Traumatomutilla virginalis ( Gerstaecker, 1874 )

Bartholomay, Pedro R., Williams, Kevin A., Luz, David R., Cambra, Roberto A. & Oliveira, Márcio Luiz de, 2019, Traumatomutilla André miscellanea: Revision of the bellica, bifurca, diabolica, and vitelligera species groups, and a new group for the new species T. pilkingtoni Bartholomay and Williams (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae: Sphaeropthalminae: Dasymutillini), Insecta Mundi 709 (709), pp. 1-37 : 25-29

Traumatomutilla virginalis ( Gerstaecker, 1874)

( Fig. 56–60 )

Mutilla virginalis Gerstaecker 1874: 67 . Holotype (by monotypy) female, Brazil, (ZMB), examined.

Ephuta (Traumatomutilla) virginalis André 1902: 56 (new combination).

Traumatomutilla virginalis André 1904: 40 (new combination).

Diagnosis. Female. In addition to the structural characters referenced in the species groups diagnosis, T. virginalis can be defined by its mostly black head and dorsum of mesosoma, except for medial silverywhite to silvery-golden setae spot medially on vertex and longitudinal silvery-white to silvery-golden setae stripe medially on mesosomal dorsum.

Description. Female. Body length 8-12 mm. Head. Posterior margin virtually straight. Occipital carina equally wide throughout. Head width 0.9 × pronotal width. Eye almost circular, its length in frontal view 1.65 × the distance from its ventral margin to mandibular condyle. Front, vertex, and gena densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate. Genal carina well-defined, short. Mandibles slender, evenly arcuate inwards apicad, with small subapical tooth, unarmed ventrally and dorsally. Dorsal scrobal carina well defined, broadly separated from antennal tubercles and virtually absent lateral scrobal carina. Antennal tubercle irregularly and vestigially rugose. Flagellomere 1 2.9 × pedicel length; flagellomere 2 2.0 × pedicel length. Mesosoma. Mesosomal length 0.8 × width. Pronotum virtually as wide as mesothorax. Anterior face of propodeum distinct from dorsal face, short, vestigially longitudinally striate ventrally and coarsely foveolate-punctate dorsally. Mesosomal dorsum densely, sharply and finely areolate-punctate throughout; intervals aligned appearing to form sinuous longitudinal carinae. Humeral carina present, well developed, slightly produced apically, disconnected from slightly pronounced epaulet; antero-lateral corners of pronotum angulate in dorsal view. Pronotal spiracle virtually flat against lateral margin of pronotum. Sculpture of lateral face of pronotum, mesosomal pleurae and lateral face of propodeum predominantly micropunctate, except for dorsal third and anterior margin of lateral face of pronotum sharply foveolate-punctate, mesopleural ridge densely foveolate-punctate; anterior and posterior margins of lateral face of propodeum sparsely foveolate-punctate. Post-spiracular area defined, virtually impunctate. Ratios of width of humeral angles, pronotal spiracles, widest point of mesonotum, narrowest point of mesonotum and propodeum posterior to propodeal spiracles, 80:86:84:68:63. Lateral margin of mesosoma not constricted, simply diverging anterad and converging slightly posterior to pronotal spiracles. Scutellar, anterolateral carinae and scabrous intervals of scutellar area absent. Propodeal spiracle virtually flat against lateral margin of mesosoma. Posterior face of propodeum as long as dorsal face. Legs. Meso and metafemora strongly truncate apicolaterally; truncation deeply sulcate; apex of metafemora strongly and sub-acutely projected posteriorly. Metasoma. Ratios of width of T1, width of T2 and length of T2, 34:75:68. T2 maximum width posterior to midlength. Disc of T2 densely and finely foveate-punctate; sculpture overall larger and sparser laterad and on integumental spots. T3–6, except pygidial plate, densely and finely foveate-punctate. S1 anteriorly with vestigial longitudinal blunt crest. S2 sparsely foveolate-punctate; antero-medial crest-fold and subapical slope absent; sculpture smaller and sparser posteromediad. S3–6 dense coarse foveolate-punctate. Pygidium broad, sub-ovate, defined by lateral carinae except at basal third; surface with well-defined, slightly sinuous, longitudinal, uninterrupted, subparallel costae; interstice granulose.

Coloration and variations. Body and appendages predominantly brownish-black to black, except mandibles and antennal flagellomeres partially orange-brown. Body setae predominantly brownish-black to black, with silvery-white to silvery-golden on the vertex, frons, gena, malar space, ventral surface of head; medial longitudinal stripe on propodeal dorsum; mesosomal pleurae; lateral felt line, lateral areas, lateral margins, and integumental spots of T2; T3–4 medially and laterally; T5 medially; and S1–4. Some specimens may have the medial longitudinal silvery-white setal stripe on the mesosomal dorsum restricted to the propodeum whilst others may have remnants of silvery-white setae reaching the anterior margin of pronotum.

Distribution. Brazil and Paraguay.

Material examined. (18♀) Type material. Holotype of Traumatomutilla virginalis , ♀, BRAZIL, v. Olfers ( ZMB); Other material. BRAZIL: Goiás: 2♀, 1912, E. Gounelle, ( MNCN, 163464, 163465) ; 2♀ ( CUIC) ; Minas Gerais: 1♀, Reinhardt ( ZMUC) ; 10km ao S de São Gonçalo do Rio Preto , 1♀, 14.i.2005, Melo G.A. R. & Costa ( DZUP) ; Mato Grosso do Sul: Três Lagoas , 1♀ ( MZSUP) ; Três Lagoas, marg. esq. Rio Sucuriu, Faz Canaâ , 1♀, 10.xii.1967, Lane F. ( MZSUP) ; São Paulo: Luis Antônio, Reserva de Jataí , 1♀, 16.x.1999, Melo G.A. R. ( DZUP) ; PARAGUAY: Concepción: Cororo , 1♀, 25.ii.– 1.iii.1997, B. Garcete ( MIUP) ; 1♀, 13–17.xi.1995, C. Aguilar ( MIUP) ; Amambay, Parque Nacional Cerro Corá , 1♀, 17–18.v.2004, B. Garcete ( MIUP) ; San Pedro: Rio Ypane, Cororo , 5♀, ii.1979, M.A. Fritz ( AMNH) ; 1♀, xi.1983, M.A. Fritz ( AMNH) .

Remarks. This species has only been recorded for the Chaco areas of Paraguay and Cerrado areas of Brazil. Additionally, its single longitudinal setal stripe on the mesosomal dorsum is uncommon in South American Dasymutillini , and is found only in some species of Suareztilla Casal.

Figures

Figures 56–57. Traumatomutilla virginalis (Gerstaecker, 1874), ♀, holotype, line 2mm. 56) Dorsal habitus. 57) Lateral habitus.

Figures 58–60. Traumatomutilla virginalis (Gerstaecker, 1874), ♀, holotype. 58) Head, frontal view. 59) T6 (pygidium), posterior view. 60) Holotype labels.