Bembecinus hyperocrus (Arnold)

Figures 3e, 10a–c.

Stizus hyperocrus Arnold, 1929:295, ♀ (as Brauns’s MS name). Holotype or syntypes: ♀, South Africa: Cape Province: Willowmore (TMSA).— Arnold, 1930:20 (in checklist of Afrotropical Sphecidae).— As Bembecinus hyperocrus (Arnold): R. Bohart and Menke, 1976:531 (new combination, in checklist of world Sphecidae); S. Gess and F. Gess, 2003:115–116 (floral records), 2006:14 (floral records); Pulawski, 2014:18 (in catalog of world Sphecidae sensu lato).

RECOGNITION. — Bembecinus hyperocrus, inexspectatus, and omaruru are the only species within the rhopalocerus group having the erect setae on tergum II, although in the female these setae are short dorsally and distinct only laterally (Fig. 10b). In all three species, the gastral terga are mostly ferruginous with some parts black (golden tan in several omaruru), and in the males of hyperocrus and omaruru the clypeus (all or nearly so), the supraclypeal area, and the frons are all black. Unlike inexspectatus and omaruru, the gastral terga of hyperocrus have no pale yellow apical fasciae (the yellow fasciae are ill defined in omaruru with golden tan gaster). Subsidiary recognition features of hyperocrus are: the female clypeus black basally and markedly roundly angulate in profile (Fig. 10a), the male clypeus and the frons ventrally of the antennal socket are covered with dense, appressed vestiture, partly covering integument (no such vestiture in omaruru, the integument easily visible).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — NAMIBIA:! Karas Region: Aus, 8–30.xi.1929, R.E. Turner (1 ♀, SAMC ex NMBZ) ; Aus (Pad C 13) 8.xii.1994, M. Kuhlmann (1 ♀, ZMB) ]. SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape Province: Namaqualand, Richtersveld: Die Koei, 2–5.x.1991, M.W. Mansell (1 ♂, PPRI) ; Naib or Boesmanland, between Springbok and Pella, Mus. Staff, x.1939 (2 ♀, 2 ♂, SAMC) ; Btw. Kamieskroon and Springbok, Namaqualand, Mus. Staff, x.1939 (1 ♀, SAMC); Skouerfontein, 28 17 Cc, 6.x.80, [V.] Whitehead (1 ♂, SAMC) ; Namaqualand, Springbok, Hester Malan [now Goegap] Nature Reserve, 27.ix.1986, M. Struck (I ♂, AMGS) ; same locality, 15–21.x.1987, F.W. and S.K. Gess (3 ♀, 10 ♂, AMGS), same locality, 10–12.x.1988, F.W. and S.K. Gess (1 ♀, AMGS), same locality and dates, D.W. Gess (1 ♀, AMGS); Namaqualand, 70 km E Port Nolloth, 26.xi.1974, J.G. and B.L. Rozen (1 ♀, AMNH); Namaqualand, Anenous, 11–13.x.1988, F.W. and S.K. Gess (3 ♀, AMGS), same locality and dates, D.W. Gess (2 ♀, AMGS); Exteenfontein at 28°49.5′S 17°14.4′E, 9.x.2008, B.N. Danforth (1 ♂, CAS), on flowers of Lebeckia, Fabaceae; Namaqualand, Concordia, 21.xi.1990, R. Miller and L. Stange (1 ♀, UCDC) ; Namaqualand, 14 km N Concordia at 29°25.9′S 17°57.2′E, 15.x.2008, B.N. Danforth (1 ♀, CAS) ; Namaqualand, Farm Arkoep 6 km N Kamieskroon at 30°19′S 17°56′E, 1–2.x.1990, C.D. Eardley (1 ♂, PPRI); Calvinia, 2 Nov., T.D.A. Cockerell (1 ♀, BMNH), 11–16.xi.1931, J. Ogilvie (1 ♀, BMNH) ; Augustfontein (Calvinia), ix.1947, Museum Expedition [SAMC] (1 ♂, SAMC); Murraysburg District, xi.1935, Museum Staff [SAMC] (4 ♀, 1 ♂, SAMC) . Western Cape Province: [Knersvlakte] Moedverloorn [Moedverloren Nature Reserve] Dorn [rivier] River (1 ♀, UCDC); Tankwa Karoo, Renoster River, xi.1952, Museum Expedition [SAMC] (2 ♀, SAMC); Matjesfontein, R.E. Turner, 1–6.xi.1928 (2 ♀, BMNH), 7–13.xi.1928 (1 ♀, BMNH), 14–27.xi.1928 (1 ♀, BMNH); Matjiesfontein, R.E. Turner, 1–6.xi.1928 (2 ♂, UCDC), 7–13.xi.1928, (1 ♀, SAMC ex NMBZ); Moordenaars Karoo, Lamerfontein, x.1952, Museum Expedition [SAMC] (4 ♀, 4 ♂, SAMC); Dikome, Merweville, Koup, x.1952, Museum Expedition [SAMC] (2 ♀, SAMC) ; Koup Siding, xi.1939, Museum Staff [SAMC] (1 ♀, SAMC); 18 m. E Touws River to Hondewater, xii.1962, S.A. M. [SAMC staff] (1 ♂, SAMC); Lammerkraal, Prince Albert District, ix.1947, Museum Expedition [SAMC] (1 ♂, SAMC); Prince Albert District, Tierberg, 26.i.-5.xii.1987, F.W., S.K. and R.W. Gess (2 ♀, AMGS); 31.x.1967, C. Jacot-Guillarmod (3 ♀, AMGS); Prince Albert District, Tierberg Research Station, 16.xi.1994, V. Mauss (1 ♀, 1 ♂, AMGS) . Eastern Cape Province: Willowmore, xi.1912, Brauns (1 ♀, SAMC ex NMBZ) .

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.— Known principally from the winter rainfall Succulent Karoo from southern Namibia southwards through Namaqualand in South Africa and from the southern Nama-Karoo in South Africa from the Moordenars Karoo in the west to Willowmore in the east (Fig. 24e).

FLORAL ASSOCIATIONS.— Visiting flowers of four families: Amaranthaceae ( Hermbstaedtia glauca (Wendl. Reichb. Ex Steud.), Zygophyllaceae ( Zygophyllum prismatocarpum E. Mey. ex Sond., Campanulaceae ( Wahlenbergia sp. (label data, see Material Examined; S. Gess and F. Gess 2003, 2006), and Fabaceae ( Lebeckia) (label data, see Material Examined).

NESTING.— Nesting in level, compacted, friable soil in the Goegap Reserve, near Springbok. Two nests were investigated (S. Gess). Burrows sloping, nest 87/88/61 not yet with a cell, nest 87/88/60 with a single sub-horizontal cell containing a larva and prey. Shaft diameter 5 mm, cell diameter 6 mm, depth of cell 55 mm. (F. Gess and S. Gess, field notes 87/88/60 and 87/88/61, AMSG).

PREY.— Cicadellidae (Homoptera), adults (5 specimens double mounted on pins labeled 87/88/60, AMSG).