Elissoma lauta White

Winterton, Shaun L., 2023, Wasp-mimicking soldier flies of the Australian Region: revision of Ampsalis Walker, Elissoma White and Lagenosoma Brauer (Stratiomyidae: Clitellariinae), Zootaxa 5246 (1), pp. 1-63 : 26

Elissoma lauta White

( Figs 2 ; 13C, D ; 20 ; 25N ; 28J ; 32D ; 36 )

Elissoma lauta White, 1916: 87 — Hardy, 1920: 49 [checklist]; Woodley, 1989: 314 [catalogue as E. lautum ], 2001: 166 [catalogue].

Diagnosis. Flagellum black, flagellomere VII slightly longer than combined length of flagellomeres V–VI; anterior portion of thorax orange, middle portion black, posterior portion and most of abdomen white (pink when living); wing uniformly brown infuscate; femora mostly black.

Redescription. Body length = 11.0–12.0 mm. Head. Bright orange, frons flat; face slightly rounded with short, pale setal pile; parafacial with margin of silver pubescence along eye; ocellar tubercle black; occiput flat, covered with fine setal pile; postocular ridge not carinate in male; antenna (length = 5.0 mm) with scape and pedicel dark yellow, flagellum black with dark microtrichia, flagellomere VII equal to combined length of flagellomeres V–VI, ratio of length of flagellomere VII to VIII is 1: 23, flagellomere VIII elongate and shallowly plumose with microtrichia. Thorax. Orange anteriorly, glossy black throughout middle 2/3, posterior portion including scutellum white [pink in live individual], margin of black and white in posterior portion of scutum interdigitate, white [pink] on posterior half of anepisternum; scutellar spines minute, papillate; coxae and femora black, hind tibia and tarsus black, tibiae and tarsi of fore and mid leg yellow; haltere white [pink]; wing mostly uniform brown infuscate, venation dark; wing vein M 3 present. Abdomen. Narrowed basally but not petiolate, segment 1 equal to width of scutellum with segment 4 widest and equal to width of scutum; segment 1 with lateral flange well developed; abdomen white [pink] with black markings on segments 3–5, paired ovoid marks on tergite 3, tergites and sternites 4–5 mostly black, white [pink] laterally. Male genitalia. Not dissected, but externally epandrium with posteriorly directed processes laterally; gonocoxites relatively elongate and with posterolateral processes present; gonostylus narrow, medially directed; phallus relatively elongate. Female genitalia. Not dissected.

Comments. White (1916) refers to two specimens in his original description of this species; the male syntype from Fern Tree Gully was examined and herein designated as the lectotype. One of the few species from southeastern Australia, live individuals of this species are much more vividly coloured compared to preserved specimens (cf. Figs 2 , 13C, D ). Elissoma lauta is rather uniquely coloured and marked and is readily differentiated by the uniform infuscate wing, orange black and pink thoracic markings, and mostly black femora. This species is an excellent braconid wasp mimic in both appearance and behaviour.

Type material— Lectotype male, AUSTRALIA: Victoria: Fern tree Gully Dist. [-37.8839, 145.3069] ( NMV) [examined].

Paralectotype. AUSTRALIA: Victoria: 1 male, locality unknown ( NMV) .

Other material examined — AUSTRALIA: Victoria: 1 female, Bunyip [-38.0982, 145.7179] ( NMV) . New South Wales: 1 male, Mount Kaputar [-30.2845, 150.1482], 3000 ft., 30.X.1967, C.W. Frazier, at light ( ANIC) ; 1 male, Woy Woy , 5.X.1924 [-33.5082, 151.3012] ( ANIC) . Australian Capital Territory: 1 female, Molonglo Valley [-35.2862, 149.0677], S. Harris, digital image ( Fig. 2 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Elissoma lauta White, female, Australian Capital Territory (image copyright: Stuart Harris).

FIGURE 13. A. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female, lateral view; B. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female, oblique view; C. Elissoma lauta White, male, lateral view; D. Elissoma lauta, male, dorsal view; E. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male, lateral view; F. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male, oblique view; G. Elissoma scapula sp. n., male, lateral view; H. Elissoma scapula sp. n., male, oblique view.

FIGURE 20. Stylised illustrations of the antenna of Eudmeta, Ampsalis, Elissoma and Lagenosoma.

FIGURE 25. Heads of Ampsalis and Elissoma. A. Ampsalis acta sp. n., male; B. Ampsalis acta sp. n., female; C. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., male; D. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., female; E. Elissoma australis sp. n., female; F. Elissoma gilva sp. n., female; G. Elissoma danielsi sp. n., male; H. Elissoma danielsi sp. n., female; I. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female; J. Elissoma hespera sp. n., male; K. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, male; L. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, female; M. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male; N. Elissoma lauta White, male.

FIGURE 28. Ampsalis and Elissoma scutellums.A. Ampsalis acta sp. n.; B. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n.; C. Elissoma australis sp. n.; D. Elissoma brunnea Hardy; E. Elissoma danielsi sp. n., F. Elissoma gilva sp. n.; G. Elissoma hespera sp. n.; H. Elissoma hauseri sp. n.; I. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n.; J. Elissoma lauta White.

FIGURE 32. Ampsalis and Elissoma abdomens. A. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., male; B. Elissoma australis sp. n., female; C. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, male; D. Elissoma lauta White, male; E. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male; F. Elissoma gilva sp. n., female; G. Elissoma hespera sp. n., male; H. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female; I. Lagenosoma clitellum sp. n., male; J. Lagenosoma clitellum sp. n., female.

FIGURE 36. Distribution of Elissoma species.