Pristaulacus auricomus SMITH, 2008

Smith, David R., 2008, Aulacidae of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America (Hymenoptera), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 58 (2), pp. 267-355 : 302-304

Pristaulacus auricomus SMITH , new species

( Figs 63-66 )

Diagnosis:

Head and body with golden pubescence, with black and yellow pattern. Wings with anterior half dark brown, posterior half paler to hyaline. Head shining. Mesonotum with transverse carinae. Hind coxa shining with cross striations at posterior.

Female:

Length, 16.0 mm; forewing length, 12.0 mm; ovipositor length, 14.0 mm. Color: Covered with golden pubescence. Antenna black with segments 1-3 yellow; anterior margin of clypeus brown. Mesosoma black with following yellow: lateral areas on mesoscutal middle lobe, lateral spot on each lateral lobe; axilla; anterior third of pronotum; spot on upper metapleuron; diagonal streak above hind coxa; semicircle on propodeum around metasomal insertion. Fore- and midlegs yellow with coxae and trochanters black; hind leg black with second trochanteral segment and extreme base of tibia brown and stripe on inner surface of hind tibia and hind tarsus yellow except blackish apical one or two segments. Metasoma black; first segment yellow ventrally. Ovipositor sheath yellow brown, apex black. Head: Antennal length 2.0X head width. Lower interocular distance 1.2X eye height; malar space 0.3X eye height ( Fig. 63 ). Head behind eyes from above long, straight, head behind eyes 1.3X eye length ( Fig. 66 ). Occipital carina narrow, about a fifth or less diameter of an ocellus. Gena, vertex, and frons somewhat dull, finely punctate; dense, long golden pubescence, densest and longest on anterior vertex through frons to malar area and clypeus ( Figs 63, 66 ). Mesosoma: Covered with rather dense, golden pubescence, half length or less than that on front of head. Anterior mesoscutum rounded; mesoscutum reticulate, with faint transverse sculpture on middle lobe and middle lobe separated from lateral lobe by narrow scrobiculate area. Propleuron shining, finely punctate; pronotum without anteriorly projecting tooth, reticulate posteriorly with smooth, shining area anteriorly; mesopleuron reticulate with faint carinae on lower half, smoother area toward posterior margin, and very narrow scrobiculate area posteriorly; metapleuron mostly with diagonal carinae; propodeum shining, median groove on dorsum, transverse carinae below metasomal insertion, laterally with diagonal carina dorsally and transverse carinae ventrally ( Figs 65, 66 ). Hind coxa stout, less than 2X longer than broad, shining with few transverse carinae on apical half; nearly perpendicular ovipositor groove near apex on inner surface. Tarsal claws with 6 teeth, basal most tooth very small. Hind basitarsus 1.2X length of remaining tarsal segments combined. Forewing with cells 1M and 1Rs separated by long vein Rs+M. Hind wing with veins distinct, cells Cu and R1+Rs contiguous (as in Fig. 110 ). Metasoma: Smooth, shining, with fine white pubescence on segments 2 to apex. Ovipositor length 1.2X forewing length.

Male: Length, 14.5 mm; forewing length, 10.0 mm. Color and structure similar to female.

Types: Holotype: Female, labeled “Mazatlan, 9 mi. N. Sin., MEX., VII-25-28-72, J. & M. A. Chemsak, A. & M. Michelbacher ” ( UCB) . Paratypes: HONDURAS: Tegucigalpa, VI.18-18, F. J. Dyar, Col., No. 40456, 41432 (1 ♂, USNM) . MEXICO: Same data as holotype (15 ♀♀, UCB) ; Yautepec, Mor. , VII-31-1963, F. D. Parker, L. A. Stange, Collectors (1 ♂, UCD) , same except VII-13 1963 (1 ♀, UCD) ; Sinaloa, 7 mi. N. Guamachil, VIII-18-66, Linsleys, Chemsak, At light, J. Powell, collector (1 ♀, UCB) ; Est. Bio. Chamela , Jalisco, VII-20/27-1984, J. A. Chemsak, J. T. Doyen, at lights (1 ♀, UCB) ; 1.1 mi W El Quelite , Sinaloa, VII-18-1974, M. L. Siri, Colr. (1 ♂, UCD) ; Sinaloa, 15 mi. N. Mazatlan , Aug. 7, 1973, E. Giesbert, Coll. (1 ♀, LACM) ; Mazatlan, Sin. , Aug. 16, 1964, at sea level, J. F. McAlpine (1 ♂, CNC) . UNITED STATES: Arizona, Cochise Co., s. fk. cave ck. cyn. [probably south fork, Cave Creek Canyon ], VIII-8 1974, Eichlin et al. (1 ♀, CDA) .

Etymology: From the Latin auricomus , meaning with golden hairs, referring to the long, dense, golden pubescence of the head and mesosoma.

Remarks:

The long, golden hairs of the head and mesosoma, the infuscate anterior half of the forewing, and the black mesosoma with yellow maculae as shown in Figs 65 and 66 , are distinctive for this large species.

Figures

Figs 63-66: Pristaulacus auricomus. 63 Head, front. 64 Head, dorsal. 65 Mesosoma, lateral. 66 Mesosoma, dorsal.

Figs 106-110: Pristaulacus unimacula. 106 Head, front. 107 Head, dorsal. 108 Mesosoma, lateral. 109 Mesosoma, dorsal. 110 Wings.