European cuckoo bees of the tribe Dioxyini (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae): distribution, annotated checklist and identification key Author Bogusch, Petr https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4554-6141 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Rokitanskeho 62, CZ- 500 03 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic bogusch.petr@gmail.com text Journal of Hymenoptera Research 2023 2023-07-25 96 599 628 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/jhr.96.104957 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/jhr.96.104957 1314-2607-96-599 16A4A16551854C89960D614A74E6D394 A32C8DF9AEC35B35AC4D32F6EEB83552 Dioxys ardens Gerstaecker Dioxys ardens Gerstaecker, 1869: 161. Dioxys rufispina Perez , 1895:26. Diagnosis. Larger species, body length 8-10 mm. In both sexes, typical in its colouration, the metasoma is completely reddish without terminal or basal bands, and the legs and flagellum are reddish (Fig. 3A, B ). T6 of females is elongated and narrowed posteriorly, with a rounded apex. The mesosoma is ferruginously hirsute. Axillae with teeth and postscutellum with short but sharp tooth in the middle. The same characteristics are also typical for males. Figure 3. Dioxys ardens A female, dorsal view B male, dorsal view. Distribution. Spain, Portugal (Fig. 4 ) and North Africa (Morocco to Libya). Figure 4. Dioxys ardens , distribution in Europe. Biology and hosts. Species recorded from semideserts and other arid open habitats. Hosts unknown. Conservation status. This species is known only from several records from southern parts of Spain and one record from Portugal. Nieto et al. (2014) listed this species as DD - data deficient. According to the distribution records, it can be VU-vulnerable because of its long-lasting rarity. However, we know only a little about the populations and occurrence of this species in recent years. Note. In general, a similar species, Dioxys chalicoda Lucas, was recorded from North Africa (Algeria and Libya). One very old record is from Gibraltar, but this specimen was erroneously identified and belongs to D. ardens (coll. Biologiezentrum Linz, Austria). This species differs in the colouration of the metasoma, which has black colouration of at least the last three segments. Females have mandibles with lateral tubercles, and males have ends of S4 with an emargination and S5 and S6 convex.