized suberect pollen-harvesting bristles, which have a strong basal part of brownish colour and a thin and slightly wavy apical part of whitish colour. Punctation of clypeus coarse and rather scattered with interspaces reaching the diameter of one puncture. Body length 6–7mm ......................... Hoplitis bihamata (Costa)
- Clypeus covered with unspecialized whitish pilosity. Punctation of clypeus fine and dense with interspaces usually not reaching the diameter of one puncture except for the median or basal part of the clypeus in some species, where the punctation is more scattered...................................................................................... 4
4(3) Lateral lobes of pronotum distinctly inflated and sparsely punctured with polished interspaces. Punctation of anterior half of scutum on both sides of the median impression scattered with interspaces reaching the diameter of up to one and a half to two punctures. Punctation between lateral ocellus and compound eye scattered with interspaces reaching the diameter of up to two, rarely more punctures. Pilosity of mesosoma and terga very long and scrubby. Body length 8.5–10.5mm ................................................................................................ Hoplitis strymonia Tkalcu
- Lateral lobes of pronotum not inflated and usually densely punctured and dull. Punctation of anterior half of scutum on both sides of the median impression as well as between lateral ocellus and compound eye usually dense with interspaces rarely exceeding the diameter of one puncture except for the Canarian endemite H. perambigua, where the punctation is less dense. Pilosity of mesosoma and terga often shorter and less scrubby................................................. 5
5(4) Proboscis very long, second segment of labial palpus about 2.9x as long as first segment; in repose, proboscis slightly surpasses trochanter of hind leg. Body length 6.5–8mm ........................... Hoplitis holmboei (Mavromoustakis)
- Proboscis shorter, second segment of labial palpus less than 2.5x as long as first segment; in repose, proboscis does not reach trochanter of hind leg................................................................................. 6
6(5) Apical margin of sternum 6 medially prolonged into a distinct and well delimited tooth of narrowly triangular to linear shape. Body length often exceeding 8–9mm ..................................................................... 7
- Apical margin of sternum 6 medially rounded to tapering, but never with distinct and well delimited tooth. Body length usually less than 9–10mm except for H. lepeletieri ................................................................ 13
7(6) Sternum 6 lateroapically without or with very weak carina, almost plane and densely punctured and dull. Antennal segment 3 more than 2.5x as long as wide. Discs of terga 2–5 with long pilosity. Body length 10.5–12.5mm .. Hoplitis mucida (Dours)
- Sternum 6 lateroapically with very strong carina, zone adjacent to the carina sparsely punctured and polished. Antennal segment 3 about 2x as long as wide. Discs of terga 2–5 with short pilosity.......................................... 8
8(7) Pilosity of inner side of basitarsus of hind leg brownish at least apically. Scopa often more or less smoky brown. When seen from behind, longest hairs on median half of tergum 1 almost as long as maximal length of lateral hair tuft. Inner tibial spur of hind leg apically distinctly curved (only slightly curved in north African specimens). Apical tooth of tibial spur of fore leg about as long as its basal width (often longer in north African specimens) and acute. Body length 8–10.5mm .............................................................................................. Hoplitis fertoni (Pérez)
- Pilosity of inner side of basitarsus of hind leg yellowish-white to yellowish-red. Scopa whitish except for its base, which is occasionally smoky brown. When seen from behind, longest hairs on median half of tergum 1 distinctly shorter than maximal length of lateral hair tuft. Inner tibial spur of hind leg apically only slightly curved. Apical tooth of tibial spur of fore leg longer than its basal width or rounded......................................................................... 9
9(8) Apical tooth of tibial spur of fore leg more or less rounded. Punctation of lateral parts of clypeus less dense with distinct polished interspaces. Punctation of supraclypeal area scattered with interspaces reaching the diameter of one to one and a half, rarely two punctures. Second segment of labial palpus 1.5–1.6x as long as first segment. Body length 8–10mm. No morphological characters are known to distinguish the following two species. However, identification should be possible based on the apparently almost non-overlapping distribution areas (see Tab. 1).. Hoplitis fabrei Zanden and Hoplitis pallicornis (Friese)
- Apical tooth of tibial spur of fore leg acute. Punctation of lateral parts of clypeus very dense lacking distinct polished interspaces. Punctation of supraclypeal area dense with interspaces rarely reaching the diameter of one puncture. Second segment of labial palpus at least 1.7x as long as first segment....................................................... 10
10(9) Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge more than 3x as long as ocellar diameter. Tibial spurs of hind leg reddish-brown to black. Body length 10.5–13.5mm ....................................... Hoplitis manicata (Morice)
- Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge less than 3x as long as ocellar diameter. Tibial spurs of hind leg black, reddish-brown or yellowish-red. Body length rarely exceeding 10.5mm ........................................ 11
11(10) Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge 1.8– 2 x as long as ocellar diameter. Second segment of labial palpus 1.7–1.8x as long as first segment. Punctation of discs of terga 1–3(4) rather dense: largest interspaces on the two longitudinal fifths adjacent to each side of the median fifth rarely exceeding the diameter of one and a half punctures. Tibial spurs of hind leg reddish-brown to black. Body length 8–10.5mm ..................................... Hoplitis benoisti (Alfken)
- Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge at least 2.4x as long as ocellar diameter. Second segment of labial palpus at least 2.2x as long as first segment. Punctation of discs of terga 1–3(4) very scattered: largest interspaces on the two longitudinal fifths adjacent to each side of the median fifth usually reaching the diameter of three to four, sometimes even more punctures. Tibial spurs of hind leg black or yellowish-red................................................... 12
12(11) Tibial spurs of hind leg mostly black to dark reddish-brown. Outer marginal zone of tegula without punctures on its posterior half or with broadly interrupted row(s) of punctures. Second segment of labial palpus slightly less than 2.3x as long as first segment. Interspaces between punctures on vertex usually without or with few micropunctures. Marginal zones of terga mostly black. Body length 9–11mm ......................................................... Hoplitis adunca (Panzer)
- Tibial spurs of hind leg yellowish-red. Outer marginal zone of tegula often punctured along its whole length. Second segment of labial palpus slightly more than 2.3x as long as first segment. Interspaces between punctures on vertex usually with many micropunctures. Marginal zones of terga often more or less reddish-brown. Body length 9–11mm ................................................................................................... Hoplitis submanicata Zanden 13(6) Apex of inner tibial spur of hind leg acute and almost straight to slightly bent at an angle of less than 45 O .............. 14
- Apex of inner tibial spur of hind leg blunt or strongly curved at an angle of more than 45 O .......................... 19
14(13) Antennal segment 3 longer, 1.75– 2 x as long as wide. When seen from behind, longest hairs on median half of tergum 1 almost as long as maximal length of lateral hair tuft.............................................................. 15
- Antennal segment 3 shorter, about 1.5x as long as wide. When seen from behind, longest hairs on median half of tergum 1 about half as long as maximal length of lateral hair tuft or shorter............................................. 17
15(14) Pilosity of inner side of hind basitarsus (dark) greyish-brown. Apical white hair bands of terga 1–4 broadly interrupted. Punctation of anterior half of scutum moderately dense with interspaces often reaching or exceeding the diameter of one puncture. Punctation of median half of tergal discs 1–3 very fine and widely scattered. Body length 6–7.5mm .................................................................................................. Hoplitis perambigua (Peters)
- Pilosity of inner side of hind basitarsus yellowish-white. Apical white hair bands of terga 1–4 not interrupted in fresh specimens. Punctation of anterior half of scutum very dense with interspaces rarely exceeding the diameter of half a puncture. Punctation of median half of tergal discs 1–3 distinctly coarser and denser. Body length at least 8mm ..................... 16
16(15) Pilosity of terga shorter: when seen in profile, longest hairs on median half of tergal disc 2 about 2x as long as maximal width of antennal flagellum, on tergal discs 3–4 less than 1.5x as long as maximal width of antennal flagellum. Sternum 6 lateroapically usually with weak carina. Body length 8–9mm .............................. Hoplitis anthocopoides (Schenck)
- Pilosity of terga longer: when seen in profile, longest hairs on median half of tergal disc 2 about 3x as long as maximal width of antennal flagellum, on tergal discs 3–4 about 2x as long as maximal width of antennal flagellum. Sternum 6 lateroapically usually with rather strong carina. Body length 9.5–11mm ................................ Hoplitis lepeletieri (Pérez)
17(14) Clypeus weakly convex (Fig. 1); in profile, clypeal surface not or only slightly projecting above surface of supraclypeal area. Supraclypeal area with sparse pilosity, which never hides its surface (Fig. 1). Body length 5–6.5mm ................................................................................................. Hoplitis galichicae spec. nov.
- Clypeus strongly convex; in profile, clypeal surface distincly projecting above surface of supraclypeal area. Supraclypeal area with rather dense pilosity, which partly hides its surface. Body length at least 6.5mm .............................. 18
18(17) Apical tooth of tibial spur of fore leg as long as its basal width or shorter. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge about 1.5x as long as ocellar diameter. Second segment of labial palpus about 1.4x as long as first segment. Head slightly shorter than wide. Carina along apical margin of sternum 6 weakly developed, medially usually not interrupted and here only slightly lower than laterally. Punctation of mesepisternum and mesosternum moderately dense with interspaces often exceeding the diameter of one puncture. Body length 6.5–7.5mm .................................. Hoplitis hilbera Müller
- Apical tooth of tibial spur of fore leg longer than its basal width. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge 1.8–1.9x as long as ocellar diameter. Second segment of labial palpus about 1.7x as long as first segment. Head slightly longer than wide. Carina along apical margin of sternum 6 well developed, medially usually interrupted or laterally distinctly higher than medially. Punctation of mesepisternum and mesosternum dense with interspaces rarely exceeding the diameter of one puncture. Body length 7–8mm ....................................................... Hoplitis marchali (Pérez)
19(13) Inner tibial spur of hind leg short and stout, 4– 5 x as long as its maximal width (including marginal teeth). Teeth along upper margin of inner hind tibial spur distinct, rather long and well separated from each other. Hind tibial spurs yellowish. Clypeus medially with very sharp and narrow longitudinal carina. Second segment of labial palpus about 1.4x as long as first segment. Anterior side of antennal segments (5,6)7–11(12) light reddish-brown. Body length 6.5–8mm ... Hoplitis carinata (Stanek)
- Inner tibial spur of hind leg longer, at least 6x as long as its maximal width (including marginal teeth). Teeth along upper margin of inner hind tibial spur often indistinct, short and not well separated from each other. Hind tibial spurs yellowish or blackish. Clypeus medially either with or without longitudinal carina or polished midline. Second segment of labial palpus at least 1.5x as long as first segment. Anterior side of antennal segments usually blackish, some segments occasionally partly dark reddish-brown........................................................................................ 20
20(19) Punctation of anterior third of scutum fine and very dense with interspaces usually smaller than the diameter of half a puncture. Disc of tergum 5 covered with rather dense and appressed whitish pilosity. Pilosity of terga longer: when seen in profile, longest hairs on median half of tergal discs 2–4 1.3–1.5x as long as maximal width of antennal flagellum. Body length 7–9mm
................................................................................. Hoplitis loti (Morawitz)
- Punctation of anterior third of scutum coarser and less dense with interspaces usually reaching the diameter of half a puncture to one puncture. Disc of tergum 5 without dense and appressed whitish pilosity. Pilosity of terga shorter: when seen in profile, longest hairs on median half of tergal discs 2–4 at most as long as maximal width of antennal flagellum.............. 21
21(20) Hind tibial spurs dark brown to black. Apex of inner hind tibial spur almost blunt and bent at right angles. Second segment of labial palpus 1.7–1.8x as long as first segment. Body length 6.5–7.5mm ............. Hoplitis insularis (Schmiedeknecht)
- Hind tibial spurs yellowish. Apex of inner hind tibial spur either almost blunt and bent at right angles or tapering and evenly curved. Second segment of labial palpus at most 1.7x as long as first segment................................... 22
22(21) Clypeus strongly convex; in profile, clypeal surface distincly projecting above surface of supraclypeal area. Apex of inner hind tibial spur regularly tapering, evenly curved at an angle of 50–60 O and rather long. Second segment of labial palpus about 1.7x as long as first segment. Clypeus (always?) with rather indistinct and more or less polished longitudinal midline. Body length 7–7.5mm .................................................................. Hoplitis ochraceicornis (Ferton)
- Clypeus weakly convex; in profile, clypeal surface only slightly projecting above surface of supraclypeal area. Apex of inner hind tibial spur more or less blunt, abruptly curved at an angle of 60–90 O and usually very short. Second segment of labial palpus 1.5–1.6x as long as first segment. Clypeus medially either with or without polished longitudinal midline or carina... 23
23(22) Clypeus usually densely punctured throughout, sometimes with indistinct polished longitudinal midline on its basal half. Body length 6.5–7.5mm ................................................................ Hoplitis jheringii (Ducke)
- Clypeus usually with distinct, uninterrupted and polished longitudinal midline or carina. Body length 7–8.5mm ............................................................................................ Hoplitis ravouxi (Pérez) Males
1 Sternum 6 without membraneous appendage clearly separated from its apical margin, but with almost hairless medioapical impression of roughly triangular shape................................................................... 2 - Sternum 6 with membraneous appendage at its apical margin, which is usually bilobed and densely haired............. 5 2(2) Medioapical impression of sternum 6 neither with preapical hair pencil nor median projection, its punctation mediobasally coarse and extremely dense without any interspaces. Body length 8–10mm .................. Hoplitis benoisti (Alfken) - Medioapical impression of sternum 6 with preapical hair pencil or median projection, its punctation lacking or very fine.. 3 3(2) Medioapical impression of sternum 6 with long preapical hair pencil projecting at right angles from the sternal surface. Apical margin of medioapical impression of sternum 6 medially prolonged into a long and narrow process. Body length 9–12mm ................................................................................... Hoplitis adunca (Panzer) - Medioapical impression of sternum 6 with narrow median projection, which is formed by two longitudinal and apically fused keels and consists of a lower anterior and a higher posterior part. Apical margin of medioapical impression of sternum 6 medially emarginate...................................................................................... 4 4(3) Posterior part of median projection of sternum 6 about three times as high as anterior part, its maximal height roughly equalling length of anterior part. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge at least 3x as long as ocellar diameter. Preapical lateral swellings of sternum 5 weakly developed and rounded. Body length 12–15mm ....................................................................................................... Hoplitis manicata (Morice) - Posterior part of median projection of sternum 6 about twice as high as anterior part, its maximal height distinctly shorter than length of anterior part. Distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge at most 2.5x as long as ocellar diameter. Preapical lateral swellings of sternum 5 well developed and edged. Body length 10–12mm ........ Hoplitis submanicata Zanden 5(1) Apex of last antennal segment curved downwards.......................................................... 6 - Apex of last antennal segment not curved downwards....................................................... 7 6(5) Last antennal segment apically with short projection of roughly triangular shape, which is directed downwards. Apical margin of tergum 6 with two triangular teeth on each side. Antennal segment 3 distinctly longer than segment 4. Body length 10.5–12.5mm .................................................................... Hoplitis mucida (Dours) - Last antennal segment narrowed towards its apex, which is pointed and curved downwards. Apical margin of tergum 6 with one triangular tooth on each side. Antennal segment 3 slightly shorter than segment 4. Body length 7–9mm .................................................................................................. Hoplitis pici (Friese) 7(5) Lower margin of antennal segment 3 apically broadened and detached from base of segment 4. Membraneous appendage at apical margin of sternum 6 medially without uninterrupted transverse hair stripe.................................. 8 - Lower margin of antennal segment 3 neither broadened nor detached from base of segment 4; if slightly detached, membraneous appendage at apical margin of sternum 6 medially with uninterrupted transverse hair stripe...................... 9 8(7) Antennal segment 4 as long as and larger than segment 3, about three quarters as long as wide. Membraneous appendage at apical margin of sternum 6 consisting of two roughly triangular lobes densely covered with appressed long pilosity, which is directed inwards and completely conceals the membraneous surface. Inner spur of hind tibia stout, its apex short and strongly curved. Body length 7–8.5mm ...................................................... Hoplitis carinata (Stanek) - Antennal segment 4 distinctly shorter and smaller than segment 3, about half as long as wide. Membraneous appendage at apical margin of sternum 6 consisting of two roughly quadrangular lobes beset with inconspicuous short hairs, which are suberect and do not completely conceal the membraneous surface. Inner spur of hind tibia slender, its apex long and slightly curved. Body length 6.5–7.5mm ...................................................... Hoplitis ochraceicornis (Ferton) 9(7) Membraneous appendage at apical margin of sternum 6 V-shaped, i.e. consisting of two slender lobes, which are at least twice as long as wide and only basally fused; these lobes are directed backwards rather than laterally and diverge from each other by an angle of less than 90 O .............................................................................. 10 - Membraneous appendage at apical margin of sternum 6 of other shape......................................... 13 10(9) Apical margin of sternum 6 medially with small roundish excision. Membraneous appendage of sternum 6 mediobasally without roundish tuft of hairs. Lower half of anterior side of antennal segments (3)4–12(13) and posterior side of antennal segments (6)7–12(13) yellowish. Last antennal segment slightly twisted with upper and lower margin being in different planes. Body length 8–10mm .................................................................... Hoplitis fertoni (Pérez) - Apical margin of sternum 6 deeply and widely excised. Membraneous appendage of sternum 6 mediobasally with roundish tuft of hairs. Antenna uniformly dark except sometimes for its lower margin, which is partly yellowish-brown. Last antennal segment not modified.................................................................................. 11 11(10) Apical margin of sternum 5 laterally emarginate. Preapical swellings of sterna 2–4 strongly developed, transition between their anterior and posterior part edged. Body length 10–11.5mm .............................. Hoplitis lepeletieri (Pérez) - Apical margin of sternum 5 laterally evenly rounded. Preapical swellings of sterna 2–4 less strongly developed, transition between their anterior and posterior part rounded.......................................................... 12 12(11) Pilosity of inner side of hind basitarsus yellowish-white. Antennal segment 3 about 1.7x as long as segment 4. Punctation of scutum dense with interspaces usually smaller than the diameter of one puncture on each side of the medioapical suture. Punctation of terga rather coarse and dense with interspaces rarely exceeding the diameter of two to three punctures on tergal sides. Body length 7.5–10mm ..................................................... Hoplitis anthocopoides (Schenck) - Pilosity of inner side of hind basitarsus (dark) greyish-brown. Antennal segment 3 about 1.4x as as long as segment 4. Punctation of scutum less dense with interspaces usually exceeding the diameter of one puncture on each side of the medioapical suture. Punctation of terga very fine and scattered with interspaces reaching the diameter of four to five punctures on tergal sides. Body length 6–7.5mm ..................................................... Hoplitis perambigua (Peters) 13(9) Antennal segment 3 distinctly longer than wide. Membraneous appendage of sternum 6 consisting of a roughly quadrangular plate, which bears apicolaterally two oval lobes beset with long hairs. Apical margin of tergum 7 medially with small but distinct triangular emargination. Pilosity of mesosoma and terga very long and tousled. Terga without dense, short and apressed apical white hair bands. Body length 7.5–8mm ......................................... Hoplitis strymonia Tkalcu
- Antennal segment 3 as long as wide or shorter; if slightly longer than wide, membraneous appendage of sternum 6 of other shape. Apical margin of tergum 7 evenly rounded or truncate, rarely with very shallow and inconspicuous median emargination. Pilosity of mesosoma and terga shorter and less tousled. Terga with dense, short and appressed albeit often interrupted apical white hair bands............................................................................... 14
14(13) Membraneous appendage of sternum 6 medially with uninterrupted and well limited transverse stripe of brownish hairs and medioapically with small and densely haired buttonlike projection. Second last antennal segment with slightly converging margins, last antennal segment tapering towards the apex................................................... 15
- Membraneous appendage of sternum 6 neither with uninterrupted transverse stripe of brownish hairs nor medioapically with densely haired buttonlike projection. Last two antennal segments usually almost parallel-sided...................... 16
15(14) Antennal segment 4 about 0.8x as long as wide, slightly shorter than segment 3 and as long as segment 5. Body length 8–10mm .......................................................................... Hoplitis fabrei Zanden
- Antennal segment 4 about 0.6x long as wide, shorter than segments 3 and 5. Body length 8–10mm ................................................................................................... Hoplitis pallicornis (Friese)
16(14) Lateral lobes of the bilobed membraneous appendage of sternum 6 of oval to oblong shape (i.e. distinctly wider than long) and separated from each other by an angle of 90 O or more....................................................... 17
- Lateral lobes of the bilobed membraneous appendage of sternum 6 of roundish to quadrangular shape (i.e. about as wide as long or slightly longer) and separated from each other by an acute angle........................................ 21
17(16) Spurs of hind tibia short and stout, almost blunt and usually of dark brown to blackish colour. Lateral margin of sternum 6 with conspicuous bristles, which are directed backwards and about as long as maximal width of lateral lobe of membraneous appendage of sternum 6. Body length 7–8.5mm ................................ Hoplitis insularis (Schmiedeknecht)
- Spurs of hind tibia long and slender, pointed and of yellowish-brown to yellowish-white colour. Lateral margin of sternum 6 with inconspicuous bristles, which are not distinctly directed backwards and less than half as long as maximal width of lateral lobe of membraneous appendage of sternum 6............................................................ 18
18(17) Proboscis very long, second segment of labial palpus about 2.8x as long as first segment; in repose, proboscis reaches trochanter of hind leg. Ventral surface of mesosoma between fore and mid coxa sparsely haired. Body length 6.5–8mm ............................................................................. Hoplitis holmboei (Mavromoustakis)
- Proboscis shorter, second segment of labial palpus 1.6–1.8x as long as first segment; in repose, proboscis does not reach trochanter of hind leg. Ventral surface of mesosoma between fore and mid coxa with dense white pilosity............... 19
19(18) Lateral lobes of membraneous appendage of sternum 6 laterally rounded to truncate and of regularly oval shape (Fig. 6). Inner spur of hind tibia almost straight. Body length 5–6mm ................................ Hoplitis galichicae spec. nov.
- Lateral lobes of membraneous appendage of sternum 6 laterally prolonged into a distinct and more or less acute tip. Inner spur of hind tibia usually slightly to distinctly curved apically.................................................... 20
20(19) Antennal segments 4–5 0.8–0.9x as long as wide with straight lower margin. Posterior side of antennal segments 8–10 with distinct tubercle. Sternum 5 more or less densely punctured in front of preapical swelling. Lateral margin of sternum 6 apically rounded. Body length 7.5–10mm ...................................................... Hoplitis loti (Morawitz)
- Antennal segments 4–5 about 0.6x as long as wide with convex lower margin. Posterior side of antennal segments 8–10 almost flat. Sternum 5 almost unpunctured in front of preapical swelling. Lateral margin of sternum 6 apically toothed. Body length 6.5–9mm ......................................................................... Hoplitis ravouxi (Pérez)
21(16) Antennal segment 4 shorter than segment 3. Pilosity along hypostomal carina uniformly short and sheared in appearance. Body length 6.5–7mm ................................................................. Hoplitis bihamata (Costa)
- Antennal segment 4 as long as antennal segment 3 or longer. Pilosity along hypostomal carina more irregular and increasing in length towards foramen magnum....................................................................... 22
22(21) Antennal segment 4 about 0.75x as long as wide. Preapical swellings of sternum 5 well developed and almost unpunctured. Impressed area behind preapical swellings of sternum 5 medially sparsely punctured with interspaces reaching the diameter of up to three punctures. Body length 7–9mm ............................................. Hoplitis marchali (Pérez)
- Antennal segment 4 as long as wide or slightly longer. Preapical swellings of sternum 5 weakly developed and moderately dense to densely punctured. Impressed area behind preapical swellings of sternum 5 medially densely punctured with interspaces not exceeding the diameter of one to two punctures.................................................. 23
23(22) Second segment of labial palpus about 1.75x as long as first segment. Anterior side of antennal segments 4–12 yellowish in its lower third and blackish in its upper two thirds, the two colours being sharply separated. Posterior side of antennal segments 8–12 entirely yellowish. Body length 7–9mm .......................................... Hoplitis lithodorae Müller
- Second segment of labial palpus at most 1.6x as long as first segment. Antenna dark to reddish-brown, neither with sharp separation between yellowish and black colour on its anterior side nor with entirely yellowish coloured segments on its posterior side.............................................................................................. 24
24(23) Lateral lobes of membraneous appendage of sternum 6 laterally rounded. Apex of inner spur of hind tibia distinctly curved. Apical margin of sternum 6 laterally with narrow pencil of hairs. Punctation of mesopleura dense with interspaces rarely exceeding the diameter of one puncture. Body length 6–7mm ............................. Hoplitis jheringii (Ducke)
- Lateral lobes of membraneous appendage of sternum 6 laterally extended into a short rounded tip. Apex of inner spur of hind tibia very slightly curved. Apical margin of sternum 6 laterally without narrow pencil of hairs. Punctation of mesopleura less dense with interspaces often exceeding the diameter of one puncture. Body length 6–8mm ........ Hoplitis hilbera Müller ......continued on the next page Acknowledgments
description: Published as part of Müller, Andreas, 2016, Hoplitis (Hoplitis) galichicae spec. nov., a new osmiine bee species from Macedonia with key to the European representatives of the Hoplitis adunca species group (Megachilidae, Osmiini), pp. 167-176 in Zootaxa 4111 (2) on pages 170-174, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4111.2.5, http://zenodo.org/record/255015