Patellapis (Chaetalictus) platti ( Cockerell 1937 )

Timmermann, Kim & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2009, Variable Selection and Inference for Multi-period Forecasting Problems, Zootaxa 2099, pp. 1-188 : 119-121

Patellapis (Chaetalictus) platti ( Cockerell 1937)

Halictus platti Cockerell, 1937: 75–76 .

Halictus rubrotibialis Cockerell, 1946c: 180 . Syn. n.

( Figs. 81a–e ; 82a–d )

Diagnosis. The male is similar to that of P. pearstonensis in having 6 very strong bristles on the posterior margin of S4. They differ in the structure of the lower gonostylus, which is simple in P. platti and bifid in P. pearstonensis . The female is similar to that of P. disposita , but P. platti lacks the oily bluish shine on the scutum.

Description

Female. Bl = 5,3mm. Head. L = 1,7mm; W = 1,8mm. Head about as wide as long ( Fig. 81a ). Integument black except mandibles and malar area partly reddish-brown. Face predominantly shiny and with loose, yellowish and pallid brownish, erect hairs. Mandibles bidentate. Clypeus and supraclypeal area convex in profile. Clypeus strongly and densely punctate; surface shiny. Clypeoantennal distance 0,3mm. Supraclypeal area with a few well separated punctures; surface finely reticulate. Paraocular area strongly and moderately densely punctate; surface extensively and strongly reticulate. Antennae brownish-black. Mesosoma. L = 1,2mm; W (ITS) = 1,3mm. Integument black. Scutum polished; surface finely reticulate; disc sparsely punctate (i = 3,0–5,0d) ( Fig. 81b ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 81c . Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with greyish and brownish, erect hairs. Pronotal lobe reddish to yellowish. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 81c ; propodeum and marginal region of posterior truncation slightly shiny; surface completely reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument brownish to yellowishbrown. Vestiture greyish to pallid brownish. Ts moderately strongly serrate, with about 7 small, oblique projections ( Fig. 81d ). Bp as illustrated in Fig. 81e . Metasoma. L = 3,0mm; W = 1,9mm. Integument reddishbrown; margins translucent. No apical hair bands on metasomal terga. Prepygidial fimbria mostly yellowish.

Male. Bl = 4,8–4,9mm. Head. L = 1,4–1,5mm; W = 1,7–1,8mm. Head wider than long ( Fig. 82a ). Integument black except mandibles, malar area, clypeus and paraocular area partly reddish-brown. Clypeus, supraclypeal area, paraocular area and vertex covered with erect, greyish hairs. Mandibles simple. Antennae brownish. Flagellomeres of normal structure (not knotty). A4 as long as A3. Mesosoma. L = 0,9–1,0mm; W (ITS) = 1,0– 1,1mm. Integument black. Scutum polished; sparsely punctate (i = 2,0d); surface partly reticulate anteriorly ( Fig. 82b ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 82c . Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with greyish to dark greyish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 82c ; propodeum slightly shiny; surface completely reticulate and sparsely punctate. Marginal region of posterior truncation slightly shiny and extensively reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument reddish. Vestiture greyish. Metasoma. L = 2,7–2,8mm; W = 1,4–1,5mm. Integument reddish to brownish-black; T1–T2 extensively reddish; T3–T6 extensively brownish to blackish; margins mostly pallid brownish and broadly translucent ( Fig. 82d ). Apical plate broad; rounded apically. Posterior margin of S4 with a sparse row of 6 very strong, long, curled, erect bristles. Metasomal sterna S5-S6 without dense hair patches (e.g. Fig. 79d ). Genitalia. Gonocoxa extensively dull; gonostylus with a dorso-lateral, broad, hyaline projection; projection hairless.

Type material (2 specimens). Holotype, female, KwaZulu – Natal: Van Reenen, Drakensberg, 7.iii.1927 (white label), Halictus platti Ckll Type (handwritten white label), Type (red-white label), B.M. TYPE HYM . 17a.778 (white label), S. Africa. R . E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1927–147 (white label), BMNH ; Holotype, male, Halictus rubrotibialis Ckll Type, South Africa, Van Reenen, Drakensberg , 22.–26.i.1927, R . E. Turner, B.M. TYPE HYM . 17a.1194, BMNH.

Additional material (3 specimens). 1♀, 2♂. South Africa, Eastern Cape : 1♀, Belmont Valley , Grahamstown, 12.–26.iv.1972, leg. F.W. Gess, AMGS; Free State : 2♂, Van Reenen, 23.–26.i.1927, leg. R. E. Turner; Brit. Mus. 1927–62, BMNH .

Distribution ( Fig. 87 ). Few records exist from the Eastern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu–Natal provinces.

Floral visitation. Unknown.

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

Figures

FIGURE 79. Patellapis (Ch.) pearstonensis, male: a. Scutum (scale=0,5mm); b. Scutellum and propodeum (scale=0,5mm); c. Metasomal terga (scale=1mm); d. Metasomal sterna (scale=1mm); e. Body (scale=1mm); f. Metasomal sterna S7 and S8, ventral view (scale=100µm); g. Genitalia, dorsal view (scale=100µm); h. Genitalia, lateral view (scale=100µm).

FIGURE 81. Patellapis (Ch.) platti, female: a. Head (scale=0,5mm); b. Scutum (scale=0,5mm); c. Scutellum and propodeum (scale=0,5mm); d. Inner hind tibial spur (scale=100µm); e. Basitibial plate (scale=100µm).

FIGURE 82. Patellapis (Ch.) platti, male: a. Head (scale=0,5mm); b. Scutum (scale=0,5mm); c. Scutellum and propodeum (scale=0,5mm); d. Metasomal terga (scale=1mm).

FIGURE 87. Distributions of P. platti, P. pondoensis and P.rozeni.