Melitta (Plesiomelitta) avontuurensis 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 : 4-6

Melitta (Plesiomelitta) avontuurensis Michez & Kuhlmann, new species

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:69FF4EF0-1B32-47C7-B137-ACDAFE279652

( Figs. 10, 11 )

DIAGNOSIS: The new species is morphologically close to M. schultzei . It shares with that species several features, such as a short malar area, but with the glossa as long as the labial palpus, and the fully orange scopa.

DESCRIPTION: ♀: After Dellicour et al. (2014): Total body length 11.4 mm; head length 3.4 mm, width 3.9 mm; head black except antenna reddish; galea apically pointed, outer surface matt and sculptured; malar area shorter than scape; clypeus smooth and shiny, with sparse punctation; face with whitish setae and narrow, lateral fringe of black setae along compound eye; vertex with brownish setae. Mesosomal length 4.0 mm, width 3.1 mm; integument black; mesoscutum sparsely punctate, smooth and shiny between punctures, disc with black setae, laterally with yellowish setae ( Fig. 10 ); basal area of propodeum shiny; ventral surfaces of mesosoma with whitish setae; femora black, with whitish setae; tibiae and tarsi reddish; metabasitarsus apically with hook-like projection; metatibial scopa orange; forewing length 9.2 mm; wing membranes lightly infuscate. Metasomal length 6.2 mm, width 4.5 mm; integument black and shiny; metasomal terga II–V with interrupted apical band of white setae ( Fig. 11 ); disc of tergum I with erect, white setae; discs of terga II–V with black setae; prepygidial fimbria reddish ( Fig. 11 ); pygidial plate flat ( Fig. 11 ); sterna with long, yellowish setae.

♂: Unknown.

HOLOTYPE: ♀, South Africa, 12km NW Nieuwoudtville, Farm Avontuur , dolerite hill, 830m, S31°16’02’’ E19°04’05’’, 03.ix.2009, leg. M. Kuhlmann . Deposited in the South African National Collection of Insects, Pretoria, South Africa.

PARATYPE: 1♀, same data as holotype. Deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: 3♀♀, South Africa , CP, Clanwilliam District , Biedouw Valley, S32.08° E19.14°, 05–07.ix.1987, leg. C.D. Eardley. Deposited in the South African National Collection of Insects, Pretoria, South Africa .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is based on the type locality, the farm Avontuur northwest of Nieuwoudtville, South Africa .

Figures

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).