Lyroda aurea Mawadda & Girish Kumar, 2021

Mawadda, N. V. Ayisha, Kumar, P. Girish & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, Additions to the knowledge of the genus Lyroda Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) from India with the descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 5005 (2), pp. 201-217 : 203-205

Lyroda aurea Mawadda & Girish Kumar sp. nov.

( Figs 1–9 )

Diagnosis. This new species differs from all other Lyroda by the following character combination: anterior margin of clypeus with two sets of three teeth laterally, two teeth medially and two sets of two intermediate teeth, median set of clypeal teeth narrow and cuspidate ( Figs 3 & 58 ). Forewing with infumation crossing two submarginal cells and apex of second discoidal cell ( Fig. 7 ). Dense golden setae on clypeus, frons, pronotum, scutum, lateral margines of scutellum, metanotum and all sides of propodeum ( Figs 1–4 ).

Description. Holotype ♀ ( Fig. 1 ). Head. Head broader than long; HW1.25–1.30 × HL; IODc 1.25–1.92 × IODv; POD 1.08–1.25 × OOD; inner eye orbits at vertex parallel; vertex and frons densely punctate, PIS on average ≥ PD; median furrow distinctly dividing frons into two portions ( Fig. 2 ); clypeus punctate, PIS on average ≤ PD; anterior margin of clypeus usually with two cuspidate teeth medially and two sets of three prominent teeth at lateral margins, with two sets of two intermediate teeth ( Figs 3 & 58 ); mandible deeply cut near base to give rise to two tooth like prominences, distinctly incised at base on outer margin; antenna thin, scape as long as F2, F1 slightly longer (1.32–1.35 ×) than F2, F1 3.52–3.96 × its apical width.

Thorax. Pronotal collar lower than scutum, with three prominent tubercles; anterior third of scutum with two medial parallel carinae diverging posteriorly; scutum with medial longitudinal depression; propleuron with oblique furrow, mesopleuron convex; scutum, scutellum and metanotum with fine dense punctures, PIS, on average, less than PD ( Fig. 4 ); forewing with infumation crossing two submarginal cells and apex of second discoidal cell ( Fig.7 ); hind tibiae with 7-9 spines on posterior external margin.

Propodeum. Dorsum with median carina extending close to posterior margin where short transverse carinae are present, surface rugoso-reticulate ( Fig. 5 ), without lateral carina; side shiny with minute punctures, inconspicuously alutaceous, PIS on average greater than PD ( Fig. 6 ); posterior surface with narrow, wedge shaped deep median furrow, sides of furrow with somewhat sinuate rugae.

Gaster. Basal platform of first segment approximately triangular with constriction, having distinct edges; Gt1 width 1.03–1.07 × its length ( Fig. 8 ); gaster micropunctate with microscopic setae, surface alutaceous and shiny; pygidial plate with lateral carinae as in Fig. 9 .

Vestiture. Setae golden; dense on clypeus, base of mandible, antenna, gena, frons, vertex behind eye, tibiae, femora, posterior and posterolateral area of scutum, lateral margins of scutellum and metanotum, all sides of propodeum, and sternal areas of thorax ( Figs 1, 2 & 4 ); discontinuous golden band of pile on Gt2–Gt3, setae extensively distributed on Gt1, more densely distributed at apex, forming band of pile ( Fig. 8 ); body extensively pilose, pygidium with dense, stiff brown setae mixed with longer erect brown bristles ( Fig. 9 ).

Colouration. Black; mandible, tibial spurs and tarsal claws more or less ferruginous; wings hyaline, slightly infumated at two external submarginal cells and at apex of second discoidal cell, veins testaceous, stigma, subcostal and radial cell blackish brown ( Fig. 7 ).

Variation. Anterior clypeal margin usually with two intermediate sets of two teeth each. Sometimes, however, only one intermediate tooth is present on one side compared to two intermediate teeth on the other side.

BL. 7.91–8.00 mm.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. India: Kerala, Karnataka.

Etymology. The name ‘ aurea’ is the feminine Latin adjective derived from ‘aureus’, golden. The presence of golden setae distinguishes this species from other Indian Lyroda , hence it’s name.

Discussion. In the key to Oriental Lyroda by Li et al. 2009, females of this new species run to L. salai Giner Marí because of anterior clypeal margin with two sets of three teeth laterally, a set of two teeth medially and two sets of two intermediate teeth, medial set of clypeal tooth narrow and cuspidate; blackish fascia crossing two submarginal cells and apex of second discoidal cell in forewing. It differs from L. salai in having dense golden setae on the clypeus, lower frons and other regions as mentioned above (in L. salai , dense silvery setae are present on the clypeus, base of antenna, frons, clypeus, gena, tibiae, femora, and both lateral and sternal areas of thorax).

This new species differs from L. nuda Mawadda & Girish Kumar sp. nov. in having: (1) dense golden setae on clypeus, lower frons and other mentioned body parts (in L. nuda setae are silvery, very sparsely distributed especially on clypeus and lower frons); (2) punctures on clypeus and lower frons denser and closer, PIS on average ≤ PD (in L. nuda, PIS on average ≥ PD on clypeus and lower frons).

Material examined. Holotype ♀, INDIA: Kerala,Kozhikode district, Nambikulam (11°30’28’’N, 75°50’16’’E), 16.iv.2019, Coll. Sandra Lishikumar, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/16514 . Paratypes ♀, collection data as that of holotype, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/16515–16517; INDIA: Kerala, Kozhikode district, Jaferkhan Colony (11°16’02’’N, 75°47’12’’E), 24.x.2018, Coll. P. Girish Kumar, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/ WGRC/IR/ INV/16518–16519; INDIA: Kerala, Kozhikode district, Pathirippatta (11°41’55’’N, 75°42’29’’E), 14.iv.2020, Coll. K.Anju, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/16521; INDIA: Karnataka, Kodagu district , Bettathur (12°24’26’’N, 75°39’41’’E), 23.xii.2019, Coll. P. Girish Kumar, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/16520 .

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Lyroda aurea Mawadda & Girish Kumar sp. nov. Holotype ♀. 1. Habitus, lateral view; 2. Head, frontal view; 3. Lower half of head, frontal view; 4. Head & thorax; 5. Propodeum, dorsal view; 6. Propodeum, lateral view; 7. Forewing; 8. Gaster, dorsal view; 9. Pygidium.

FIGURES 58–64. Anterior clypeal margins: 58. Lyroda aurea sp. nov. holotype ♀; 59. Lyroda nuda sp. nov. holotype ♀; 60. Lyroda salai Giner Marí. ♀; 61. Lyroda binghami Tsuneki. ♀; 62. Lyroda binghami Tsuneki. ♂; 63. Lyroda formosa (Smith). ♀; 64. Lyroda formosa (Smith). ♂.