Arpactophilus dolichocara Bohart, 1999

Breitkreuz, Laura C. V., Ohl, Michael & Engel, Michael S., 2016, A review of the New Caledonian Arpactophilus (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), Zootaxa 4063 (1), pp. 1-66 : 60-61

Arpactophilus dolichocara Bohart, 1999

( Figs. 45–46 )

Arpactophilus dolichocara Bohart, 1999: 98 [♀: holotype BPBM].

Diagnosis (based largely on Bohart, 1999). Arpactophilus dolichocara appears to be the only New Caledonian species in the genus with the combination of a single submarginal cell in the forewing, a mostly dark brown or black clypeus with only restricted areas of yellow ( Fig. 45 ), a continuous occipital carina ( Fig. 5 ), and yellow pro- and mesofemora. Based on some significant inconsistencies in the original account the validity of this diagnosis is uncertain.

Remarks. The current account of this species is tentative and we have attempted to approach the matter from a conservative position. Aside from new material that was ascribed to this species, we were able to examine one of Bohart’s (1999) paratypes. Unfortunately, the paratype does not necessarily match the original description, and it is unclear from the publication as to why this is the case. For example, Bohart states that the occipital carina is “dorsally fading” when the paratype has a strong, distinct, and continuous occipital carina and far from dorsally ‘faded’. We have assumed that this represents an error in the original account of the species and assigned our material to A. dolichocara as the series otherwise most closely approximates that taxon. Nonetheless, reference to the name-bearing holotype is needed in a future work so as to determine whether Bohart (1999) perhaps had a mixed series.

Based on the available specimens the species seems to vary in several characters. Some specimens have a narrowly yellow apical clypeal margin, opposed to the majority with a black clypeus ( Fig. 45 ). The structure of the propodeal enclosure varies continuously across some specimens having transverse carinulae among the integumental sculpture to those with only a finely reticulate surface. The metafemur is always darkly colored but the coloration of the pro- and mesofemora can vary from yellow to dark brown. There is one specimen that does not have an elongate head, like all other specimens, but aside from this singular exception it matches in all other characters and seems to be conspecific. Given that there are no clear patterns within these variations in our samples, and despite our considerably larger number of specimens over previous works, we cannot defend the assertion that more than one species is encompassed here.

Our account remains tentative. Future work needs to clarify the characters present in the holotype relative to the paratypes, and then revisit the circumscription of this species, ideally in the context of even greater samples.

Material examined. 23 ♀: (1x) PARATYPE Bohart 1999 “ NEW CALEDONIA Anse Vata, 23.X.1958; C. R. Joyce Collector” [ UCDC]; (2x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 9937: 21°07’S x 164°57’E, 30m, Pouembout, 5kmE. 15 Nov 2000. G.B. Monteith. Pyrenthrum, trunks & logs” [QM]; (1x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 9970: 22°14’S x 166°52’E, 230m, Chute Madeleine, maquis. 18 Sep–12 Nov 2000. Skevington & Burwell. Malaise” [QM]; (1x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 11798: 22°23’S x 166°56’E, 150m, Cap Ndoua, site 1. rainforest. 28–29 Nov 2004. C. Burwell, S. Wright. yellow pan” [QM]; (1x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 12277: 21°20’S x 164°58’E, 30m, Pindal, dry forest site. 27 Apr 2005. G.B. Monteith. beating” [QM]; (2x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 50870: 21°07’S x 164°57’E, 30m, Tiea Reserve. 7 Nov 2001. C.J. Burwell. sweeping” [QM]; (8x) “Nouvelle Calédonie, Pindaï 30m, 18.IV.1995, Réc. Chazeau & Jourdan” [ CAS]; (3x) “Nouvelle Calédonie, Pindaï 30m, 19.IV.1995, Réc. Chazeau & Jourdan” [ CAS]; (1x) “Nouvelle Calédonie, Mont Koghis. 350m, 25.IV.1995, Réc. Chazeau & Jourdan” [ CAS]; (1x) “ NEW CALEDONIA Dumbea Valley VI-1950 N.H.L. Krauss” [ BPBM]; (1x) “ NEW CALEDONIA Thio, III.1959, N. Krauss” [ UCDC].

Figures

FIGURES 41 – 46. Facial views and lateral habitus of ♀ of species of Arpactophilus Smith. 41. Arpactophilus concavus Bohart, facial view; 42. A. concavus, lateral habitus; 43. A. cuspidis Bohart, facial view; 44. A. cuspidis, lateral habitus; 45. A. dolichocara Bohart, facial view; 46. A. dolichocara, lateral habitus.

FIGURES 5 – 9. Head and metatibial details of New Caledonian Arpactophilus Smith. 5. Schematic view of posterior of head of Arpactophilus, arrow indicates complete occipital carina; 6. Schematic with arrow indicating incomplete, dorsallyinterrupted occipital carina; 7: Metatibia of holotype ♀ of A. xaragure sp. nov., arrow indicating slightly differently colored but not differently-structured area apically; 8. Metatibia of holotype ♀ of Arpactophilus orowe sp. nov., arrow indicating differently colored and structured area apically; 9. Metatibia of paratype ♀ of A. orowe, scanning electron micrograph with arrow indicating concave area apically.