Patellapis (Chaetalictus) knersvlaktei, 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 : 34-37

Patellapis (Chaetalictus) knersvlaktei sp. n.

( Figs. 1 a–f; 2a–g)

Diagnosis. The male can be distinguished from other species in the group by the relatively scattered and fine punctation on the mesoscutum ( Fig. 2 c) and disc of T1 ( Fig. 2 e) (coarser and denser in P. (Ch.) capillipalpis (Cockerell) , P. (Ch.) eardleyi Timmermann , and P. (Ch.) sabinae Timmermann ) and an only slightly elongate face ( Fig. 2 b) (strongly elongate in P. (Ch.) stoeberia Timmermann ). The female is characterized by the combination of a slightly elongate face ( Fig. 1 b) (wider than long in P. (Ch.) fynbosensis and strongly elongate in P. (Ch.) stoeberia ) and a medio-laterally almost polished and shiny mesoscutum ( Fig. 1 c) (dull in P. (Ch.) capillipalpis ).

Description. Female. Bl = 7.4–7.6 mm. General habitus ( Fig. 1 a). Head. L = 1.8–1.9 mm; W = 1.7–1.8 mm. Head about as long as wide ( Fig. 1 b). Integument black except mandible sometimes partly reddish to yellowish-brown. Face dull, densely covered with very fine punctation and with sparse, greyish, erect hairs. Mandible with subapical tooth. Clypeus and supraclypeal area convex in profile. Clypeus moderately strongly and sparsely punctate and without a median depression; surface shiny. Clypeoantennal distance 0.4 mm. Supraclypeal area with a few, small punctures; punctures well separated; surface dull and densely shagreened. Paraocular area finely and sparsely punctate; surface dull and finely sculptured. Antenna brownish-black.

Mesosoma. L = 2.2–2.3 mm; ITS = 1.4–1.5 mm. Integument black. Mesoscutumal disc superficially shagreened and shiny, laterally and especially medioanteriorly with stronger sculpture and slightly dull; disc sparsely punctate (i = 3.0–4.0d) ( Fig. 1 c). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 1 d. Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with whitish to greyish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 1 d; propodeum and marginal region of posterior truncation finely shagreened and slightly shiny; propodeum without punctures. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument brownish-black. Vestiture whitish to greyish. Ts finely serrate; with 5–6 short, oblique projections. Bp as illustrated ( Fig. 1 f). Metasoma. L = 3.2– 3.4 mm; W = 2.1–2.3 mm. Integument black except margins of T brownish to yellowish translucent. T1–T3 (T4) to a variable extent reddish-brown. No distinct apical or basal hair bands present. Prepygidial fimbria yellowish-brown. Metasomal terga as illustrated in Fig. 1 e.

Male. Bl = 6.5–7.5 mm. General habitus ( Fig. 2 a). Head. L = 1.6–1.7 mm; W = 1.5–1.6 mm. Head about as wide as long ( Fig. 2 b). Integument black except mandible partly reddish or yellowish-brown. Clypeus, supraclypeal area, paraocular area and vertex moderately densely covered with erect, whitish and greyish hairs. Mandible simple. Antenna dark brown to black. Flagellomeres of normal structure and only very slightly medially thickened. A2 twice as long as A1. Mesosoma. L = 1.8–1.9 mm; ITS = 1.1–1.2 mm. Integument black. Disc of mesoscutum polished, laterally superficially shagreened; sparsely punctate (i = 3.0– 4.0d) ( Fig. 2 c). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 2 d. Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with whitish to greyish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 2 d; propodeum rather dull; surface sculptured but impunctate. Marginal region of posterior truncation a bit more shiny; surface shagreened. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument yellowish-brown to blackish. Vestiture whitish. Metasoma. L = 3.0– 3.2 mm; W = 1.4–1.6 mm. Integument brownish-black except posterior depressions of metasomal terga pallid brownish to pale and broadly translucent ( Fig. 2 e). Apical plate narrowly rounded apically. Posterior margin of S4 with a row of about 18 long, erect and apically curved bristles. Metasomal S5 medially with a sparse patch of long erect hairs. Genitalia. Genitalia as illustrated ( Figs. 2 f, g); gonocoxa extensively shiny; gonostylus with dorso-lateral, short, slender, hyaline projection; projection with long curled hairs.

Type material (5 specimens). Holotype, female, South Africa, 45km NE Vanrhynsdorp, Knersvlakte, Sukkulent Karoo, Sonst., S31°03´52´´ E18°57´43´´, 140 m, K. Timmermann, 20.VII.2003, SANC.

Paratypes: 2Ƥ, 23. same dates as holotype, RCKL.

Etymology. This species is named after the Knersvlakte. The Knersvlakte (Afrikaans: plain of the servants) is a region forming the southern most part of the Succulent Karoo biome in western South Africa. It is famous for its succulents and an important centre of plant endemism.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality.

Floral hosts. Unknown.

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). vii.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Patellapis (Ch.) knersvlaktei sp. n., female: a. Body; b. Head; c. Scutum; d. Scutellum and propodeum; e. Metasomal terga; f. Basitibial plate. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 2. Patellapis (Ch.) knersvlaktei sp. n., male: a. Body; b. Head; c. Scutum; d. Scutellum and propodeum; e. Metasomal terga; f. Genitalia, dorsal view; g. Genitalia, ventral view. Scale bar = 1 mm.