Sphecodopsis atra Pöllein & Kuhlmann, 2025, sp. nov.

Sphecodopsis atra sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: DC4BA407-AAC3-4EFB-B8B1-51CDCBFE2082 Figs 55–56 Diagnosis The female of S. atra sp. nov. can be separated from that of all other species of the genus by the combination of the following characters: S6 bifid posteriorly, apical notch five times as long as its apical width (Fig. 56C); metasoma completely black (Fig. 55B); punctation of the mesoscutum more dispersed (i =0.5–1 d) and coarser (Fig. 55D). The male is unknown. Etymology The name refers to the black colour of the species. Type material (3 specimens) Holotype SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; W Cape, 25 km S of Bredasdorp, coast; [34°40′ S, 20°02′ E]; 23 Oct. 1999; MH leg.; RCMS. Paratypes SOUTH AFRICA • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; RCMK. Description Female BODY LENGTH. 4.5–4.9 mm. HEAD. Head wider than long. Vertex slightly rounded, ocelli highest point. Integument black, except part of mandibles reddish-brown. Face sparsely covered with short, yellowish-white hair. Face with dense (i=0.25–0.5 d), coarse and deep punctation, except clypeus with dense (i =0.25–1 d) and fine but deep punctation (Fig. 55C). Surface between punctures slightly shiny. Antenna black and reddish-brown. MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegula reddish-brown. Mesoscutum slightly shiny. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely (i=0.5–1 d), coarsely and deeply punctate (Fig. 55D). Propodeum with dense (i=0.5–1 d) and fine but deep punctation, metapostnotum matt (Fig. 56A). Mesoscutum, metanotum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, white hair, metapostnotum glabrous (Figs 55D, 56A). Mesoscutellum sparsely covered with longer, yellowish-white hair. Mesepisternum with short, white hair (Fig. 55D). WINGS. Yellowish; wing venation brown and stigma brown (Fig. 55A). LEGS. Integument black to reddish-brown. Coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsi covered with short, white hair (Fig. 55A). METASOMA. Integument of T1–T6 black. T1 and T2 with sparse short, white and golden hair, from T3 increasingly more and longer hair (Fig. 55B). T5 disc with long golden hairs, marginal zone covered with short, white hairs. T6 slightly rounded apically and with a hair fringe, densely covered with short, golden hair (Fig. 56B). Shape of S6 (Fig. 56C) as illustrated. Male Unknown. Distribution Only known from the type locality at the coast near Bredasdorp. Host bees Unknown. Seasonal activity October.