Arpactophilus kraussi 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 : 61

Arpactophilus kraussi Bohart, 1999

( Figs. 21 , 67–68 )

Arpactophilus kraussi Bohart, 1999: 106 [♀: holotype BPBM].

Diagnosis (based largely on Bohart, 1999). Arpactophilus kraussi appears to be the only New Caledonian species in the genus with the combination of two submarginal cells in the forewing, a straight sternite II without a bulge (as in Fig. 1 ), a medially projecting apical clypeal margin, with a shallow and broad concave incision ( Fig. 67 ), a not completely yellow clypeus, a brown mesoscutellum ( Fig. 21 ), a finely reticulate dorsal surface of propodeum ( Fig. 21 ), yellow coxae, and a brown or black metasoma, that is not reddish or light reddish-brown ( Fig. 68 ).

Remarks. There are a number of specimens that do not fully fit with Bohart’s or our account of A. kraussi . Nonetheless, these cannot be immediately identified as different species owing to the lack of much information in the original description combined with a seemingly continuous gradation between the perceived extremes in variation. No smaller diagnosable or geographic groups can be discerned, leaving the circumscription of the species suspect. The specimens available vary in clypeal color, form of the labrum, and range from more slender to stout body forms. Bohart (1999) describes the clypeus of A. kraussi as mostly yellow, but we there is clearly variation from largely yellow to those with a nearly entirely brown clypeus, while all other characters are otherwise identical or the cline contradicts those of other clines in labral or body form. We conservatively have concluded that this is variation within a single species, but this should be revisited in the future with more material.

Material examined. 22 ♀: (1x) PARATYPE Bohart 1999 “ NEW CALEDONIA: Mts. des Koghis, 400–600m, I.1969; N.L.H. Krauss, Collector, BISHOP” [ UCDC]; (1x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 8683: 20°58’S x 165°17’E, 500m, Pic d’Amoa, N slopes. 10–24 Nov 2001. C. Burwell & G. Monteith. Malaise trap” [QM]; (2x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 8711: 21°11’S x 165°18’E, 850m, Aoupinie top camp. 3–23 Nov 2001. C. Burwell & G. Monteith. Malaise, rainforest” [QM]; (2x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 8920: 22°17’S x 166°54’E, 250m, Pic du Grand Kaori. 21 Nov 2001 – 29 Jan 2002. G. Monteith. Malaise trap” [QM]; (1x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 8926: 21°11’S x 165°18’E, 850m, Aoupinie top camp. 23 Nov 2001 – 1 Feb 2002. Burwell, Monteith. Malaise” [QM]; (6x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 9964: 20°33’S x 164°46’E, 900m, Mt Panie track. 25 Sep–19 Nov 2000. Skevington & Burwell. Malaise” [QM]; (1x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 11818: 22°19’S x 166°55’E, 480m, Foret Nord, site 1. 3 Dec 2004 S.G. Wright. sweeping, rainforest” [QM]; (1x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 11864: 22°14’S x 166°50’E, 280m, Pic du Pin, site 2. 25 Nov–23 Dec 2004. Burwell, Wright. Malaise, rainforest” [QM]; (1x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 11944: 20°24’S x 164°32’E, 780m, Mandjelia, summit. 11–12 Dec 2004. G. Monteith. yellow pan, rainforest” [QM]; (1x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 50868: 20°24’S x 164°32’E, 750m, Mandjelia, summit. 7 Nov 2001. C.J. Burwell. Sweeping” [QM]; (3x) “ NEW CALEDONIA: Mts. des Koghis, 400–600m, I.1969; N.L.H. Krauss, Collector, BISHOP” [ BPBM]; (1x) “Nouvelle Calédonie, Mont Koghis. 350m, 3.V.1995, Réc. Chazeau & Jourdan, Coll. Tussac” [ CAS]; (1x) NEW CALEDONIA: Mt. des Koghis, 300–600m, 19.III.1968; J.L. Gressitt & T.C. Maa, Collectors, BISHOP MUSEUM” [ BPBM].

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 22., Dorsal surfaces of ♀ of species of Arpactophilus Smith. 16. Arpactophilus concavus Bohart; 17. A. irwini Bohart; 18. A. kumak sp. nov. (holotype); 19. A. merle sp. nov. (holotype); 20. A. caac sp. nov. (holotype); 21. A. kraussi Bohart; 22. A. propodealis Bohart.

FIGURES 65 – 70. Facial views and lateral habitus of ♀ holotypes (except for Arpactophilus kraussi Bohart) of species of Arpactophilus Smith. 65. A. jawe sp. nov., facial view; 66. A. jawe, lateral habitus; 67. A. kraussi, facial view; 68. A. kraussi, lateral habitus; 69. A. kumak sp. nov., facial view; 70. A. kumak, lateral habitus.

FIGURES 1 – 4. Line drawings of metasomata and forewings of New Caledonian species of Arpactophilus Smith. 1. Metasoma in profile of ♀ of Arpactophilus merle sp. nov., arrow indicates unmodified metasomal sternum II; 2. Metasoma in profile of ♀ of A. irwini Bohart, arrow indicates ventrally swollen metasomal sternum II. 3. Forewing of ♀ of A. irwini; ps: pterostigma, sz I: submarginal cell I, sz II: submarginal cell II. 4, Forewing of ♀ of A. caledonicus Bohart; ps: pterostigma, sz I: submarginal cell I.