Macrosiagon vittata (Erichson), new

Falin, Zachary H., 2004, Revision of Three New World Macrosiagon Hentz Species (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae: Ripiphorinae) with a Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships within the Macrosiagonini, The Coleopterists Bulletin 58 (1), pp. 1-19 : 13-16

Redescription of Macrosiagon vittata ( Erichson, 1847)

Fig. 6

Rhipiphorus vittatus Erichson 1847:123 . Rhipiphorus vittatus in Gerstaecker 1855:33. Emenadia vittatus in Lacordaire 1859:628. Emenadia vittata in Gemminger and von Harold 1870:2122. Macrosiagon vittatum in Csiki 1913:17. Macrosiagon vittatum in Blackwelder 1944:481.

Macrosiagon vittatus variety biinterruptus Pic 1913:18 . Macrosiagon vittatum variety biinteruptus in Blackwelder 1944:481. Hereby placed in junior subjective synonymy with Macrosiagon vittata (Erichson), new synonymy.

Macrosiagon vittatus variety bahiensis Pic 1913:19 . Macrosiagon vittatum variety bahiensis in Blackwelder 1944:481. Hereby placed in junior subjective synonymy with Macrosiagon vittata (Erichson), new synonymy.

Macrosiagon vittatum variety lateluteum Pic 1939:250 . Macrosiagon vittatum variety lateluteum in Blackwelder 1944:481. Hereby placed in junior subjective synonymy with Macrosiagon vittata (Erichson), new synonymy.

Rhipiphorus discicollis Gerstaecker 1855:32 . Emenadia discicollis in Lacordaire 1859:628. Emenadia discicollis in Gemminger and von Harold 1870:2121. Emenadia discicollis in Champion 1891:358. Macrosiagon discicolle in Csiki 1913:11. Macrosiagon discicollis in Rivnay 1929:39. Macrosiagon discicolle in Blackwelder 1944:480. Macrosiagon discicollis in Vaurie 1955:15. Hereby placed in junior subjective synonymy with Macrosiagon vittata (Erichson), new

synonymy.

Macrosiagon brasiliensis Pic 1906:176 . Macrosiagon brasiliense in Csiki 1913:11. Macrosiagon brasiliense in Blackwelder 1944:480. Hereby placed in junior subjective synonymy with Macrosiagon vittata (Erichson), new synonymy.

Macrosiagon pectorale Pic 1923:15 . Macrosiagon pectorale in Blackwelder 1944:480. Hereby placed in junior subjective synonymy with Macrosiagon vittata (Erichson), new synonymy.

Description, Male. General body form typical of Macrosiagon , although smaller, vertex less elevated, dorso-ventral length of head shorter, and elytra less acuminate than typical. Overall length from frons to elytral apices 3.7–6.5 mm, (avg. 4.7, n ¼ 38). Macrosiagon vittata is nearly identical with M. mutilata , therefore only the aspects that differ between the two species are described below. Color extremely variable, no apparent correlation of color pattern with sex; head entirely black, brown or entirely yellow-orange in most specimens, head yellow-orange with brown vertex and genae in a few specimens. Pronotum in most specimens a mixture of brown and yellow-orange ranging from entirely brown with yellow-orange posterior angles to only anterior portion of disc brown, pronotum entirely yellow-orange in a few specimens. Elytra entirely brown-black, yelloworange with varying degrees of brown at the humeral and apical aspects or entirely yellow-orange.

Head small, similar to that of M. mutilata . Frontoclypeal margin ( Fig. 6) variable, straight in some specimens, gently emarginate in others, but never deeply notched as in M. mutilata . Apex of labrum either straight or very weakly emarginate.

Antennae, pronotum, thorax, legs and abdomen essentially identical to those of M. mutilata .

Abdomen typical of genus, punctation and setation similar to thorax. Abdominal segment IX, tegmen and median lobe similar to that of M. mutilata . Slight variations exist from individual to individual, but no obvious, consistent differences visible between M. vittata and M. mutilata .

Female. There are no consistent differences in coloration between males and females of M. vittata as there are in M. mutilata .

Female external morphology identical to that of male except for antennae. Antennomeres I and II as in male; antennomeres III–X subequal, cylindrical, uniramous. Rami similar to those of M. mutilata but less variable, generally less compressed antero-posteriorly; rami more or less cylindrical, tapered to a dull point at apex, becoming slightly more erect towards apex. In most specimens, rami increase slightly in length and thickness towards apex, in a few specimens rami nearly uniform in length throughout. Antennomere XI suboval, compressed laterally. Antennomeres and rami with few, scattered suberect sensillae.

Immature Stages. Pupae of M. vittata have been collected in Peru (Rozen, in litt.), though they exhibit little useful information and are not described here.

Taxonomic Notes. Although Champion (1891) recognized the synonymous nature of nearly all of the names proposed for M. vittata and M. mutilata at the time of his work, he somehow failed to recognize the seniority of M. vittata over that of M. discicollis . This is the first time this synonymy has been noted. After examining the type specimens of M. brasiliense Pic and M. pectoralis Pic while at the MNHN, I concluded that these merely represent color variations of M. vittata and so are hereby synonymized under that name. Further, because the color variation in this species has little apparent correlation with geographic distribution, I see no compelling reason to maintain the validity of the three varieties of M. vittata described by Pic. After examining the types of these varieties, I feel confident that they do not represent valid subspecific populations and are hereby synonymized under M. vittata .

Type Material. Erichson (1847) described this species under the name Rhipiphorus vittatus from two females collected in Peru. The first specimen is labelled as follows: ‘‘29245’’ typeface /‘‘ Peru [,] v.Tschudi [coll.]’’ handwriting on bluish-green paper / ‘‘ vittatus Er. * Gerst.*’’ handwriting on bluish-green paper /‘‘TYPE’’ typeface on orange paper /‘‘ vittata Er. ’’ handwriting /‘‘Zool. Mus. Berlin’’ typeface. The second specimen is labelled as follows: ‘‘ Peru [,] v.Tschudi [coll.] Nr. 29245’’ handwriting on bluishgreen paper /‘‘PARATYPUS’’ typeface on orange paper /‘‘Zool. Mus. Berlin’’ typeface. As neither of these specimens qualify as a holotype according to article 73.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999), I hereby designate the first specimen to be the lectotype and the second to be a paralectotype of M. vittata and have affixed typefaced labels to the respective specimens to this effect. The lectotype is intact except for lacking the left fore-leg from the trochanter on and the tarsus on the right mid-leg. The paralectotype is intact except for lacking the last two tarsomeres and claw on the right hind-leg. Both specimens are deposited at the ZMHB.

Pic described three varieties of M. vittata based on different color patterns: var. biinterrupta (1913) , var. bahiensis (1913) and var. latelutea (1939) from Paraguay; Bahia, Brazil; and La Rioja, Argentina respectively. Upon examining the type specimens of these varieties in the Pic collection at the MNHN, I noted that they were identical with M. vittata (and published under that name) though ‘‘ vittula ’’ was written on each their identification labels. M. vittula (Gerstaecker) is another South American species with which Pic may have been familiar, though which is unmistakable for M. vittata . It appears Pic made an unfortunate labeling error subsequent to the publication of these varietal names. No attempt was made to determine the status of these types, and because Pic did not identify holotypes in their descriptions, the specimens labelled by him as types should be regarded as syntypes pending further investigation.

Gerstaecker (1855) described Rhipiphorus discicollis from a single female collected in Brazil. The specimen is labelled as follows: ‘‘29246’’ typeface /‘‘ Brazil [,] Breske [sp? coll.]’’ handwriting on bluish-green paper /‘‘ discicollis Gerst. *’’ handwriting on bluish-green paper /‘‘TYPE’’ typeface on orange paper /‘‘ discicollis Gerst. ’’ handwriting /‘‘Zool. Mus. Berlin’’ typeface. This specimen should be considered the holotype of M. discicollis by monotypy, and I have affixed a typefaced label to it to this effect. The holotype is lacking the left antenna from antennomere III on, the right foreleg from the femur on, the last two tarsomeres and claw from the right mid-leg, and both hind-legs from the femora on. The holotype is deposited at the ZMHB.

Pic (1906) described the species M. brasiliensis from an undetermined number of specimens collected in Jatahy , Brazil. The type specimen, a male, was located by the author in the Pic collection at the MNHN. No attempt was made to determine the status of this type, and because Pic did not identify a holotype in his description, the specimen should be regarded as a syntype pending further investigation .

Pic (1923) described the species M. pectoralis from an undetermined number of specimens collected in Valdivia , Chile. The type specimen, a male, was located by the author in the Pic collection at the MNHN. No attempt was made to determine the status of this type, and because Pic did not identify a holotype in his description, the specimen should be regarded as a syntype pending further investigation .

Other Material Examined. 39 specimens total. BRAZIL : 1 female, Paraiba forest near Areia , 24-I- 1981, 630 m, ‘‘primary forest beating, day,’’ G. Ekis coll. ( CMNH) ; 1 male, Chapada , Acc. No. 2966, ‘‘ Aug. ’’ ( CMNH) ; 1 male, same, ‘‘ Oct. ’’ ( CMNH) ; 1 male, same, ‘‘ Dec. ’’ ( CMNH) ; 1 male, 1 female, Bonito Prov. , Pernambuco, 8-II-1883, ‘‘on cotton’’ ( USNM) ; 2 specimens (sex undetermined), ‘‘ Trindade , (Goyaz), Ch. Pujol’ ’ ( MNHN) ; 1 female, Bahia, Brasilia , Fruhstorfer [coll.] ( MNHN) ; 1 specimen (sex undetermined), ‘‘ Jatahy (Goyaz)’’ ( MNHN) ; 1 female, ‘‘et. de São Paulo, Val. du Rio Pardo ,’’ XII-1898, E. Gounelle [coll]. ( MNHN) ; 1 female, Bahia, S. Antonio da Barra , XI to XII-1888, Gounelle [coll.] ( MNHN) . COSTA RICA: 1 male, Cartago [Prov.], Turrialba , 11-VII-1964, G.C. Eickwort [coll.] ( SEMC) ; 1 female, San Luis, 1,040 m, R[eserva] B[iologica] Monteverde, Prov [incia] Puntarenas,?- VIII-1992, Z. Fuentes [coll], L-N 2250850, 449250 ( INBC) . MEXICO: 1 male, Tamaulipas, Bocatoma w.s., 7 km SSE Gomez Farias, 1-VI-1982, R. Turnbow [coll.] ( RTC) ; 1 male, Chis. [sic Chiapas Sta.], 10 mi N Mex. 190, Tuztla [sic] Gutierrez , 24 to 28-VIII- 1956, A.E. Lewis coll. ( LACM) ; 2 females, Yucatán [ Sta. ], Temax, Gaumer [coll.] ( BMNH) ; 1 female, [Durango Sta.,] Ventanas , 2,000 ft, Forrer [coll.] ( BMNH) ; 1 specimen (sex undetermined), ‘‘ Mexico,’’ Ex. Coll. J. Sturm ( BMNH) ; 1 female, Cordoba , 18-XII-1907, F. Knab coll. ( USNM) ; 1 female, ‘‘ Rég. de Cordoba’ ’ ( MNHN) ; 1 male, ‘‘ Mexique’ ’ ( MNHN) . MEXICO?: 1 male, ‘‘F, Islas Presidio, Ver. ,’’ VIII-1940 ( UNAM) ; 1 specimen (sex undetermined), ‘‘ Mexique?’’ ( MNHN) . PERU: 2 males, Lima Dept. , 8 km E Chosica, 23-VI-1995, ‘‘ Exomalopsis nesting area,’’ J.G. Rozen and A. Ugarte [colls.] ( AMNH) ; 4 males and 3 females (1 female disarticulated), same, 3- VII-1995, ‘‘ Exomalopsis nesting area #2’’ ( AMNH) ; 1 male, [Apurímac Dept. ,] 35 mi E of Abancay, 5-III-1951, ‘‘cactus-mesquite zone,’’ Ross and Michelbacher colls. ( CASC) ; 1 male, [Huanuco Dept. ,] Huanuco, 16-IX-1934, 2,000 m, E.I. Schlinger and E.S. Ross colls. ( CASC) ; 1 female, Loreto [Dept.], 160 km NE Iquitos, Explornapo Camp on Rio Sucusari, 2 km from Rio Napo , 27 to 31-VIII-1992, ‘‘at light,’’ P. Skelly [coll.] ( FSCA) . TRINIDAD: 1 female, St. Augustine , 10-X-1944, ‘‘ on Cordia ,’’ I.E. Kirby coll. ( BMNH) ; 1 female, St. Augustine , 19-II-1948, R.S. White coll. ( USNM) ; 1 female, St. Augustine , 3-II-1935, P.C. Atteck coll. ( UWIC) .

Distribution. From the above records and type specimen localities, it appears that M. vittata is widespread in the New World but rarely collected, ranging from the state of Durango, Mexico in the north to Argentina and Paraguay in the south. Manfrini de Brewer (1966) does not mention M. vittata in her work on the Macrosiagon of Argentina, and the IMLA had no specimens available to study, leading me to believe that it is indeed quite rare, at least in Argentina. Overall, there have been very few modern collections of this species, and so its true distributional patterns and habitat preferences remain obscure.

Bionomics. Rozen (1997; in litt.) discovered pupae in the cells and adult specimens of M. vittata in the nests of Exomalopsis bruesi (Cockerell) ( Apidae : Apinae) near Chosica, Lima Dept., Peru. This was the first confirmed host association for a member of the vittata group as well as the first confirmed parasitism of a bee by a species of Macrosiagon . The only other biological information available for this species is derived from the collection data on the labels associated with the above specimens. The collection of a specimen of M. vittata ‘‘at light’’ near the Rio Sucusari, Peru is the first such instance of any ripiphorine coming to lights. The collection of M. vittata ‘‘on cotton’’ and ‘‘on Cordia ’’ in Brazil and Trinidad, respectively, appear to be incidental.

Diagnostic Characters. Macrosiagon vittata is distinguished from all other Macrosiagon species except M. mutilata by the combination of its 2-2-2 tibial spur formula and the fact that the second metatarsomere is flattened dorsally and shorter than the third. Macrosiagon vittata can be easily distinguished from M. mutilata by the fact that the frontoclypeal margin in M. vittata is either straight or slightly emarginate whereas the frontoclypeal margin of M. mutilata is deeply notched. As noted in the description of M. mutilata , collection locality is a good, though not necessarily foolproof, indication of species identity.

Comments. Macrosiagon vittata shows somewhat more variation in size than does M. mutilata , suggesting the possibility of a wider range of acceptable or available host species. As in the previous species, M. vittata exhibits considerable variation in color patterns, though unlike the preceding species, no consistent correlations with geographic distribution or sex is evident. The pronotal lobe of M. vittata varies in shape and size somewhat more than that of M. mutilata , from a squat, apically blunt triangle to a longer, more closely isoceles-shaped triangle with a relatively sharp apex. Again, these variations do not appear to be consistent in any meaningful way.

The M. vittata specimens collected near Chosica , Peru exhibit slightly heavier punctation on the frons and pronotum compared to the rest of the examined specimens. Some, though not all, of these specimens also show a thin impunctate stripe along the midline of the pronotum ranging from extremely indistinct to quite obvious. The lectotype and paralectotype share this character, though I do not consider it consistent enough to be used as a specific distinction .

It is interesting to note that the frontoclypeal margin is relatively emarginate in the Central American specimens while it shows little or no sign of emargination in the specimens from South America. Although dubious records of specimens with the mutilata - type frontoclypeus being taken on the mainland exist (see above), no intermediate forms of the frontoclypeal notch have been seen.