Cerceris paraptah DOLLFUSS, 2025

Cerceris paraptah DOLLFUSS , nov.sp. ( Figs 14 View Figs 14 a-g)

Holotype: ♀, KENYA, Voi env. (Tsavo), 22.XI-2.XII.1996, leg. Mi. Halada ( JHC) . Paratype: ♀, KENYA, Voi, 10.XII.1999, leg M. Snižek ( JHC).

E t y m o l o g y: The holotype is similar to Cerceris ptah DOLLFUSS, 2023.

R e c o g n i t i o n:Thefemaleof Cerceris paraptah has no longitudinal carina on coxa III and is characterized by having a rounded lamella near apical margin of clypeus ( Figs 14a, b View Figs 14 ), the mandible has two irregularly shaped teeth internally ( Fig. 14a View Figs 14 ), the propodeal enclosure is smooth, shiny, without medio-longitudinal furrow and distinct punctures lateral. Additionally, the petiole is as large as wide ( Fig. 14e View Figs 14 ), the sternum VI has two broad teeth apically, the gena, the mesopleuron and the propodeal side are covered with noticeable long white setae and the thorax is black (except tegula).

The female of C. ptah DOLLFUSS has a similar shaped clypeus but differs by having the terga II-IV apico-lateral distinctly produced, the sternum IV has four teeth of equal length, the mesopleuron has a distinct tubercle and the pronotal collar has more yellow colour. The female of C. trichionota CAMERON shares with C. paraptah the long white pubescence but differs by having a smaller nasiform process and more yellowish colour on the thorax.

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀, 10-11 mm. Sculpture: apical margin of clypeus straight with lateral tooth; median part of clypeus with rounded lamella near apical margin ( Figs 14a, b View Figs 14 ); mandible with two irregularly shaped teeth ( Fig. 14a View Figs 14 ); pronotal collar rounded laterally; lateral carina of pronotum ending in distinct point; prosternum without transverse carina; mesopleuron without tubercle; epimeron without crest; pronotal enclosure smooth, shiny and without medio-longitudinal furrow, lateral with few punctures; petiole as long as wide; pygidial plate ovoid, apically straight ( Fig. 14d View Figs 14 ); sternum II with or without shallow longitudinal carina; flagellum as in Fig. 14c View Figs 14 . Puncturation: clypeus and frons densely punctate; prosternum punctate; vertex, pronotal collar and scutum densely punctate; mesopleuron reticulate-punctate; propodeal side and terga densely punctate; sterna sparsely punctate, lateral more densely; pygidial plate irregularly finely structured. Pilosity: clypeus and frons covered with appressed long white setae; vertex, gena, mesopleuron, propodeal side and femora covered with long white erect setae (setae as long as three diameters of ocelli); rest of body covered with sparse more or less long setae. Colouration: black; following parts yellow: clypeus lamella (except brown anterior margin), frons lateral, anterior half of tegula, terga II-IV small stripe apical, tergum V nearly all, sternum V apico-lateral, mid- and hindtibia partly and midfemur apical; following parts variably ferruginous: mandible (except apex), flagellum basal half, tegula posterior half, spots on metanotum, petiole, sternum II partly, pygidial plate, sternum and legs predominantly; wings hyaline, apex fuscous.

♁ unknown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Kenya.