A new species of Chalicodoma from Saudi Arabia with modified facial setae (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae)

By

Alqarni, Abdulaziz S.
Hannan, Mohammed
Gonzalez, Victor H.
Engel, Michael S.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2012

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

204

Pages

71-83

Subjects

Anthophila , Apoidea , Bees , Blepharis ciliaris , Megachilinae , Megachilini , nototribic flowers , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.204.3228

 

Abstract

Some bees and pollen wasps have independently evolved simple, stiff, erect, apically-curved, curly or hooked facial setae as adaptations to collect pollen from nototribic flowers. A distinctive new species of Chalicodoma Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau subgenus Pseudomegachile Friese from Saudi Arabia with such morphological adaptations, C. riyadhense sp. n., is described and figured. The species was captured visiting flowers of Blepharis ciliaris (L.) (Acanthaceae). The occurrence of modified facial setae is documented and discussed for the first time in eight other species of Pseudomegachile, and a key to the genera and subgenera of Megachilini currently confirmed for Saudi Arabia is provided.