Traumatomutilla gemella ( André, 1906 )

Bartholomay, Pedro R., Williams, Kevin A., Cambra, Roberto A. & Oliveira, Marcio L., 2021, Revision of the Traumatomutilla gemella species-group (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) with the description of its hitherto unknown males, Zoosystema 43 (1), pp. 1-28 : 17-22

Traumatomutilla gemella ( André, 1906)

( Figs 9-11 )

Ephuta (Traumatomutilla) gemella André, 1906: 42 .

Traumatomutilla gemella – Casal 1969: 285.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Syntypes. Brazil [Brasilia] • ♀; S. [São] Paulo; id 153108, Hym. [ Hymenoptera ] coll. [collection]; HNHM (examined) • ♀, Brésil [Brazil], S. [São] Paulo; Schrottky leg.; MNHN (examined) .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Brazil • 1 ♀; Espírito Santo, Atílio Vivacqua ; 13.II.2003; UFES • 1 ♀; Espírito Santo, Parque Sooretama ; XI.1967; F. M. Oliveira leg.; DZUP • 1 ♀; Espírito Santo, Santa Teresa ; 07.XII.1964; C. Elias leg.; DZUP • 1 ♀; Espírito Santo, Guarapari ; 15.XI.1969; Alvarenga leg.; DZUP • 1♀; Conceição da Barra ; 15.XI.1969; C. Elias leg.; DZUP • 1 ♀; Espírito Santo, Corrego do Ita [Itá]; XII.1956; MNRJ • 1 ♀; Minas Gerais, Viçosa; 1931; AMNH • 1 ♀; Minas Gerais, Nanuque, Zona Rural ; 24-29.VII.2007; F. B. Fraga leg.; UFES • 4 ♀; São Paulo; MZSP • 1 ♀; São Paulo, Ilha de Busios [Búzios]; 16.X-04.XI.1963; Exp. Depto. Zool. [Expedição do Departamento de Zoologia] leg.; MZSP • 1 ♀; São Paulo, Ilha de Busios ; 23-28.III.1964; Exp. Depto. Zool. [Expedição do Departamento de Zoologia] leg.; MZSP • 1♂; São Paulo, Teodoro Sampaio ; XII.1985; F. M. Oliviera leg.; EMUS • 4 ♀; Rio de Janeiro; MZSP • 1 ♀; Rio de Janeiro, Itatiaia ; 700m [a.s.l.]; 04.XII.1940; J. F. Zikán leg.; MZSP • 1 ♀; Paraná, Antonina, Reserva Morro da Mina ; 11.XII.2006; C. Maia leg.; DZUP • 1 ♀; Paraná, Reserva Rio Cachoeira ; 01.II.2007; A. J. C. Aguiar leg.; DZUP • 1 ♀; Santa Catarina , Corupá; III.1947; A. Maller leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀; Santa Catarina , Corupá; XI.1946; A. Maller leg.; AMNH • 2 ♀; Santa Catarina , Corupá; XII.1944; A. Maller leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀; Santa Catarina , Corupá; II.1946; A. Maller leg.; AMNH • 1♀; Santa Catarina , Corupá; IV.1952; MNRJ • 1♀; Santa Catarina , Corupá; I.1955; MNRJ • 1 ♀; Santa Catarina , Corupá; XII.1953; MNRJ • 1♀; Santa Catarina; Rio Vermelho ; XII.1945; A. Maller leg.; AMNH .

DIAGNOSIS. — Female. Dense setae covering most of lateral face of propodeum; micropunctures present on lateral face of propodeum; body setae predominantly silvery-golden; T2 integumental spots orange.

Male. Body setae predominantly silvery-golden; dense appressed setae partially present on lateral face of propodeum and concealing most of metapleuron surface; micropunctures present anterolaterally on S2.

DISTRIBUTION. Brazil (Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina)

DESCRIPTION

Female

Body length. 9-13 mm.

Head ( Figs 9A, C ; 10A, B ). Posterior margin almost slightly sinuous, somewhat concave sublaterally and slightly convex medially. Occipital carina conspicuously equally wide throughout. Vertex width 0.9 × pronotal width. Eye almost circular, its height in frontal view almost equal to the distance from its ventral margin to mandibular condyle. Head densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to areolate-punctate. Mandible with conspicuous subapical tooth. Dorsal scrobal carina present, irregular, separated from antennal tubercles; lateral scrobal carina almost absent. Antennal tubercle finely and irregularly rugose. Flagellomere 1: 2.1 × pedicel length; flagellomere 2: 1.5 × pedicel length.

Mesosoma ( Figs 9A, C ; 10A, B ). Dorsal thoracic length slightly smaller than mesosomal width. Mesosomal dorsum densely and coarsely areolate-punctate to foveolate-punctate, with conspicuous medial longitudinal carinae extending from anterior margin of mesonotum to posterior margin of dorsal face of propodeum; carina less defined on propodeum, sinuous, irregular.Anterior face of pronotum defined, short, shorter than pronotal collar, vestigially and coarsely striated longitudinally with interspersed scattered punctures; dorsal face roundly sub-angular with anterior face in lateral view. Humeral carina well-defined, broadly separated from well-defined low sharp epaulet, anterolateral corners of pronotum angulate in dorsal view. Pronotal spiracle slightly projected from lateral margin of pronotum, rounded. Lateral face of pronotum sparsely punctate with sparse interspersed micropunctures; mesopleuron sculpture mostly concealed by dense setation, micropunctate anteriorly and foveolat-punctate along mesopleural ridge where visible; metapleuron sculpture almost completely concealed by dense setation, dorsal fourth with sparser setae and medial asetose smooth area. Lateral face of propodeum with sculpture partially concealed by dense setation, foveolate-punctate where visible. Ratios of widths of mesosoma at humeral angles, pronotal spiracles, widest point of mesonotum, narrowest point of mesonotum and propodeum immediately posterior to propodeal spiracles. Lateral margin of mesonotum simply divergent anterior to propodeal spiracle, slightly diverging anterad. Propodeal spiracle almost flat against lateral margin of mesosoma; postspiracular area absent. Scutellar scale and anterolateral carinae absent; scabrous intervals absent on scutellar area. Propodeum conspicuously elongate, dorsal face much longer than and well differentiated from posterior face.

Metasoma ( Figs 9A, C ; 10A, B ). Ratios of width of T1, width of T2 and length of T2, 31:70:69. Disc of T2 densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to punctate with dense interspersed micropunctures; foveolae sparser and micropunctures absent laterally and over integumental spots; sculpture less defined in general over integumental spots. T3–6 sculpture, except pygidial plate, predominantly concealed by dense setation, densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to simply punctate with interspersed micropunctures where visible; pygidial plate broadly subpyriform, defined by strong, projected, flange-like lateral carinae at apical fourth of plate; surface mostly irregularly longitudinally rugose; interstice apparently granulose. S1 sparsely punctured, surface wedge-like, ending in a rounded longitudinal carina, slightly lower medially. S2 sparsely foveolate-punctate, punctures conspicuously smaller anteriorly; anteromedial crest-fold vestigial. S3–6 densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate with sparse micropunctures at S3–4; sculpture denser on S6.

Male

Body length. 10-12 mm.

Head ( Fig.11A ).Transversely subrectangular with posterolateral angles rounded in dorsal view. Width 0.8 × pronotal width. Eye almost circular. Ocelli small; OOD 3.1 × DLO, IOD 1.2 × DLO. Occipital carina distinct. Head surface densely and coarsely punctate. Gena ecarinate. Antennal scrobe concave to eye margin, with prominent transverse dorsal scrobal carina. Clypeus concave laterally immediately below antennal insertion, conspicuously convex medially; coarsely and densely punctate to micropunctate; apical/ventral margin completely concealed by dense setation. Scape bicarinate. Flagellomere 1: 2.4 × pedicel length; flagellomere 2: 3.8 × pedicel length. Mandible obliquely tridentate apically, inner tooth slightly larger than middle tooth; lacking dorsal or ventral projections.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 11A ). Epaulets well defined, slightly projected from anterior margin of pronotum, broadly separated from humeral carina, anterolateral angles of pronotum rounded. Anterior face of pronotum sparsely punctate with interspersed micropunctures laterally, with a conspicuous smooth unsculptured area. Tegula convex, mostly glabrous and impunctate except for dense coarse punctures on anterior third and along inner margin. Mesoscutum densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate, notaulus absent, parapsis vestigial, reduced to posterior half of mesoscutum. Scutellum convex, densely and coarsely areolate-punctate to foveolate-punctate; with longitudinal irregular carina medially formed by aligned intervals.Axilla produced posterolaterally as acute projections, with conspicuous flat coarsely and densely foveolate-punctate dorsal surface. Metanotum slightly wider laterally, its surface obscured by dense setation. Propodeal dorsum convex, partially concealed by dense setation, densely areolate where visible; lateral face densely and coarsely areolate, areolations less defined anterad; dorsal face rounded into and poorly distinguished from posterior face. Lateral face of pronotum densely coarsely and confusedly punctate to micropunctate; mesopleura slightly swollen on dorsal half, without any or projections; mesopleural sculpture densely and coarsely areolate-punctate to foveolate-punctate with interspersed micropunctures anteriorly. Metapleuron sculpture almost concealed by dense setation.

Wings ( Fig. 11A ). Fore wing with elongate sclerotized pterostigma; marginal cell elongated, truncate apically; three submarginal cells; dark brown, slightly but conspicuously lighter on basal third.

Legs ( Fig. 11A ). Simply setose, no strong spines discernible dorsally; spurs finely serrate on margins.

Metasoma ( Fig. 11A ).T1 0.5 × as wide as T2.T2 length 0.85 × its width. Dorsal metasomal sculpture partially concealed by dense setation, densely and coarsely punctate with interspersed micropunctures where visible; pygidial plate irregularly and vestigially rugose, weakly defined by parallel carinae apicolaterally. S1 longitudinally elevated medially, slightly pronounced carina lower medially. S2 coarsely and sparsely foveolate-punctate to punctate, interspersed micropunctures present anterolaterally, foveolae conspicuously sparser and larger posterad; with vestigial longitudinal anteromedial crestfold; sternal pit absent. S3–5 sparsely and coarsely foveolatepunctate with interspersed micropunctures; S6–7 sparsely foveolate-punctate. S7 longer than broad, posterior margin projected laterally and medially, medial projection terminating in a pair of very small subacute closely spaced tooth-like process on posterior margin.

Genitalia ( Fig. 11 B-F). Parapenial lobe not at all pronounced posteriorly, simply rounded. Ratios of free length of paramere, cuspis and digitus, 63:33:19; paramere slightly sinuous in dorsal view, upcurved posteriorly in lateral view; with dense setae ventrally at anterior half; cuspis short, stout, slightly swollen sub-basally, narrower posterad, and almost straight in dorsal view; abruptly curved in wide angle at anterior third and narrower posterad in lateral view; with dense conspicuous, strongly sinuous setae on ventral surface, except at anterior third with simple short setae; dorsal surface with simple short setae; paracuspis well-developed, not sessile, slightly elongate vertically, subrounded at posterior margin, densely setose along posterodorsal margin, setae predominantly shorter than or as short as paracuspis; digitus short, slightly curved inward in dorsal view and slightly upcurved in lateral view, sparsely setose dorsally at base; penis valve strongly concave on internal surface, with closely spaced pair of short teeth posteroventrally; posterior tooth acute, subposterior tooth rounded, lateral pocket present on outer margin; distance between apex of teeth 0.1 × length of valve; dense setae present along posterior margin and inconspicuous short setae present at base of subposterior tooth on outer surface.

Coloration and variations

Female ( Figs 9A, C ; 10A, B ). Head, mesosoma and metasoma integument always black, at most brownish-black, with mandibles and antennal flagella partially reddish-brown and T2 with a pair of subrounded orange integumental spots varying in size; seta varying in density and predominantly silvery-golden except the following areas with black setae: head (except antennae), dorsum of pronotum, mesonotum, dorsum of propodeum medially, lateral face of pronotum, anterior half of mesopleuron, apex of meso and metafemora dorsally, most of disc of T2 (except integumental spots), most of fringe of T2–3 (except medially and laterally), narrow sublateral areas on fringe of T4, and S6.

Male ( Fig. 11A ). Integument black, at most brownish-black, with mandibles and flagella partially reddish-brown. Body setae predominantly silvery-golden varying in density except for the following areas with black setae varying in density: head (except apical/ventral margin of clypeus), pronotum, mesonotum, axillar projections, scutellum, apex of meso and metafemora dorsally, posterior two thirds of T2, fringe of T2–3 (except narrow lateral areas), T4–7, most of S4–5, and S6–7.

REMARKS

The sex association was based on distribution and matching color pattern, since both sexes of Traumatomutilla gemella are part of a well-defined mimicry syndrome occurring in the Atlantic Forest, which has been observed and used as a basis for sex associations in multiple species such as Pappognatha patruelis ( André, 1898) , Hoplocrates cephalotes (Swederus, 1787) , Hoplomutilla spinosa (Swederus, 1787) , Atlantilla auriculata ( Gerstaecker, 1874), and T. guarata Casal, 1969 (KAW and PRB pers. obs.). To the best of our knowledge, the only way to differentiate the males of T. gemella from the remaining males of the species-group are the setal characters previously mentioned in the diagnosis and identification key. Setae and color characters are also the most easily observable character to differentiate females of T. gemella especially since it appears that there are no variations whatsoever in the specimens examined. In the case of the females, however, there are reliable structural characters that can be used, namely the presence of micropunctures on the lateral propodeal face.

Figures

FIG. 9. — Traumatomutilla gemella (André, 1906), female, syntype, Brazil, Sao Paulo, HNHM: A, dorsal habitus; B, type labels; C, lateral habitus. Scale bars: 2 mm. Photos: T. Németh.

FIG. 10. — Traumatomutilla gemella (André, 1906), female, syntype, Brazil, Sao Paulo, MNHN: A, dorsal habitus; B, lateral habitus; C, type labels. Scale bars: 2 mm. Photos: P. R. Bartholomay.

FIG. 11. — Traumatomutilla gemella (André,1906),male,Brazil,Sao Paulo,EMUS:A, lateral habitus;B-F; genitalia:B, dorsal view (halved);C, ventral view (halved); D, lateral/inner view (penis valve removed); E, cuspis, lateral/inner view (removed not to scale); F, Penis valve, lateral/outer view (removed, not to scale). Scale bar: 2 mm. Photos: K. A. Williams.