Patellapis (Patellapis) minutior ( Friese 1909 )

Timmermann, Kim & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2009, Variable Selection and Inference for Multi-period Forecasting Problems, Zootaxa 2099, pp. 1-188 : 49-52

Patellapis (Patellapis) minutior ( Friese 1909)

Halictus (Patellapis) minutior Friese, 1909: 148 .

( Figs. 29a–g ; 30a–h )

Diagnosis. The males differ from those of P. schultzei and P. bidentata in the structure of the dorso-lateral projection of the gonostylus. This projection is very small and inconspicuous in P.minutior and in P. braunsi , too. P. minutior can be easily separated from P. braunsi in having the gonocoxa dull with conspicuous grooves on the surface. The females of P. minutior are characterised by the fuscous wings, whereas clear in P. bidentata . The females of P. braunsi and P. schultzei are unknown.

Description

Female. Bl = 7,4–7,5mm. General habitus ( Fig. 29e ). Head. L = 2,1–2,2mm; W = 2,3–2,4mm. Head about as wide as long ( Fig. 29a ). Integument black except mandibles sometimes partly reddish-brown. Face shiny and with loose, long, brownish, erect hairs. Mandibles bidentate. Malar area very short, linear. Clypeus about two times as wide as long; coarsely and densely punctate (i = d). Clypeoantennal distance 0,4mm. Supraclypeal area about as long as wide; strongly but sparsely punctate (i = 2,0–2,5d); surface sometimes marginally chagreened. Clypeus and supraclypeal area weakly convex in profile. Paraocular area coarsely and densely punctate. Antennae blackish to brownish. Mesosoma. L = 1,5–1,6mm; W (ITS) = 1,8–1,9mm. Integument black. Scutum shiny; partly chagreened and with a distinct median depression anteriorly; disc densely and strongly punctate (i = d) ( Fig. 29b ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 29c . Scutum and scutellum with brownish, erect hairs (same colour as head); metanotum and mesepisternum with greyish, erect hairs. Propodeum except basal area and propodeal triangle with greyish, long, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 29c . Marginal region of posterior truncation slightly dull, coarsely and densely punctate; surface between punctures strongly reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument brownish to black. Vestiture greyish to brownish. Ts finely serrate ( Fig. 29f ). Bp broad and rounded apically ( Fig. 29g ). Metasoma. L = 4,1–4,2mm; W = 2,5–2,6mm. Integument black except the margins of T brownish (usually T1–T2) to pallid; margins translucent. T3–T4 with greyish apical loose hair bands; the bands on T1–T2 mostly present laterally. Prepygidial fimbria yellowish. Discs and marginal zones of T1–T3 as illustrated in Fig. 29d .

Male. Bl = 7,5–7,7mm. General habitus ( Fig. 30e ). Head. L = 1,8–2,0mm; W = 2,1–2,2mm. Head slightly wider than long. Integument black except mandibles sometimes partly reddish-brown. Clypeus, supraclypeal area and lower half of paraocular area covered with erect, brownish hairs; the lower half of paraocular area covered with appressed, whitish hairs. Mandibles simple. Malar area very short, linear. Antennae brownish-black. Flagellomeres weakly knotty. A4 about 1,5 times longer than A3. Mesosoma. L = 1,4–1,5mm; W (ITS) = 1,7–1,8mm. Integument black. Scutum densely and strongly punctate (i = d) ( Fig. 30a ). Scutellum as illustrated in Fig. 30b . Scutum, scutellum and metanotum with long, brownish, erect hairs; mesepisternum with long, greyish, erect hairs. Propodeum except basal area and propodeal triangle with greyish, long, erect hairs. Basal area of propodeum as illustrated in Fig. 30b . Marginal region of posterior truncation slightly dull, coarsely and densely punctate; surface between punctures strongly reticulate. Wings. Hyaline. Legs. Integument brownish to black. Vestiture mostly greyish. Metasoma. L = 4,6–4,8mm; W = 2,3–2,4mm. Integument black except the margins of T brownish (usually T1–T2), and pallid to translucent. Discs and marginal zones of T1–T2 as illustrated in Fig. 30c . Apical plate broad rounded apically. Posterior margin of S4 with a dense row of coarse, erect bristles. S5 with loose,erect, hair patches laterally ( Fig. 30d ). S7 and S8 as illustrated in Fig. 30f . Genitalia. Genitalia as illustrated in Fig. 30g –h ; gonocoxa dull and gonostylus with very small, dorso-lateral projection.

Type material ( 2 specimens). Lectotype, male, Kl. Namaland Steinkopf L. Schultze S. (blue label), Patellapis minutior ♂ 1908 Friese det. (handwritten white label), Type (red label), 1 (white label), Zool. Mus. Berlin (yellow label), 1 (handwritten white label), ZMHB.

Paralectotype: 1♀, Kl. Namaland Steinkopf L. Schultze S. (blue label), gehört zu ♂ „ minutior Art 1“ (handwritten white label), TYPE (red label), Zool. Mus. Berlin (white label), 6 (handwritten white label), ZMHB.

Additional material (34 specimens): 20♀, 14♂. South Africa. Eastern Cape : 3♀, 1♂, 2km N Steytlerville , pan trap, 16.–20.xi.1999, leg. M.E. Irwin, E.I. Schlinger, and F.D. Parker, BBSL374083 , BBSL374434 , BBSL380817 , BBSL374126 , BLCU ; Western Cape: 2♀, 6 km from Ladismith on road to Barrydale , 21.viii.1995, leg. F.W. and S.K. Gess, No. 95/96/2, AMGS ; 1♂, Eerdekua , 19.viii.1992, leg. V . B. Whitehead , SAM – HYM – B009676 , SAMC ; 2♀, 20km S Clanwilliam , 29.viii.1984, leg. V . B. Whitehead and K. Steiner , SAM – HYM – B009652 , SAM – HYM – B009586 , SAMC ; 1♀, Clanwilliam Dam, E bank 19,2 km S caravan park, 05.x.1995, leg. F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess, No. 95/96/258, AMGS ; 1♀, Caleta Cove, E bank Clanwilliam Dam, 23.ix.1996, leg. F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess, No. 96/97/204, AMGS ; 1♀, 4km S Clanwilliam , ix.1961, SAM – HYM – B009695 , SAMC ; 5♀, Nieuwoudtville, Skuinshoogte Pass , 23.–30.ix.1994, leg. F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess, No. 94/95/48, No. 94/95/33A, AMGS ; 1♂, 16km E Clanwilliam , 08.xi.2001, leg. C.D. Eardley, SANC ; Northern Cape: 1♀, 2♂, Leliefontein , pan trap, 31.viii.2003, leg. C. Mayer, KTPC ; 2♀, 1♂, idem., 05.ix.2003, KTPC ; 2♂, idem., 07.ix.2003, KTPC ; 2♂, idem., 11.ix.2003, KTPC ; 1♀, Remhoogte , pan trap, 05.ix.2003, leg. C. Mayer, KTPC ; 1♂, idem., 07.ix.2003, KTPC ; 1♂, idem., 11.ix.2003, KTPC ; 1♀, Kamieskroon , ix.1930, SAM – HYM – B009590 , SAMC , 1♂, Kamiesberg Pass , 4km ENE of Kamieskroon, 12.ix.1992, leg. F.W. Gess and S.K. Gess, No. 92/93/62, AMGS ; 1♂, Dassiefontein Farm , 14 km E Kammieskroon, 16.–17.ix.2001, leg. C.D. Eardley, SANC .

Distribution ( Fig. 32). Records exist from different locations of the winter rainfall area eastwards to Steytlerville in the Eastern Cape.

Floral visitation. Tetragonia spec. (Aizoaceae) , Convolvulaceae , Mesembryanthemaceae , Hermannia disermifolia , Hermannia cf. cuneifolia (Sterculiaceae) .

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). viii.–xi.

Figures

FIGURE 29. Patellapis (P.) minutior, female: a. Head (scale=1mm); b. Scutum (scale=1mm); c. Scutellum and propodeum (scale=0,5mm); d. Metasomal terga T1-T3 (scale=1mm); e. Body (scale=1mm); f. Inner hind tibial spur (scale=100µm); g. Basitibial plate (scale=100µm).

FIGURE 30. Patellapis (P.) minutior, male: a. Scutum (scale=1mm); b. Scutellum and propodeum (scale=0,5mm); c. Metasomal terga T1 and T2 (scale=1mm); d. Metasomal sterna (scale=1mm); e. Body (scale=1mm); f. Metasomal sterna S7 and S8, ventral view (scale=0,5mm); g. Genitalia, dorsal view (scale=0,5mm); h. Genitalia, lateral view (scale=0,5mm).