Patellapis (Patellapis) gessorum, Timmermann & Kuhlmann, 2009

Timmermann, Kim & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2009, Variable Selection and Inference for Multi-period Forecasting Problems, Zootaxa 2099, pp. 1-188 : 16-18

Patellapis (Patellapis) gessorum sp. n. Timmermann

( Figs. 6a–g )

Diagnosis. The females of this species differ from those of P. rubricata in having a median longitudinal clypeal depression. Further, the inner hind tibial spurs of P. rubricata are more coarsely serrate than in P. gessorum . The most similar species is P. depressa . The females of both species can be distinguished by the colour of metasomal terga and the structure and size of the supraclypeal area. The females of P. gessorum have reddish metasomal terga (blackish to pallid brownish coloured in P. depressa ) and a smaller supraclypeal area (larger in P. depressa ). The females of P. gessorum differ markedly from those of P. bifurcata in their longer body length.The males of P. gessorum are unknown.

Description

Female. Bl = 6,9–7,0mm. General habitus ( Fig. 6e ). Head. L = 1,7–1,9mm; W = 2,2–2,3mm. Head wider than long ( Fig. 6a ). Integument black except mandibles and malar area sometimes partly reddish-brown. Face shiny and with loose, long, greyish, erect hairs. Mandibles bidentate. Malar area very short, linear. Clypeus and supraclypeal area convex in profile. Clypeus strongly and densely punctate (i = d); with distinct median longitudinal depression. Clypeoantennal distance 0,4mm. Supraclypeal area sparsely punctate (i = 1,5–2,5d); surface of marginal and/or upper area sculptured. Paraocular area strongly and densely punctate; surface partly sculptured. Antennae blackish to brownish. Mesosoma. L = 1,4–1,5mm; W (ITS) = 1,7–1,8mm. Integument black. Scutum polished; surface partly reticulate anteriorly; disc densely and strongly punctated (i = 1,0–1,5d) ( Fig. 6b ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 6c . Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with greyish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 6c ; propodeum shiny and densely punctate; marginal region of posterior truncation shiny; finely reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument mostly brownish. Vestiture yellowish. Ts finely serrate ( Fig. 6f ). Bp broad and rather rounded at apex ( Fig. 6g ). Metasoma. L = 3,5–3,8mm; W = 2,3–2,5mm. Integument black except the margins of T pallid brownish and pallid yellowish (usually T1–T3); margins extensively translucent. Apical hair bands on T1–T4 very weak (sometimes hardly existent) ( Fig. 6d ). Prepygidial fimbria mostly yellowish.

Male. Unknown.

Type material (12 specimens). Holotype, female, South Africa, Cape Province, Richtersveld N Park, Koeroegabvlakte, S28°11' / E17°03', 17.–21. and 24.ix.1995, leg. F.W., S.K. and R.W. Gess (white label), in purplish violet fls Wahlenbergia sp. Campanulaceae (white label), 95/96/22 (white label), Entomology Dept. Albany Museum Somerset Street Grahamstown 6139 South Africa (blue label), AMGS.

Paratypes: 11♀. South Africa. Northern Cape : 1♀, 2 km E Port Nolloth , 11.ix.2001, leg. B. Danforth, CUIC ; 10♀, Richtersveld N Park Koeroegabvlakte, 17.–21. and 24.ix.1995, leg. F.W., S.K. and R . W. Gess, No. 95/ 96/21, No. 95/96/22, No. 95/96/48, No. 95/96/26, No. 95/96/71, AMGS .

Etymology. Named for Friedrich and Sarah Gess, Grahamstown, who greatly facilitated this study by providing numerous specimens.

Distribution ( Fig. 10 ). This species has a restricted distribution in the north–western part of Northern Cape.

Floral visitation. Wahlenbergia spec. (Campanulaceae) , Drosanthemum spec. , Prenia sladeniana (Mesembryanthemaceae) .

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). ix.

Remarks. This species is treated as Patellapis new species 1 in Timmermann and Kuhlmann (2008b).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Patellapis (P.) gessorum, female: a. Head (scale=1mm); b. Scutum (scale=1mm); 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 10. Distributions of P. gessorum, P. pseudorubricata and P.rubricata.