Abstract
The taxonomy of the genus Xylocopa Latreille, 1802, subgenus Xenoxylocopa Hurd & Moure, 1963, is reviewed. There is a single valid species in this subgenus, Xylocopa (Xenoxylocopa) inconstans Smith, 1874, which is widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to northern Republic of South Africa. Synonyms of Xylocopa inconstans include Xylocopa abyssinica Radoszkowski, 1899, proposed for a male specimen from Ethiopia, as well as three names proposed for females with yellow (rather than white) dorsal pubescence: Mesotrichia chiyakensis Cockerell, 1908 (new synonym), Xylocopa inconstans var. flavescens Vachal, 1899, and Xylocopa inconstans var. flavocincta Friese, 1909. Quantitative analyses of body measurements and examination of male reproductive structures support the new synonymy of Mesotrichia chiyakensis with Xylocopa inconstans. Males and females of Xylocopa (Xenoxylocopa) inconstans are illustrated, along with male reproductive structures, and diagnostic characters and keys are provided to separate the males and females of Xylocopa (Xenoxylocopa) inconstans from those of species in other closely-allied African subgenera of the genus Xylocopa.
Highlights
Large carpenter bees, species of the genus Xylocopa Latreille, 1802, are important floral visitors and pollinators of flowering plants in many terrestrial ecosystems, including both agricultural and non-agricultural settings (Hurd and Moure 1963; Gerling et al 1989; Keasar 2010; Mawdsley et al 2016)
This paper reviews the taxonomic history of a single subgenus, Xylocopa (Xenoxylocopa) Hurd & Moure, 1963, which occurs throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa
Hurd and Moure (1963: 243–247) created the subgenus Xenoxylocopa for the reception of five names proposed by earlier authors for African species in the genus Xylocopa Latreille, 1802 (Latreille 1802: 379): X. inconstans Smith, 1874 (Smith 1874: 264), X. abyssinica Radoszkowski, 1899 (Radoszkowski 1899: 127), X. inconstans var. flavescens Vachal, 1899 (Vachal 1899: 146), X. inconstans var. flavocincta Friese, 1909 (Friese 1909: 253), and Mesotrichia chiyakensis Cockerell, 1908 (Cockerell 1908: 34)
Summary
Species of the genus Xylocopa Latreille, 1802, are important floral visitors and pollinators of flowering plants in many terrestrial ecosystems, including both agricultural and non-agricultural settings (Hurd and Moure 1963; Gerling et al 1989; Keasar 2010; Mawdsley et al 2016). Hurd and Moure (1963: 243–247) created the subgenus Xenoxylocopa for the reception of five names proposed by earlier authors for African species in the genus Xylocopa Latreille, 1802 (Latreille 1802: 379): X. inconstans Smith, 1874 (Smith 1874: 264), X. abyssinica Radoszkowski, 1899 (Radoszkowski 1899: 127), X. inconstans var.
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