Elissoma ichneumonoides, Winterton, 2023

Winterton, Shaun L., 2023, Wasp-mimicking soldier flies of the Australian Region: revision of Ampsalis Walker, Elissoma White and Lagenosoma Brauer (Stratiomyidae: Clitellariinae), Zootaxa 5246 (1), pp. 1-63 : 25

Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n.

( Figs 13A, B ; 20 ; 25I ; 28I ; 32H ; 36 )

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Diagnosis. Antennae extremely long, flagellum white apically, flagellomere VII slightly longer than combined length of flagellomeres V–VI; scutellum yellow, black laterally; hind tarsus black; scutellar spines well developed.

Description. Body length = 14.0 mm. Head. Female frons flat, rounded, black with yellow marking along eye margin; face rounded, yellow, with sparse setae; parafacial yellow; ocellar tubercle black; occiput black, carinate postocular ridge yellow, covered with fine dark setal pile; antenna greatly elongate (length = 8.5 mm), black with apical part of flagellomere VIII white; flagellomere VII slightly longer than combined length of flagellomeres V–VI, ratio of length of flagellomere VII to VIII is 1: 42, flagellomere VIII elongate and shallowly plumose with microtrichia. Thorax. Female thorax predominantly black with yellow markings on postpronotal lobe, posterodorsally on anepisternum, on scutum as triangular dorsocentral markings, laterally along transverse suture and on postalar callus; scutellum yellow medial, black laterally, scutellar spines well developed and slightly upturned, equal to 1/2 scutellum length; coxae and legs yellow, hind femur and hind tibia black distally; basitarsus black, slightly elongate and thickened, remaining hind tarsomeres pale; haltere yellow; wing hyaline, venation and pterostigma dark brown; wing vein M 3 present. Abdomen. Female abdomen narrowed slightly at base but not petiolate, segment 4 widest and slightly wider than scutum; segment 1 with lateral flange weakly developed; abdomen yellow, paired black markings on tergites 1–2, segments 3–5 predominantly black with whitish margin laterally. Female genitalia. Not dissected.

Etymology. The species epithet is derived from this species remarkable similarity to wasps in the family Ichneumonidae .

Comments. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n. is the largest species of the genus, with females reaching 14 mm body length, in addition to extremely elongate antennae (8.5 mm). This species is known only from two female individuals collected in dense montane rainforest in southeastern Queensland. The extraordinary length of the antennae, white apex of the flagellum, and the distinctive scutellum markings are diagnostic for this species.

Type material— Holotype female, AUSTRALIA: Queensland: Mt. Tamborine [-27.9181, 153.1911], XI.1977, Agard, Malaise trap ( QM).

Paratype. AUSTRALIA: Queensland: 1 female, Lamington NP, Binna Burra, off Caves Circuit, severe burn site [-28.198, 153.186], 25–30.XI.2020, C. Lambkin, 785m, 39991, Malaise trap in rainforest ( QM) (Reg. # T250605 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 13. A. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female, lateral view; B. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female, oblique view; C. Elissoma lauta White, male, lateral view; D. Elissoma lauta, male, dorsal view; E. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male, lateral view; F. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male, oblique view; G. Elissoma scapula sp. n., male, lateral view; H. Elissoma scapula sp. n., male, oblique view.

FIGURE 20. Stylised illustrations of the antenna of Eudmeta, Ampsalis, Elissoma and Lagenosoma.

FIGURE 25. Heads of Ampsalis and Elissoma. A. Ampsalis acta sp. n., male; B. Ampsalis acta sp. n., female; C. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., male; D. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., female; E. Elissoma australis sp. n., female; F. Elissoma gilva sp. n., female; G. Elissoma danielsi sp. n., male; H. Elissoma danielsi sp. n., female; I. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female; J. Elissoma hespera sp. n., male; K. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, male; L. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, female; M. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male; N. Elissoma lauta White, male.

FIGURE 28. Ampsalis and Elissoma scutellums.A. Ampsalis acta sp. n.; B. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n.; C. Elissoma australis sp. n.; D. Elissoma brunnea Hardy; E. Elissoma danielsi sp. n., F. Elissoma gilva sp. n.; G. Elissoma hespera sp. n.; H. Elissoma hauseri sp. n.; I. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n.; J. Elissoma lauta White.

FIGURE 32. Ampsalis and Elissoma abdomens. A. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., male; B. Elissoma australis sp. n., female; C. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, male; D. Elissoma lauta White, male; E. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male; F. Elissoma gilva sp. n., female; G. Elissoma hespera sp. n., male; H. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female; I. Lagenosoma clitellum sp. n., male; J. Lagenosoma clitellum sp. n., female.

FIGURE 36. Distribution of Elissoma species.