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 (Müller et al., 2018). Pollen uptake from the Asteraceae flower heads involves rapid up and down movements of the metasoma against the pollen-bearing florets (Müller et al., 2018). On the Asteroideae, pollen is taken up directly into the metasomal scopa without the aid of the hind legs, whereas on Carduoideae the hind legs are involved in directing the florets under the seesawing metasoma. Flower records: Anthemis spec., Centaurea hyalolepis, Chrysanthemum coronarium, Pulicaria incisa, Senecio spec. (label records).

Wainia (Caposmia) sexsignata (Benoist, 1950)

1950 Osmia sexsignata Benoist, Bulletin de la Société des Sciences Naturelles du Maroc (Rabat), 30: 44. Type material: Holotype f, “Goulimine” [Morocco], MNHN (Paris).- Combination Osmia (Chalcosmia) sexsignata Benoist in Zanden (1985: 67). Combination Osmia (Helicosmia) sexsignata Benoist in Ungricht et al. (2008: 160).-Synonymy with Osmia sogdiana heteracantha Pérez in Warncke (1988a: 25), rejected by Zanden (1996b: 884).

1991 Anthocopa (Eremoplosmia) guichardi Zanden, Reichenbachia (Dresden), 28: 166. Type material: Holotype m, “Laayoune” [Morocco], BMNH (London).-New synonymy based on type material (A. Müller, unpublished).

Distribution-Northern Africa: MA.

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Zanden (1985: 67, as Osmia sexsignata).

Nesting biology-Nesting site: Preexisting cavities: empty snail shells of medium size (e.g. Sphincterochila) with several cells arranged in a linear series. Nesting material: The thin cell partitions are built from large pieces of yellow petals, which are arranged parallel to each other and almost perpendicular to the shell columella. The nest plug consists of several partitions evenly distributed over a distance of 6-8 mm and the 2-3 mm thick nest closure at the shell open­ing. Petal pieces used to construct the cell and plug partitions are yellow ligules of Asteroideae ray florets, which are usually bitten off close to their base The nest closure is constructed from rather roughly masticated leaf pulp without addition of sand grains. The shell surface is not plastered with patches of leaf pulp. Brood parasite: Sitarobrachys thoracica (Meloidae). (Müller et al., 2018)

Flower preferences: Polylectic with a strong preference for Asteroideae (Asteraceae), e.g. Asteriscus graveolens (Müller et al., 2018). Unknown taxa among the Scrophulariaceae are occasionally also exploited.