Subgenus Caposmia
The subgenus Caposmia Peters occurs with 2 described species in the Palaearctic region and with 6 described species in South Africa (Michener, 2007; Ungricht et al., 2008; Kuhlmann et al., 2011).
Species accounts
Wainia (Caposmia) eremoplana (Mavromoustakis, 1949)
1949 Osmia eremoplana Mavromoustakis, Eos (Madrid), 25: 285. Type material: Holotype f, “Palestine, El-Auja-Rafan (Negev)” [Israel], DAAN (Nicosia); paratypes mm, ff.-Combination Anthocopa (Anthocopa) eremoplana (Mavromoustakis) in Zanden (1988b: 118). Combination Anthocopa (Eremoplosmia) eremoplana (Mavromoustakis) in Zanden (1991c: 164).
Distribution-Northern Africa: ET, TN. Southwestern Asia: IL, JOR, SYR.
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Zanden (1991c: 164-166).
Nesting biology: Unknown.
Flower preferences: Mesolectic on Asteraceae (Asteroideae, Carduoideae) and Brassicaceae with a preference for Asteroideae (e.g. Anthemis, Senecio) (A. Müller, unpublished, based on 33 pollen samples from 15 different localities). Females harvest pollen from the flower heads of the Asteroideae by rapidly moving their abdomen up and down, thereby picking up the pollen grains directly into the abdominal scopa (A. Müller, C. Praz and C. Sedivy, personal observation).
Wainia (Caposmia) guichardi (Zanden, 1991)
1991 Anthocopa (Eremoplosmia) guichardi Zanden, Reichenbachia (Dresden), 28: 166. Type material: Holotype m, “Laayoune” [Morocco], BMNH (London).
Distribution-Northern Africa: MA.
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: No supplementary or more detailed morphological description known.
Nesting biology: Unknown.
Flower preferences: Unknown. A freshly eclosed female was observed to suck nectar on a yellow flowered Asteroideae species (A. Müller, personal observation).