Halictus vumbensis Cockerell, 1940b: 246.
Halictus atricillus Cockerell, 1940b: 252. Syn. n.
The description of H. vumbensis was published on page 246 in part 5 of series 11 of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Thus, we give it priority over H. atricillus that was published on page 252 in the same publication.
(Figs. 92a–b)
Diagnosis. The female is unknown. The male is characterised by a sparse row of 8 long, erect bristles on posterior margin of S4 and by a long and slender, hairy (a few curled hairs), dorso-lateral projection on the gonostylus.
Description
Female. Unknown.
Male. Bl = 4,7–5,0mm. Head. L = 1,3–1,4mm; W = 1,6–1,7mm. Head wider than long. Integument black except mandibles, malar area, clypeus and lower part of paraocular area partly reddish-brown. Clypeus, supraclypeal area, paraocular area and vertex covered with erect, greyish hairs. Mandibles simple. Antennae brownish-black. Flagellomeres of normal structure (not knotty). A4 as long as A3. Mesosoma. L = 0,9–1,0mm; W (ITS) = 1,0– 1,1mm. Integument black. Scutum shiny; finely and sparsely punctate (i = 2,0–3,0d). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with greyish to pallid brownish, erect hairs. Pronotal lobe reddish. Propodeum and marginal region of posterior truncation shiny and reticulate; propodeum with small punctures well separated; posterior truncation partly wrinkled. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument reddish-brown. Vestiture greyish. Metasoma. L = 2,5–2,9mm; W = 1,5–1,6mm. Integument reddish-brown except the margins of T usually reddish to pallid brownish; T1–T3 usually completely reddish; T4–T6 usually brownish-black; margins of T partly translucent. Apical plate broad; rounded apically. Posterior margin of S4 with a sparse row of 8 long, curled, erect bristles (lateral ones enlarged). Metasomal sterna S5-S6 without dense hair patches. S7 and S8 as illustrated in Fig. 92b. Genitalia. Genitalia as illustrated in Fig. 92a; gonocoxa extensively dull; gonostylus with dorso-lateral, long, slender, hyaline projection; projection with a few very long, curled hairs.
Type material (2 specimens). Holotype, male, S. Rhodesia: Vumba, Umtali. 23–26.v.1932. A. Mackie (white label), Type (red-white label), B.M. TYPE HYM. 17a.2605 (white label), Halictus vumbensis Ckll Type (white label), Pres.By Imp.Inst.Ent.B.M. 1939–354 (white label), BMNH; Holotype, male, Halictus atricillus Ckll Type, S. Rhodesia, Vumba, Umtali, 23–26.v.1932, A. Mackie, B.M. TYPE HYM. 17a.2599, BMNH.
Additional material (2 specimens). 2♂. South Africa, Eastern Cape: 1♂, Port St. Johns, Pondoland, v.1924, leg. R. E. Turner, Brit. Mus. 1924–289, BMNH; KwaZulu – Natal: 1♂, Weenen, v.1924, leg. H.P. Thomasset, BMNH.
Distribution (Fig. 93). Records exist from Zimbabwe and the eastern area of South Africa (Eastern Cape Province and KwaZulu–Natal).
Floral visitation. Unknown.
Seasonal activity (first–last observations). v.