Anthidium berbericum Pasteels, 1981 and A. atlaskabirense n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae: Anthidiini), two endemic pollinators in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco

Abstract

Summary A hitherto unknown species of Anthidium, Anthidium atlaskabirense n. sp., is described from southern Morocco and new material is presented of the little-known species Anthidium berbericum Pasteels, 1981. This material allowed a clearer definition of the limits of its distribution and a first description of the female. Both species are confined to the Atlas Mountains region, with A. berbericum being distributed from the southern foothills down to almost sea level, whereas A. atlaskabirense n. sp. is found at 1900 m asl and appears to be restricted to the high mountainous areas. Both species are closely related to Anthidium taeniatum Latreille, 1809, which occurs in Morocco allopatrically in the northern and central regions where there is a prevailing Mediterranean climate. All three species possess modifications to the facial hairs such as apically curved hairs on the clypeus, and in the case of A. atlaskabirense n. sp. also on the supraclypeal area and upper face. These features are hypothesized as adaptations to collect pollen from flowers with nototribic pollen delivery such as in the Lamiaceae and Scrophulariaceae, i.e. flowers that deposit pollen on the upper side of visitors.