Patellapis (Chaetalictus) eardleyi, Timmermann & Kuhlmann, 2009

Timmermann, Kim & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2009, Variable Selection and Inference for Multi-period Forecasting Problems, Zootaxa 2099, pp. 1-188 : 85-87

Patellapis (Chaetalictus) eardleyi sp. n. Timmermann

( Figs. 54a–h )

Diagnosis. The females are unknown. The males are characterised by the presence of lateral hair patches on metasomal sternum S5, which is unique among the P. capillipalpis species-group.

Description

Female. Unknown.

Male. Bl = 6,7–7,1mm. General habitus ( Fig. 54f ). Head. L = 1,8–1,9mm; W = 1,9–2,0mm. Head about as long as wide ( Fig. 54a ). Integument black except mandibles and malar area partly reddish-brown. Clypeus, supraclypeal area, paraocular area and vertex covered with erect, whitish to greyish hairs. Mandibles simple. Antennae blackish. Flagellomeres of normal structure (not knotty). A4 as long as A3. Mesosoma. L = 1,3–1,4mm; W (ITS) = 1,3–1,4mm. Integument black. Scutum shiny; sparsely punctate (i = 2,0d); surface partly and finely reticulate ( Fig. 54b ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 54c . Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with long, greyish erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 54c ; propodeum shiny; densely punctate; surface partly sculptured. Marginal region of posterior truncation shiny; surface finely reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument blackish-brown. Vestiture greyish. Metasoma. L = 3,5–3,8mm; W = 1,9–2,0mm. Integument blackish except the margins of T brownish to pale; margins translucent. Metasomal terga T1–T3 as illustrated in Fig. 54d . Apical plate broad; pointed apically. Posterior margin of S4 with a dense row of about 24 erect bristles. Metasomal sterna S5 with dense hair patches laterally ( Fig. 54e ). S7 and S8 as illustrated in Fig. 54h . Genitalia. Genitalia as illustrated in Fig. 54g ; gonocoxa extensively dull; gonostylus with dorso-lateral projection; projection with a row of several long, curled, erect hairs.

Type material ( 4 specimens). Holotype, male, South Africa, KwaZulu–Natal , midlands above Howick. Summit Mnt. Gilboa, S 29°17'10" / E30°17'33", approx. 1770m, 23.i.2002, leg. Craig Peter, on Wahlenbergia spec. , SANC.

Paratypes: 3♂. South Africa. KwaZulu–Natal : 1♂, midlands above Howick. Summit Mnt. Gilboa, 23.i.2002, leg. Craig Peter, SANC ; 2♂, Southern Drakensberg , Bushman’s Nek. Slove above parking, 29.i.2002, leg. Craig Peter, SANC .

Etymology. This species is dedicated to Connal Eardley, Pretoria, who greatly facilitated bee taxonomic and systematic work in southern Africa.

Distribution ( Fig. 56 ). Only known from KwaZulu–Natal.

Floral visitation. Wahlenbergia spec. (Campanulaceae)

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). i.

Figures

FIGURE 54. Patellapis (Ch.) eardleyi, male: a. Head (scale=0,5mm); b. Scutum (scale=0,5mm); c. Scutellum and propodeum (scale=0,5mm); d. Metasomal terga T1-T3 (scale=1mm); e. Metasomal sterna (scale=1mm); f. Body (scale=1mm); g. Genitalia, dorsal view (scale=100µm); h. Metasomal sterna S7 and S8, ventral view (scale=100µm).

FIGURE 56. Distributions of P. capillipalpis, P. eardleyi and P. fynbosensis.