Smicromyrme thaochani Williams, 2019

Williams, Kevin A., Lelej, Arkady S., Okayasu, Juriya, Borkent, Christopher J., Malee, Rufeah, Thoawan, Kodeeyah & Thaochan, Narit, 2019, The female velvet ants (aka modkhong) of southern Thailand (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), with a key to the genera of southeast Asia, Zootaxa 4602 (1), pp. 1-69 : 29-30

15e. Smicromyrme thaochani Williams , sp. nov.

( Figs 111–114 )

Diagnosis. FEMALE. This species the mesosoma longer than broad; the scutellar scale distinct and surrounded by scattered tubercles; the T2 disc with three spots, the lateral spots disposed posterior to the medial spot; the T2 apex with a white to golden medially expanded band; T3 with the setae entirely white to golden; T4–5 with the setae mostly black; and the pygidium elongate ovate with many dense striae that reach the apex. Body length 6–8.5 mm. MALE. Unknown.

Description. FEMALE. Body length 7.3 mm. Coloration. Head black, except mandible and scape largely orange-brown. Mesosoma, coxae, and femoral bases orange-brown, except mesopleuron, posterior propodeal face, femoral apices, tibiae, and tarsi brown to black. Metasoma black, except S1 reddened and T2–3 yellow-brown beneath white setal markings. Body setae generally sparse and pale golden, except frons, vertex, and mesosomal dorsum with scattered silver and erect blackish setae; T2 disc, T4, and T5 setae dense black; and vertex posteriorly, T2 basomedial and lateral circular spots, T2 apex, T3 entirely, and T6 lateral tuft with dense pale golden setae. Head. Width behind eye subequal to mesosoma width. Frons, vertex, and gena punctures tightly confluent. Mandible apex apparently unidentate. Clypeus with obscure transverse carina; basomedial portion with sharp flat tubercle. Antennal scrobe with distinct dorsal carina. Antennal tubercle smooth. Genal carina obscure, not reaching hypostomal carina. F1 2.0 × pedicel length, F2 1.6 × pedicel length. Mesosoma. Length 1.25 × width. Dorsum of mesosoma with small coarse confluent punctures. Side of mesosoma with scattered micropunctures with short setae. Mesopleural lamella a simple carina. Humeral carina distinct. Ratio of width of humeral angle, anterior spiracle, narrowest point of mesonotum, propodeal spiracle, and widest point of propodeum 86:89:80:85:90. Scutellar scale trunctate, ~4 punctures wide, surrounded by scattered tubercles. Posterior propodeal face reticulate with many interspaces obliterated and corners raised to tubercles. Lateral and posterior propodeal faces not separated by carina. Metatibio-tarsal ratio 70:40:23:15:13:13. Metasoma. Terga 1–5 with small dense to confluent punctures, sparser on T1. S1 with simple longitudinal carina. T2 felt line 0.55 × T2 total length. T6 with long ovate pygidium; with parallel striae (~25 at midpoint) mostly reaching apex. S6 posterior margin bidentate.

Material examined. Holotype ♀, THAILAND, Phetchaburi, Kaeng Krachan, Baan Maka Nature Lodge , 12.840 o N 99.590 o E, 140 m, 22.V.2018, MKT (CSCA). Paratypes (12 ♀), THAILAND: Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep , 1000 m, 18 o 48'N 98 o 55'E, 5.VII.1986, R. Hensen (1♀ RMNH) ; Doi Suthep Pui National Park , 4.VII.1981, G. Gordh (1♀ UCRC) ; Kanchanaburi, Thong Pha Phum, Vimarndin farm stay, 14.655 o N 98.521 o E, 200 m, 17–20.V.2018, MKT (1♀ CSCA) ; Krabi, 14 km NNE Krabi, Phnom Bencha Mountain Resort, 8.208 o N 98.937 o E, 80 m, 2.IV.2017, MKT (1♀ CSCA) ; Phetchaburi, Kaeng Krachan, Baan Maka Nature Lodge , 12.840 o N 99.590 o E, 140 m: 16.V.2018, MKT (2♀ CSCA) ; 22–23.V.2018, MKT (6♀ CSCA PSUC QSBG) .

Distribution. Thailand (Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Phetchaburi).

Etymology. KAW is happy to name this species for his co-author and friend, Narit Thaochan, who collected some of the paratypes and made these expeditions possible with his translating and planning.

Remarks. This species is larger and has tighter coarser punctures than S. triguttatus . This is especially apparent in the pygidium, which is densely striate ( Fig. 113 vs. Fig. 109 ). The setal markings of the vertex and metasoma ( Fig. 111 ) are also denser than those seen in S. triguttatus ( Fig. 107 ). This species has frequently been misidentified as S. triguttatus and additional specimens are likely to be found in museum series of that species.

Figures

FIGURES 107–114. Mutillinae: Smicromyrmini females VI. 107–110. Smicromyrme triguttatus. 111–114. S. thaochani, sp. nov.; 107, 111. Habitus, dorsal view; 108, 112. Habitus, lateral view; 109, 113. T6; 110, 114. Face view.