Patellapis (Patellapis) pseudorubricata, Timmermann & Kuhlmann, 2009

Timmermann, Kim & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2009, Variable Selection and Inference for Multi-period Forecasting Problems, Zootaxa 2099, pp. 1-188 : 18-20

Patellapis (Patellapis) pseudorubricata sp. n. Timmermann

( Figs. 7a–h )

Diagnosis. The females are unknown. The most similar species is P. rubricata . Both species are difficult to distinguish, because the morphological differences are very subtile. The males of P. pseudorubricata differ from those of P. rubricata in having a larger body length, a broader apical plate and a scopa-like vestiture on the hind tibia (long, dense and branched hairs). Further, the penis valves of P. pseudorubricata are simple in size, whereas those of P. rubricata are dorsally enlarged with a hyaline membrane. The males of P. pseudorubricata can be easily distinguished from those of P. depressa by the size and structure of the gonostylus and flagellomeres A3 and A4. The gonostylus of P. pseudorubricata has a large, lateral projection (simple in P. depressa ) and A4 is as long as A3 (A4 is about twice as long as A 3 in P. depressa ). P. pseudorubricata differ markedly from P. bifurcata in its larger body length.

Description

Female. Unknown.

Male. Bl = 7,6–7,8mm. General habitus ( Fig. 7e ). Head. L = 1,8–1,9mm; W = 2,1–2,2mm. Head slightly wider than long. Integument black except mandibles partly reddish-brown. Clypeus, supraclypeal area, paraocular area and vertex covered with erect, greyish to yellowish hairs; the lower half of paraocular area, supraclypeal area and clypeus also covered with appressed, whitish hairs. Mandibles simple. Malar area very short, linear. Antennae brownish-black. Flagellomeres of normal structure, not knotty. A4 about as long as A3.

Mesosoma. L = 1,5–1,6mm; W (ITS) = 1,6–1,7mm. Integument black. Scutum polished; strongly and sparsely punctate (i = 1,5–3,0d) ( Fig. 7a ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 7b . Scutum, scutellum,metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with long, greyish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 7b ; propodeum shiny, strongly and densely punctate; surface partly and finely sculptured. Marginal region of posterior truncation shiny and finely reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument brownish to black. Vestiture greyish to yellowish-brown. Metasoma. L = 4,7–4,8mm; W = 2,4–2,5mm. Integument brownishblack except the margins of T pallid brownish (partly reddish); margins partly translucent. Metasomal terga as illustrated in Fig. 7c . Apical plate broad and angulate apically. Posterior margin of S4 with a row of strong, erect bristles; medial bristles nearly appressed (superficially it looks like a median interruption of the row of bristles); metasomal sternum S5 with small, hair patches laterally ( Fig. 7d ). S7 and S8 as illustrated in Fig. 7h .

Genitalia. Genitalia as illustrated in Fig. 7f–g ; gonocoxa dull and gonostylus with dorso-lateral projection.

Type material ( 2 specimens). Holotype, male, South Africa, Northern Cape, 20km S Nieuwoudtville, Farm Papkuilsfontein, Fynbos , S31°33'16" / E19°08'31", 680m, 09.ix.2007, leg. M. Kuhlmann, SANC.

Paratypes: 1♂. South Africa. Northern Cape : 1♂, 20km S Nieuwoudtville, Farm Papkuilsfontein, Fynbos , S31°33'16" / E19°08'31", 07.ix.2007, leg. M. Kuhlmann, KTPC .

Etymology. Named after the similarity with P. rubricata .

Distribution ( Fig. 10 ). Known from only one locality in the Nieuwoudtville area.

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). ix.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Patellapis (P.) pseudorubricata, male: a. Scutum (scale=1mm); b. Scutellum and propodeum (scale=0,5mm); c. Metasomal terga (scale=1mm); d. Metasomal sterna (scale=1mm); e. Body (scale=1mm); f. Genitalia, dorsal view (scale=0,5mm); g. Genitalia, lateral view (scale=0,5mm); h. Metasomal sterna S7 and S8, ventral view (scale=0,5mm).

FIGURE 10. Distributions of P. gessorum, P. pseudorubricata and P.rubricata.