Patellapis (Chaetalictus) rutshuruensis, Kuhlmann, Michael & Pauly, Alain, 2010

Kuhlmann, Michael & Pauly, Alain, 2010, New Afrotropical species of the bee subgenus Patellapis (Chaetalictus) with notes on additional species (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), Zootaxa 2674, pp. 33-50 : 42-44

Patellapis (Chaetalictus) rutshuruensis sp. n.

( Figs. 6 a–h)

Diagnosis. The male is unique among the subgenus Chaetalictus in having numerous short, erect bristles in several rows on the posterior margin of S4 (other species either without bristles or if present, in a single row only) and dense bands of long and distinctly branched hairs on the apical parts of S2 and S3 ( Fig. 6 f) (other species either without apical hair bands or if present, much narrower and hairs only microscopically branched).

Description. Female. Unknown.

Male. Bl = 5.9–6.1 mm. General habitus ( Fig. 6 a). Head. L = 1.6–1.7 mm; W = 1.8–1.9 mm. Head wider than long ( Fig. 6 b). Integument black except mandible partly dark reddish-brown. Clypeus, supraclypeal area, paraocular area and vertex sparsely covered with erect, whitish to dark brownish, erect hairs. Mandible simple. Antenna blackish-brown. Flagellomeres of normal structure, slightly thickened medially. A2 slightly longer than A1. Mesosoma. L = 2.2–2.4 mm; ITS = 1.4–1.5 mm. Integument black. Mesoscutum medially shiny, superficially sculptured, without punctures; laterally sculpture stronger, mesoscutum dull ( Fig. 6 c). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 6 d. Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with greyish to dark brownish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 6 d; propodeum moderately shiny; surface rugose and impunctate. Marginal region of posterior truncation less sculptured and dull. Wings. Brownish fuscous. Legs. Integument brownish. Vestiture whitish to brownish. Metasoma. L = 2.5–2.7 mm; W = 1.8–1.9 mm. Integument dark brownish-black, margins of metasomal terga narrowly brownish and a little translucent ( Fig. 6 e). Apical plate broadly rounded apically. Posterior margin of S4 with numerous short erect bristles in several rows; apical parts of S2 and S3 with dense bands of long, erect and distinctly branched hairs ( Fig. 6 f). Metasomal sterna S5–S6 without dense hair patches. Genitalia. Genitalia as illustrated ( Figs. 6 g, h); gonocoxa extensively striate and slightly dull; gonostylus without dorso-lateral hyaline projection; ventrally with long and broad, yellowish-white and hairless projection.

Type material (2 specimens). Holotype, male, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kivu, Rutshuru (Lubirizi), 1285 m [S1°10´E29°26´], 13-vii-1935, G.F. de Witte: 1648, RMCA.

Paratype: 13. Tanzania, Tanganyika Terr., Mt. Oldeani, forêt de montagne, 2300 m [S3°15´E35°25´], 10- VI.1957, Mission Zoolog. I.R.S.A.C. en Afrique orientale (P. Basilewsky et N. Leleup), RMCA.

Etymology. This species is named after the town Rutshuru where the holotype was collected.

Distribution. Known from the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the north of Tanzania.

Floral visitation. Unknown.

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). vi–vii.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Patellapis (Ch.) rutshuruensis sp. n., male: a. Body; b. Head; c. Scutum; d. Scutellum and propodeum; e. Metasomal terga; f. Metasomal sterna; g. Genitalia, dorsal view; h. Genitalia, ventral view. Scale bar = 1 mm.