Bembix capicola Handlirsch, 1893

Gess, Friedrich W. & Gess, Sarah K., 2014, Geographical distributions of Bembix (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae, Bembicinae) in southern Africa, with notes on biology, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 36, pp. 53-130 : 70-71

Bembix capicola Handlirsch Fig. 6d

Bembex capicola Handlirsch, 1893: 814, pl. 2, fig. 19, pl. 5, fig. 25, pl. 7, fig. 10, ♂ (Syntypes, South Africa, former Cape Province and “Kafferland”, in NMW, ZMHB); Dalla Torre 1897: 503 (in catalogue of world Hymenoptera ); Arnold 1929: 360, figs 25, 25a, 25b, pl. 6, figs 20, 21, ♂, ♀ (in revision of the southern African Sphecidae ); Arnold 1930: 21 (in checklist of Afrotropical Sphecidae ).

Bembix capicola Handlirsch, Ullyett and De Vries 1940 (prey); R. Bohart and Menke 1976: 545 (in checklist of world Sphecidae ); Gess 1986: 153, 157 (prey); Pulawski 2013: 18 (in catalog of world Sphecidae sensu lato).

Note.

Handlirsch (1893) described the species from specimens from “Cap” and from “Kafferland”. Arnold (1929) recorded it from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lady Grey and Grahamstown.

Material examined.

LESOTHO: Bokong P.O. [29.17S, 28.23E], 26.xii.1946 (L. Bevis), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Mamathes [29.08S, 27.51E], i.1940 (C. Jacot-Guillarmod), 2 ♀♀ (1 ♀ with prey: Calliphoridae ), [SAMC ex. NMBZ; DMSA]; Mamathes, ii.1940 (C. Jacot-Guillarmod), 1 ♀ [DMSA]; Mamathes, 7.i.1934 (C. Jacot-Guillarmod), 1 ♂, i.1940 (C. Jacot Guillarmod) 6 ♀♀ (4 with prey, Syrphidae , Calliphoridae , ? Muscidae ), xii.4.1941 (C. Jacot Guillarmod and A. Jacot-Guillarmod), 1 ♀, 19.i.1947 (C. Jacot-Guillarmod), 7 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 14.i.1951 (C. Jacot-Guillarmod), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; nr. Mokhotlong (7800 feet) [circa 29.17S, 29.04E], 15.i.1955 (L. Bevis), 4 ♀♀, 5♂♂ [DMSA]; Malingoaneng [29.19S, 28.47E], 15.i.1955 (A. Jacot-Guillarmod) 1 ♀, 2 ♂ [AMGS]; Roma [29.28S, 27.44E] 17.xii.1964 (C. Jacot-Guillarmod) 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 17.xii.1964 (D.J. Brothers), 2 ♂♂ [AMGS]; Tlametlu River [29.28S, 27.25E], 8.i.1953 (C. Jacot-Guillarmod), 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 26.i.1955 (C. Jacot-Guillarmod), 7♀♀ [AMGS]. SWAZILAND: Swaziland, 1.xi.1912 (no collector), 1 ♂ [SANC]. SOUTH AFRICA: GAUTENG: Johannesburg [26.12S, 28.2E], 24.xii.1907 (Duncan), 1 ♀ [AMGS]; Florida Hills [26.10S, 27.56E], 17.ii.1962 (Empey), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Benoni [26.11S, 28.18E], 17.xii.1962 (Empey), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Pretoria [25.44S, 28.12E], 1912 (collector ?), 1 ♀ [SANC]; Pretoria [25.44S, 28.12E], i.1939 (G.C. Ullyett), 3 ♀♀ [SANC]; Strubens Valley, Florida [26.31S, 29.57E], 26.ii.1961 (Empey), 2 ♀♀ [AMGS]; Strubens Valley, Florida, 17.iii.1962 (Empey), 1 ♂ [AMGS]; Mondeor [26.16S, 28.0E], 11.xii.1959 (Empey), 1 ♂ [AMGS]. MPUMALANGA: Brakfontein b. Delmas [26.08S, 28.43E], 5.iii.1924 (Lingnau), 1 ♀ [SAMC ex NMBZ]. KWAZULU-NATAL: Himeville [29.45S, 29.30E], 24.xii.1938 (Nat.Museum S. Rhodesia), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; Sani Pass, nr Himeville [29.35S, 29.33E], 21.xii.1938 (L. Bevis), 2 ♂♂ [DMSA]. FREE STATE: Wepener [29.44S, 27.02E], 29.xii.1924 (Lingnau), 1 ♂ [SAMC ex NMBZ]; EASTERN CAPE: Hamburg [33.17S, 27.28E], 26.ii.1961 (collector ?), 1 ♀ [SANC]. WESTERN CAPE: Palmiet R[iver] [near Kleinmond, southern Hottentots Holland Mts.] [circa 34.20S, 19.02E], xii.1932 (H.G. Wood), 7 ♂♂ [SAMC].

Geographical distribution.

Widespread in southern Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia and extending south through South Africa to the coast ( Fig. 7d ).

Flower associations.

Unknown.

Nesting.

Unknown

Prey.

Recorded taking four, possibly five, families of Diptera : Sarcophagidae , Syrphidae , Calliphoridae , and, possibly, Muscidae .

Figures

Figure 6. Bembix spp.: a Bembix bubalus, female, male b Bembix cameronis, female, male c Bembix capensis, female, male d Bembix capicola, female, male e Bembix cultrifera, female, male f Bembix denticauda. (approximate length of females: a 19.5 mm; b 18 mm; c 17 mm; d 18 mm; e 17 mm; f 18 mm)

Figure 7. Distributions of collection records of Bembix spp.: a Bembix bubalus b Bembix cameronis c Bembix capensis d Bembix capicola e Bembix cultrifera f Bembix denticauda.