Plesianthidium (Plesianthidium) fulvopilosum Cameron

Eardley, Connal & Griswold, Terry, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Plesianthidium Cameron (Apoidea: Megachilidae: Anthidiini), an endemic southern African bee genus, Zootaxa 3973 (1), pp. 1-56 : 13-17

Plesianthidium (Plesianthidium) fulvopilosum Cameron

( Figs 4–7 )

Plesianthidium fulvopilosum Cameron, 1905: 256 –257 (holotype—♂ ‘Cape Colony. O’okiep’ (type depository unknown) South Africa).

Anthidium (Plesianthidium) fulvopilosum: Friese 1909: 400 –416.

Plesianthidium (Plesianthidium) fulvopilosum: Eardley & Urban 2010: 245 .

Discussion. The holotype of this species is not in the AMGC where it supposedly was deposited and has not been studied. It is apparently lost. As there are no morphologically similar species, it can reliably be identified from the original description.

Diagnosis. This is a large, robust bee, distinguished from other Plesianthidium by a combination of its size (about 14 mm long) and orange pubescence (more yellowish below) including the scopa ( Figs 4–5 ). The 3- segmented maxillary palpi is unique but difficult to see unless the mouthparts are dissected.The metasomal terga are without the distal fasciae found in some other species. The male clypeus is yellow ( Fig. 5 b). The structures of the male T7 ( Fig. 6 a) and S6–S8 ( Figs 6 b–d) are diagnostic; in particular S8 is unlike S 8 in any other Spinanthidium .

Plesianthidium fulvopilosum is easily recognizable by its size and colour. The general form of the male S8 is unique, but resembles P. trachusiforme , which is in the subgenus Spinanthidium , most closely.

Description. Female. Lengths: face 4.0– 4.7 mm; scutum 2.8–3.7 mm; forewing 10.0– 12.3 mm; body 12.5– 13.2 mm. Integument black. Preoccipital ridge rounded; distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge 2.5x ocellar diameter; supraclypeus distinctly convex; clypeus, distinctly convex, not modified ventrally, ventral edge crenulate, densely punctate; mandible with four teeth; maxillary palpus 3-segmented; scutum very densely punctate; tegula sparsely punctate medially; propodeum punctate; scopa orange; T2–T3 with sparse distal fasciae, densely punctate distally; T6 not expanded laterally; S6 without mediolongitudinal carina.

Male. Lengths: face 3.6–4.3 mm; scutum 3.3–3.8 mm; forewing 10.9–12.7 mm; body 14.0– 14.6 mm. Integument black, except as indicated below. Preoccipital ridge rounded; distance between lateral ocellus and preoccipital ridge twice ocellar diameter; supraclypeus distinctly convex; clypeus yellow, distinctly convex, densely punctate; mandible with three distinct teeth; maxillary palpus 3-segmented; scutum very densely punctate medially; tegula moderately densely punctate; propodeum impunctate, dull medioventrally; fore and mid basitarsi orange; hind trochanter without ventral spine; T2–T5 with sparse distal fasciae; T6 swollen mediolongitudinally, extended, with pair of lateral spines, with distal margin narrowly impunctate, without distal flange ( Fig. 5 c); T7 posterior edge tridentate, lateral tooth longer than median tooth ( Fig. 6 a), lateral spine pointed, median broadly rounded ( Fig. 6 a); S4 with moderately wide black apicomedian comb, S5 broadly emarginate posteromedially; S6 unevenly convex, shallowly emarginate posteromedially ( Fig. 6 b); S7 with disc short, distinct V-shaped emargination posteromedially ( Fig. 6 c); S8 short with small point posteromedially ( Fig. 6 d); gonostylus weakly concave posterolaterally ( Fig. 6 e).

Distribution ( Fig. 7 ). Plesianthidium fulvopilosum is only known from Namaqualand.

Associated plants. Berkheya fruticosa , Hermannia spp., Hermannia trifurca , Hirpicium alienatum , Lebeckia sericea , Osteospermum sinuatum , Pteronia incana , Zygophyllum meyeri and Asteraceae .

Material examined. South Africa. O’okiep, ix.1890, (1♂ TMSA); Springbok, 29.43S 17.55E, R.H. Watmough (1♀ SANC 06271); Goegap Nature Reserve, 2917DB, 1985. viii.28–ix.5, 1986. xii.12, 1986. ix.13, 1987. ix.13–x.9, M. Struck (3♀ 4♂, RMCA, BLCU- 92320); Mesklip, 29.48S 17.52E, 1985. x.1, F.W. Gess (3♀ 3♂ AMGC 2647, 2648, 2649, 2651, 2652, 2653); Taaiboskraal, 29.46.3S 17.49.03E, 1989. x.14, F.W. Gess (1♀ AMGC 2650); Biedouw Pass, 32.187S 19.1951E, 1983. ix.8, V.B. Whitehead (1♀ 2♂ SAMC, BLCU- 92321, 92199, 92200); ‘Free State’, Bloemfontein, E, 2000. x.12, V. B. Whitehead (1♂ SAMC, BLCU 92198) locality questionable.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Plesianthidium (Plesianthidium) fulvopilosum Cameron, habitus. a. Female. b. Male.

FIGURE 5. Plesianthidium (Plesianthidium) fulvopilosum Cameron. a. Female face. b. Male face. c. Male T 6 – T 7.

FIGURE 6. Plesianthidium (Plesianthidium) fulvopilosum Cameron, male. a. T 7. b. S 6. c. S 7. d. S 8. e. Genitalia.

FIGURE 7. Known distribution of Plesianthidium (Plesianthidium) fulvopilosum Cameron.