Author
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Griswold, Terry |
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GONZALEZ, VICTOR - University Of Kansas |
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Submitted to: African Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 10/7/2012 Publication Date: 3/26/2013 Citation: Griswold, T.L., Gonzalez, V.H. 2013. A new species of the rare African wool carder bee genus Anthidioma (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). African Entomology. 21(1):177-180. Interpretive Summary: Bees are among the most important pollinators of flowering plants in most ecosystems. Recent concerns about population declines have highlighted the need for a better taxonomic understanding of native bees in order to assess the status of pollinators and pollination services. There are more than 20,000 bee species worldwide. Yet many remain unknown to science. This paper describes a new species of the rare African wool carder bee genus Anthidioma from Namibia. These bees are commonly known as wool carder bees because the cotton-like nest cells that they create for their offspring are made of plant hairs. The paper presents a description and illustrations of the new species that will allow other bee researchers to identify it in future studies. This finding contributes to our understanding of the diversity and distribution of these bees in southern Africa. Technical Abstract: A new species of the genus Anthidioma Pasteels (Megachilidae: Anthidiini) is described and figured from a female collected in the Obib Dunes in Namibia. Anthidioma obibense, new species, is differentieated from the only other species of the genus, A. chalicodomoides, on the basis of its integumental sculpturing, color, pubescence, and shape of clypeus and sixth sternum. |
