Cerceris malickyi DOLLFUSS, 2020

Dollfuss, Hermann, 2020, The Sphecid wasps of the genus Cerceris LATREILLE, 1802 of the " Biologiezentrum Linz " - Collection in Linz, Austria, from Subsaharan Africa and Madagascar, with description of five new species (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Crabronidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 52 (1), pp. 93-118 : 107-111

Cerceris malickyi DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ( Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 )

R e c o r d s: Holotype: ♀, Nigeria, Gashaka Gumfi NP, 30 km SE Serti env., 7°21'N 11°32'E, 380- 560m, 24.IV.-8.V.2011, leg. J. Halada ( OÖLM) . Paratypes: ♀, Nigeria, Gashaka Gumfi NP, 30 km SE Serti env., 7°21'N 11°32'E, ~ 450m, 24.IV.-8.V.2011, leg. J. Halada ; ♂, Nigeria, Gashaka Gumfi NP, 30 km SE Serti env., 7°21'N 11°32'E, 380-560m, 24.IV.-8.V.2011, leg. J. Halada.

E t y m o l o g y: In honor of Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hans Malicky, Lunz, Austria.

R e c o g n i t i o n o f f e m a l e: Thefemaleof Cerceris malickyi is characterized by having the tergum I with a small apomedian fossa and the hindcoxa has no longitudinal carina. The anterior margin of the clypeus is nearly straight and has two distinct teeth. The median part has another two teeth near the anterior margin ( Fig. 1 ). The inner orbits are distinctly divergent anteriorly and the propodeal enclosure is medially coarsely longitudinally striate and laterally slightly obliquely striate. The vertex anterior of the ocelli is coarsely longitudinally striate and punctate. The wings are fuscous and sternum II has no raised area.

The female of Cerceris malickyi reminds me of C. iniqua KOHL, 1894 , in having a nearly all black thorax, an ocheous yellow gaster and fuscous wings, but it differs distinctly in the shape of the clypeus ( Fig. 1 ). Additionally, the vertex is longitudinally striate and the propodeal enclosure medially longitudinally and laterally obliquely striate. The scutum is micropunctate and the terga II – V are dull and only laterally punctate. (In C. iniqua the clypeus has a nasiform process on the median lobe and the vertex is punctato-rugose. The propodeal enclosure has horizontal striae and the scutum is longitudinally striato-punctate. The terga II – V are shining and sparsely punctate).

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀, 13 mm. Black, following parts yellow: clypeus (anteror margin black), lateral parts of frons and subantennal sclerite, basal spot on mandible, lateral spot on gena, scutellum and metanotum, an apical spot on forefemur and small spot on foretibia. Gaster except first segment ochreous yellow, wings dark fuscous and flagellun dorsally black, ventrally brown.

Clypeus dull micropunctate, frons densely punctate, vertex ante ocelli striato-punctate, post ocelli punctate. Pronotal collar dull. Scutum micropunctate, laterally punctate. Scutellum and metanotum micropunctate. Mesopleuron coarsely vertically rugose, punctate and more or less tuberculate. Epimeron of mesopleuron not produced into horizontal crest. Tegula micropunctate. Propodeum punctato-rugose. Propodeal enclosure medially longitudinally striate, laterally obliquely striate. Clypeus nearly straight with two teeth and median lobe with two teeth near anterior margin ( Fig. 1 ). Interantennal carina acute and long, nearly to anterior ocellus. Tergum I distinctly broader than long, with small apomedian fossa. Hindcoxa without longitudinal carina. Pygidial area rugose, with setae ( Fig. 3 ). Sternum II without raised area, Sternum V with oblique erect setae and sternum VI with tuft of setae. Flagellum ( Fig. 2 ).

R e c o g n i t i o n o f m a l e: The male of Cerceris malickyi is characterized by having the tergum I with a small apomedian fossa and the hindcoxa has no longitudinal carina. The median part of the clypeus is slightly produced ( Fig. 4 ) and the flagellomeres are distinctly longer than wide ( Fig. 5 ). The inner orbits are slightly divergent anteriorly and the propodeal enclosure is coarsely obliquely striate. The terga II – V are dull and sparsely slightly punctate. The sternum II has no raised area and the sternum VI has a tooth and a tuft of setae apicolaterally. The pygidial area is subrectangular ( Fig. 6 ). The wings are fuscous and the mesopleuron venter is dull and impunctate. The male of Cerceris malickyi reminds me of C. iniqua KOHL, 1884 , in having a nearly all black thorax, an ochreous gaster and fuscous wings, but differs in having flagellomeres VIII – XI without tyloidea and the mesopleural venter dull and inpunctate. ( C. iniqua has distinct tyloidea on the flagellomeres VIII – XI and the mesopleural venter is punctate).

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♂, 13 mm. Black, following parts yellow: Clypeus (apical half black), spot on gena, lateral spots on pronotal collar, two spots on scutellum and spot on epimeron of mesopleuron. Segments II – VII of gaster ochreous yellow. Wing fuscous. Clypeus and frons dull, slightly punctate ( Fig. 4 ). Frons ante ocelli longitudinally punctatorugose and micropunctate. Vertex micropunctate and sparsely punctate. Pronotal collar as in vertex, pronotum laterally coarsely rugose. Scutum micropunctate (dull) and densely punctate, scutellum and metanotum dull and sparsely punctate. Propodeum irregularly punctate laterally. Propodeal enclosure coarsely obliquely striate with fine longitudinal groove. Mesopleuron coarsely punctate, mesopleuron venter dull and impunctate. Tergum I distinctly broader than long and with small apomedian fossa. Sternum I without raised area and sternum VI with tooth and tuft of setae apicolaterally. Sternum VII with long setae. Tegula dull and pygidial area subrectangular ( Fig. 6 ). Flagellomeres VIII – XI without tyloidea and distinctly longer than broad ( Fig. 5 )

G e o g r a p h i c d i s t r i b u t i o n: Nigeria.

Cerceris psdeudowaltoni DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ( Figs 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 ) R e c o r d s: Holotype: ♀, SE Kenya, Voi (Tsavo), 23.III.-4.IV.1997, leg. Ma. Halada ( OÖLM).

Paratypes: 23♂♂, Kenya, Voi env. (Tsavo), 22.XI.-2.XII.1996, leg. Mi. Halada ; 1♂, Kenya, Voi , XII.1999, leg. M.Snizek ; 1♂, Kenya, Voi env., (Tsavo), 8.-18.XI.1996, leg. Mi. Halada ; 1♂, Kenya, Voi (Tsavo), 22.XI.-2.XII.1996, leg. M. Snizek ; 1♂, Kenya, Nairobi , Salama env., 25.XI.1999, leg. M. Snizek.

E t y m o l o g y: Thefemaleissimilarto Cerceris waltoni ARNOLD, 1940 .

R e c o g n i t i o n: The female of Cerceris pseudowaltoni has no longitudinal carina on the hindcoxa. The apical margin of the clypeus ist straight with two teeth and preapical there are another two teeth ( Fig. 7 ). The sterna IV and V have distinct teeth apicolaterally and sternum II has a trace of a median longitudinal carina. The mesopleuron is tuberculate, but the epimeron has no crest. The prosternum has no carina and the propodeal enclosure is smooth and shining, medially with a longitudinal crenulate groove. Scutum and terga are coarsely and densely punctate. Tergum I is as wide as long.

The female of Cerceris waltoni is similar to C. pseudowaltoni , but differs in having the anterior margin of the clypeus with four small teeth and the sterna IV and V have no teeth apicolaterally. Additionally, the mesopleuron has no tubercle laterally, the propodeal enclosure has no median groove and the terga I and II are ferruginous ( ARNOLD 1940: 107). (The female of C. pseudowaltoni has the anterior margin of the clypeus with only two teeth and the sterna IV and V have distinct teeth apicolaterally. The mesopleuron has a tubercle laterally and the propodeal enclosure has a crenulate groove medially. Additionally, the terga I and II are black with yellow spots.). The female of Cerceris tricolorata nigrifrons has a similar clypeus as C. pseudowaltoni but differs in having the hindcoxa with a longitudinal carina and sternum V is medially deepened with two erect teeth medially and crenulated laterally. Additionally the tergum I is fuscous. (The female of C. pseudowaltoni has no longitudinal carina on the hindcoxa and the sternum V is differently shaped. Additionally, the tergum I is black with yellow spots.). The male of Cerceris pseudowaltoni has no longitudinal carina on the hindcoxa. The apical margin of the clypeus has three teeth ( Fig. 10 ). The sterna IV – VI have distinct lateroapical teeth and the sternum II has a trace of a median longitudinal carina. The prosternum has no carina and the epimeron no crest. The propodeal enclosure is smooth and shiny and has a median longitudinal groove. The thorax and gaster are coarsely punctate as in a female. The tergum I is a little longer than maximal width.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Cerceris pseudowaltoni has no longitudnial carina on hindcoxa. Sterna IV and V (VI) have distinct teeth apicolaterally and sternum II has trace of median longitudinal carina.

♀, 7 mm. Black, with following parts yellow: clypeus and frons, propodeal collar laterally, tegula partly, metanotum, tergum I apicomedially, tergum II laterally, tergum III and V apically, fore- and midtibia dorsally, hindtibia basally, fore- and midfemora dorsoapically, hindtrochanter and mandible (except apex). Flagellum dorsally brown, ventrally yellowish-brown. Wings hyalin, apically fuscous. Lower half of frons and lateral sclerites of clypeus with appressed silvery setae. Head (except median lobe of clypeus) fairly coarsely and deeply punctate, largest punctures on vertex about one third as wide as anterior ocellus, interspaces of greater part one and a half times as wide as punctures. Thorax, (except mesopleura), fairly shiny, pronotal collar, scutum and scutellum with little more widely spaced and slightly larger punctures than those of vertex; metanotum inpunctate. Propodeal enclosure smooth and shiny, medially with longitudinal groove. Terga I – V densely and very coarsely punctate. Sterna II – V shiny, laterally punctate. Apical margin of clypeus straight with two lateral teeth, preapical another two teeth ( Fig. 7 ). Prosternum without carina, mesopleuron tuberculate laterally and epimeron without crest. Pygidial area basally narrower than apically, apically rounded ( Fig. 9 ). Flagellum ( Fig. 8 ).

♂, 5 – 7 mm. Black, with following parts yellow:mandible (except apex), clypeus, frons, pronotal collar laterally, tegula lateral half, metanotum, apicomedian spot on tergum I, lateral spots on tergum II, apical one third of tergum III, small apical spots on tergum IV, tergum V, fore- and midtibia nearly all, hindtibia dorsolaterally, fore and midfemora dorsoapically, hindfemora basally, mid- and hindtrochanter and hindcoxa. Flagellum darkbrown dorsally, yellowish-brown ventrally. Wings hyalin, apically fuscous. Clypeus and frons punctate and micropunctate, vertex, anterior part of pronotal collar, scutum, scutellum and propodeum shiny and irregularly coarsely punctate. Mesopleuron more densely coarsely punctate. Terga I – VI very coarsely and densely punctate. Sterna II – V laterally coarsely punctate. Anterior margin of clypeus with three small teeth ( Fig. 10 ), propleuron without carina, mesopleuron without tubercle and epimeron without crest. Tegula impunctate, propodeal enclosure smooth, shiny with longitudinal groove. Flagellum ( Fig. 11 ). Pygidial area ( Fig. 12 ).

G e o g r a p h i c d i s t r i b u t i o n: Kenya.

Cerceris saengeri DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ( Figs 13, 14, 15 ) R e c o r d s: Holotype: ♀, Namibia, Rundu , 22.I.1993, leg. J. Gusenleitner ( OÖLM).

E t y m o l o g y: In rememberance of Univ.-Prof. Dr. Karl Sänger, University of Vienna, who passed away in February 2019.

R e c o g n i t i o n: The female of Cerceris saengeri is characterized by having a broadly emarginate clypeal process which is separated at the sides from the lateral sclerites ( Fig. 13 ). The terga I – IV have a small apomedian fossa and the hindcoxa has no longitudinal carina. The tergum I is broader than long and the prosternum has no carina. The propodeal enclosure is smooth and punctate laterally and the sternum II has no raised area. The female of Cerceris diodonta SCHLETTERER, 1887 , is similar to C. saengeri in having variable mixed ferruginous and black collour on head, thorax and gaster, but C. diodonta differs distinctly in the shape of the clypeal process, the propodeal enclosure is obliquely striate and the pygidial area distinctly narrowing apically. The female of Cerceris multipicta F. SMITH, 1873 , is also similar to C. saengeri in having a broadly emarginate clypeal process, but this is not separated at the sides from the lateral sclerites. The anterior margin of the clypeal process is acute and the body is finely punctate. Additionally, this species has more yellow spots and the body is larger (20 – 21 mm). (The female of C. saengeri has a clypeal process separated from the lateral sclerites and the anterior margin is broad. The head, the thorax and the gaster are more coarsely punctate. Additionally, the body has only few yellow spots and is smaller (13 mm )).

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀, 13 mm. Head, thorax and gaster ferruginous, partly black and yellow. Following parts yellow: Clypeal process (except apical margin) and lateral parts of clypeus, lateral spots on frons, inerantennal carina, lateral spots on tergum II and small lateral spots on tergum III. Scutum black anteriorly, propodeal enclosure margined with black. Sterna medially black, laterally ferruginous. Flagellum and leg ferruginous. Mandible basally ferruginous, apically one third black. Wings hyalin, apically fuscous. Body with long white setae. Clypeus, frons and Vertex densely punctate, pronotum, scutum, mesopleuron propodeum lateral and terga I – VI densely punctate as in vertex. Scutellum and metanotum sparsely punctate (punctures 1 – 2 diameter apart). Sterna punctate laterally. Propodeal enclosure smooth, laterally punctate and only with trace of median groov. Tegula nearly smooth. Clypeal process nearly four times broader than long, deeply and widely emarginate and separated at sides from lateral sclerites; anterior margin of clypeal process broad and flat ( Fig. 13 ). Anterior margin of clypeus slightly emarginate, with two tiny teeth laterally. Mandible apically with one broad tooth and rounded apex ( Fig. 13 ). Interantennal carina acute, nearly reaching median ocellus. Flagellomere III only slightly longer than IV ( Fig. 14 ). Inner orbits divergent anteriorly. Prosternum finely punctate and without carina. Mesopleuron with small tubercle (hardly to be seen), epimeron of mesopleuron not produced into a horizontal crest. Hindcoxa without longitudinal carina. Terga I – IV with small apomedian fossa. Tegum I broader than long and Sternum II without raised area. Pygidial area basally nearly as broad as apically, apically slightly emarginate ( Fig. 15 ).

♂ unknown.

G e o g r a p h i c d i s t r i b u t i o n: Namibia.

Figures

Figs 1-6: Cerceris malickyi ♀ (1) clypeus, (2) flagellum, (3) pygidial area. Cerceris malickyi Ƌ (4) clypeus, (5) flagellum, (6) pygidial area.

Figs 7-15: Cerceris pseudowaltoni ♀ (7) clypeus, (8) flagellum, (9) pygidial area. Cerceris pseudowaltoni Ƌ (10) clypeus, (11) flagellum, (12) pygidial area. Cerceris saengeri ♀ (13) clypeus, (14) flagellum, (15) pygidial area.