Patellapis (Chaetalictus) serrifera ( Cockerell 1937 )

Timmermann, Kim & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2009, Variable Selection and Inference for Multi-period Forecasting Problems, Zootaxa 2099, pp. 1-188 : 173-175

Patellapis (Chaetalictus) serrifera ( Cockerell 1937)

Halictus serriferus Cockerell, 1937: 82 .

( Figs. 124a–g )

Diagnosis. The male is unknown. The female is characterised by a polished scutum with an oily bluish shine. This species is similar to P. gessorum belonging to the Patellapis bifurcata species-group. Both differ in the density of punctation of clypeus and paraocular area, which is conspicuously more densely punctate in P. gessorum than in P. serrifera . Further, P. gessorum lacks an oily bluish shine on the scutum and the propodeum of P. serrifera is completely reticulate, whereas polished and punctate in P. gessorum .

Description

Female. Bl = 6,2–6,3mm. General habitus ( Fig. 124e ). Head. L = 1,7–1,8mm; W = 2,0– 2,1mm. Head wider than long ( Fig. 124a ). Integument black except mandibles and malar area usually partly reddish-brown. Face shiny and with loose, yellowish and pallid brownish, erect hairs. Mandibles bidentate. Clypeus and supraclypeal area slightly convex in profile. Clypeus, supraclypeal area and paraocular area sparsely punctate; surface polished. Clypeoantennal distance 0,4mm. Antennae mostly reddish-brown. Mesosoma. L = 1,3–1,4mm; W (ITS) = 1,5–1,6mm. Integument black. Scutum shiny, with an oily bluish shine; surface finely reticulate anteriorly; disc moderately densely punctate (i = 1,5d) ( Fig. 124b ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 124c . Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with yellowish and pallid brownish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 124c ; propodeum shiny; completely reticulate. Marginal region of posterior truncation shiny; extensively reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument brownish. Vestiture pallid brownish. Ts finely serrate; with about 20 short, oblique projections ( Fig. 124f ). Bp as illustrated ( Fig. 124g ). Metasoma. L = 3,4–3,7mm; W = 2,4–2,5mm. Integument reddish-brown to blackish; T1–T4 usually extensively reddish to brownish posteriorly and blackish anteriroly; margins of T usually reddish-brown to pale; margins broadly translucent. No apical hair bands on T1–T2; T3–T4 with very thin, inconspicuous, greyish apical hair bands. Prepygidial fimbria mostly pallid brownish. Metasomal terga as illustrated in Fig. 124d .

Male. Unknown.

Type material ( 1 specimen). Holotype, female, Eastern Cape: Uitenhage , 30.x.1931 (white label), Halictus serriferus Ckll Type (handwritten white label), Miss A. Mackie (white label), Type (red-white label), Pres. by Imp. Inst. Ent. B.M. 1934–223 (white label), B.M. TYPE HYM. 17a.798 (white label), BMNH.

Additional material (18 specimens). 18♀. South Africa, Western Cape : 2♀, Mossel Bay , xi.1939, leg .

R.E. Turner , SAM – HYM – B009599 , SAMC; 1♀, idem., 12.i.1940 , SAM – HYM – B009606 , SAMC; 1♀, Beaufort West , 13.ii.1991, leg. C.D. Eardley , HYMA07319 , SANC; Eastern Cape: 2♀, Schilpad Laagte farm (15,4 km 226° SW Kirkwood), 09.–16.ii.2001, leg. S. van Noort , SANC; 1♀, Wolwekraal Farm, Bauaiaanskloof Mts , 28 km S Steytlerville, 17.–22. xi. 1999, leg. M.E. Irwin, E.I. Schlinger and F.D. Parker, Code: NativeBeeSurvey USDA, Logan , Utah , BBSL383128 , BLCU; 1♀, Wolwekraal Farm, Bauaiaanskloof Mts , 29 km S Steytlerville, 17.–22. xi. 1999, leg. M.E. Irwin, E.I. Schlinger and F.D. Parker, Code: NativeBeeSurvey USDA, Logan , Utah , BBSL383281 , BLCU; 3♀, 2 km N Steytlerville, Karoo , 16.–20. xi. 1999, leg. M.E. Irwin, E.I. Schlinger and F.D. Parker, Code: NativeBeeSurvey USDA, Logan , Utah , BBSL383322 , BBSL374362 , BBSL380768 , BLCU; 2♀, Hilton, Grahamstown , 12.x.1977, leg. F.W. Gess , AMGS; 1♀, idem., 10.xi.1977 , AMGS; 1♀, Belmont Valley, Grahamstown , 19.–25.i.1972, leg. F.W. Gess , AMGS; 2♀, Resolution Grahamstown , 1930, leg. Miss Walton , SAM – HYM – B009578 , SAMC; 1♀, Willowmore , leg. Dr. Brauns , SANC Pretoria Database No. Hytm 04620 , TMSA.

Distribution ( Fig. 127 ). Records exist from the southern region of South Africa (Western Cape and Eastern Cape).

Floral visitation. Lasiospermum bipinnatum (Asteraceae) .

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

Figures

FIGURE 124. Patellapis (Ch.) serrifera, 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 127. Distributions of P. serrifera, P. tenuihirta and P. terminalis.