New Cyphanthidium (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): Highly modified female hind tibial spurs and convergence in East African drylands

Authors

  • Terry Griswold USDA-ARS Pollinating Insects Research Unit, Utah State University, 5310 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3952-9393
  • Robert S. Copeland International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi 00100, Kenya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17161/jom.vi145.24084

Abstract

A new species, Cyphanthidium eardleyi Griswold & Copeland, and the previously unknown female of C. sheppardi (Mavromoustakis), are described. New distributional records for a third species, C. intermedium Pasteels, are provided. Similarities in the distinctive spatulate inner hindtibial spurs of female C. eardleyi and C. sheppardi with Samba turkana Packer, a cohabiting Melittidae, are noted, and the broader importance of the type locality, Ukasi Hill, Kenya as a center of dryland biodiversity, is discussed.

References

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Published

21-05-2026

How to Cite

Griswold, T., & Copeland, R. S. (2026). New Cyphanthidium (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): Highly modified female hind tibial spurs and convergence in East African drylands. Journal of Melittology, 145. https://doi.org/10.17161/jom.vi145.24084

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