We collected specimens of Paramecops sinaitus (Pic, 1930) (Curculionidae: Molytinae) from south Sinai in Egypt, which enabled us to make the first complete description of this species. We also include some taxonomic remarks on the genus. Paramecops solenostemmatis (Peyerimhoff, 1930) is a synonym of Paramecops sinaitus. We propose the new combination Paramecops sogdianus (Nasreddinov, 1978), based on Perihylobius sogdianus Nasreddinov, 1978, which would make Perihylobius and Paramecops synonymous. Like other Paramecops species, P. sinaitus appears to share a close interaction with Asclepiads, in this case the Sinai milkweed Asclepias sinaica (Boiss.) Muschl., 1912 (Asclepiadaceae). We investigated the oviposition behaviour of female weevils to test whether it is linked to larval performance, as predicted by coevolutionary theory. We found that female oviposition preference was positively related to plant size and to the volume of the seed follicles in which the eggs were laid. The survival of eggs was negatively related to plant size, perhaps due to plant differences in the production of defensive cardenolides. Larval survival was not related to plant size but increased with follicle volume, probably as a result of competition for food. Paramecops is relatively sedentary and nocturnal in its behaviour. Night-time observations of behaviour showed that weevils were more active at lower temperatures.
The bee family Melittidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) includes 14 genera. Most have been reviewed but not the small African genus Capicola. The present work aims to fill this gap. Based on the revision of the type material and 1272 additional specimens, we provide a comprehensive synonymic and annotated catalogue of the 12 Capicola species sensu Michener (1981). Lectotypes are designated for the previously established species Capicola braunsiana (= C. obscura syn. n.), C. cinctiventris, C. femorata, C. flavitarsis and C. rufiventris. Moreover, C. danforthi sp. n., C. flavicara sp. n., C. gessorum sp. n., C. micheneri sp. n., and C. richtersveldensis sp. n., are newly described, as well as the previously unknown female of C. nanula, male of C. nigerrima and male of C. rhodostoma. New synonymies are proposed for C. braunsiana (= C. obscura) and C. flavitarsis (= C. cinctiventris). An original dataset of 20 morphological characters is used for the inference of the 12 species' phylogenetic relationship. A key to species is provided. In addition, the ranges of the 12 taxa are mapped and discussed. This paper contributes to a global revision of the Melittidae.