Cerceris schwarzi DOLLFUSS, 2020

Dollfuss, Hermann, 2020, The Sphecid wasps of the genus Cerceris LATREILLE, 1802 of the " Biologiezentrum Linz " - Collection in Linz, Austria, from Subsaharan Africa and Madagascar, with description of five new species (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Crabronidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 52 (1), pp. 93-118 : 112-114

Cerceris schwarzi DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ( Figs 20, 21, 22, 23 , 24, 25, 26 )

R e c o r d s: Holotype: ♀, Namibia, Otjiwarongo , 25 km NW Otjiwarongo, 3. III.1990, leg. Max Schwarz ( OÖLM) . Paratypes: 1♀, 2♂♂, Namibia, Otjiwarongo , 25 km NW Otjiwarongo, 3. III.1990, leg. Max Schwarz ; 3♂♂, Namibia, Outjo , 24 km S Kamanjab, 5. III.1990, leg. Max Schwarz ; 1♂, Namibia, Otjiwarongo , 15 Km NW Otjiwarongo, 3. III.1990, leg. Max Schwarz.

E t y m o l o g y: In honor of the collector Max Schwarz, Linz-Ansfelden, Austria.

R e c o g n i t i o n: The female of Cerceris schwarzi is characterized in having the hindcoxa without a longitudinal carina and the terga II – V with small apomedian fossa. The anterior margin of the broad clypeus is streight with two small teeth and a small rectangularly elevate process with two small horizontal carinae ( Fig. 20, 21 ). The propodeal collar has laterally a blunt tubercle and the mesopleuron has a small tooth laterally, epimeron without a crest. The propodeal enclosure is irregularly microstriate. The female of Cerceris spectrum ARNOLD, 1936 , is similar to C. schwarzi but differs in having the anterior margin of the clypeus with three (five) blunt teeth in the middle and two flattened tubercles placed a little above the middle. Additionally, the pronotal collar is evenly rounded laterally and the bodylenght is 22 mm. (The female of C. schwarzi has the anterior margin of the clypeus straight with two small teeth and a small rectangularly elevated process with two horizontal carinae ( Figs 20, 21 ). Additionally, the pronotal collar has a blunt tubercle laterally and the bodylength is 15 mm). The female of Cerceris multipicta F. SMITH, 1873 , is also similar to C. schwarzi , but differs in having the anterior part of the clypeus deeply and broadly semi-lunarly emarginated with long brush-like setae at the corners of the emargination and the median part of the clypeus is not separated at the sides from the lateral sclerites. Additionally, the pronotal collar is evenly rounded laterally and the bodylenght is 19 – 23 mm. ( C. schwarzi has a distinctly differently shaped clypeus, the pronotal collar has a blunt tubercle laterally and the bodylength is 15 mm). The female of Cerceris nasidens SCHLETTERER, 1887 , is similar to C. schwarzi , but differs in having a clypeal process, which is convex and more or less free at its anterior margin in lateral view, the process is more or less nasiform. Additionally, the pronotal collar is evenly rounded laterally and the propodeal enclosure is densely punctate. (The female of C. schwarzi has a differently shaped clypeus, the pronotal collar has a blunt tubercle laterally and the propodeal enclosure is irregularly microstriate).

The male of Cerceris schwarzi is characterized by having the hindcoxa without a longitudinal carina and the terga II – V with small apomedian fossae. The median area of the clypeus is produced with three distinct teeth and a longitudinal carina medially ( Fig. 24 ). The ultimate flagellum is distinctly bent ( Fig. 25 ). The pronotal collar is nearly rectangularly shaped laterally. The propodeal enclosure is shiny and more or less micropunctate. The mandible has a distinct tooth basally ( Fig. 24 ). The male of Cerceris nasidens is similar to the male of C. schwarzi but differs in having a reddish-brown anterior margin of the clypeus and no longitudinal carina on the median part. Additionally, the propodeal enclosure is punctate. (The male of C. schwarzi has a black apical margin of the clypeus and a longitudinal carina on the median part of the clypeus. Additionally, the propodeal enclosure is smooth or slightly micropunctate). The male of Cerceris spectrum Arnold, 1936 , is similar to the male of C. schwarzi , but differs in having the clypeus median part without a longitudinal carina and the sterna II – IV with long appressed setae. Additionally, the body length is 20 – 21 mm. (The male of C. schwarzi has the median part of the clypeus with a longitudinal carina medially ( Fig. 24 ). Additionally, the sterna II – IV have more sparse setae and the bodylength is 10 – 13 mm). The male of Cerceris multipicta F. SMITH, 1873 , is also similar to the male of C. schwarzi but differs in having the tergum I twice as long as wide, and the pronotal collar is evenly rounded laterally. Additionally, the sternum VII has long dense erect setae and the bodylength is 15 – 22 mm. (The male of C. schwarzi has the tergum I as long as wide and the pronotal collar is laterally nearly rectangularly shaped. Additionally, the sternum VII is glabrous dull, apicolaterally with short setae and the bodylength is 10 – 13 mm).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Hindcoxa without longitudinal carina and terga II – V with small apomedian fossa.

♀, 15 mm. Black, following parts yellow:head (except of anterior part of vertex and apex of mandibles), lateral part of pronotal collar, scutellum, metanotum, propodeum (except propodeal enclosure partly), tegula, epimeron, spot on mesopleuron, legs, terga I – V (except median black spots), sterna I – VI (partly yellowish-brown). All spots varying to yellowish-brown. Pygidial area brown. Wings yellowish-brown, apically fuscous. Clypeus and frons microstriate, vertex finely punctato-rugose. Pronotal collar, scutum, metanotum and propodeum laterally finely punctato-rugose. Propodeal enclosure irregularly microstriate and mesopleuron punctato-rugose. Tegula micropunctate. Terga I – V punctate and micropunctate, sterna I – V finely punctate laterally. Pygidial area finely punctate basally. Anterior margin of clypeus straight with two small teeth and small rectangular process with two small horizontal carinae ( Fig. 20, 21 ). Mandible with two rounded teeth ( Fig. 20 ). Pronotal collar with blunt tubercle laterally. Proppleuron dull. Mesopleuron with small tubercle and epimeron without crest. Metapleuron coarsely obliquely rugose, mesopleuron venter micropunctate, dull. Pygidial area ( Fig. 23 ) and flagellum ( Fig. 22 ).

♂, 10 – 13 mm. Black, with following parts yellow:Mandible (except apex), Clypeus (except anterior margin), frons, interantennal carina, lateral part of pronotal collar, tegula, scape, lateral spots on scutellum, metanotum, spots on propodeum laterally, lateral spots on terga I – V, tergum VI, foreleg (except coxa), midleg, hindleg (except femur anteriorly and tibia apically). Flagellomeres yellowish-brown, flagellomere XI apically half black, wings hyalin, apically fuscous. Clypeus and frons densely punctato-rugose, vertex densely punctate. Tegula micropunctate. Pronotal collar punctate, scutum densely punctato- rugose, scutellum and metanotum sparsely punctate, propodeum densely punctato-rugose. Propodeal enclosure smooth and shiny, sparsely micropunctate laterally, metapleuron coarsely obliquely rugose. Terga I – VI and pygidial area densely punctate. Sterna II – V punctate laterally. Clypeus produced with three distinct teeth and longitudinal carina medially ( Fig. 24 ). Flagellomere XI distinctly bent and apically blunt with few fine setae inside ( Fig. 25 ). Pronotal collar nearly rectangularly shaped laterally and propleuron without carina. Mesopleuron with small tubercle laterally, epimeron without cress. Pygidial area ( Fig. 26 ).

G e o g r a p h i c d i s t r i b u t i o n: Namibia.

Figures

Figs 16-23: Cerceris schalleri ♀ (16) clypeus, (17) clypeus lateral view, (18) flagellum, (19) pygidial area. Cerceris schwarzi ♀, (20) clypeus. (21) clypeus lateral view, (22) flagellum, (23) pygidial area.

Figs 24-26: Cerceris schwarzi Ƌ (24) clypeus, (25) flagellum, (26) pygidial area.