Hylaeus (Deranchylaeus) tenuis (Alfken, 1914)

Figures 13, 36, 136–139

Prosopis simplex Bingham, 1912: 381–382 . 1 ♀. South Africa: Cape Colony, East London, Queen’s Park. Typus ♀ OUMNH.—Secondary synonym with Nesoprosopis simplex Perkins, 1899 .

Hylaeus simplex (Bingham): Cockerell 1932e: 172; Cockerell 1942: 2.

Hylaeus (Deranchylaeus) simplex (Bingham): Snelling 1985: 8.

Prosopis tenuis Alfken, 1914: 188–189 . 1 ♀ 3 ♂, South Africa: Port Elizabeth. Syntypes MNHU Berlin, ♂ labeled "Port Elizabeth Südafrica Dr. Brauns 18.10.95" (det. Alfken) designated here as lectotypus; ♀ ♂ with same data designated as paralectotypes.— Syn. n.— Cockerell 1932e: 172; Cockerell 1936e: 8–9.

Hylaeus tenuis (Alfken): Cockerell 1942: 3; Eardley & Urban 2010: 36.

Hylaeus (Deranchylaeus) tenuis (Alfken): Snelling 1985: 8.

Hylaeus (Deranchylaeus) curvicarinatus (Cameron, 1905): syn. Bridwell 1919: 141, erroneously.

Hylaeus simplior Meade-Waldo, 1923: 26, nomen novum for Prosopis simplex Bingham, 1912 not Nesoprosopis simplex Perkins, 1899 .— Syn. n.

Hylaeus (Deranchylaeus) simplior Meade-Waldo: Cockerell 1942: 2; Snelling 1985: 8; Eardley & Urban 2010: 36.

Hylaeus perdensus Cockerell, 1936e: Amer. Mus. Novit. no. 847: 5. ♀, Southern Rhodesia [Zimbabwe]: Matopo Hills. Typus ♀ AMNH New York, ac. 34187.— Syn. n.— Cockerell 1942: 2; Eardley & Urban 2010: 33.

Hylaeus (Deranchylaeus) perdensus Cockerell: Snelling 1985: 8.

Prosopis postica Warncke, 1972: 748, nomen novum for Prosopis simplex Bingham, 1912 not Nesoprosopis simplex Perkins, 1899 .— Syn. n.

Diagnosis

This is a small dainty species. The male mask is ivory white, the supraclypeal area is often quite black and the scapi are slim. The female has small comma-shaped facial spots. The terminal area of the propodeum is circumscribed by sharp margins and the pronotum, in front, is blade-like sharp. T1 is shagreen and very finely punctate.

Characteristic features

Male. TL 4.0–5.2 (4.43) mm, WL 3.0–3.6 (3.20) mm.

Head. Proportions HL:HW 0.98, UFW:LFW 1.68, outline trapezoid. Scapi black, short conical, not expanded, width similar to flagella, SL:SW 2.0; flagella long, yellow, dark above, appearing some saw tooth-like. Mask ivory white, complete or with black supraclypeal area. Clypeus CL:CW 1.49, silk shiny, punctate. Frons and vertex with moderate, dense punctation. Labrum and mandibles black.

Mesosoma compact, depressed. Pilosity sparse, short, white. Tegulae with bright spots. Pronotum black, narrow, anterior margin expanded forward, sharp lamellate, its angular dorsolateral, posterior margin white tomentose. Mesonotum and scutellum with moderate, dense punctation. Legs black, bright stained are base of tibiae, foretibiae in front and basitarsi. Medial area of propodeum with large radial ridges and carinate end margin; terminal area surrounded with sharp margins.

Metasoma prolonged, slender spindel shaped, black. T1 finely shagreen, satin matt, punctation fine, sparse, following terga less distinctly punctate; T1 without lateral fringes. Terminalia (Fig. 13): genital capsule short, hardly longer than broad, strongly arched, gonoforcipes bent inward and pointed, S8 appendages basally expanded, apical short, S7 belonging to curvicarinatus type.

Female. TL 4.4–5.2 (4.83) mm, WL 3.2–3.8 (3.46) mm.

Head. Proportions HL:HW 0.98, UFW:LFW 1.63, rounded trapezoid. Face with small comma-shaped spots on orbits at level of scapi bases; foveae faciales short. Clypeus CL:CW 1.22, shagreen, matt, punctation large but very shallow and thus indistinct in sculpture (Fig. 36).

Mesosoma. Tegulae with white spots. Pronotum black, its front with sharp edges, dorsolateral angles edged. Mesonotum and scutellum with moderate, close punctation. Legs entirely black, bright patches only on foretibiae in front. Propodeum edged, medial area coarsely meshed; terminal area sharp marginate around.

Metasoma slender spindle-shaped, black. Terga shagreen, silky shining, punctation minute to fine, sparse, apical progressively shallower and less distinct; T1 with narrow white lateral fringes.

Distribution

South Africa (Eardley & Urban 2010); Kenya, Zimbabwe.

Specimens examined: 42 ♂, 25 ♀ coll. AMNH, MNHU, OLBL, SAMC, SANC.

KENYA. Voi env., Tsavo.

SOUTH AFRICA. Eastern Cape: Alexandria Nature Reserve 10 km SE; Jeffreys Bay; Papiesfontein, Gamtoos Mth.; Pine Tree Lodge; Port Elizabeth.— Gauteng: Pretoria City; Pretoria, Faerie Glen Koppies, 25.46S 28.17E.— KwaZulu-Natal: Maputaland, eManguzi SW.— Limpopo: Happy Rest, 22.55.57S 29.44.06E.— Mpumalanga: Lydenburg 30 km NE, nr Ohrig.—Northwest: Rustenburg Nature Reserve, 25.40S 27.12E.— Western Cape: Bredasdorp 25 km S, coast; Mossel Bay.

ZIMBABWE. Chimanimani National Park; Matopo Hills; Mutare, Christmas Pass, 18.52S 32.40E.