Patellapis (Patellapis) karooensis, Timmermann & Kuhlmann, 2009

Timmermann, Kim & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2009, Variable Selection and Inference for Multi-period Forecasting Problems, Zootaxa 2099, pp. 1-188 : 62-63

Patellapis (Patellapis) karooensis sp. n. Timmermann

( Figs. 38a–g ; 39a–h ).

Diagnosis. The females are morphologically similar to those of P. reticulata . The females of both species can be distinguished from one another in the structure and size of the basitibial plate, which is broader in P. karooensis than in P. reticulata . Further, P. reticulata has the scutum strongly reticulate and no posterior depression on basal area of propodeum, whereas the scutum of P. karooensis is shiny and not sculptured and the medio–posterior part of basal area of propodeum is depressed. The males of P. karooensis are separated from all other isolated species in having the gonocoxa dull, the gonostylus simple, the metasomal sternum S8 hairy and weakly emarginated and the penis valves greatly expanded forming a helmet-like crest.

Description

Female. Bl = 5,2–6,0mm. General habitus ( Fig. 38e ). Head. L = 1,6–1,7mm; W = 1,7–2,0mm. Head slightly wider than long ( Fig. 38a ). Integument black except mandibles 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 moderately densely punctate (i = 1,5d); surface partly sculptured. Clypeoantennal distance 0,3mm. Supraclypeal area moderately strongly and sparsely punctate (i = 1,5–2,0d); surface extensively reticulate. Paraocular area slightly dull; coarsely and densely punctate; surface extensively sculptured. Antennae blackish-brown. Mesosoma. L = 1,1–1,2mm; W (ITS) = 1,3–1,4mm. Integument black. Scutum shiny; disc moderately strongly and sparsely punctate (i = 1,5–2,0d) ( Fig. 38b ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 38c . Scutum, scutellum and metanotum with brownish, erect hairs; mesepisternum and propodeum with greyish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 38c ; propodeum slightly dull; completely reticulate and with a few, well separated, minute punctures. Marginal region of posterior truncation slightly dull; completely reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument blackishbrown. Vestiture yellowish to brownish. Ts finely serrate ( Fig. 38f ). Bp broad and rounded apically ( Fig. 38g ).

Metasoma. L = 2,7–3,2mm; W = 2,0– 2,2mm. Integument blackish-brown except the margins of T brownish to pallid brownish and pallid yellowish; margins partly translucent. T1–T4 with weak, inconspicuous, greyish, apical hair bands; the bands mostly present only laterally. Prepygidial fimbria yellowish. Discs and marginal zones of T1–T2 as illustrated in Fig. 38d .

Male. Bl = 6,2–6,5mm. General habitus ( Fig. 39e ). Head. L = 1,6–1,7mm; W = 1,7–1,8mm. Head as wide as long. Integument black except mandibles partly reddish-brown. 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 brownish-black. Flagellomeres knotty. A4 about two times longer than A3. Mesosoma. L = 1,0– 1,1mm; W (ITS) = 1,2–1,3mm. Integument black. Scutum moderately strongly and sparsely punctate (i = 1,5–2,0d) ( Fig. 39a ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 39b . Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with long, greyish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 39b ; propodeum shiny and moderately densely punctate; surface extensively reticulate. Marginal region of posterior truncation slightly dull and reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument brownish-black. Vestiture mostly greyish.

Metasoma. L = 3,5–4,0mm; W = 1,8–2,0mm. Integument blackish-brown except the margins of T brownish to pallid brownish and pallid yellowish; margins partly translucent ( Fig. 39c ). Apical plate broad and angulate apically. Posterior margin of S4 with a moderately dense row of weak, erect bristles. S5 with weak hair patches laterally ( Fig. 39d ). S7 and S8 as illustrated in Fig. 39f . Genitalia. Genitalia as illustrated in Fig. 39g –h ; gonocoxa shiny; gonostylus simple, without dorso-lateral projection; penis valves greatly expanded forming a helmet-like crest.

Type material ( 11 specimens). Holotype, female, South Africa, 40 km NE Vanrhynsdorp, Farm Kalkgat , Sukkulent Karoo, PfK2, S31°07ʹ04ʺ / E 18°55ʹ18ʺE, 140m, 31.vii.2003, leg. K. Timmermann, on Augea capensis (F1F1–7), SANC.

Paratypes: 7♀, 3♂. South Africa. Western Cape : 1♀, 20 km N Vanrhynsdorp, Knersvlakte , 21.ix.2001, leg. B. Danforth, CUIC ; 2♀, 1♂, Sukkulent Karoo, Knersvlakte, 40 km N Vanrhynsdorp, Farm Kalkgat , 31.vii.2003, leg. K. Timmermann, KTPC ; 1♂, idem., 14.viii.2003, KTPC ; Northern Cape: 4♀, 2♂, Steinkopf , leg. L. Schultze, ZMHB .

Etymology. Named for the South African landscape of the Karoo.

Distribution ( Fig. 43 ). Recorded only from the north-western part of the winter rainfall area.

Floral visitation. Augea capensis (Zygophyllaceae) .

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

Remarks. This species is treated as Patellapis new species 5 in Timmermann and Kuhlmann (2008b).

Figures

FIGURE 38. Patellapis (P.) karooensis, female: a. Head (scale=1mm); b. Scutum (scale=1mm); c. Scutellum and propodeum (scale=0,5mm); d. Metasomal sterna T1 and T2 (scale=1mm); e. Body (scale=1mm); f. Inner hind tibial spur (scale=100µm); g. Basitibial plate (scale=100µm).

FIGURE 39. Patellapis (P.) karooensis, 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 43. Distributions of P. karooensis, P.leonis, P. longifacies and P. mandela.