Patellapis (Patellapis) richtersveldi, Timmermann & Kuhlmann, 2009

Timmermann, Kim & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2009, Variable Selection and Inference for Multi-period Forecasting Problems, Zootaxa 2099, pp. 1-188 : 41-43

Patellapis (Patellapis) richtersveldi sp. n. Timmermann

( Figs. 23a–g )

Diagnosis. The females of P. richtersveldi are characterised by a distinct median transverse depression on the posterior part of the scutellum and by a coarsely wrinkled basal area of propodeum. These morphological characteristics are unique within the P. cincticauda species-group making it easy to identify P. richtersveldi . The male of P. richtersveldi is unknown.

Description

Female. Bl = 8,0– 8,2mm. General habitus ( Fig. 23e ). Head. L = 2,2–2,3mm; W = 2,5–2,6mm. Head wider than long ( Fig. 23a ). Integument black except mandibles sometimes partly reddish-brown. Face shiny and with loose, long, greyish, erect hairs. Mandibles bidentate. Clypeus and supraclypeal area convex in profile. Clypeus strongly and moderately sparsely punctate (i = 1,5d). Clypeoantennal distance 0,4mm. Supraclypeal area strongly and densely punctate (i = d). Paraocular area strongly and densely punctate; surface partly sculptured. Antennae mostly brownish. Mesosoma. L = 1,7–1,8mm; W (ITS) = 1,8–2,0mm. Integument black. Scutum shiny; disc strongly and densely punctate (i = d) ( Fig. 23b ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 23c ; distinct median transverse depression on the posterior part of scutellum. Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with greyish to yellowish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 23c ; propodeum finely and loosely punctate; surface strongly sculptured. Marginal region of posterior truncation shiny and extensively reticulate. Wings. Slightly fuscous. Legs. Integument mostly brownish. Vestiture greyish to yellowish. Ts finely serrate ( Fig. 23f ). Bp broad; broadly rounded apically ( Fig. 23g ). Metasoma. L = 4,6–4,7mm; W = 2,8–3,0mm. Integument black except the margins of T pallid brownish to pallid yellowish (usually T1–T2); margins extensively translucent. T1–T4 with strong, whitish, apical hair bands; the bands on T1–T2 mostly present only laterally. Prepygidial fimbria yellowish. Metasomal terga as illustrated in Fig. 23d .

Male. Unknown. Type material (42 specimens). Holotype, female, South Africa, Northern Cape, 8–12 km NWN

Steinkopf, S29°13' / E17°39', 940m, 14.ix.1984, leg. C. Bellamy, SANC–Pretoria Database No: HYMA

07213, SANC.

Paratypes: 41♀. South Africa. Northern Cape : 2♀, Kamieskroon , ix.1930, SAM – HYM – B009590 , SAMC ; 1♀, Farm Dassiefontein, near Kamieskroon , 01.x.1990, leg. C.D. Eardley, SANC ; 1♀, Sors Sors , 9km NE Kamieskroon, 12.ix.1992, leg. F.W. Gess, S.K. Gess, and R . W. Gess, No. 92/93/66, AMGS ; 1♀, 8–12km NWN Steinkopf , 14.ix.1984, leg. C. Bellamy, Database No. HYMA 07213 , SANC ; 2♀, Richtersveld N Park Koeroegabvlakte , 06.ix.1996, leg. F.W. Gess, S.K. Gess, and R . W. Gess, No. 96/97/7 and No. 96/97/8, AMGS ; 34♀, idem., 17.–21.ix. and 24.ix.1995, No. 95/96/63, No. 95/96/84, No. 95/96/87, No. 95/96/88, No. 95/96/89, No. 95/96/93, No. 95/96/100, No. 95/96/116, and No. 95/96/122, AMGS .

Etymology. Named after the Richtersveld National Park.

Distribution ( Fig. 24 ). Restricted distribution in the north western part of the winter rainfall area.

Floral visitation. Hermbstaedtia glauca (Amaranthaceae) , Osteospermum spec. (Asteraceae) , Trichodesma africanum (Boraginaceae) , Heliophila spec. (Brassicaceae) , Codon royenii (Hydrophyllaceae) .

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). ix–x.

Remarks. This species is treated as Patellapis new species 12 in Timmermann and Kuhlmann (2008b).

Figures

FIGURE 23. Patellapis (P.) richtersveldi, female: a. Head (scale=1mm); b. Scutum (scale=1mm); 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 24. Distributions of P. hakkiesdraadi and P. richtersveldi.