Geographical distributions of Bembix (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae, Bembicinae) in southern Africa, with notes on biology Author Gess, Friedrich W. Albany Museum and Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6139 South Africa Author Gess, Sarah K. Albany Museum and Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6139 South Africa text Journal of Hymenoptera Research 2014 2014-02-14 36 53 130 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/jhr.36.6491 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/jhr.36.6491 1314-2607-36-53 FFBD95640232FFFEFFBCFFC3D21A8E1E 574835 Bembix olivata Dahlbom Fig. 13c Bembex olivata Dahlbom, 1845: 491, ♀ (Holotype or syntype, ♀, South Africa, Cape of Good Hope, in Lund or Stockholm); Handlirsch 1893 : 812, pl. 2, fig. 17, pl. 5, fig. 23, ♂, ♀ (in revision of world Bembicini ); Dalla Torre 1897 : 510 (in catalogue of world Hymenoptera ); Magretti 1899 : 51 (Somalia); Bingham 1902 : 211 (Malawi); Cameron 1910 : 144 (Olifants River [Mpumalanga] South Africa); Schouteden 1930 : 96 (Zaire). Bembix olivata Dahlbom, R. Bohart and Menke 1976 : 548 (in checklist of world Sphecidae ); Pulawski 2013 : 63 (in catalogue of world Sphecidae sensu lato). Bembex intermedia Dahlbom, 1845: 491, ♀ (Holotype or syntypes, ♀, South Africa, Port Natal (now Durban), in Lund or Stockholm); Handlirsch 1893 : 812 (tentatively synonymised with Bembex olivata , in revision of world Bembicini ); Arnold 1929 : 358, figs 23, 23a, 23b, pl. 6, fig. 19, ♂, ♀ (in revision of southern African Sphecidae as valid name for Bembex olivata ); Arnold 1930 : 21 (in checklist of Afrotropical Sphecidae ); Arnold 1935 : 503 (Metsimaklaba, Kalahari, 12.iii.1930, Vernay-Lang Expedition, 3 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀). Bembix intermedia Dahlbom & Arnold, 1951: 138 (Ethiopia, Danakil, Mille River, vii.1946, K.M. Guichard, ♀); Gess and Gess 2003 : 124 (flower visiting records). Material examined. NAMIBIA.Swakopmund ( 21.51S , 14.05E ), 12.iv.1998 (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 1 ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Senecio sp. Asteraceae ) [AMGS]; Swakopmund, 12.iv.1998 (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 1 ♀ 2 ♂♂ (visiting yellow flowers of Zygophyllum simplex L., Zygophyllaceae ) [AMGS]; Rooibank, Kuiseb R. ( 23.11S , 14.49E ), 10.iv.1998, (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 3 ♂♂ (visiting yellow flowers of Geigeria pectidea (DC.) Harv.), Asteraceae ) [AMGS]; Rooibank, Kuiseb R., 10.iv.1998, (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 3 ♂♂ (visiting yellow flowers of Zygophyllum simplex L., Zygophyllaceae ) [AMGS]; Hakos/Weissenfels ( 28.18S , 16.23E ), 21.iii.2000 (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (visiting white flowers of Selago dinteri Rolfe, Scrophulariaceae ) [AMGS]; Rehoboth ( 23.10S , 16.42E ), 11.iii.1999, (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 4 ♂♂ (visiting pink flowers of Hermbstaedtia odorata (Burch.) T. Cooke, Amaranthaceae ) [AMGS]; Aranos/Stampriet ( 24.30S , 18.32E ), 27.iii.2000 (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 9 ♂♂ (visiting pink flowers of Hermbstaedtia odorata (Burch.) T. Cooke, Amaranthaceae ) [AMGS]; Koes/Gochas ( 25.40S , 19.24E ), 7.iii.2000 (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 1 ♀ (visiting yellow flowers of Tribulus sp., Zygophyllaceae ) [AMGS]; Gross Nabas ( 24.30S , 18.32E ), 30.iii.2000 (F.W. and S. K. Gess) 1 ♀ (visiting white flowers of Limeum argute-carinatum Wawra & Peyr., Molluginaceae ) [AMGS]; Karasberge ( 27.09S , 19.01E ) 5.iii.2000 (F.W. and S.K. Gess), 1 ♀ (visiting white flowers of Limeum argute-carinatum Wawra & Peyr., Molluginaceae ) [AMGS]. NORTHERN CAPE: Twee Rivieren ( 26.24S , 20.40E ), 8-11.iii.1990 (F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess) 27 ♀♀, 27 ♂♂ (visiting yellow flowers of Deverra denudata (Viv.) Pfisterer & Podl., Apiaceae ) [AMGS]. Additional records extracted from database of specimens in collection of SAMC were determined by G. Arnold and H. Brauns, from Namibia and from KwaZulu-Natal, Mfongosi [ 28.43S , 30.48E ]. Geographical distribution. In southern Africa recorded from the northwestern Namibian coast at Swakopmund south eastwards through Namibia to the southern Kalahari and also from KwaZulu-Natal ( Fig. 14c ). Also recorded from Ethiopia and Somalia in the northeast and Zaire in the northwest. The overall distribution is therefore unclear and further records are required to establish a distribution pattern. Floral associations. Recorded from six plant families: Molluginaceae ( Limeum argute-carinatum Wawra & Peyr); Amaranthaceae ( Hermbstaedtia odorata (Burch.) T. Cooke); Apiaceae ( Deverra denudata (Viv.) Pfisterer & Podl.); Asteraceae ( Geigeria pectidea (DC.) Harv.) and Senecio sp.); Scrophulariaceae ( Selago dinteri Rolfe); Zygophyllaceae ( Tribulus sp. and Zygophyllum simplex L.). Nesting. Unknown. Prey. Unknown.