Patellapis (Patellapis) problematica, Timmermann & Kuhlmann, 2009

Timmermann, Kim & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2009, Variable Selection and Inference for Multi-period Forecasting Problems, Zootaxa 2099, pp. 1-188 : 70-71

Patellapis (Patellapis) problematica sp. n. Timmermann

( Figs. 44a–g ; 45a–h ).

Diagnosis. The male of P. problematica is very easy to distinguish from those of P. communis and P. braunsella in having no dorso-lateral projection on the gonostylus. Further, it differs from the male of P. karooensis in the length of A4, which is 3,0 times longer than A 3 in P. problematica and 2,0–2,5 times longer in P. karooensis . The male of P. problematica is similar to the one of P. reticulata . They can be distinguished from one another in the body length and the structure of the propodeum. P. problematica has a larger body length and the propodeum is stronger wrinkled than P. reticulata . The female of P. problematica is also similar to the one of P. reticulata . They differ only in the structure and size of the propodeum and in the punctation of metasomal terga T1–T2 (particularly the margins). The following isolated species can be distinguished from the female of P. problematica by the following morphological characters: P. braunsella has the scutum densely and strongly sculptured, P. communis lacks a toothed tarsal claw, P. karooensis has the propodeum less wrinkled and P. longifacies has an elongate face.

Description

Female. Bl = 6,9,7,1mm. General habitus ( Fig. 44e ). Head. L = 1,9–2,0mm; W = 2,1–2,2mm. Head slightly wider than long ( Fig. 44a ). Integument black except mandibles partly reddish. 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). Clypeoantennal distance 0,4mm. Supraclypeal area moderately strongly and sparsely punctate (i = 1,0–2,0d); surface extensively chagreened. Paraocular area slightly dull; coarsely and densely punctate; surface extensively sculptured. Antennae blackish-brown. Mesosoma. L = 1,4–1,5mm; W (ITS) = 1,6–1,7mm. Integument black. Scutum shiny; disc strongly and sparsely punctate (i = 1,0–2,0d); surface extensively reticulate anteriorly ( Fig. 44b ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 44c . Scutum, scutellum and metanotum with brownish, erect hairs; mesepisternum and propodeum with greyish to yellowish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 44c ; propodeum slightly dull, completely reticulate and with a few, minute punctures. Marginal region of posterior truncation slightly dull, completely reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument blackish-brown. Vestiture yellowish to brownish. Ts finely serrate ( Fig. 44f ). Bp slender and pointed apically ( Fig. 44g ). Metasoma. L = 3,7–3,9mm; W = 2,2–2,3mm. Integument blackish-brown except the margins of T brownish to pallid brownish and pallid yellowish; margins partly translucent. T1–T4 with more or less weak, greyish, apical hair bands; the bands mostly present laterally. Prepygidial fimbria yellowish to brownish. Discs and marginal zones of T1-T2 as illustrated in Fig. 44d .

Male. Bl = 6,2–7,2mm. General habitus ( Fig. 45e ). Head. L = 1,6–2,0mm; W = 2,0– 2,3mm. Head wider than long. Integument black except the malar area partly reddish. Clypeus, supraclypeal area, paraocular area and vertex with loose, greyish, erect hairs; clypeus, supraclypeal area and lower half of paraocular area entirely covered with appressed, white hairs. Mandibles simple. Malar area very short, linear. Antennae reddish-brown. Flagellomeres knotty. A4 about 3,0 times longer than A3. Mesosoma. L = 1,4–1,5mm; W (ITS) = 1,6–1,8mm. Integument black. Scutum shiny; disc moderately densely punctate (i = 1,5d); surface extensively reticulate anteriorly ( Fig. 45a ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 45b . Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with long, greyish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 45b ; propodeum slightly dull, strongly punctate; surface extensively sculptured. Marginal region of posterior truncation shiny and reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument brownish-black. Vestiture greyish. Metasoma. L = 3,2–4,5mm; W = 2,0– 2,3mm. Integument blackish brown except margins brownish to pallid brownish and pallid yellowish; margins extensively translucent ( Fig. 45c ). Apical plate slender and pointed apically. Posterior margin of S4 with a dense row of strong, erect bristles. S5 with strong, fan–shaped, hair patches ( Fig. 45d ). S7 and S8 as illustrated in Fig. 45f . Genitalia. Genitalia as illustrated in Fig. 45g –h ; gonocoxa dull and gonostylus simple, without dorso-lateral projection.

Type material ( 12 specimens). Holotype, female, South Africa, Capland , Willowmore, 3. Aug. 1926, Dr. Brauns (white label), TMSA.

Paratypes: 4♀, 7♂. South Africa. Eastern Cape : 1♀, Willowmore , 08.ix.1906, leg. Dr. Brauns, SEMC ; 1♀, 1♂, idem., 03.viii.1926, TMSA ; Northern Cape: 3♂, Hester Malan Nature Reserve , 31.v.1985, leg. M. Struck, SANC ; 1♂, idem., 01.vi.1985, SANC ; 2♂, idem., 20.vi.1985, SANC ; 2♀, idem., 02.viii.1986, SANC ; 1♀, idem., 02.ix.1986, SANC .

Etymology. Named after the outstanding taxonomic status within Patellapis s. str.

Distribution ( Fig. 48 ). Records only exist from Willowmore (Eastern Cape) and Hester Malan Nature Reserve (Northern Cape).

Floral visitation. Unknown.

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). v–ix.

Figures

FIGURE 44. Patellapis (P.) problematica, female: a. Head (scale=1mm); b. Scutum (scale=1mm); c. Scutellum and propodeum (scale=0,5mm); d. Metasomal terga T1 and T2 (scale=1mm); e. Body (scale=1mm); f. Inner hind tibial spur (scale=100µm); g. Basitibial plate (scale=100µm).

FIGURE 45. Patellapis (P.) problematica, male: a. Scutum (scale=1mm); 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=0,5mm); g. Genitalia, dorsal view (scale=0,5mm); h. Genitalia, lateral view (scale=0,5mm).

FIGURE 48. Distributions of P. problematica and P. reticulata.