Chiasmognathus batelkai, Straka, Jakub & Engel, Michael S., 2012

Straka, Jakub & Engel, Michael S., 2012, The apid cuckoo bees of the Cape Verde Islands (Hymenoptera, Apidae), ZooKeys 218, pp. 77-109 : 98-102

Chiasmognathus batelkai sp. n. Figs 35-43

Holotype.

♂, Cape Verde Isl., Santo Antao, 1382 m, Espongeiro, 13.X.2009 [13 October 2009], 17°06'17"N, 25°05'21"W, J. Straka & J. Batelka lgt. (SEMC).

Paratypes.

São Vicente: 1♂, Cabo Verde 00/25, Ilha de S. Vicente, Calhau - Baia d. Gatas, -5 m, 13.12.2000 [13 December 2000], leg. Aistleitner (EAFC); Santo Antão: 5♂♂, same data as holotype (FISC, JSPC, SEMC); 3♂♂, 4♀♀, same data as holotype except 12-13.X.2009 [12-13 October 2009], 17°06'N, 25°05'W (JSPC, SEMC).

Diagnosis.

The new species is the largest of the known Chiasmognathus , being 3.2-4.1 mm in total length in females and 3.5-4.2 mm in males. The ocellar elevation in males is distinctly more prominent than in any of the other species, this and the combination of the size, mesoscutal sculpturing, and coloration (Figs 35, 36, 42, 43) will serve to identify Chiasmognathus batelkai from the other species of the genus, particularly those occurring in Africa ( Engel 2010, pers. obs.: Niger and undescribed species from Kenya).

Description.

♂: Total body length 4.0 mm (3.5-4.2 mm); forewing length 3.3 mm (3.1-3.7 mm). Head wider than long (width 1.3 mm, length 0.99 mm); inner margins of compound eyes straight, convergent below; apex of clypeus at lower tangent of compound eyes; ocelli above upper tangent of compound eyes, ocellar triangle particularly prominent, swollen above curvature of head (more so than in other species of the genus); clypeus weakly convex, nearly flat, apicolateral corners of clypeus with small patches of tightly packed, elongate, apically-sinuate setae; malar space vestigial; mandibles simple, crossing in repose but not covering labrum; frontal line carinate from just below lower tangent of antennal toruli to median ocellus. Mesoscutum with median line deeply impressed and wide, width about that of mesoscutal puncture diameter, extending to just before mesoscutal midlength. Intertegular distance (i.e., distance between inner margins of tegulae) 0.8 mm (0.7-0.9 mm). Forewing marginal cell broadly truncate; both m-cu crossveins entering second submarginal cell. Male terminalia as depicted in Figures 37-41.

Integument generally shining and smooth (Fig. 36). Labrum with punctures over entire surface, punctures nearly contiguous, integument between punctures (where evident) smooth; clypeus with shallow punctures separated by 0.5-1.5 times a puncture width centrally, punctures separated by less than a puncture width laterally; face and vertex with punctures nearly contiguous and more well defined than those centrally on clypeus, integument between (where evident) smooth, punctures on vertex posterior to ocelli somewhat weaker; punctures on gena as on sides of vertex with punctures gradually becoming more widely spaced ventrally; postgena with smaller and weaker punctures separated by 1-4 times a puncture width, integument otherwise smooth but duller than shining integument elsewhere on head. Mesoscutum punctate, anteriorly and around median line punctures separated by 0.5 times a puncture width, infrequently more widely spaced, otherwise punctures of mesoscutum separated by 1-2 times a puncture width, infrequently by less; mesoscutellum with punctures separated by 0.5 times a puncture width except in paramedial areas of disc distinctly more sparse, separated there by 1-5 times a puncture width; metanotum with punctures separated by less than a puncture width; preëpisternal area with punctures more coarse than those of meoscutum, nearly contiguous; hypoepimeral area with small punctures separated by 0.5-3 times a puncture width, ventrally with largely impunctate area bordering scrobe; mesepisternum with punctures separated by 0.5-2 times a puncture width anteriorly, posteriorly punctures more coarse and closer, often nearly contiguous, becoming more widely spaced ventrally; metepisternum with punctures separated by less than a puncture width above, punctures becoming more widely spaced ventrally; propodeum with short and narrow basal area coarsely imbricate and impunctate, otherwise integument with punctures separated by less than a puncture width. Metasomal terga and sterna finely imbricate, with scattered weak, small punctures, apical margins impunctate.

Integument of head and mesosoma black and shining (Figs 35, 36) except reddish brown on mandibular apex, brown on middle third of mandible, light brown on palpi and glossa, dark brown to black on labrum (some males with reddish brown laterally on labrum), dark brown to black on antennae, dark brown on tegula, and dark brown on legs except lighter on tarsi and at femorotibial and tibiobasitarsal joints. Wing veins brown except C and Sc+R dark brown; membranes hyaline, forewings faintly infumate. Metasoma dark brown except first tergum dark reddish brown in apical two-thirds to one-half; apical margins of terga narrowly brown to light brown.

Pubescence silvery white. Head with numerous, fine, appressed to subappressed plumose setae, such setae nearly obscuring integument of face around and below level of antennal toruli, and intermingled with a few suberect to erect finer, simple setae; such appressed plumose setae present on gena. Setae of mesosoma like those of head although more sparse centrally on mesoscutum and mesoscutellum; setae similar to those of gena on pleura (although longer and more diffuse to sparse centrally on mesepisternum), metanotum, and dorsolateral portions of propodeum. Metasoma with sparse, erect to suberect, short simple setae, without prominent apical fasciae composed of appressed, plumose, white pubescence; first metasomal tergum with small, weak apicolateral patches of appressed to subappressed plumose setae; succeeding terga with similar patches although often more diffuse or narrower than those of first tergum.

♀: As described for the male except in usual gender differences ( Engel 2006, 2009) and as follows: Total body length 3.2-4.1 mm; forewing length 2.9-3.9 mm. Ocellar triangle not as prominent as in male. Intertegular distance 0.7-1.0 mm.

Metasomal terga and sterna finely imbricate, with sparse weak, minute punctures, apical margins impunctate, often broadly so.

Coloration as in male except often protibia brown as on tarsi rather than dark brown as on other more basal podites; metasoma dark brown except first tergum largely reddish brown in apical two-thirds to one-half (Figs 42, 43); apical margins of terga reddish brown to brown, most prominently so on second tergum, less so on more apical terga and sterna.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a patronym honoring Jan Batelka, a prominent collector of the new species, authority on the systematics of beetles, and good friend.