A new species of the carpenter bee genus Xylocopa from the Sarawat Mountains in southwestern Saudi Arabia (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Abstract

A new species of the carpenter bee genus Xylocopa Latreille (Xylocopinae: Xylocopini) is described and figured from two localities in southern Saudi Arabia. Xylocopa (Koptortosoma) sarawatica Engel, sp. n. is a relatively small species similar to the widespread X. pubescens Spinola, but differs in the extent of maculation in males, setal coloration of both sexes, and male terminalia. A revised key to the species of Xylocopa in Saudi Arabia is provided.

A preliminary detective survey of hymenopteran insects at Jazan Lake Dam Region, Southwest of Saudi Arabia

“…A survey in Al-Baha Province, Saudi Arabia was recorded, Xylocopa (Koptortosoma) pubescens Spinola in three regions supporting the association of Al-Baha as Afrotropical Region in spite of Palearctic Region or the Eremic Zone ( El-Hawagry et al, 2016 ). Previously in southern Saudi Arabia the large bees Xylocopa (Koptortosoma) pubescens Spinola was recorded and reported as X. aestuans (Linnaeus) ( Hannan et al, 2012 ) and corrected later to X. pubescens ( Engel et al, 2017 ). The species principally nest in deadwood (including the wood of human constructions), bamboo culms, and other similar substrates.…”

Sur la présence de Xylocopa (Koptortosoma) pubescens Spinola, 1838, en France métropolitaine (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

“…X. aruana Ritsema, 1876, X. bryorum (Fabricius, 1775), X. hafizii Ma, 1938, X. lieftincki Leys, 2000, X. ruficornis Fabricius, 1804 notamment par l'absence d'une ligne médiane lisse sur le clypéus (Figure 1) ou bien par la pilosité, principalement, sinon entièrement noire sur le vertex, mésopleures et metanotum, par la ponctuation dense du clypéus (espace réguliers, inférieurs au diamètre d'un point) et par son troisième article antennaire court (pas beaucoup plus long que les deux suivants). Dans la région ouest-paléarctique, Xylocopa pubescens ne peut être confondue qu'avec Xylocopa sarawatica Engel 2017, présente en Arabie Saoudite et en Ethiopie (ENGEL et al, 2017 ;PAULY et al, 2018). La femelle s'en différencie par sa plus grande taille, la présence de soies blanches sur le clypéus (Fig.…”

“…La femelle s'en différencie par sa plus grande taille, la présence de soies blanches sur le clypéus (Fig. 1) et par l'absence de soies jaunes sur le metanotum (ENGEL et al, 2017).…”

The melittology research in Northern Africa and the Middle East: past and present situations

“…Taxonomic works including material from Saudi Arabia started after 1970 Alqarni, Hannan, Gonzalez, & Engel, 2014;Alqarni et al, 2014a, b, c;Daly, 1983;Ebmer, 1984Ebmer, , 1985Engel, 2004;Engel, 2008;Engel, Alqarni, Shebl, Iqbal, & Hinojosa-Díaz, 2017;Michez & Patiny, 2007). In a survey conducted in 2013, 22 genera were documented in the literature for Saudi Arabia (Engel, Alqarni, & Hannan, 2013).…”

“…Probably the total species number across the is 200 to 250 species including some cleptoparasitic taxa. The large carpenter bees (Xylocopinae, Xylocopa Latreille) occurring in central Saudi Arabia were reviewed, and two species were listed, i.e., Xylocopa aestuans and X. sulcatipes Maa (Hannan et al, 2012) in addition to a new species described from Sarawat Mountains (Engel, Alqarni, Shebl, Iqbal, & Hinojosa-Díaz, 2017). Melitta Kirby, 1802 (Melittidae: Melittinae) was recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia (Table 1).…”