Cerceris swartbergensis DOLLFUSS, 2025

Cerceris swartbergensis DOLLFUSS , nov.sp. ( Figs 23 View Figs 23 a-i)

Holotype: ♁, SOUTH AFRICA, Western Cape Province, near Swartberg Pass , ca. 1450 m, 33°20'S 22°02'E, 30.VII.1996, leg. W.J. Pulawski ( CAS). GoogleMaps

E t y m o l o g y: The holotype was collected near the Swartberg Pass in South Africa.

R e c o g n i t i o n: The male of Cerceris swartbergensis is characterized by having no longitudinal carina on coxa III, the body is predominantly black, the apical margin of the clypeus is tridentate ( Fig. 23a View Figs 23 ), the median area is shiny and distinctly punctate, the clypeal brush is broad, the mesopleuron venter is shiny and densely punctate and the sternum VI has a brush of setae apico-lateral. Additionally, the propodeal enclosure is coarsely obliquely rugose, the flagellomeres IX-XI have flat shiny areas ( Fig. 23c View Figs 23 ), the genitalia are characteristically shaped ( Figs 23f, g View Figs 23 ) and the tegula, the legs and the mandible (except apex) are ferruginous.

The male of C. diodonta SCHLETTERER differs from C. swartbergensis by having more yellow and ferruginous colour on the body, the median area of the clypeus is impunctate and yellow, the mesopleuron venter is dull and impunctate, the flagellomeres IX-XI have no flat shiny areas and the genitalia are differently shaped. The male of C. wachileensis DOLLFUSS differs from C. swartbergensis by having yellow clypeus and frons, the petiole is broader than long and ferruginous, the flagellomeres VI-XI have flat tyloidea, the propodeal enclosure is shiny and coarsely transversely rugose without medio-longitudinal furrow, different genitalia and the legs are yellow. The male of C. bannisteri EMPEY differs from C. swartbergensis by having the body predominantly yellow and the epimeron has a subtriangular crest.

D e s c r i p t i o n: J, 12 mm. Sculpture: apical margin of clypeus tridentate ( Fig. 23a View Figs 23 ); mandible with tooth internally; pronotal collar rounded laterally; prosternum without transverse carina; flagellomeres IX-XI with flat shiny areas ( Fig. 23c View Figs 23 ); mesopleuron without tubercle; epimeron with shallow crest; propodeal enclosure obliquely-longitudinally rugose; petiole as long as wide ( Fig. 23e View Figs 23 ); coxa III without longitudinal carina; pygidial plate as in Fig. 23d View Figs 23 ; genitalia characteristically shaped ( Fig. 23f, g View Figs 23 ); sternum II without basal plate. Puncturation: median part of clypeus shiny and sparsely punctate; clypeal side micro-punctate; frons micro-punctate and punctate; vertex densely rugose-punctate; pronotal collar densely punctate; prosternum punctate; scutum and scutellum shiny and irregularly punctate (punctures 0-1 diameter apart); metanotum finely, sparsely punctate; tegula impunctate; mesopleuron and propodeal side reticulate-punctate; terga coarsely, densely punctate; sterna apico-lateral punctate. Pilosity: clypeal brush broad ( Fig. 23a View Figs 23 ); sternum VI with brush of setae apico-lateral; rest of body covered with sparse, short erect setae. Colouration: predominantly black; following parts yellow: small stripe along orbits, apical band on tergum III; following parts ferruginous: flagellum basal half, mandible (except apex), tegula and legs (except coxae); wings brownish-ferruginous.

♀ unknown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: South Africa.