Anthidiellum (Pycnanthidium) polyochrum Mavromoustakis

Eardley, Connal, 2018, Taxonomic revision of the sub-Saharan Anthidiellum Cockerell (Apoidea: Megachilidae: Anthidiini), Zootaxa 4402 (2), pp. 201-250 : 231-232

Anthidiellum (Pycnanthidium) polyochrum Mavromoustakis

( Figs 24–25 )

Anthidiellum polyochrum MAVROMOUStAKIS, 1937B: 266–267, FEMALE HOLOtyPE (SAMC, EXAMINED) KAROSS, NEAR FRANZFONtEIN, KAOKOVELD, NAMIBIA.

Anthidiellum (Pygnanthidiellum) polyochrum MAVROMOUStAKIS: MIcHENER AND GRISWOLD 1994: 301.

Diagnosis. This small distinct species can be identified by the unique, completely glabrous and shiny vertical surface of the propodeum. In all other Afrotropical Anthidiellum , the propodeum has either some integument sculpture or punctuation. The outer surface of the hind tibia is black circumscribed by yellow. This coloration also occurs in A. absonulum . In all other species, it is black, yellow or yellow circumscribed by orange.

Description. Female. Integument black with limited pale yellow maculation on ventral clypeus, lower paraocular area, lateral supraclypeus and interantennal socket area; lateral vertex, pronotal lobe, lateral scutum, posterolateral scutellum, outer, proximal surfaces of tibiae, outer surface of hind basitarsus (circumscribed by black); lateral T1–T2, mediolateral T3–T5, most T6 (lateral and anterior black); distal margins of T1–T5 black; metasomal venter blackish; scopa very pale yellow ( Fig. 24a–c ). Lengths: face 1.7 mm; scutum 1.3 mm; forewing 3.8 mm; body 4.2 mm. Structure. Head. Epistomal suture convex above ( Fig. 1a ); lower epistomal suture projection adjacent to opposite inner antennal socket edge ( Fig. 1a ); preoccipital area rounded; omaulus carinate; hind basitarsus more or less parallel sided, narrow (length 2x width) ( Fig. 24c ); propodeum coarsely striate dorsolaterally, vertical surface with small punctate area dorsomedially, remainder glabrous and shiny; distal margins of T1–T5 impunctate.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution ( Fig. 25 ). Anthidiellum polyochrum is endemic to Namibia.

Material examined. Type material. Female holotype of Anthidiellum polyochrum : ‘Kaross S.W.A. Mus. Exped. ii.1925, South African Museum Cape Town No. 43, Type, Anthidiellum polyochrum ♀ my. G. Mavromoustakis det., Anthidiellum polyochrum Mavros J. Pasteels det. 1963, SAM–HYM B004322’, SAMC.

Additional material. Namibia. Erongo Mountains, Omaruru , 3.iii.2001, D. Baldock (1♀ SANC).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Anthidiellum, FEMALE,FAcE SHOWINg SHAPE OF cLyPEUS.A.DIStINctLy ROUNDED ABOVE.B.SLIgHt ROUNDED ABOVE.

FIGURE 24.Anthidiellum polyochrum.A–B.FEMALE.A.HABItUS.B.FAcE.c–D. MALE.c. HABItUS.

FIGURE 25.KNOWN DIStRIBUtION OF Anthidiellum polyochrum.