Cyphanthidium consists of medium-sized bees that range in body length from 7.5–8.5 mm. The integument of the head, thorax, and abdomen can be black or brown, with cream to yellow maculations and unbroken maculate bands on each tergum (Michener 2007).
Cyphanthidium contains 2 described species, C. intermedium and C. sheppardi, from southern Africa (Michener 2007); none are known to occur in the U.S. or Canada.
(modified from Michener 2007)
Cyphanthidium may resemble Afranthidium in their size and in having continuous colored bands on the abdomen. Cyphanthidium can be distinguished from Afranthidium by the presence of an arolia and the four-toothed mandibles of the females. Cyphanthidium and Afranthidium are sympatric in South Africa; however, Afranthidium has a broader distribution that extends to southern Europe and western Asia (Michener 2007).
There are no known invasives.
Cyphanthidium have been collected on Fabaceae, Boraginaceae, and Acanthaceae (Gess and Gess 2007).
Both known species, C. intermedium and C. sheppardi, are found in southern Africa in Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Cape Providence of South Africa (Michener 2007).