Cerceris nut DOLLFUSS, 2023

Dollfuss, Hermann & M, Mt., 2023, New species of the genus Cerceris LATREILLE, 1802 from Sub-Saharan Africa Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Crabronidae Part I, Linzer biologische Beiträge 55 (1), pp. 307-349 : 326-327

Cerceris nut DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ( Fig. 15 )

H o l o t y p e: ♀, Tanzania, province Kilimandjaro, 10 km S Same, 830 m, 04°09'30''S 37°46'10''E, 8.IV.2018, leg. J. Halada ( OÖLM). P a r a t y p e s: 1♀, Kenya, Rift Valley Province , Marich Pass Field Studies Centre, 1°32.2'N 35°27.4'E, 25.-29.VII.1999, leg. W.J. Pulawski & J.S. Schweigert ( CAS) ; 1♀, Tanzania, Tanga Region, 11 km SW Korogwe , 5°14.2'S 38°24.7'E, 10.VII.2001, leg. Omari, Haji & Pulawski ( CAS) .

E t y m o l o g y: Nut is an egyptian god.

R e c o g n i t i o n: The female of Cerceris nut is characterized by having the coxa III without a longitudinal carina, the apical margin of the clypeus is medially straight with an acute tooth on each side, the median area of the clypeus has a rectangular rised lamella ( Fig. 15a ), the epimeron has a triangular crest, the propodeal enclosure is smooth and shining, without a median furrow and the lateral furrows are shallowly developed and not crenulate. Additionally, the prosternum has no distinct transverse carina, the scutum, the scutellum and the propodeal sides are shining and irregularly sparsely punctate (punctures 0-3 diameters apart), the petiolus and the sternum II are ferruginous and the legs dark-brown and yellow.

The female of C. languida is similar to nut but differs in having a longitudinal carina on coxa III, the apical margin of clypeus has two teeth laterally and the prosternum a distinct transverse carina.

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀, 7-8 mm. Sculpture: apical margin of clypeus median straight with one acute tooth on each side ( Fig. 15a ); median area of clypeus with rectangular rised lamella; prosternum without distinct transverse carina; mandible with small tooth internally; epimeron with triangular crest; propodeal enclosure smooth as mirror, without medio-longitudinal furrow, lateral furrows not crenulate; propodeal sides near enclosure smooth; petiolus as long as wide ( Fig. 15e ); sternum II without basal plate; mesopleuron without tubercle; coxa II without longitudinal carina; flagellum ( Fig. 15c ); pygidial plate ( Fig. 15d ). Puncturation: clypeus median area shining and finely punctate; clypeual sides micropunctate; frons dull and sparsely punctate; vertex nearly densely punctate; prosternum micropunctate and sparsely punctate; pronotal collar shining and sparsely punctate; scutum shining and irregularly sparsely punctate (punctures 0-3 diameters apart); scutellum similarly punctate; metanotum impunctate; propodeal sides near enclosure smooth, lateral irregularly sparsely punctate (punctures 0-2 diameters apart); petiolus ireegularly punctate; terga II-IV very coarsely densely punctate (punctures partly as large as ocelli); pygidial plate irregularly structured; mesopleuron densely punctate; sterna laterally punctate. Pilosity: clypeal sides and frons covered with short appressed setae; rest of body with sparse setae. Coloration: black; following parts yellow: clypeus on posterior half, frons lateral, anteror half of tegula, pronotal collar lateral; metanotum, terga II-V apical, mandible (except apex); legs brown and yellow; following parts ferruginous: flagellum beneath, petiolus, tergum II partly, sternum II; wings hyaline, apical fuscous.

♁: unknown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Kenya, Tanzania.

Figures

Fig. 15: Cerceris nut DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ♀: (a) clypeus; (b) clypeus lateral; (c) flagellum; (d) pygidial plate; (e) petiolus.