Cerceris centralafricanula 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 : 310-312

Cerceris centralafricanula DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ( Fig. 3 )

H o l o t y p e: ♀, Central African Republic, 15 km S Mbaïki , 420 m, 03°44'N 18°00'E, 25.XII.2008, leg. J. Halada ( OÖLM). P a r a t y p e s: 1♀, same data as holotype ( JHC) ; 1♀, Central African Republic, 55 km NWW Mbaïki , 510 m, 04°03'N 17°40'E, 23.XII.2008, leg. J. Halada ( JHC) .

E t y m o l o g y: The types were collected in the Central African Republic.

R e c o g n i t i o n: The female of Cerceris centralafricanula is characterized by the coxa III without a longitudinal carina, the apical margin is nearly straight, the lateral clypeal areas are emarginate, the medioclypeal area has two elevated lobes near apical margin ( Fig. 3a ), the mandible has a rounded protuberance internally on basal half and the interantennal carina is widened posteriorly. Additionally, the scutum has longitudinal ridges convergent posteriorly, mesopleuron has a distinct tubercle, the propodeal enclosure is arcuately striate with shallow medio-longitudinal furrow, the gaster is yellowich-brown, the wings are brownish-ferruginous. The female is large-sized (17-18 mm).

The female of C. cratocephala is similar to C. centralafricanula but differs in having a nasiform variably erected process on the clypeal median area. The female of C. spectrum differs from C. centralafricanula in having the apical margin of clypeus with five blunt teeth, the median area with two flattened tubercles placed little over the middle, the scutum is finely densely punctate, the mandibles are edentate internally and the gaster is yellow and black.

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀, 17-18 mm. Sculpture: apical margin of clypeus nearly straight and lateral with tooth; median area of clypeus with two elevated lobes near apical margin ( Fig. 3a ); lateroclypeal area emarginated; interantennal carina widened in posterior half and with short longitudinal carina ( Fig. 3a ); mandible with rounded protuberance internally on basal half; prosternum dull and without transverse carina; mesopleuron with distinct tubercle; epimeron with shallow vertical crest anteriorly; propodeal enclosure arcuately striate and with shallow medio-longitudinal furrow; petiolus wider than long; pygidial plate narrowing apically ( Fig. 3d ); flagellum ( Fig. 3c ). Puncturation: clypeus dull, frons dull and sparsely punctured; frons and vertex before ocelli longitudinally striate and punctate; gena micropunctate and sparsely punctate; pronotal collar dull and punctate; pronotum lateral with vertical rugae; scutum with longitudinal ridges and punctures convergent posteriorly; scutellum longitudinally ridged; metanotum impunctate; propodeal sides transversely rugose and with punctures between rugae; mesopleuron coarsely transversely rugose and punctate; mesopleuron venter dull and sparsely punctate; pygidial plate irregularly finely structured; sterna medially micropunctate and lateral punctate. Pilosity: clypeus covered with very short setae; sterna III-V with setae directed backwards; sternum VI with brush of long setae; rest of body with sparse short setae. Coloration: black; following parts whitish-yellow: clypeus, anterior half of frons, stripe on vertex lateral; pronotal collar lateral (variably), scutellum, metanotum, propodeum lateral, epimeron anteriorly, basal half of mandible, femora I and II partly. Gaster predominantly yellowich-brown (except petiolus). Wings fuscouse.

♁ unknown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Central African Republic.

Figures

Fig. 3: Cerceris centralafricanula DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ♀: (a) clypeus; (b) clypeus lateral view; (c) flagellum; (d) pygidial plate.