Cerceris walikaleensis DOLLFUSS, 2025

Cerceris walikaleensis DOLLFUSS , nov.sp. ( Figs 25 View Figs 25 a-g)

Holotype: ♀, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC KONGO, 39 km S Walikale , 25.VII.1957, leg. E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech ( CAS) . Paratype: 1♀, same data as holotype ( CAS).

E t y m o l o g y: The holotype was collected near the town Walikale in the Democratic Republic Kongo.

R e c o g n i t i o n:Thefemaleof C. walikaleensis is characterized by having no carina on coxa III, the apical margin of the clypeus has a tooth lateral on each side and a small rectangular protrusion between them ( Fig. 25a View Figs 25 ), on the median area of the clypeus there is a small point medio-apical, the mandible has a blunt tooth internally, the mesopleuron has a tubercle, the epimeron is swollen with oblique rugae, the propodeal enclosure is obliquely rugose, the lateral- and medio-longitudinal furrows are shallow and not crenulate. Additionally, the mesopleuron venter is dull and impunctate, the black scutum is dull and only laterally punctate, the flagellomeres are distinctly longer than wide ( Fig. 25c View Figs 25 ), the petiole is wider than long ( Fig. 25e View Figs 25 ), the terga II-IV are black and dull, the wings are dark fuscous, the body is ferruginous and black and the female is large (20-22 mm).

The also large female of C. spectrum ARNOLD differs from C. walikaleensis by having the apical margin of the clypeus with three blunt teeth medially and the median area has two flattened tubercles placed little above the middle, the mandible is edentate internally, the propodeal enclosure is smooth shiny and without medio-longitudinal furrow and the body has extensive yellow colour. The large female of C. multipicta F. SMITH differs from C. walikaleensis by having a clypeal process broadly semi-lunarlike excavated with long brush-like fimbriae at the corners of excision, the sterna IV and V are covered with dense erect setae and the body has more yellow colour. The female of C. iniqua KOHL shares with C. walikaleensis the dark fuscous wings but differs by having a nasiform triangularly erected clypeal process, the scutum is longitudinally rugose, which is convergent posteriorly, punctate between the rugae and the gaster (except petiole) is yellowish-brown.

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀, 20-22 mm. Sculpture: apical margin of clypeus with tooth on each side lateral and small rectangular protrusion between them ( Fig. 25a View Figs 25 ); median part of clypeus with small point medio-apical; mandible with blunt tooth internally; pronotum dorsal anteriorly and laterally with distinct rugae; prosternum without transverse carina; mesopleuron and epimeron obliquely rugose-punctate; mesopleuron with small tubercle; scutellum medially depressed; propodeal enclosure obliquely rugose, lateral- and medio-longitudinal furrows shallow developed and not crenulate; petiole wider than long ( Fig. 25e View Figs 25 ); flagellomeres distinctly longer than wide ( Fig. 25c View Figs 25 ); coxa III without carina; pygidial plate attenuate apical ( Fig. 25d View Figs 25 ). Puncturation: clypeus and frons dull; vertex dull with shallow punctures; gena and pronotal collar dorsal dull; scutum and tegula dull; scutellum dull and finely punctate; metapleuron dull; propodeal side obliquely rugose-punctate; terga dull, sterna finely punctate; pygidial plate dull. Pilosity: clypeal side with very short appressed setae; sterna ( III) IV and V with short black appressed setae; sternum VI with bundle of setae apico-lateral; setae lateral of pygidial plate distinctly developed; rest of body without setae. Colouration: ferruginous; following parts black: apical half of mandible and internal tooth, vertex, scutum, mesopleuron venter, terga II-VI, sterna III-VI; wings fusco-ferruginous.

♁ unknown

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Democratic Republic Kongo.