Hylaeus (Deranchylaeus) claviger (Cockerell, 1936)

Figures 34, 64–65

Prosopis clavigera Cockerell, 1936p: 634 . ♀, South Africa: Cape Province, Nelspoort. Typus ♀ NHM London, no. 17.a.32.— Cockerell 1942: 2.

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

Hylaeus clavigerus (Cockerell): Eardley & Urban 2010: 28.

Diagnosis

This is one of the larger species, having a total length about 6 mm. The face has a yellow stripe on both sides and on the clypeus. The shape is compact with striking white hair, and the integument is shiny. The species appears isolated with this combination of features. The male is unknown.

Characteristic features

Female. TL 5.8–6.0 (5.90) mm, WL 3.7–4.0 (3.86) mm.

Head. Proportions HL:HW 0.95, UFW:LFW 1.70; outline rounded trapezoidal, front hourglass-shaped arched; head, in particular underside, face and scapi areas with spreading white hairs. Face with three yellow stripes of medium width at orbits and in middle of clypeus; foveae faciales long, prolonged up to vertex. Clypeus punctation moderate, close, shagreen, silky glossy, CL:CW 1.31. Supraclypeal area flatly inserted into domed face. Frons and vertex smooth and shiny, punctation moderate, dense. Genae broadened, black as labrum and mandibles.

Mesosoma compact; mesosoma, legs and T3 to T6 extensively, sparcely covered with white hairs. Coloration: pronotum with narrowly interrupted white strip medially, tegulae each with a bright spot. Pronotum expanded forward, anterior edge and dorsolateral angles rounded. Mesonotum and scutellum finely shagreen, shiny, punctation moderate, sparse. Legs black, only foretibiae in front bright striped. Propodeum rounded, finely sculptured, its areas delimited only by fine grooves, medial area with irregular fine wrinkles, which fade backwards (Fig. 34).

Metasoma compact oval, black. T1 and T2 transversely lineolate, shiny, punctation close fine to moderate, becoming closer together and indistict towards posterior end of terga; T1 and T2 with bushy white lateral fringes, following terga with cilia on their surface.

Distribution

South Africa.

Specimens examined: 4 ♀ coll. NHML, SAMC.

SOUTH AFRICA. Northern Cape: Vanrhynsdorp 40 km NE, Farm Kalkgat, Succulent Karoo, 31.07.04S 18.55.1842E, 140 m. — Western Cape: Namaqualand, Knersvlakte; Nelspoort; Remhoogte, plein, 30.24038S 18.16555E.