Anthophora hastula Vachal 1910

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

Abstract

Anthophora hastula Vachal, 1910 (Figs 8; 9) Anthophora hastula Vachal, 1910b: 533. MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Eritrea • 1♂, 1♀; Asmara, Eritrea; J. Vachal det.; MNHN-EY-EY58565, MNHN-EY-EY58566. Ethiopia • 1♂; Ethiopie Merid, Tchafianani; 1-30.IV.1905; M. de Rotschild leg.; J. Vachal det.; MNHN-EY-EY58545 (lectotype by present designation) • 1♀; Ethiopie Merid, Tchafianani; 1-30. IV.1905; M. de Rotschild leg.; J. Vachal det.; MNHN-EY-EY58544 (paralectotype by present designation). Kenya • 1♀; Afrique Orient. Angl., Kisoumou (Victoria-Nyanza) [Kisumu]; 1-30.IX.1904; Ch. Alluaud leg.; R. Benoist det.; MNHN-EY-EY58567. CURRENT STATUS. — Amegilla (Zebramegilla) hastula (Vachal, 1910) n. comb. DISTRIBUTION. — Nominally Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Kenya (Vachal 1910b), but revision of African Amegilla (Zebramegilla) is required. REMARKS Anthophora hastula was not studied by Brooks, and was placed as Anthophorini incertae sedis (Brooks 1988: 450). Searches in the MNHN produced specimens of Anthophora hastula in boxes of predominantly unrevised anthophorine material from the Vachal collection. Vachal explicitly described the species based on a male and female from Tchafianani, and indicated that he also had “ un couple ” from Asmara. It was possible to find these Eritrean specimens, but it is ambiguous as to whether they are actually part of the type series. In any case, the male from Tchafianani is here designated as the lectotype.This precise locality cannot currently be traced,but can be considered to be within modern Ethiopian territory. Morphologically, Anthophora hastula can be placed as Amegilla (Zebramegilla) hastula n. comb. due to the lack of arolia between the tarsal claws, yellow-marked supraclypeal and lower paraocular areas, moderate body size, black and white banded metasoma, and lack of metallic hairs anywhere on the body. The status of Amegilla hastula and indeed all East African Amegilla (Zebramegilla) Brooks, 1988 species is unclear due to the lack of revision,and the biogeographical boundaries between Egypt, Sudan, the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, and East Africa are currently completely unclear for this group of bees. Deep revision is required, ideally using molecular tools, with work beginning on the North African and Levantine fauna (TJW, P. Rasmont, pers.obs.). Amegilla hastula does not appear to match any Amegilla (Zebramegilla) species I have examined to date, particularly due to the long A3 which equals A4+5.

Authors 1

1. Thomas James Wood corresponding Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR, Leiden (the Netherlands)