Cerceris nigeriaensis DOLLFUSS, 2023

Dollfuss, Hermann & M, Mt., 2023, New species of the genus Cerceris LATREILLE, 1802 from Sub-Saharan Africa Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Crabronidae Part I, Linzer biologische Beiträge 55 (1), pp. 307-349 : 323-325

Cerceris nigeriaensis DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ( Figs 13 , 14 )

H o l o t y p e: ♀, Nigeria, Gashaka Gumfi NP, 25 km SW Serti env., 07°20'N 11°13'E, 400 m, 9- 13.V.2011, leg. J Halada ( OÖLM). P a r a t y p e s: 1♀, 3♁♁, same data as holotype ( JHC) ; Nigeria, Gashaka Gumfi NP, 30 km SE Serti env., 07°21'N 11°32'E, ~ 450 m, 24.IV.-8.V.2011, leg. J. Halada ( JHC) .

E t y m o l o g y: The types were collected in Nigeria.

R e c o g n i t i o n: Cerceris nigeriaensis has no longitudinal carina on the coxa III, the prosternum has no transverse carina, the propodeal enclosure is transversely striate and the lateral carina on pronotum is ending in rectangular protuberance. The female of C. nigeriaensis is characterized by having the apical margin of clypeus with four small teeth, the median ones are bent downwards and hardly to be seen ( Fig. 13a ), the median area of the clypeus is micropunctate and sparsely punctate and has median a short transverse carina on apical one-third ( Fig. 13b ). Additionally, the mesopleuron is coarsely reticulate without tubercle, the epimeron has no crest, the mandible has a small notch internally, the propoedeal sides are densely punctate and the gaster is black and yellow. The female of C. namibiensis has a similar shaped clypeus but differs in having the prosternum with transverse carina, the lateral carina of pronotum is rounded, th propodeal enclosure is smooth as a mirror with nearly lacking lateral- and medio-longitudinal furrows and the propodeal sides are shining and sparsely punctate. Additionally, the scutum of C. namibiensis is shining sparsely punctate and the petiolus is broader than long and the gaster is predominantly ferruginous.

The male of C. nigeriaensis is characterized by having the mandible with a distinct tooth internally, the apical margin of clypeus is edentate ( Fig. 14a,b ), the sternum VI has a distinct tooth ( Fig. 14e ) and the flagellum no tyloidea ( Fig. 14c ). Additionally, the mesopleuron is very coarsely rugose and without tubercle, the epimeron has no crest and the genitalia are as in Fig. 14g . The similar C. bothavillensis differs from C. nigeriaensis in having short black tyloidea on flagellomeres X and XI, the sternum VI without tooth and the anterior margin of clypeus is tridentate.

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀, 7.5-8 mm. Sculpture: apical margin of clypeus with four small teeth, median ones bent downwards and hardly to be seen; median area of clypeus with small and short transverse carina on apical one-third ( Fig. 13a,b ); mandible with small notch internally; prosternum without transverse carina; lateral carina of pronotum ending in rectangular protuberance; mesopleuron without tubercle; epimeron without crest; propodeal enclosure transversely striate and without distinct median furrow; petiolus wider than long or slightly longer than wide and with apico-medial fossa ( Fig. 13e ); sternum II without basal plate; pygidial plate ( Fig. 13d ). Puncturation: clypeus and frons micropunctate and sparsely punctate; scutum and scutellum micropunctate and densely longitudinally elongate punctate; mesopleuron coarsely reticulate; metanotum impunctate; propodeal sides densely punctate; terga micropunctate and densely punctate; pygidial plate irregularly structured; sterna shining and lateral punctate. Pilosity: clypeus and frons covered with short appressed setae; the rest of body with sparse setae. Coloration: black; following parts yellow: clypeus, frons, mandibles (except apex), scapulae anteriorly, tegula anteriorly, pronotal collar laterally, metanotum, terga I-V apically and legs partly; following ferruginous: flagellum beneath, pygidial plate, apical margin of clypeus and tegula posterior; wings hyaline, radial cell of forewings fuscous.

♁, 8 mm. Sculpture: anterior margin of clypeus edentate ( Fig. 14a ); mandible with distinct tooth internally; flagellomeres without tyloidea ( Fig. 14c ); prosternum without transverse carina; lateral carina of pronotum ending in rectangular protuberance; propodeal enclosure with shallow transverse rugae and without medio-longitudinal furrow; sternum II without basal plate; sternum VI with distinct tooth apico-lateral ( Fig. 14e ); petiolus wider than long and with apico-medial fossa; genitalia ( Fig. 14g ). Puncturation: clypeus and frons coarsely punctate; vertex densely punctate; scutum shining and irregularly punctate (punctures 0-1 diameter apart); scutellum irregularly sparsely punctate; propodeal sides coarsely nearly densely reticulate-punctate; terga irregularly sparsely punctate (punctures 0-1 diameter apart); sterna shining and lateral punctate; pygidial plate dull with few punctures. Pilosity: clypeus and frons lateral covered with appressed setae; rest of body with sparse setae. Coloration: black; following parts yellow: clypeus, frons, mandibles (except apex), scapus anterior, pronotal collar lateral, metanotum, tegula anterior half, terga II-VI apically, sterna laterally (variably), legs partly.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Nigeria.

Figures

Fig. 13: Cerceris nigeriaensis DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ♀: (a) clypeus; (b) clypeus lateral view; (c) flagellum; (d) pygidial plate; (e) petiolus.

Fig. 14: Cerceris nigeriaensis DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ♁: (a) clypeus; (b) clypeus lateral; (c) flagellum; (d) pygidial plate; (e) sternum VI lateral view; (f) petiolus; (g) genitalia dorsal and gonostylus in lateral view.