Patellapis (Chaetalictus) namaquensis Timmermann, 2009

Kuhlmann, Michael & Pauly, Alain, 2010, New Afrotropical species of the bee subgenus Patellapis (Chaetalictus) with notes on additional species (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), Zootaxa 2674, pp. 33-50 : 37-39

Patellapis (Chaetalictus) namaquensis Timmermann, 2009

( Figs. 3 a–f)

Patellapis (Chaetalictus) namaquensis Timmermann; Timmermann & Kuhlmann, 2009 : 107–109.

The female of this species was unknown and has only recently been discovered. Males and females were found flying together and there is no doubt about the affiliation of the sexes.

Diagnosis. The female is characterised by the extensively dark red metasomal terga ( Fig. 3 e) in combination with a finely shagreened and punctured mesoscutum ( Fig. 3 c) similar to P. (Ch.) pearstonensis ( Cameron) and P. (Ch.) cockerelli Timmermann. From the former P. (Ch.) namaquensis is best distinguished by the denser and finer punctation on the disc of T1 ( Fig. 3 e) and from the latter by a shinier mesoscutum that is completely dull in P. (Ch.) cockerelli .

Description. Female. Bl = 7.0– 7.4 mm. General habitus ( Fig. 3 a). Head. L = 1.8–1.9 mm; W = 1.9–2.1 mm. Head slightly wider than long ( Fig. 3 b). Integument black except mandible sometimes partly reddishbrown. Face dull and with sparse, greyish, erect hairs. Mandible with subapical tooth. Clypeus and supraclypeal area convex in profile. Clypeus moderately strongly and sparsely punctate and without a median depression; surface shiny. Clypeoantennal distance 0.4 mm. Supraclypeal area with a few, small punctures; punctures well separated; surface shiny and laterally partly shagreened. Paraocular area densely and finely punctate; surface dull and finely sculptured. Antenna brownish-black. Mesosoma. L = 2.4–2.6 mm; ITS = 1.5–1.6 mm. Integument black. Mesoscutum slightly dull; surface completely reticulate; disc moderately punctate (i = 2.0d) ( Fig. 3 c). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 3 d. Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with whitish to greyish, erect hairs. Metanotum densely covered with short white tomentum. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 3 d; propodeum and marginal region of posterior truncation slightly shiny and finely shagreened; propodeum without punctures. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument brownish-black. Vestiture whitish to greyish. Ts serrate; with 4 long and strong, oblique projections. Bp as illustrated ( Fig. 3 f). Metasoma. L = 3.5–3.7 mm; W = 2.2–2.4 mm. Integument red except the anterior part of T1 blackish. No distinct apical hair bands present. Prepygidial fimbria whitish to yellowish. Metasomal terga as illustrated in Fig. 3 e.

Additional material (12 specimens). 8Ƥ, 43. South Africa, 5 km SE Lekkersing, road side, 300 m, S29°03´28´´ E17°07´16´´, M. Kuhlmann leg 24.ix.2009, RCKL.

Distribution. SW Namibia and NW Northern Cape Province.

Floral visitation. Zygophyllum foetidum (Zygophyllaceae) .

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

Figures

FIGURE 3. Patellapis (Ch.) namaquensis Timmermann, female: a. Body; b. Head; c. Scutum; d. Scutellum and propodeum; e. Metasomal terga; f. Basitibial plate. Scale bar = 1 mm.