In a recent paper in Zootaxa (4358, 351-364, 2017), two new Haetosmia species are described, i.e. H. ethiopiensis spec. nov. from eastern Africa and H. pakistaniensis spec. nov. from Pakistan. Formerly considered to be restricted to the southern Palaearctic region, the genus Haetosmia was found to also occur in the Afrotropics.
Author: muelandr
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Hoplitis mucida stecki elevated to species rank
Hoplitis mucida was considered to consist of two subspecies with H. mucida mucida (Dours 1873) ranging from northwestern Africa to Israel and Jordan and H. mucida stecki (Frey-Gessner 1908) occurring in southwestern Europe and Sicily. As described in a recent publication (Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 60, 99-109, 2017), the nesting biology of the two subspecies strikingly differs. In North Africa, females construct fully exposed, cake-like nests of mud on the flat surface of rocks and stones containing 8–12 vertically oriented brood cells, rendering these nests unique among osmiine bees regarding both nesting site and nest architecture. In contrast, in Europe females build their few-celled mud nests inside small rock cavities. This discrepancy in the nesting biology is paralleled by considerable morphological differences between the two subspecies suggestive of a long geographical isolation. Due to these biological and morphological differences, the European subspecies H. mucida stecki was elevated to species rank by the authors of the publication mentioned above.
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Unique nest architecture in Hoplitis mucida
Hoplitis mucida was considered to consist of two subspecies with H. mucida mucida (Dours 1873) ranging from northwestern Africa to Israel and Jordan and H. mucida stecki (Frey-Gessner 1908) occurring in southwestern Europe and Sicily. As described in a recent publication (Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 60, 99-109, 2017), the nesting biology of the two subspecies strikingly differs. In North Africa, females construct fully exposed, cake-like nests of mud on the flat surface of rocks and stones containing 8–12 vertically oriented brood cells, rendering these nests unique among osmiine bees regarding both nesting site and nest architecture. In contrast, in Europe females build their few-celled mud nests inside small rock cavities. This discrepancy in the nesting biology is paralleled by considerable morphological differences between the two subspecies suggestive of a long geographical isolation. Due to these biological and morphological differences, the European subspecies H. mucida stecki was elevated to species rank by the authors of the publication mentioned above.
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Osmia disjuncta known so far only from Mongolia also occurs in Europe
Osmia (Melanosmia) disjuncta was described by Tkalcu (1995) from Mongolia. In a recent paper published in Entomologisk Tidskrift (138, 25-32, 2017), Johansson & Paukkunen report this species also from central Sweden, central and northern Finland and the Kola peninsula in northern Russia. As no males have been discovered in Europe so far and the European females were found to slightly differ from the type specimens, there remained some uncertainty whether the European specimens indeed belong to Osmia disjuncta or whether they might represent a new species. However, material collected by T. Levchenko in Moscow province recently revealed typical males of Osmia disjuncta, indicating that this species is indeed a member of the European bee fauna. Further material kindly provided by T. Levchenko and J. Smit revealed the occurrence of Osmia disjuncta in western and eastern Siberia as well. Thus, Osmia disjuncta is distributed from Scandinavia over northern and central Russia to Mongolia.
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Newly described Palaearctic osmiine bee species
An article in Zootaxa has recently been published dealing with the biology and taxonomy of Protosmia (Chelostomopsis) (Zootaxa, 4227, 287-294, 2017). One new species is described: Protosmia (Chelostomopsis) angustimandibulae spec. nov. from the Levant.
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Nesting biology of Osmia pilicornis uncovered
The nesting biology of the rare European osmiine bee species Osmia pilicornis was still unknown. The recent discovery of several nests in Germany and Austria by Prosi et al. (2016) revealed that this species has a unique nesting behaviour among the osmiine bees: the females gnaw their nests with the aid of specialized mandibles in dead branches, which lie on the ground and are partly hidden under vegetation. Recently, Lemoine (2016) also discovered a nest in northern France, which was built in a branch of Populus; in contrast to his statement in the article that a preexisting beetle burrow served as nesting site, the female bee actually tunnelled out the nest by herself (personal communication by G. Lemoine) supporting the findings of Prosi et al. (2016). For details on nesting site and nest architecture see the species account on the Palaearctic osmiine bee website.
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2 Palaearctic osmiine bee species newly described
An article in Zootaxa has recently been published dealing with the biology and taxonomy of Hoplitis (Formicapis) and Hoplitis (Tkalcua) (Zootaxa, 4127, 105-120, 2016). Two new species are described: Hoplitis (Formicapis) coreensis spec. nov. from South Korea and Hoplitis (Tkalcua) emiratensis spec. nov. from the United Arab Emirates.
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Newly described osmiine bee species from Macedonia
Hoplitis (Hoplitis) galichicae, a new European osmiine bee species has recently been described in Zootaxa (4111, 167-176, 2016). It is currently known only from the Galichica national park in southwestern Macedonia, where it was found to collect pollen on Sedum (Crassulaceae). In the same article, an identification key for all European representatives of the Hoplitis adunca species group is given.
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Hoplitis mitis granadae
Based on a single female, Tkalcu (1984a) described a new subspecies of Hoplitis mitis from the Sierra Nevada (Spain), i.e. H. m. granadae. Due to several remarkable differences, Tkalcu hypothesized that the new subspecies might possibly even represent a new species. Recently, the hitherto unknown male of H. m. granadae was found in osmiine bee material collected at 3200m a.s.l. at the southern slope of Pico Mulhacen in the Sierra Nevada by G. Losapio. Comparison of the males of H. m. granadae with those of the nominate subspecies generally revealed close morphological resemblance. However, as the morphological differences between the females of H. m. granadae and the nominate subspecies as stated by Tkalcu could be confirmed, the subspecific rank of the disjunct southern Spanish population of H. mitis appears to be well justified.
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Osmia tergestensis and O. rhodoensis
Warncke (1988b) recognised two subspecies of Osmia (Tergosmia) tergestensis, i.e. O. t. tergestensis occurring in south eastern Europe and O. t. ononidis distributed in northern Africa, southwestern Europe and Turkey. The investigation of a large material of O. tergestensis from its entire distribution range, which extends from northwestern Africa over southern Europe to Turkey and the Near East, revealed no clear morphological gaps nor consistent patterns with respect to e.g. colour of pilosity or density of tergal punctation between different populations. Similarly, Osmia (Tergosmia) rhodoensis arquata and O. r. ferina are newly treated as synonymous with O. rhodoensis. The characters given by Warncke (1988b) to distinguish these two subspecies from the nominotypical subspecies, such as colour of pilosity, density of clypeal and tergal punctation or development of male sternal swellings, do not seem to be consistent within populations or strong enough to justify subspecific rank.