Cerceris banguiensis DOLLFUSS, 2025

Cerceris banguiensis DOLLFUSS , nov.sp. ( Figs 1 View Figs 1 a-e, 2a-i)

Holotype: ♀, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 70 km NNE Bangui, 445 m, 04°57'N 18°46'E, 24- 28.XI.2010, leg. J. Halada (JHC). Paratypes: 2JJ, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, 70 km NNE Bangui, 445 m, 04°57'N 18°46'E, 24-28.XI.2010, leg. J. Halada (JHC).

E t y m o l o g y: The species is named after the town Bangui in the Central African Republic where the holotype was collected.

R e c o g n i t i o n:Thefemaleof Cerceris banguiensis has no longitudinal carina on coxa III, the apical margin of the clypeus has five small teeth and the median area has a bifurcate lamella ( Fig. 1a View Figs 1 ), the mandibles have no distinct tooth internally, the scutum is micro-punctate and sparsely punctate, the propodeal enclosure is obliquely striate, finely punctate and with a crenulate medio-longitudinal furrow. Additionally, the mesopleuron and the propodeal side are densely punctate and the the epimeron has no crest.

The similar female of C. selindaensis DOLLFUSS differs from C. banguiensis by having the apical margin of the clypeus straight and with a tooth lateral and median with a small rectangular protrusion, the median area of the clypeus has two teeth near the apical margin, the sterna IV and V have an acute tooth apico-lateral, the sternum II has a short longitudinal carina and the propodeal enclosure is smooth shiny with distinct medio-longitudinal furrow. The female of C. monocera KOHL differs from C. banguiensis by having the apical margin of the clypeus straight with a dentiform angle on each side, the clypeal process on the upper part is produced into a nasiform acutely conical protuberance, the propodeal enclosure is smooth and shiny nearly without a medio-longitudinal furrow and the sternum V has an acute tooth apico-lateral.

The male of Cerceris banguiensis has no longitudinal carina on coxa III, the body is black (except the apical stripe on tergum III), the anterior margin of the clypeus is tridentate and the clypeal brush is extremely broad ( Fig. 2a View Figs 2 ), the propodeal enclosure is smooth, shiny without a medio-longitudinal furrow and the scutum is shiny and densely punctate. Additionally, the terga II-VI are micro-punctate and punctate, the flagellomeres have no tyloidea ( Fig. 2c View Figs 2 ), the petiole is as long as wide ( Fig. 2e View Figs 2 ), and genitalia see Figs 2f, g View Figs 2 .

The male of C. monocera KOHL differs from C. banguiensis by having much yellow colour on the body, the scutum is sparsely punctate (punctures 3 diameters apart) and differently shaped genitalia. The male of C. rhodesiae BRAUNS differs from C. banguiensis by having the propodeal enclosure coarsely rugose, the scutum is longitudinally rugose and dull and more yellow colour on the body. The male of C. erythroura CAMERON differs from C. banguiensis by having the clypeus and frons yellow and by differently shaped genitalia.

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀, 8 mm. Sculpture: apical margin of clypeus with five small teeth apically; median area of clypeus with bifurcated lamella ( Fig. 1a View Figs 1 ); mandibles nearly without teeth internally; prosternum without transverse carina; pronotal collar rounded laterally; lateral carina of pronotum lamellar raised; mesopleuron without tubercle; epimeron without crest; propodeal enclosure shiny, obliquely striate and medio-longitudinal furrow crenulate; petiole as long as wide ( Fig. 1d View Figs 1 ); sternum II basally slightly elevate; pygidal plate see Fig. 1c View Figs 1 . Puncturation: clypeus and frons distinctly punctate; vertex densely punctured; prosternum dull and sparsely punctate; pronotal collar densely punctate; scutum sparsely micro-punctate and coarsely punctate; scutellum similar punctate; mesopleuron reticulate-punctate, terga and propodeal side densely punctate; pygidial plate irregularly structured; tegula with few punctures. Pilosity: clypeal side and frons covered with short appressed white setae; rest of body with short appressed setae (except on sterna where they are longer). Colouration: black; following parts yellow: clypeal lamella median, clypeal side posterior half, frons, pronotal collar lateral, mandible basal; metanotum, petiole medio-apical, terga III and V apical, sternum III apico-lateral. Flagellum brown and dorsally fuscous; tegula and pygidial plate brown; legs brown and yellow; radial cell of forewing fuscous.

♁, 7 mm. Sculpture: apical margin of clypeus tridentate ( Fig. 2a View Figs 2 ); clypeus convex in lateral view as in Fig. 2b View Figs 2 ; clypeal brush reaches from lateral tooth of apical margin to orbit; mandible edentate internally; flagellum without tyloidea ( Fig. 2c View Figs 2 ); prosternum without transverse carina; pronotal collar laterally rounded; lateral carina on pronotum roundly raised; mesopleuron without tubercle; epimeron without crest; propodeal enclosure smooth, shiny and nearly without medio-longitudinal furrow, lateral furrows crenulate; petiole as long as wide ( Fig. 2e View Figs 2 ); pygidial plate as in Fig. 2d View Figs 2 ; sternum II with semi circular medio-basal plate more or less delimited apically; genitalia as in Figs 2f, g View Figs 2 . Puncturation: median part of clypeus shiny and nearly densely punctured; clypeal side and frons dull and punctate; vertex densely punctate; pronotal collar, scutum, scutellum, propodeal side and terga densely punctate; tegula sparsely punctate; mesopleuron coarsely reticulate-punctate; sterna lateral punctate; prosternum sparsely punctate; metanotum impunctate; pygidial plate punctate. Pilosity: clypeal brush extremely broad ( Fig. 2a View Figs 2 ); clypeal side covered with appressed setae; rest of body irregularly covered with short erect setae. Colouration: black; following parts yellow: tiny spot below inter-antennal carina, apical stripe on tergum III; legs dark-brown; wings hyaline, marginal cell of forewing fuscous.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Central African Republic.