Bembecinus namibius Pulawski, 2015

Gess, Friedrich W., Pulawski, Wojciech J. & Gess, Sarah K., 2015, A Revision of the rhopalocerus Species Group of Bembecinus Costa (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae), Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 62 (7), pp. 207-256 : 232-233

Bembecinus namibius Pulawski , sp. nov.

Figures 4d , 15a, b.

NAME DERIVATION.— The name, a newly coined Neolatin adjective, is derived from the geographic name Namib and the Greek word βΊΟΣ, life; with the reference of the species occurrence in the Namib Desert.

RECOGNITION.— Bembecinus namibius has erect setae on the whole length of the scape (except basally), a character shared with hyperocrus and omaruru . In namibius , however, the terga are yellowish greenish (black basally), the setae of tergum II are appressed, the clypeus is yellow and evenly rounded in profile. In hyperocrus and omaruru , the terga are ferruginous (black basally, with pale yellow apical fasciae in omaruru ), the setae of tergum II are erect (short dorsally, distinct laterally in the female), the male clypeus is black (at least in the basal half), and in hyperocrus the female clypeus in profile is roundly angulate basally.

DESCRIPTION.— Head black, with the following yellow: mandible except apex, labrum, clypeus, face below antennae and narrowly up to midheight along orbit in female, up to level of midocellus in male, gena narrowly, in female small spot between midocellus and hindocellus, scape, pedicel (black dorsally), flagellum ventrally (black dorsally). Thorax black with the following yellow: pronotal collar, scutum laterally and with pair of short admedian streaks (admedian streak absent in one male), tegula, triangular lateral spot on scutellum, metanotum except basally, and mesopleuron largely (with only small spot yellow in one male). Propodeum black, with enclosure along lateral margin and lateral margin yellow. Gastral terga yellowish-greenish, black basally (black on tergum I about as long as yellowish part, gradually diminishing on following terga). Femora, tibiae, and tarsi pale yellow, with the following black: forefemur basodorsally, mid- and hindfemora dorsally (except apex yellow) and in the female also anterior surface basally. Wings hyaline, vein Sc+R black, other veins brown.

Scape covered with erect setae along its entire length (except basally).

♀: Length 8.8–10.2 mm. Ocular index 2.7–2.9. Minimum interocular distance equal to 2.1–2.2 × that between antennal scrobe and base of clypeus. Distance between posterior ocelli 1.4 × distance between posterior ocellus and eye margin. Clypeus slightly, evenly convex in profile, narrowly asetose and shiny along free margin mesally; its width at insertion of mandibles1.5–1.6 × its midlength. Labrum roundly triangular, its greatest width 1.0–1.3 × midlength.

♂: Length 9.2–10.0 mm. Ocular index 2.5–2.6. Minimum interocular distance equal to 1.8–1.9 × that between antennal scrobe and base of clypeus. Distance between posterior ocelli 1.5–1.6 × distance between posterior ocellus and eye margin. Width of clypeus at insertion of mandibles 1.4–1.5 × its midline. Labrum roundly triangular, its greatest width 1.1–1.2 × midlength. Apical flagellomere simple. Tergum VII subtrapezoidal ( Fig.15b ).

MATERIAL EXAMINED.— HOLOTYPE: ♀, NAMIBIA:! Karas Region: Klinghardtberge (= Klinghardt Mountains, Sperrgebiet , a National Park since 2004), 5.ix.1980, V.B. Whitehead ( AMGS) . PARATYPES: same locality and collector, 3. IV.1980 (1 ♀, CAS) , 5.ix.1980 (1 ♂, AMGS; 1 ♂, CAS) .

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.— Known from a single locality in the arid Succulent Karoo of the southern Namib Desert, Namibia ( Fig. 25d ).

FLORAL ASSOCIATIONS.— Unknown.

NESTING.— Unknown.

PREY.— Unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Bembecinus spp.: a – karasanus, female, male, b – mutabilis, female, male; c – namaquensis, male; d – namibius, female, male; e – omaruru, female, male; f – pakhuisae, female, male.(approximate lengths of females: a. 11 mm, b. 10.5 mm, c. male 11.8 mm, d. 9.7 mm, e. 11.3 mm, f. 15 mm).

FIGURE 15. Bembecinus namibius: tergum VII of male.

FIGURE 25. Collecting records of Bembecinus spp.: a – karasanus, b – mutabilis, c – namaquensis, d – namibius, e – omaruru, f – pakhuisae.