Afroheriades namaquaensis KUHLMANN, 2025

Afroheriades namaquaensis KUHLMANN nov.sp. (Figs 5-6, 25-28)

D i a g n o s i s: The female can be recognized by the following character combination: Mesosoma short, ratio of mesosomal length to width <1.4; base of propodeum well below the level of the scutellum ( Fig. 29 View Fig ); stipes on the ventral margin with a row of long, waved, yellowish hairs (Fig. 31); head wider than long (Fig. 5); clypeus medially densely punctate (i <d), ventral margin truncated (Fig. 6). The male is unknown.

D e s c r i p t i o n

F e m a l e: Body-length: 7.5 mm (Habitus: Fig. 25 View Figs 25-28 ). Head wider than long (Fig. 5); ocellocular distance 0.9 times interocellar distance; ocelloccipital distance 0.8 times interocellar distance; compound eyes converging ventrally; clypeus densely punctate (i <d), ventral margin truncated (Fig. 6); mandible tridentate (Fig. 6); hypostomal area flat and polished, bounded laterally by a carina and a row of curved hairs; labrum with medial area densely punctate (i <d), apical margin upturned; stipes on the ventral margin with a row of long, waved, yellowish hairs. Mesosoma short, ratio of mesosomal length to width <1.4 ( Tab. 1), base of propodeum well below the level of the scutellum ( Fig. 25 View Figs 25-28 ); scutum as in Fig. 26 View Figs 25-28 ; scutellum slightly convex ( Fig. 27 View Figs 25-28 ); metanotum and basal zone of propodeum sloping in lateral view, midline length of metanotum in dorsal view equal to length of basal zone of propodeum; surface of basal zone sculptured as in Fig. 27 View Figs 25-28 , without carina posteriorly. Metasoma as in Fig. 28 View Figs 25-28 ; T6 roundly emarginate apically, with broad translucent apical lip projecting at strong angle to surface of tergum.

Integument smooth and shiny between punctures (Figs 5, 26-28); clypeus medially densely punctate (i <d) (Fig. 6), on scutum moderate (i = 0.5-1d) ( Fig. 26 View Figs 25-28 ), on metasomal terga as in Fig. 28 View Figs 25-28 . Body black except flagellomeres ventrally, part of mandible and apical tarsi dark brown. Wings hyaline yellowish-brown; veins, stigma, prestigma dark brown. Pubescence mostly sparse, long and erect, on vertex and dorsal side of mesosoma light brown, otherwise white to yellowish-white ( Figs 25-27 View Figs 25-28 ); white, dense, appressed hair obscuring surface on paraocular area and apical patches or bands on T1-T3 ( Fig. 28 View Figs 25-28 ); scopa white.

M a l e: Unknown.

T y p e m a t e r i a l (1specimen):

Holotype: ♀, South Africa, 10 km SSE Steinkopf , road side N7, 29°19´56´´S 17°46´28´´E, 880 m, 12.ix.2017, leg. M. Kuhlmann ( SAMC). GoogleMaps

E t y m o l o g y: Named after Namaqualand, the arid region in NW South Africa where this species occurs.

G e n e r a l d i s t r i b u t i o n: Only known from the type locality near Steinkopf (Namaqualand).