Cerceris namibiensis 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 : 321-323

Cerceris namibiensis DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ( Figs 11 , 12 )

H o l o t y p e: ♀, Namibia, Hardap Region, Naukluft Mt., Zebra Park, 24.229044°S 15.913022°E, 1.III.2022, leg. J. Halada (OÖLM).

P a r a t y p e s: Namibia, 2♀ ♀, 20 km N Karibib , 10. II.1993, leg. J. Gusenleitner ( OÖLM) ; 1♀, Erongo region, 30 km W Omaruru , 21°21.637'S 15°40.709'E, 14.-19. III.2022, leg. J. Halada ( JHC) ; 3♀ ♀, 3♁♁, Karibib , 65 km SW Usakos, 24. II.1990, leg. Max Schwarz ( OÖLM) ; 1♀, 15 km W Karibib , 25. II.1990, leg. Max Schwarz ( OÖLM) ; 1♀, Karibib , 55 km W Usakos, 25. II.1990, leg. Max Schwarz ( OÖLM) ; 1♀, Rehobot , 9 km S Rehobot, 14. II.1990, leg. Max Schwarz ( OÖLM) ; 1♀, Erongo province, 1-5 km E Usakos , 21°59'S 15°37'E, leg. A. Kudrna jr. ( JHC) ; 1♀, Khomas province, 25 km NNE Vsakos , 21°52'S 15°19'E, 1110 m, 17. III.2014, leg. J. Halada ( JHC) ; 5♀ ♀, 6♁♁, Karibib , 7. II.1993, leg. J. Gusenleitner & Max Schwarz ( OÖLM) ; 1♁, Karibib , 15 km W Karibib, 28. II.1993, leg. Max Schwarz ( OÖLM) ; 1♁, Erongo province, 1-5 km E Usakos , 21°58'S 15°30'E, 900 m, 14. II.2014, leg. J. Halada ( JHC) ; 1♁, Erongo province, 28 km S Karibib , 1150 m, 22°11'38''S 15°51'13''E, 28. III.2017, leg. J. Halada ( JHC) .

E t y m o l o g y: The holotype was collected in Namibia.

R e c o g n i t i o n: The female of Cerceris namibiensis is characterized by having the coxa III without a longitudinal carina, the median area of the clypeus is distinctly convex in lateral view ( Fig. 11b ), the apical margin of the clypeus is ferruginous with six very small teeth or is nearly straight with lateral tooth ( Fig. 11a ) and the clypeus has a small point on the apical one-third of median area. Additionally, the propodeal enclosure is smooth as a mirror and the lateral- and medio-longitudinal furrows are nearly lacking, the prosternum has fine transverse striae, the scutum and the propodeal sides are shining and sparsely punctate, in most specimens the terga II-IV are produced apico-lateral and the gaster is predominantly ferruginous. The female of C. nigeriaensis has a similar shaped clypeus but differs in having the scutum, the scutellum and the propodeal sides densely coarsely punctate. Additionally, the propodeal enclosure is shallowly transversely ridged, the prosternum has no transverse carina and the gaster is black and yellow.

The male of Cerceris namibiensis is characterized by having the coxa III without a longitudinal carina, the anterior margin of clypeus is yellowich-brown and without distinct teeth ( Fig. 12a ), the flagellomere XI is short and bent ( Fig. 12c ), the mandible has no distinct tooth internally, the propodeal enclosure is smooth as a mirror and nearly without lateral- and medio-longitudinal furrows. Additionally, the scutum and the propodeal sides are shining and irregularly sparsely punctate (punctures 1-3 diameters apart), in many specimens the terga II-IV are more or less produced apico-laterally, the prosternum has a transverse carina or striae, the petiolus is wider than long ( Fig. 12e ) and the gaster is predominantly yellow. The male of C. vittata eurypyga is similar to C. namibiensis but differs by having the pronotal collar lateral angularly prutruding, the propodeal sides are densely punctate and the prosternum is shining sparsely punctate and without transverse carina.

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀, 8-9 mm. Sculpture: apical margin of clypeus with six very small teeth or nearly straight with one tooth on each side ( Fig. 11a ); median area with small point on apical one-third and distinctly convex in lateral view ( Fig. 11b ); mandible with two small teeth internally; prosternum with transverse carina or fine transverse striae; pronotal collar rounded lateral; mesopleuron without tubercle; epimeron without crest; petiolus wieder than long ( Fig. 11d ); terga I-IV with fossa apico-medial; tergum II without mediobasal plate; coxa III without longitudinal carina; terga II-IV more or less produced apico-laterally; pygidial plate oval ( Fig. 11c ). Puncturation: median area of clypeus shining and punctate; lateral areas of clypeus and frons dull and punctate; vertex densely punctate; pronotal collar sparsely punctate; scutum shining, sparsely irregularly and finely punctate (punctures 1-3 diameters apart); scutellum similar; metanotum sparsely finely punctate; mesopleuron densely punctate; propodeal enclosure smooth as mirror and nearly without lateral- and medio-longitudinal furrows; propodeal sides shining, sparsely irregularly punctate (punctures 0-3 diameters apart); tegula impunctate; terga punctate (punctures 1- 2 diameters apart); pygidial plate finely structured, dull; sterna lateral punctured. Pilosity: lateral areas of clypeus and frons covered with appressed silvery setae; gena covered with long erect setae; rest of body irregularly sparsely covered with erect setae; terga III-V nearly glabrous. Coloration: black; following parts whitish-yellow: clypeus, frons, mandible (except apex), spot on gena, tegula lateral half, pronotal collar, scutellum, metanotum, spot on propodeum lateral, apical half on tergum I, apical stripes on terga IIV; fore- and midlegs black and yellow, hindlegs ferruginous and yellow; terga and sterna predominantly ferruginous; wings hyaline, apical fuscous; flagellum ferruginous, dorsal darkened.

♁, 8-10 mm. Sculpture: apical margin of clypeus without distinct teeth ( Fig. 12a ); mandible without tooth internally; prosternum shining with transverse carina or striae; pronotal collar rounded lateral; flagellomeres IX-XI with shallow tyloidea hardly to be seen; flagellomere XI short and bent ( Fig. 12c ); mesopleuron without tubercle; epimeron without crest; propodeal enclosure smooth as mirror, lateral- and medio-longitudinal furrows shallow and not crenulate; petiolus wider than long (12e); coxa III without longitudinal carina; pygidial plate ( Fig. 12d ); genitalia ( Fig. 12f ). Puncturation: clypeus and frons sparsely punctate; vertex irregularly punctate; pronotal collar sparsely punctate; tegula impunctate; scutum shining and sparsely punctate (punctures 1-3 diameters apart); scutellum and metanotum similar punctured; mesopleuron shining and sparsely punctate (punctures 0-1 diameter apart); propodeal sides sparsely punctate (punctures 0-3 diameters apart), terga I-IV with apico-medial fossa; terga sparsely punctate (punctures 0-1 diameter apart), sterna lateral punctate. Pilosity: clypeus and frons nearly glabrous; clypeal brush broad; gena with erect setae; rest of body with sparse short setae; some specimens with more or less erect setae on sterna II-VI. Coloration; black; following parts yellow (variably): clypeus, frons, interantennal carina, scapus, mandibles (except apex), pronotal collar, tegula, spot on epimeron, scutellum, metanotum, spot on propodeal sides, apical band on tergum I, terga II-IV, sterna II-VI lateral, legs nearly all, flagellum (dorsal fuscous); wings hyaline, apical fuscous; terga II-VI partly ferruginous, in some specimens nearly all yellow.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Namibia.

Figures

Fig. 11: Cerceris namibiensis DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ♀: (a) clypeus; (b) clypeus lateral view; (c) pygidial plate; (d) petiolus.

Fig. 12: Cerceris namibiensis DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ♁: (a) clypeus; (b) clypeus lateral view; (c) flagellum; (d) pygidial plate; (e) petiolus; (f) genitalia dorsal and gonostylus in lateral view.