Melitta (Afromelitta) richtersveldensis Michez, 2014

Michez, Denis, Kuhlmann, Michael & Dellicour, Simon, 2014, Validation of some species- and genus-group names in Melitta (Hymenoptera: Melittidae), Journal of Melittology 44, pp. 1-8 : 2-3

Melitta (Afromelitta) richtersveldensis Michez & Kuhlmann, new species

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:36A5D557-0F98-4567-94A3-74E614EDE8D1

( Figs. 1–9 )

DIAGNOSIS: As for the subgenus (vide supra).

DESCRIPTION: ♂: After Dellicour et al. (2014): Total body length 10.8 mm; head length 3 mm, width 3 mm; head black; antenna blackish; galea pointed apically, outer surface matt and sculptured; glossa shorter than labial palpus; malar area shorter than scape; clypeus densely punctate; first flagellomere shorter than second flagellomere; face with dense whitish setae, with fringe of black setae along compound eye; vertex with black setae. Mesosomal length 4.2 mm, width (between tegulae) 3.5 mm; black; disc of mesoscutum and mesoscutellum smooth and shiny between punctures; basal area of propodeum large, dull, rugose, with basal carinae, with black and yellowish setae intermixed; ventrally with whitish setae; legs black except tarsi brownish, without distinctive structures such as plates or spines; metabasitarsus narrower than metatibia; pilosity whitish to yellowish; forewing length 7.1 mm; wing membranes hyaline. Metasomal length 5.4 mm, width 3.4 mm; black; metasomal terga II–V with white, apical bands of setae ( Figs. 8, 9 ); discs of terga I and II with erect, yellowish setae; discs of terga III–V with erect black setae; prepygidial fimbria brown; sternum VI with dense tufts of reddish setae apicomedially ( Fig. 1 ); discs of sterna I–VI with long yellowish setae; apicolateral structure of sternum VII with blade swollen, with long yellow setae, weakly incised medioapically ( Fig. 2 ); sternum VIII with apical spines, apical plate circle shaped ( Fig. 3 ); gonostylus as long as gonocoxa, truncate apically ( Figs. 4, 5 ); digitus elongate, rounded apically.

♀: As described for the male except as noted: Total body length 11.4 mm; head length 3.2 mm, width 3.5 mm; head similar to male except antenna reddish ventrally, face with black and whitish setae intermixed. Mesosomal length 4.2 mm, width 3.6 mm; legs as in male except for typical gender differences (e.g., scopa present on hind legs); fore and mid legs with brown setae on external surfaces ( Fig. 6 ); scopal setae black; forewing length 7.5 mm. Metasomal length 6 mm, width 4.2 mm; pygidial plate with lateral grooves ( Fig. 7 ).

HOLOTYPE: ♂, South Africa, 5km SE Lekkersing road side, 300m, on Zygophyllum foetidum , S29°03’28’’ E19°07’16’’, 24.ix.2009, leg. M. Kuhlmann . Deposited in the South African National Collection of Insects, Pretoria, South Africa.

PARATYPES: 4♂♂, 2♀♀, same data as holotype. Deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is based on the Richtersveld, a mountainous region in the northwest of South Africa.

Figures

Figures 1–5. Male terminalia of Melitta (Afromelitta) richtersveldensis, new subgenus and species. 1. Ventral view of metasomal sternum VI. 2. Ventral view of sternum VII. 3. Ventral view of sternum VIII. 4. Lateral view of genital capsule. 5. Dorsal view of genital capsule. Reproduced with permission from Dellicour et al. (2014).

Figures 6–11. Photographs of Melitta (Afromelitta) richtersveldensis, new subgenus and species, and M.(Plesiomelitta) avontuurensis, new subgenus and species. 6. Female of M. (A.) richtersvelden- sis in profile. 7. Detail of female metasomal apex and pygidial plate of M. (A.) richtersveldensis. 8. Male of M. (A.) richtersveldensis in profile. 9. Dorsal view of male metasoma of M. (A.) richtersveldensis, with genitalia extended. 10. Female of M. (P.) avontuurensis in profile. 11. Dorsal view of female metasomal apex of M. (P.) avontuurensis. Reproduced with permission from Dellicour et al. (2014).