Ancistrotilla bleuensis, Brothers, 2012

Brothers, Denis J., 2012, The new genus Ancistrotilla n. gen., with new species from Vanuatu and New Caledonia (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae), Zoosystema 34 (2), pp. 223-251 : 234-241

Ancistrotilla bleuensis n. sp.

( Fig. 4 )

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype ♀: NEW CALEDONIA / Refuge area near / Riviere [sic] Bleue Prov [incial]. P[ar] k. / km 25.8 Riv [ière]. Bleue road [approx. 22°11’S, 166°44’E] / Nov [ember] 3 1992, 213 m / E. & M. Schlinger; INHS / Insect collection / 263,138; specimen / measured & / photographed / D. J. Brothers ( MNHN EY6689 ).

DISTRIBUTION. — New Caledonia, GrandeTerre (Fig. 11).

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific name is a noun in the genitive case, derived from the name of the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS. — Female. Integument black with only faint metallic reflections; T2 black pubescent only anteromedially, with large patch of fairly dense pale golden setae on posterior half extending anteriorly on each side and merging with white apical band; head narrower than mesosoma; no postgenal carina; mesosoma about 1.25× as long as wide; inner metatibial spur about 1.5× length of outer spur; T2 wider than long in dorsal view; felt line about 0.3× lateral length of T2; pygidial area pyriform, narrowed anteriorly, entirely very finely and densely punctate/granulate, posterolateral carina convex; hypopygium apically with posteriorly upturned flange-like acute tooth on each side.

Male. Unknown.

DESCRIPTION

Female

Length 8.5 mm. Integument mainly black with some very weak metallic reflections; head and mesosoma black; metasoma dark bluish dorsally, very dark reddish brown ventrally, T1 with narrow yellowish integumental band posteriorly; pygidium and appendages, including tibial spurs, very dark reddish brown.Pubescence blackish but forming sparse patch of whitish setae on vertex, transverse broad sparse whitish band on meso-metanotal area, sparse patch of pale golden setae on propodeal declivity, sparse whitish setae on propodeal apex and T1, fairly dense complete pale golden band apically on T1, sparse whitish setae laterally on T2, patch of fairly dense pale golden setae on posterior half of T2 extending anteriorly on each side, dense complete whitish to pale golden apical fringe on T2, sparse pale golden setae on T5, dense whitish tuft on each side of pygidial plate, sparse whitish setae on S1-2 and sparse whitish apical band on S2 and medially on S3. Head. Broadly transverse, 1.51× as wide as long, 0.94× as wide as mesosoma, densely punctatereticulate, with semi-decumbent fine slender setae and erect sparsely brachyplumose setae. Occipital carina weak, present only dorsally. Sides behind head moderate, slightly converging, distinct from posterior margin, posterolateral angle rounded; head length behind eye 0.55× eye length. Eye strongly protruding, frons width 0.60× head width. Antennal tubercles simple, smooth, slightly separated basally. Clypeus with raised narrowly triangular punctate and setose region above complete shallowly W-shaped strong transverse flange-like carina, itself above depressed transverse smooth area, ventral margin slightly convex but weakly concave medially. Malar space 1.29× basal height of mandible. Genal carina apparently absent, perhaps represented by ventral irregular vertical ridge near proboscidial fossa. Postgenal carina absent. Proboscidial fossa slightly longer than smooth postgenal bridge. Scape simple, fairly sparsely punctate above. Pedicel 1.23× as long as wide, 0.68× as long as first flagellomere; first flagellomere 1.32× as long as wide, 1.45× as long as second. Mandible slender, tapering, arcuate, bidentate apically,subapical tooth minute and distant from apex, with basal lamellate tooth ventrally; height across basal tooth 0.83× mandibular basal height, height immediately beyond basal tooth 0.63× height across tooth, basal tooth length 0.83× mandibular basal height.

Mesosoma. 1.27× as long as wide, broadened to point anterior to metathoracic spiracle, then narrowed to projecting propodeal spiracle, maximum width 1.24× width at base of propodeal spiracle; propodeum parallel-sided then rounded posteriorly, disk and declivity merging. Dorsum convex, densely punctate-reticulate, more coarsely and irregularly so posteriorly, clothed with decumbent slender laterally flattened setae and erect simple and brachyplumose setae. Pronotal dorsal face (excluding anterior collar) with anterior margin slightly convex, rounded, epaulet weakly tuberculate, humeral angle blunt; posterodorsal margin indicated by crenulate shallowly concave sinuate ridge. Meso- and metanotum delimited laterally by weak irregular longitudinal ridge. Lateral face of pronotum sparsely punctate; pronotal-mesopleural suture entirely distinct. Mesopleuron almost smooth anteriorly and posteroventrally; vertical mesopleural ridge well developed and coarsely punctate-reticulate, specially ventrally, rounded and broad between prothoracic and metathoracic spiracles dorsally, with erect long brachyplumose setae. Metapleuron smooth and shining. Lateral face of propodeum mainly smooth and shining, with a few scattered minute punctures. Metasternal process medially triangular and apically obtuse, slightly shorter than metacoxal height, basally with strong blunt tubercle on each side.

Legs. Foreleg with tarsal comb, a few long strong articulated spines on posterior/lateral margins of tarsomeres 1-3. Mid- and hind tibiae each with two rows of prominent spines, three preapical spines in each row; each subapically with distinct secretory pore near base of inner apical spur. Metacoxa with strong even longitudinal carina on inner margin, ending posteriorly well before small apical tooth; inner metatibial spur 1.52× as long as outer spur, 0.76× as long as metabasitarsus.

Metasoma. 1.17× as wide as mesosoma.T1 2.16× as wide as long,0.51×width of T2, evenly expanded from base,weakly convex,not constricted apically,finely and sparsely punctate, with erect slender brachyplumose setae and posterior fringe of decumbent slender simple setae; anterior auricle prominent, vertically lamellate. T2 0.92× as long as wide in dorsal view, finely and very densely punctate, clothed with decumbent slender laterally flattened to simple setae and erect simple and brachyplumose setae, posterior band of decumbent slender simple setae; lateral felt line broad, 0.30× lateral length of T2. T3-5 shagreened and very finely but moderately punctate, clothed with decumbent slender laterally flattened to simple setae and few erect simple and brachyplumose setae. T6 basolaterally with dense erect simple setae; pyriform flattened pygidial area entirely very finely and densely punctate/granulate, anteriorly narrowed, well defined on posterior third by convex lateral carina ending posteriorly in a blunt angle, posterior margin weakly concave laterally, convex medially. S1 mostly smoothly convex, median carina represented only by anterior tubercle.S2 strongly convex anteromedially, without felt line, finely and sparsely punctate, with erect simple setae and sparse apical fringe of semidecumbent simple setae.S3-6 shagreened and finely but moderately to densely punctate, with erect and decumbent simple setae.Hypopygium (S6)with apex deeply emarginate, forming a posteriorly upturned flange-like acute tooth on each side.

Male

Unknown.

Ancistrotilla caledonica ( André, 1896) n. comb. ( Fig. 5 )

Mutilla ( Sphaerophthalma [sic]) caledonica André, 1896: 96 , 97, 100, ♀.

Ephutomorpha caledonica – André 1902: 49, ♀. — Mickel 1935: 296, ♀. — Williams 1945: 416, pl. XVIII (in

part, ♀ not ♂). TYPE MATERIAL. — Lectotype ♀: N[ouvel]le Calédo[nie]

[pink label, typeset]; MUSÉUM PARIS / COLLEC- TION / ERNEST ANDRÉ / 1914 [pink label, typeset]; TYPE [red lettering, typeset]; LECTOTYPE / Mutilla ( Sphaerophthalma [sic]) / caledonica André 1896 ♀ / det. D. J. Brothers 1981 [my handwriting]; LECTOTYPE [red label, typeset] (MNHN EY6690).

Paralectotypes (4 ♀♀): labelled similarly to lectotype (1 measured and photographed, 1 measured, MNHN EY6691-6694). (Locality further specified as Nouméa [22°16’30”S, 166°27’30”E] by André [1896], see below.)

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — New Caledonia. 7 ♀♀: Dumbea River [approx. 22°10’S, 166°27’E], 28.X.1958 (C. R. Joyce) (1 ♀ measured BPBM) ; Noumea [22°16’30”S, 166°27’30”E], 10. VIII.1940 (F. X. Williams) (1 ♀ measured BPBM). — Isle of Pines [approx. 22°37’S, 167°28’E], 23.X.1940 (F. X. Williams) (1 ♀ BPBM, 1 ♀ measured DJBC) ; same data but 24.X.1940, 1 det. as Ephutomorpha caledonica by Williams (3 ♀♀, 1 measured BPBM) .

DISTRIBUTION. — New Caledonia: Grande Terre, île des Pins (Fig. 11).

DIAGNOSIS. — Female. Integument black with only faint metallic reflections; T2 mainly black pubescent, with narrow apical band of pale golden setae merging with white apical band; head about as wide as mesosoma; postgenal carina short, near occipital foramen; mesosoma about 1.3× as long as wide; inner metatibial spur about 1.5× length of outer spur; T2 slightly wider than long in dorsal view; felt line about 0.3× lateral length of T2; pygidial area pyriform, narrowed anteriorly, entirely very finely and densely punctate/granulate, posterolateral carina convex; hypopygium apically with posteriorly upturned flange-like narrowly rounded tooth on each side.

Male. Unknown.

REDESCRIPTION

Female

Measurements are means and ranges from six specimens indicated above.

Length 6.6(5.9-7.2) mm.Integument mainly black (sometimes dark reddish brown) with some very weak metallic reflections; head and mesosoma very dark bluish dorsally; metasoma dark bluish dorsally, very dark reddish brown ventrally, T1 with narrow yellowish integumental band posteriorly; pygidium and appendages,including tibial spurs, very dark reddish brown. Pubescence mainly blackish but whitish laterally and ventrally, mainly whitish on head, transverse short sparse whitish band on metanotal area, whitish setae on anterior face of pronotum and on propodeal apex and T1, fairly dense complete whitish band apically on T1, complete indefinite band of pale golden setae merging posteriorly with broad dense complete whitish band apically on T2, sparse erect whitish setae anteriorly on T3, dense whitish to pale golden tuft on each side of pygidial plate.

Head. Broadly transverse, 1.48× (1.44-1.50) as wide as long, 0.99× (0.96-1.03) as wide as mesosoma, densely punctate-reticulate, with semi-decumbent fine slender setae and erect sparsely brachyplumose setae. Occipital carina weak, present only dorsally. Sides behind head moderate, clearly converging, distinct from posterior margin, posterolateral angle rounded; head length behind eye 0.54× (0.44- 0.61) eye length. Eye strongly protruding, frons width 0.60× (0.57-0.62) head width. Antennal tubercles simple, smooth, slightly separated basally. Clypeus with raised triangular punctate and setose region above complete shallowly W-shaped strong transverse flange-like carina, itself above depressed transverse micropunctate smooth area, ventral margin slightly convex but weakly concave medially. Malar space 1.50× (1.39-1.71) basal height of mandible. Genal carina apparently absent (sometimes perhaps represented by slight ventral irregular vertical ridge approaching proboscidial fossa). Short sharp irregular postgenal carina extending from edge of occipital depression about quarter distance to proboscidial fossa. Proboscidial fossa scarcely longer than smooth postgenal bridge. Scape simple, fairly sparsely punctate above. Pedicel 1.10× (1.00-1.30) as long as wide, 0.70× (0.63-0.78) as long as first flagellomere; first flagellomere 1.16× (1.00-1.27) as long as wide, 1.24× (1.10-1.33) as long as second. Mandible slender, tapering, arcuate, bidentate apically, subapical tooth minute and distant from apex, with basal lamellate tooth ventrally; height across basal tooth 0.92× (0.89-0.97) mandibular basal height, height immediately beyond basal tooth 0.57× (0.56-0.59) height across tooth, basal tooth length 1.00× (0.94-1.07) mandibular basal height. Mesosoma. 1.29× (1.26-1.35) as long as wide, broadened to point anterior to metathoracic spiracle, then narrowed to projecting propodeal spiracle, maximum width 1.22× (1.19-1.26) width at base of propodeal spiracle; propodeum parallel-sided then rounded posteriorly, disk and declivity merging. Dorsum convex, densely punctate-reticulate, more coarsely and irregularly so posteriorly, clothed with decumbent slender laterally flattened setae and erect simple and brachyplumose setae. Pronotal dorsal face (excluding anterior collar) with anterior margin slightly convex, rounded, epaulet weakly tuberculate, humeral angle acute; posterodorsal margin indicated by crenulate broadly V-shaped ridge. Meso- and metanotum delimited laterally by strong irregular longitudinal ridge. Lateral face of pronotum moderately punctate; pronotal-mesopleural suture entirely distinct.Mesopleuron almost smooth anteriorly and posteroventrally; vertical mesopleural ridge well developed and coarsely punctate-reticulate, rounded and broad between prothoracic and metathoracic spiracles dorsally, with erect long brachyplumose setae. Metapleuron smooth and shining, with scattered minute punctures ventrally. Lateral face of propodeum mainly smooth and shining, with scattered minute punctures. Metasternal process medially parallel-sided and apically broadly obtuse, slightly shorter than metacoxal height, basally with strong blunt tubercle on each side.

Legs. Foreleg with tarsal comb, a few long strong articulated spines on posterior/lateral margins of tarsomeres 1-3. Mid- and hind tibiae each with two rows of prominent spines, three preapical spines in each row; each subapically with distinct secretory pore near base of inner apical spur. Metacoxa with strong even longitudinal carina on inner margin, ending posteriorly well before small apical tooth; inner metatibial spur 1.46× (1.36-1.56) as long as outer spur, 0.75× (1.71-1.78) as long as metabasitarsus.

Metasoma. 1.17× (1.13-1.18) as wide as mesosoma. T1 2.16× (2.03-2.31) as wide as long, 0.49× (0.48- 0.50) width of T2, evenly expanded from base, weakly convex, not constricted apically, finely and sparsely punctate, with erect slender brachyplumose setae and posterior fringe of decumbent slender simple setae; anterior auricle prominent, vertically lamellate. T2 0.95× (0.91-0.99) as long as wide in dorsal view, finely and very densely punctate, clothed with decumbent slender laterally flattened to simple setae and erect simple and brachyplumose setae, posterior band of decumbent slender simple setae; lateral felt line broad, 0.27× (0.22-0.31) lateral length of T2. T3-5 shagreened and very finely but moderately punctate, clothed with decumbent slender laterally flattened to simple setae and erect simple and brachyplumose setae. T6 basolaterally with dense erect simple setae; pyriform flattened pygidial area entirely very finely and densely punctate/granulate, anteriorly narrowed, well defined on posterior third by convex lateral carina ending posteriorly as an oblique narrowing, posterior margin weakly convex laterally, abruptly convex medially. S1 mostly smoothly convex, median carina represented only by anterior tubercle, posterior declivity delimited by abrupt transverse ridge. S2 strongly convex anteromedially, without felt line, finely and sparsely punctate, with erect simple setae and sparse apical fringe of semi-decumbent simple setae denser laterally. S3-6 finely but moderately to densely punctate, with erect and decumbent simple setae. Hypopygium (S6) with apex deeply emarginate, forming a posteriorly upturned flange-like blunt tooth on each side.

Male

Unknown.

REMARKS

This taxon was described from more than one female specimen collected at “Nouméa ( Nouvelle-Calédonie)” (collector unspecified) and in André’s collection ( André 1896). There are six female specimens so identified from that collection in MNHN ; all have appropriate collecting data (although “Nouméa” itself does not appear on the labels and they have no dates). Five agree with the description (although the first metasomal tergum has a testaceous band at the apex and the pygidium is shagreened) and are evidently syntypes. The sixth is not contaxic with the others, has a different locality label, and does not agree with the description on numerous points (e.g., it has ferruginous legs and a distinctly striated pygidium) ; I consider that specimen not to be a syntype. Mickel (1935) stated that the lectotype (specified as from Noumea, presumably based on the locality given in the original description) was in MNHN but he did not label any specimen as such and gave no indication that he had traced the syntype series. I have no reason to believe that an appropriate specimen labelled specifically as from Noumea ever existed. It is impossible to be sure which of the syntypes Mickel considered to be the lectotype, and I hereby specify the largest syntype (length about 9.0 mm) as the lectotype. The other four specimens have been labelled as paralectotypes. I have no information which might clarify why André specified Noumea as the type locality, other than the fact that it is the capital of New Caledonia .

Williams (1945) collected seven females and five males of what he identified as Ephutomorpha caledonica , almost all from the île des Pins but one female from Noumea, the type locality of E. caledonica . Since only one species was known from New Caledonia at the time, his identification (probably based on his use of Mickel’s (1935) key since he had not seen the original description) and his assumption that the males were of the same species, were entirely reasonable. I have directly compared several females collected by him with two paralectotypes of M. caledonica and can confirm that his identification was correct; these specimens have been included in my redescription above. However, the identity of the males is problematic since it is now known that there are additional species of Ancistrotilla n. gen. on New Caledonia; see under A. aenigmatica n. gen., n. sp. below.

Figures

FIG. 4. — Ancistrotilla bleuensis n. gen., n. sp., holotype ♀ (MNHN EY6689): A, habitus, dorsal view; B, habitus, lateral view (image reversed); C, head, anterior view; D, metasoma, dorsal view; E, T5 and pygidium, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIG. 5. — Ancistrotilla caledonica (André, 1896) n. comb. ♀: A, habitus, dorsal view; B, habitus, lateral view; C, head, anterior view; D, metasoma, dorsal view; E, T5 and pygidium, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.