Patellapis (Patellapis) reticulata, Timmermann & Kuhlmann, 2009

Timmermann, Kim & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2009, Variable Selection and Inference for Multi-period Forecasting Problems, Zootaxa 2099, pp. 1-188 : 73-74

Patellapis (Patellapis) reticulata sp. n. Timmermann

( Figs. 46a–g ; 47a–h ).

Diagnosis. The females are morphologically characterised by the extensively reticulate supraclypeal area, scutum and propodeum. There is no other species within the subgenus Patellapis s. str. having these morphological characteristics in combination except the females of P. karooensis . The females of both species can be distinguished from one another in the structure and size of the basitibial plate, which is more slender in P. reticulata than in P. karooensis . Further, P. reticulata has the scutum strongly reticulate and the medio–posterior part of basal area of propodeum not depressed, whereas the scutum of P. karooensis is shiny and not sculptured and the medio–posterior part of basal area of propodeum is depressed. The male of P. reticulata is unique within the subgenus Patellapis . It is the only species having the gonostylus simple without dorso-lateral projection in combination with the flagellomeres antennae A4 about three times longer than A3.

Description

Female. Bl = 6,5–6,6mm. General habitus ( Fig. 46e ). Head. L = 1,7–1,8mm; W = 2,0– 2,1mm. Head slightly wider than long ( Fig. 46a ). Integument black except mandibles sometimes partly reddish-brown. Face shiny and with loose, long, greyish to yellowish, erect hairs. Mandibles bidentate. Malar area very short, linear. Clypeus and supraclypeal area convex in profile. Clypeus and supraclypeal area moderately strongly and densely punctate (i = 1,0–1,5d); surface completely reticulate. Clypeoantennal distance 0,4mm. Paraocular area slightly dull; coarsely and densely punctate; surface extensively sculptured. Antennae blackish-brown. Mesosoma. L = 1,3–1,4mm; W (ITS) = 1,5–1,6mm. Integument black. Scutum shiny; disc strongly and densely punctate (i = 1,0–1,5d); surface extensively reticulate ( Fig. 46b ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 46c . Scutum, scutellum and metanotum with brownish, erect hairs; mesepisternum and propodeum with greyish to yellowish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 46c ; propodeum slightly dull, completely reticulate and with only a few, well separated, minute punctures. Marginal region of posterior truncation slightly dull, completely reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument blackish-brown. Vestiture yellowish to brownish. Ts finely serrate, with about 10, oblique projections ( Fig. 46f ). Bp slender and pointed at apex ( Fig. 46g ). Metasoma. L = 3,6–3,7mm; W = 2,1–2,2mm. Integument blackish-brown except the margins of T brownish to pallid brownish; margins partly translucent. T1–T4 with weak, inconspicuous, greyish, apical hair bands; the bands mostly present laterally. Prepygidial fimbria brownish ( Fig. 46d ).

Male. Bl = 5,7–6,2mm. General habitus ( Fig. 47e ). Head. L = 1,8–2,0mm; W = 1,9–2,0mm. Head about as wide as long ( Fig. 47a ). Integument black except mandibles partly reddish. Clypeus, supraclypeal area, paraocular area and vertex with loose, greyish, erect hairs; clypeus, supraclypeal area and lower half of paraocular area entirely covered with appressed, white hairs. Mandibles simple. Malar area very short, linear. Antennae brownish-black. Flagellomeres knotty. A4 about 3,0 times longer than A3. Mesosoma. L = 1,1–1,3mm; W (ITS) = 1,4–1,5mm. Integument black. Scutum shiny; disc strongly and densely punctate (i = 1,0–1,5d); surface extensively reticulate. Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 47b . Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with long, greyish, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 47b ; propodeum shiny, with a few, well separated punctures; surface extensively sculptured. Marginal region of posterior truncation shiny and reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument brownish-black. Vestiture greyish. Metasoma. L = 3,2–3,6mm; W = 1,2–1,8mm. Integument blackish brown except the margins of T brownish to pallid brownish; margins extensively translucent ( Fig. 47c ). Apical plate broad and pointed to truncate apically. Posterior margin of S4 with a dense row of erect bristles. S5 with weak, fan–shaped, hair patches ( Fig. 47d ). S7 and S8 as illustrated in Fig. 47h . Genitalia. Genitalia as illustrated in Fig. 47f–g ; gonocoxa dull and gonostylus simple, without a dorso-lateral projection.

Type material ( 11 specimens). Holotype, female, South Africa, Northern Cape, 15 km NW Nieuwoudtville, 800m N Farm Engelsepunt, Fynbos, Sonst. , 29.viii.2003, leg. K. Timmermann, SANC.

Paratypes: 7♀, 3♂. South Africa. Western Cape : 1♀, near Peerboomskloof Pass in Ceres Karoo , 24.ix.2001, leg. C.D. Eardley, SANC ; 1♀, Holfontein , 20 km S Clanwilliam, 21.vi.1984, leg. V . B. Whitehead , SAM – HYM – B009654 , SAMC ; 2♀, 3♂, 5 km W Graafwater , 21.vi.1984, leg. V . B. Whitehead , SAM – HYM – B009656 , SAMC ; Northern Cape: 1♀, 15 km NW Nieuwoudtville, near farm Engelsepunt , fynbos, 13.ix.2003, leg. K. Timmermann, KTPC ; 2♀, 15 km NW Nieuwoudtville, 800m N farm Engelsepunt , fynbos, 29.viii.2003, leg. K. Timmermann, KTPC .

Additional material (2 specimens). 2♀. South Africa, Western Cape : 1♀, Worcester, ix.1928, leg. R . E. Turner, BMNH ; 1♀, idem., ix.–x.1931, BMNH .

Etymology. Named after the extensively reticulate supraclypeal area.

Distribution ( Fig. 48 ). Records exist only from the winter rainfall area.

Floral visitation. Unknown.

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). vi–x.

Remarks. This species is treated as Patellapis new species 6 in Timmermann and Kuhlmann (2008b).

Figures

FIGURE 46. Patellapis (P.) reticulata, female: a. Head (scale=1mm); b. Scutum (scale=1mm); c. Scutellum and propodeum (scale=0,5mm); d. Metasomal terga (scale=1mm); e. Body (scale=1mm); f. Inner hind tibial spur (scale=100µm); g. Basitibial plate (scale=100µm).

FIGURE 47. Patellapis (P.) reticulata, male: a. Head (scale=1mm); b. Scutum (scale=1mm); c. Metasomal terga (scale=1mm); d. Metasomal sterna (scale=1mm); e. Body (scale=1mm); f. Genitalia, dorsal view (scale=0,5mm); g. Genitalia, lateral view (scale=0,5mm); h. Metasomal sterna S7 and S8, ventral view (scale=0,5mm).

FIGURE 48. Distributions of P. problematica and P. reticulata.