Patellapis (Chaetalictus) pondoensis ( Cockerell 1937 )

Timmermann, Kim & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2009, Variable Selection and Inference for Multi-period Forecasting Problems, Zootaxa 2099, pp. 1-188 : 121-123

Patellapis (Chaetalictus) pondoensis ( Cockerell 1937)

Halictus pondoensis Cockerell, 1937: 78 .

Halictus sanguinibasis Cockerell, 1939a: 178 . Syn. n.

( Figs. 83a–g ; 84a–d )

Diagnosis. The male is similar to that of P. disposita in having a hairless, broad, hyaline, dorso-lateral projection on the gonostylus. Both are easy to distinguish by having a different number of erect bristles on posterior margin of S4. The male of P. pondoensis has 6 weak, erect bristles, whereas that of P. disposita has 12 strong, erect bristles. The males of P. pearstonensis , P. platti , P. micheneri and P. neli have 6 bristles as well, but these bristles are very strong and long while those of P. pondoensis are weak. The female of P. pondoensis is similar to that of P. pastinella . Both differ in the body length. P. pearstonensis , P. chubbi and P. cinctifera differ from P. pondoensis in having reddish metasomal terga.

Description

Female. Bl = 6,5–6,6mm. General habitus ( Fig. 83e ). Head. L = 1,8–1,9mm; W = 2,2–2,3mm. Head wider than long ( Fig. 83a ). Integument black except mandibles partly brown. Face predominantly dull and with loose, yellowish to pallid brown, erect hairs. Mandibles bidentate. Clypeus and supraclypeal area convex in profile. Clypeus coarsely and densely punctate; surface extensively sculptured; predominantely dull. Clypeoantennal distance 0,4mm. Supraclypeal area with a few well separated punctures; surface strongly and completely sculptured. Paraocular area coarsely and densely punctate; surface extensively and strongly sculptured; predominantely dull. Antennae brownish. Mesosoma. L = 1,4–1,5mm; W (ITS) = 1,6–1,7mm. Integument black. Scutum slightly shiny; surface completely reticulate; disc sparsely punctate (i = 2,0–2,5d) ( Fig. 83b ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 83c . Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with yellowish to pallid brown, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 83c ; propodeum and marginal region of posterior truncation slightly dull; surface completely reticulate. Wings. Fuscouse. Legs. Integument brownish-black. Vestiture brownish. Ts moderately strongly serrate, with 6 oblique projections ( Fig. 83f ). Bp as illustrated in Fig. 83g . Metasoma. L = 3,4–3,5mm; W = 2,4–2,6mm. Integument blackish-brown except the margins of T brownish to reddish-brown; margins slightly translucent. No apical hair bands on metasomal terga. Prepygidial fimbria brownish. Metasomal terga T1–T2 as illustrated in Fig. 83d .

Male. Bl = 5,4–5,5mm. Head. L = 1,5–1,6mm; W = 1,7–1,8mm. Head wider than long ( Fig. 84a ).

Integument black except mandibles, malar area and clypeus sometimes partly reddish-brown. Clypeus, supraclypeal area, paraocular area and vertex covered with erect, yellowish to pallid brown hairs. Mandibles simple. Antennae brownish. Flagellomeres of normal structure (not knotty). A4 as long as A3. Mesosoma. L = 1,0– 1,1mm; W (ITS) = 1,1–1,2mm. Integument black. Scutum slightly shiny; finely and sparsely punctate (i = 2,0–3,0d); surface completely reticulate ( Fig. 84b ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 84c . Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with greyish to brownish, erect hairs. Pronotal lobe reddish. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 84c ; propodeum and marginal region of posterior truncation slightly shiny and completely reticulate; propodeum with small well separated punctures. Wings. Slightly fuscouse. Legs. Integument reddish-brown. Vestiture pallid brown. Metasoma. L = 2,7–2,8mm; W = 1,6–1,7mm. Integument reddish-brown except the margins of T usually brighter; margins of T partly translucent. Apical plate broad; rounded apically. Posterior margin of S4with a sparse row of 6 weak, long, curled, erect bristles. Metasomal sterna S5–S6 without dense hair patches. Genitalia. Genitalia as illustrated in Fig. 84d ; gonocoxa extensively dull; gonostylus with dorso-lateral, broad, hyaline projection; projection hairless.

Type material (2 specimens). Holotype, female, Port St. John , Pondoland, Sept. 1923 (white label), S. Africa, R . E. Turner, Brit. Mus. 1923–510 (white label), Type (red-white label), B.M. TYPE HYM . 17a.833 (white label), Halictus pondoensis Ckll Type (handwritten white label), BMNH ; Holotype, female, Halictus sanguinibasis Ckll Type , South Africa, Katberg, 1–15.i.1933, R . E. Turner , B.M. TYPE HYM . 17a.845, BMNH.

Additional material (27 specimens). 24♀, 3♂. South Africa, Eastern Cape : 1♀, Katberg , 15.–30.i.1933, leg. R. E. Turner, Brit. Mus. 1933–108, BMNH; KwaZulu – Natal : 23♀, 3♂, Eshowe , i.1957, leg. N.L.H. Krauss, SEMC .

Distribution ( Fig. 87 ). Records exist from KwaZulu–Natal and Eastern Cape Province.

Floral visitation. Unknown.

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). ix-i.

Figures

FIGURE 83. Patellapis (Ch.) pondoensis, female: a. Head (scale=0,5mm); b. Scutum (scale=0,5mm); c. Scutellum and propodeum (scale=0,5mm); d. Metasomal terga T1 and T2 (scale=1mm); e. Body (scale=1mm); f. Inner hind tibial spur (scale=100µm); g. Basitibial plate (scale=100µm).

FIGURE 84. Patellapis (Ch.) pondoensis, male: a. Head (scale=0,5mm); b. Scutum (scale=0,5mm); c. Scutellum and propodeum (scale=0,5mm); d. Genitalia, dorsal view (scale=100µm).

FIGURE 87. Distributions of P. platti, P. pondoensis and P.rozeni.