Larrisson spinosus Pulawski, 2012

Pulawski, Wojciech J., 2012, A review of the genus Larrisson Menke, 1967, and description of the new genus Larrissa (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 25, pp. 35-82 : 58-60

Larrisson spinosus Pulawski sp. n. Figs 11 16

Name-derivation.

Spinosus is a Latin masculine adjective meaning spiny; with respect to the spine on the metanotum and another behind the propodeal spiracle, the structures that differentiate this species from carinatus.

Recognition.

The male of spinosus resembles carinatus and quintus in having gastral terga I and II reddish brown rather than black combined with nonemarginate apically sternum VIII. It differs from these species in having a more prominent middle clypeal lobe ( Fig. 16a ). Unlike quintus, the legs are unmodified in spinosus (see quintus for details), and unlike carinatus the mesopleuron has a sharp median tooth in front of the midcoxa (rather than a transverse crest), the metanotum has a sharp middle spine ( Fig. 16b , spine absent in carinatus), the propodeum has a spine behind the spiracle (spine absent in carinatus), and sternum II has a transverse swelling (rather than a median, pointed carina). The female is unknown.

Description.

Male. Width of face across clypeus and vertex = 60:58, least interocular distance 30. Orbital fovea rudimentary. Clypeal lobe prominent, its free margin arcuate, not angulate laterally ( Fig. 16a ). Length of scape (excluding radicle) 2.7 × width, length equal to flagellomeres I-III + half IV combined. Mesopleuron with obtuse, transverse crest in front of midcoxa; mesothoracic venter sparsely punctate on each side of median zone (punctures several diameters apart). Metanotum with conspicuous median spine ( Fig. 16b ). Propodeal dorsum with conspicuous spine behind spiracle; side ridged; posterior surface ridged both mesodorsally and mesoventrally. Outer surface of hindtibia largely impunctate and asetose between spines in dorsal half.

Setae all silvery, appressed on head, thorax, propodeum, and legs, partly concealing integument on clypeus and pronotal collar, concealing integument from most angles on lower frons except for glabrous scapal basin, concealing or not concealing on mesopleuron, not concealing on mesothoracic venter, forming ill-defined apical fasciae on terga I-III. Hindfemoral ventral surface asetose, inner (= posterior) surface setose except ventrally in holotype and specimen from Calperum Station.

Head, thorax, and propodeum black except the following are pale yellow: scape, pedicel, mandible (except apically), and pronotal lobe, whereas flagellum is light brown ventrally and light brown to black dorsally. Forefemur black basally (reddish brown in specimen from Cocata Conservation Park), pale yellow apically and in apical half ventrally; midfemur reddish brown basally, pale yellow apically and in apical third ventrally; hindfemur reddish brown, pale yellow apically; tibiae pale yellow, partly reddish brown; forebasitarsus pale yellow (reddish brown on inner surface), remaining article yellowish brown; mid- and hindtarsi pale yellow except apical tarsomeres light brown. Gastral terga I, II, and VII reddish brown, remaining terga reddish brown laterally and on apical depressions, otherwise black.

Posterior mandibular margin not expanded between base and notch, inner margin with obtuse tooth near midlength ( Fig. 16a ). Flagellum cylindrical; dorsal length of flagellomere I about equal to apical width. Metanotum with conspicuous spine ( Fig. 16b ). Propodeum with conspicuous spine behind spiracle (spine longer than that on metanotum). Legs unmodified except hindfemur concave ventrally, slightly expanded ventrad at apex, carinate between ventral and posterior (= inner) surfaces; forebasitarsus with four rake spines; apical spine of foretarsomere III equal to apical width of basitarsus. Tergum VII punctate throughout, rounded apically. Sternum II with transverse swelling behind midlength, swelling glabrous, similar to that of quintus. Sterna III-VII with long, erect setae at bases of apical depressions, otherwise practically asetose. Sternum VIII flat, glabrous, rounded apically. Length 8.4-9.6 mm. Genitalia similar to those of quintus.

Female. Unknown.

Geographic distribution

( Fig. 11 ). South Australia and Western Australia.

Specimens examined.

Holotype: ♂, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: François Peron National Park ca 10 km NNE Denham at 25°50.3'S, 113°33.3'E, 9 Nov 2008, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski (WAMP). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: Calperum Station 16 km N Renmark at 34°02.9'S, 140°42.2'E, 3 Dec 2010, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski (1 ♂, CAS); Cocata Conservation Park at 33°17.0'S, 135°19.7'E, 3 Jan 2011, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski (1 ♂, CAS).

Figures

Figure 11. Collecting localities of Larrisson punctatus, quintus, and spinosus.

Figure 16. Larrisson spinosus ♂: a clypeus and mandible b metanotum in lateral view.