Patellapis (Chaetalictus) cockerelli, Timmermann & Kuhlmann, 2009

Timmermann, Kim & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2009, Variable Selection and Inference for Multi-period Forecasting Problems, Zootaxa 2099, pp. 1-188 : 100-101

Patellapis (Chaetalictus) cockerelli sp. n. Timmermann

( Figs. 66a–g )

Diagnosis. The male is unknown. The most similar species is P. pastinella . Both differ in the structure of the inner hind tibial spur, which is strongly and coarsely serrate in P. pastinella and finely serrate in P. cockerelli .

Description

Female. Bl = 5,2–5,3mm. General habitus ( Fig. 66e ). Head. L = 1,5–1,6mm; W = 1,7–1,8mm. Head wider than long ( Fig. 66a ). Integument black except mandibles and malar area sometimes partly reddishbrown. Face predominantly shiny and with loose, greyish and pallid brownish, erect hairs. Mandibles bidentate. Clypeus and supraclypeal area convex in profile. Clypeus strongly and densely punctate; clypeoantennal distance 0,3mm. Supraclypeal area with a few punctures well separated; surface extensively to completely reticulate. Paraocular area strongly and densely punctate; surface extensively and strongly sculptured. Antennae brownish. Mesosoma. L = 0,9–1,1mm; W (ITS) = 1,1–1,2mm. Integument black. Scutum dull; surface strongly and completely reticulate; disc moderately densely punctate (i = 1,5d) ( Fig. 66b ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 66c . Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with greyish to brownish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 66c ; propodeum slightly shiny; surface completely reticulate. Marginal region of posterior truncation slightly shiny; reticulate and partly wrinkled. Wings. Slightly fuscouse. Legs. Integument brownish. Vestiture greyish to dark greyish. Ts finely serrate, with several small, oblique projections ( Fig. 66f ). Bp as illustrated ( Fig. 66g ). Metasoma. L = 2,9–3,0mm; W = 1,6–1,8mm. Integument mostly brownish; margins of T pallid brownish and partly translucent. No apical hair bands on metasomal terga. Prepygidial fimbria mostly brownish. Metasomal terga as illustrated in Fig. 66d .

Male. Unknown.

Type material ( 8 specimens). Holotype, female, Free State: Van Reenen, Drakensberge , xii.1926, leg. R. E. Turner, Brit. Mus. 1927–25, BMNH.

Paratypes: 7♀. South Africa. Free State : 3♀, Van Reenen, Drakensberge, xii.1926, leg. R . E. Turner, Brit. Mus. 1927–25, BMNH ; 3♀, idem., 01.–22.i.1927, Brit. Mus. 1927–54, BMNH ; 1♀, idem., 23.–26.i.1927, Brit. Mus. 1927–62, BMNH .

Etymology. Dedicated to T.D.A. Cockerell as a tribute to his pioneering taxonomical work on African bees.

Distribution ( Fig. 73 ). Only known from Van Reenen, Free State.

Floral visitation. Unknown.

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). xii–i.

Figures

FIGURE 66. Patellapis (Ch.) cockerelli, female: a. Head (scale=0,5mm); b. Scutum (scale=0,5mm); c. Scutellum and propodeum (scale=0,5mm); d. Metasomal terga (scale=1mm); e. Body (scale=1mm); f. Inner hind tibial spur (scale=100µm); g. Basitibial plate (scale=100µm).

FIGURE 73. Distributions of P. cockerelli and P. namaquensis.