Two new Hoplitis species of the subgenus Hoplitis Klug, 1807 (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae) and the nesting biology of H. astragali sp. nov. in Dagestan

Hoplitis astragali sp. nov. , a member of the H. monstrabilis species group, and dagestanica adunca are described. The former is known from Dagestan in Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, latter only Dagestan. Nests Females this excavated burrows vertical clay cliff, but sometimes chose horizontal surface for nest excavation, particularly at entrance old Xylocopa olivieri (Apidae). were either sub-vertical or sub-horizontal. nests composed one to three brood cells, an empty vestibule front outermost cell, closing plug made moistened mud. inner cells was covered with thin wall compact soil, most probably built by female bee after cell excavation. pollen loaf very liquid had spherical shape. egg deposited on its top. cocoon consisted single layer, which uniformly whole cell. There generation per year. prepupae hibernated. Sapyga caucasica (Sapygidae) recorded as kleptoparasite. Both females males exclusively visited flowers two genus Astragalus (Fabaceae).