Larrisson quintus 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 : 53-58

Larrisson quintus Pulawski sp. n. Figs 11 -15

Name-derivation.

Quintus is a Latin masculine ordinal numeral meaning fifth (also used as a proper name); the species was the fifth Larrisson discovered in Australia.

Recognition.

Females and most males of Larrisson quintus are recognized by the presence of many small setiferous punctures between spines on the dorsal half of the outer surface of the hindtibia. In addition, the mesothoracic venter is densely punctate and setose (punctures about one diameter apart, setae concealing integument), at least tergum I is reddish brown, and in the female most setae of the pygidial plate do not conceal the integument. In most other Larrisson , the outer surface of the hindtibia is impunctate at least in dorsal half or has a few, sparse punctures, although it is punctate and setose in punctatus, spinosus, niger,and tegularis; in the first two species,the punctures of the mesothoracic venter are 2-3 diameters apart on each side of the median zone, and the setae do not conceal the integument; in niger, the gaster is all black and most setae of the female pygidial plate conceal the integument (the male is unknown); in tegularis, gastral terga have apical yellow fasciae and the tegular inner margin is concave (rather than evenly rounded.

The male of Larrisson quintus differs from all its congeners in having the legs markedly modified: the forefemoral venter is roundly expanded subbasally ( Fig. 13b ), concave anterobasally, the forebasitarsus concave on the inner margin ( Fig. 13c ), foretarsomeres II-IV are expanded on the inner side ( Fig. 13c ), midtarsomeres II-IV wider than long ( Fig. 13e ), and the hindbasitarsus is convex on the outer margin ( Fig. 13f ); as in orbitalis, the posterior mandibular margin is angulate between base and notch ( Fig. 13a ); as in sulcatus and tibialis, the hindfemur is concave ventrally ( Fig. 13d ).

Description.

Width of face across clypeus and vertex in female = 60:50-52, least interocular distance 47-48; in male 60:50, and 45, respectively. Orbital fovea well defined, in female more than half ocellocular distance, in male not quite half ocellocular distance. Clypeal lobe only slightly prominent, its free margin arcuate, rounded laterally in female ( Fig. 12a ), slightly angulate in male ( Fig. 12b ). Scapal basin impunctate, glabrous. Length of scape (excluding radicle) 2.2-2.3 × width in female, 2.8-2.9 × in male, length equal to flagellomeres I-IV + half V combined. Precoxal mesopleural declivity simple, not expanded into spine or tubercle; mesothoracic venter uniformly densely punctate and setose (punctures about one diameter apart, setae concealing integument). Metanotum with median tooth that is vestigial in females but well defined (up to about 1.3 × midocellar width) in males. Propodeal dorsum without spine or tubercle behind spiracle in female, with conspicuous tubercle or obtuse spine in male; side minutely ridged adjacent to metapleural sulcus (ridges larger under spiracle), with several punctures near middle, punctate posteriorly and also on posterior surface laterally; posterior surface ridged both mesodorsally and mesoventrally. Outer surface of hindtibia (except in one male from Ellery Creek Big Hole, WMNP) with many small setiferous punctures between spines, including dorsal half.

Setae all silvery, appressed on head, thorax, propodeum, and legs, concealing integument on clypeus and pronotal collar, concealing integument from most angles on lower frons (except for glabrous scapal basin), mesopleuron, and mesothoracic venter, forming apical fasciae on terga. Hindfemoral ventral and inner (= posterior) surfaces asetose (except inner surface setose preapically).

Head, thorax, and propodeum black in most specimens with the following exceptions: clypeus reddish brown ventrally (narrowly so on lateral lobes); mandible yellow basally, dark brown apically; scape yellow (black dorsally), all black in female from Heathlands, Queensland; flagellum reddish brown at least ventrally (all reddish brown in specimens from Victoria River Roadhouse); thorax and propodeum reddish brown to varying degree in several specimens from WMNP (only scutum black in one female). Forefemur in most females black basally, yellow apically, in most males yellow, with black spot in basal three quarter of length on posterior surface (black replaced by reddish brown in most females and single male from WMNP, forefemur all reddish brown in one female from there); midfemur in most females reddish brown anteriorly and black posteriorly, except yellow apically and ventrally in distal half or third, in most males yellow anteriorly and ventrally, reddish brown posteriorly, dark brown dorsally (midfemur all reddish brown in specimens from WMNP, all black in female from Heathlands); hindfemur in most females reddish brown except black dorsally and yellow at very apex, in most males reddish brown except yellow apically and dark brown on posterior (= inner) surface in distal half, also dorsally in some specimens (hindfemur all reddish brown in specimens from WMNP except yellow apically in single male, all black in female from Heathlands); tibiae yellow (foretibia dark brown on ventral surface, mid- and hindtibiae dark brown on posterior surface); tarsi yellow in most specimens (apical tarsomeres reddish brown, brown in specimen from Heathlands), reddish brown in females from WMNP. Gaster all reddish brown in specimens from WMNP, but terga II and III largely black mesally and terga IV and V (IV-VI in male) black except laterally in those from Gregory National Park and Maud River, and only tergum I reddish brown in specimen from Heathlands; apical depressions of terga II-V (II-VI in male) reddish brown.

Female. Pygidial plate with punctures that are less than one diameter apart in apical half or third ( Fig. 12c ). Forebasitarsus with four or five rake spines; apical spine of foretarsomere III about 1.3 × as long as apical basitarsal width. Length 5.1-6.5 mm.

Male. Posterior mandibular margin conspicuously expanded near base ( Fig. 13a ), inner margin without tooth near midlength. Flagellum cylindrical; dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.4 × apical width. Forefemur expanded ventrally ( Fig. 13b ), concave basally on ventral surface; forebasitarsus concave on inner margin ( Fig. 13c ), with four rake spines; foretarsomeres II-IV wider than long, expanded on inner side ( Fig. 13c ); apical spine of foretarsomere III equal to apical spine of basitarsus. Midfemur expanded ventrally, but less so than forefemur; midtarsomeres II-IV wider than long ( Fig. 13e ). Hindfemur concave ventrally, expanded ventrad at apex ( Fig. 13d ), carinate between ventral and posterior (= inner) surfaces; hindtibia flattened laterally, carinate dorsally, concave on each side of carina in basal half; hindbasitarsus convex on outer side ( Fig. 13f ), hindtarsomeres II-IV enlarged, longer than wide ( Fig. 13f ), with dense, erect setae on venters; hindtarsomere III excavated ventrolaterally. Tergum VII rounded apically ( Fig. 12d ). Sternum II with transverse, glabrous swelling behind midlength. Apical half of sternum III and sterna IV-VII with dense, erect setae, becoming longer toward gastral apex (in addition to long, erect setae at bases of apical depressions). Sternum VIII emarginate apically, with large, glabrous platform preapically ( Fig. 12e ), punctate and setose outside platform. Genitalia: Fig. 12f , 14 . Length 6.0-8.2 mm, but 10.3 mm in single male from WMNP.

Geographic variation.

In specimens from Queensland and from Gregory National Park and Maud River, Northern Territory, the basolateral carina of tergum I is continued mesad by a short, oblique carina, in the female the glabrous, apicomedian portion of the clypeus is convex, the femora are darker, while the male forebasitarsus has a lamellar, translucent expansion on the outer margin in the distal half. In speci mens from WMNP, the additional tergal carina is absent, the apicomedian portion of the female clypeus is concave, the legs are more reddish brown, and the male forebasitarsus is not expanded on the outer margin. In females from Western Australia, the additional basolateral carina on tergum I is absent, the glabrous, apicomedian portion of the clypeus is flat, and the femora are more reddish brown in the specimen from Pardoo Roadhouse area.

Geographic distribution

( Fig. 11 ). Northern Australia.

Specimens examined.

Holotype: ♂, AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: Gregory National Park: Victoria River bank near Timber Creek at 15°37.8'S, 130°28.6'E ( Fig. 15 ), 10 Apr 2008, W.J. Pulawski and G.A. Williams (ANIC). Paratypes: Gregory National Park: Victoria River bank near Victoria River Roadhouse at 15°36.8'S, 131°08.7'E, W.J. Pulawski and G.A. Williams, 9 Apr 2008 (1 ♂, CAS) and 14 Apr 2008 (3 ♀, 2 ♂, CAS); same place and collectors as holotype, 10 Apr 2008 (13 ♀, CAS, 15 ♂, CAS; 1 ♀, 1 ♂, QMB), 13 Apr 2008 (1 ♀, 1 ♂, AMS; 1 ♀, ANIC; 1 ♀, 1 ♂, BMNH; 20 ♀, 20 ♂, CAS; 1 ♀, 1 ♂, OHL; 1 ♀, 1 ♂, USNM); Maud River bank 20 km NE Katherine at 14°22.9'S, 132°24.9'E, 7 Apr 2008, W.J. Pulawski and G.A. Williams (1 ♀, CAS); West MacDonnell National Park, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski: Ellery Creek Big Hole 92 km W Alice Springs at 23°46.7'S, 133°04.4'E, 9 Mar 2008 (1 ♀, CAS), 12 Mar 2008 (4 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS), and Simpsons Gap 17 km W Alice Springs at 23°40.7'S, 133°43.1'E, 5 Mar 2008 (1 ♀, CAS), 8 Mar 2008 (2 ♀, CAS). Queensland: Heathlands at 11°45'S, 142°35'E, 26 Jan - 29 Feb 1992, P. Feehney (1 ♀, ANIC); Sandringham Station 55 km NW Bedourie at 24°03'S, 139°03', 1979-1980, S. Morton (1 ♀, ANIC). Western Australia: 158 km S Newman (= 9 km N Kumarina Roadhouse) at 24°37.8'S, 117°36.8'E [correctly: 119°36.8'E], 24 Apr - 7 May 2003, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker (1 ♀, ANIC); 80 km S Pardoo Roadhouse on Shay Gap road at 20°28.3'S, 129°10.0'E, 5 Jan - 14 May 2003, F.D. Parker and M.E. Irwin (1 ♀, USU).

Figures

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

Figure 12. Larrisson quintus: a female clypeus and mandible b male clypeus and mandible c female pygidial plate d male tergum VII e male sternum VIII in ventral view f male genitalia in ventral view.

Figure 13. Larrisson quintus ♂: a mandible b forefemur c foretarsus d hindfemur e midtarsus f hindtarsus.

Figure 14. Larrisson quintus: male genitalia dorsally.

Figure 15. A collecting site near Timber Creek in Gregory National Park where most specimens of Larrisson quintus were caught (including the holotype).