Tachyphron Brown, 1995

Brown, G. R., 2005, A revision of Tachyphron Brown and description of two new genera within the Ariphron group (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae), Journal of Natural History 39 (2), pp. 197-239 : 214-217

Tachyphron Brown, 1995

Tachyphron Brown, 1995b: 241 ; Brown, 2001: 39.

Takyomyia Kimsey, 1996: 309 .

Type species: Tachyphron subtriangularus Brown.

Diagnosis. Male: head with posterior surface strongly concave, margin of concavity fringed with long setae ( Figure 1 ). Gena not ventrally produced into a digitate process near the mandible. Basiparameres collectively (viewed dorsally) subtriangular, not emarginate apically. Aedeagus (viewed dorsally) subparallel and narrow, usually long and usually without lobes; not filamentous apically or with a basal hood.

Female: mesopleura with lateral surface produced and strongly angulate with a vertical carina ventrally. Mesoscutellum without median longitudinal depression. T 2 not transversely carinate. Pygidium subovate with well-developed microsculpture, which may obscure the median welt, and often with setal brushes. (It should be noted that this diagnosis is based on only the females of T. armidalensis and T. subtriangularus . The presence of a median longitudinal depression on the mesoscutellum appears to distinguish Tachynoides from this genus in both sexes, but is slight in Tachynoides flavopicta (Ritsema) , and more females of both genera need to be discovered before the diagnosis can be fully tested.)

Remarks. Sixteen species are known as listed below: nine from the northern half of mainland Australia, four from Papua New Guinea, and one each from the Indonesian islands of Halmahera, Morotai and Waigeo. All non-Australian species are known from at most either two locations and/or two specimens. The majority of Australian species are also poorly represented in collections with only a few specimens known. The best represented are T. aculeatus , T. planus and especially T. armidalensis and T. subtriangularus .

The majority of species clearly fit into one of two groups. The nine Australian species form a group on the basis of the male genitalia which have: the basiparameres narrowly triangular and short (relative to the length of the parameres); the aedeagus long and narrow (viewed dorsally) and often segmented but not coiled; the parameres usually long and narrow and often twisted, flattened or strongly narrowed at least apically; and the metasoma always black.

The Indonesian and Papua New Guinean species, with the exception of T. halmaherensis and T. fragilis , form the second group on the basis of the male genitalia which have: the parameres (in profile) relatively broad basally and narrowed (usually abruptly and obliquely digitate) apically; a tendency for the basiparameres to be notched near the apex; and a tendency for the cuspides with a curved apical knob. There is also a tendency for the metasomal segments to be at least partially lighter in colour and ranging from dark brown to red. T. fragilis is associated with this group only on the presence of the preapical notch on the basiparameres, but the genitalia is otherwise distinctive within the genus. Similarly, the genitalia of T. halmaherensis is also distinct within the genus.

Included species

Australian:

T. aculeatus sp. n.

T. armidalensis Brown, 1995

T. athertonensis sp. n.

T. mantonensis sp. n.

T. planus sp. n.

T. subtriangularus Brown, 1995

T. townsvillensis sp. n.

T. triangularus Brown, 1995

T. trispinosus Brown, 1995

Papua New Guinean:

T. evelinae ( Turner 1940) comb. nov.

T. neosubfragilis sp. n.

T. nigrisetatus sp. n.

T. subfragilis ( Turner 1940) comb. nov.

Indonesian:

T. halmaherensis Kimsey, 1996

T. comatus ( Smith 1864) comb. nov.

T. fragilis ( Smith 1865) comb. nov.

Key to males of Tachyphron (only the females of T. armidalensis and T. subtriangularus are known)

1. Hypopygium with apical spine blunt and truncated when viewed dorsally ( Figure 56 ); aedeagus with long and narrow ventral lobes ( Figure 45 ). mantonensis sp. n. – Hypopygium with apical spine acute ( Figures 29–32 , 53–55, 57–58 ); aedeagus usually without ventral lobe [if present and long ( T. armidalensis and T. athertonensis ), then lobes not as narrow], and aedeagus very long and ending well beyond the apex of the parameres ( Figures 41, 42 )......... 2

2. Hypopygium with apical spine enlarged and triangular with the lateral spines reduced to a small basal tooth (see Brown, 1995b: Figure 5 ); genitalia with long ventral lobes, parameres long and narrow apically, aedeagus long and slightly sinusoidal with the apex narrowed and slightly hooked (see Brown, 1995b: Figures

15, 16)................. armidalensis Brown – Hypopygium with apical spine variable, subparallel to broadly triangular, not enlarged, lateral spines distinctly spinose and usually directed posteriorly, not reduced and tooth-like; genitalia without this combination of characters [if similar in appearance ( T. athertonensis ) then aedeagus long and straight with the apex slightly expanded ( Figures 41, 42 )].............. 3 3.

–

Genitalia with parameres not produced into a narrow digitate process (e.g. Figures

43, 47, 49), basiparameres without preapical notch (e.g. Figures 44, 48 , 50 ); metasoma entirely black; Australian species........... 4 Genitalia usually with parameres produced into a narrow downwardly directed digitate process (e.g. Figures 35, 37, 39 ) and basiparameres with a slight preapical notch (viewed dorsally) (e.g. Figures 34, 40 ) [if without both these characters ( T.

halmaherensis) then apical section of aedeagus narrow, subparallel and sinusoidal over most of length becoming swollen apically with apex minutely spinose]; metasoma usually at least partially red, brown or orange [if black then apical spine at most as long as lateral spines or genitalia as in Figures 37 and 38 ( T. comata )]; Indonesian and Papua New Guinea species.......... 10 4.

–

Apical hypopygial spine triangular; apical margin of clypeus truncate; ventral margin of parameres curved (e.g. Figures 43 , 49 ) [if almost straight ( T. townsvillensis ) then cuspides long and ending near apex of parameres (Figures

47,48)]...................... 5 Apical hypopygial spine narrow and subparallel; clypeus narrowly emarginate; ventral margin of parameres straight [and cuspides short and ending near apex of basiparameres] (see Brown, 1995b: Figures 17, 18 ).... trispinosus Brown 5.

–

Apical hypopygial spine broadly triangular and blunt, relatively short ( Figure 58 ); parameres narrowed apically, without apical processes ( Figures 43, 44 ) aculeatus sp. n.

Apical hypopygial spine triangular with apex sharp, longer than lateral spines ( Figures 53, 55, 57 ); parameres otherwise, if narrowed apically in profile, then broad when viewed dorsally................ 6 6.

–

Genitalia with cuspides short, projecting at most only slightly past apex of basiparameres, and aedeagus swollen apically ( Figures 41, 42 , 49, 50 )... Genitalia with cuspides long, reaching to near apex of parameres, and aedeagus not swollen apically ( Figures 47, 48 )............. 7

9 7.

–

Genitalia with aedeagus without preapical lobes ( Figure 49 ) and parameres dorsoventrally flattened ( Figures 49, 50 )......... planus sp. n. Genitalia with aedeagus with preapical ventral lobes ( Figure 42 ) and parameres not dorsoventrally flattened ( Figures 41, 42 )........... 8 8.

–

Genitalia with aedeagus short, with a pair of preapical ventral lobes, and parameres short and broad (see Brown, 1995b: Figures 13, 14 ) triangularus Brown Genitalia with aedeagus long and narrow, with a single preapical ventral lobe, and parameres long and narrow with apices divergent ( Figures 41, 42 ) athertonensis

sp. n.

9.

Genitalia with parameres strongly dorsoventrally flattened, and apex of cuspides not directed laterad (see Brown, 1995b: Figures 11, 12 ).. subtriangularus Brown –

Genitalia with parameres appearing digitate apically in profile, and extreme apex of cuspides directed laterad ( Figures 47, 48 )...... townsvillensis sp. n.

10. Aedeagus straight and narrow, with margins subparallel in profile ( Figure 39 ) and ending near apex of parameres ( Figures 39, 40 ); prominent erect black setae present on head and mesosoma, fulvous setae present on metasoma and also on head.................. nigrisetatus sp. n.

– Aedeagus of different length and shape (e.g. Figures 33–36 ); head and body with fulvous or white setae................. 11

11. Aedeagus apically acute, if swollen then not minutely spinose (e.g. Figures 33, 35 ); metasoma at least partially red.............. 12

– Aedeagus apically either truncate ( T. comatus , Figure 37 ) or swollen with a minute spine ( T. halmaherensis , Figures 51, 52 ); metasoma dark brown or black.. 15

12. Genitalia with aedeagus either straight and ending before the apicies of the parameres, or strongly hooked with the apex directed apicodorsally ( Figures 35, 36 ); metasomal segments partially black and partially red-orange; flagellum black or not distinctly paler that the scape............ 13

– Genitalia otherwise ( Figures 33, 34 ); most metasoma segments predominantly and usually entirely and uniformly red-orange; flagellum brown.... 14

13. Genitalia with: parameres with apical lobe short; basiparameres long with preapical notch; and aedeagus straight (see Brown, 2001: Figures 27 , 29 ) evelinae Turner

– Genitalia with: parameres with apical lobe long; basiparameres short without preapical notch; and aedeagus hooked, apex directed apicodorsally ( Figures 35, 36 ).................. neosubfragilis sp. n.

14. Apical hypopygial spine long and cylindrical apically ( Figure 29 ); aedeagus developed into a stout hook, apex directed ventrally ( Figures 33, 34 ); T1 and S1 red-orange................. fragilis Turner

– Apical hypopygial spine triangular over most of length; aedeagus narrow, if hooked then apex not directed ventrally; T1 and S1 black.... subfragilis Turner

15. Apical spine on hypopygium long and narrowly cylindrical apically ( Figure 54 ); genitalia with parameres triangular apically and aedeagus with apical section narrow, subparallel and sinusoidal over most of length becoming swollen apically with apex minutely spinose ( Figures 51, 52 )..... halmaherensis Kimsey

– Apical spine on hypopygium broadly triangular over most of its length ( Figure 32 ); genitalia with parameres long and digitate apically and aedeagus long, narrow, down-turned and parallel with parameres in profile ( Figures 37, 38 ) comatus Smith

Figures

Figures 1–4. Tachyphron spp. and Heligmothynnus sabronensis. (1) T. subtriangularus, male gena. (2) T. aculeatus, male habitus. (3) H. sabronensis, male gena. (4) T. subtriangularus, female habitus. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figures 53–58. Tachyphron spp., male hypopygia. (53) T. planus. (54) T. halmaherensis. (55) T. athertonensis. (56) T. mantonensis. (57) T. townsvillensis. (58) T. aculeatus. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

Figures 41–48. Tachyphron spp., male genitalia, lateral and dorsal views. (41, 42) T. athertonensis. (43, 44) T. aculeatus (note: basal ring partially detached). (45, 46) T. mantonensis. (47, 48) T. townsvillensis. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

Figures 29–32. Tachyphron spp., male hypopygia. (29) T. fragilis. (30) T. neosubfragilis. (31) T. comatus. (32) T. nigrisetatus. Scale bar: 0.25 mm.

Figures 5–12. Deuterothynnus spp., male genitalia, lateral and dorsal views. (5, 6) D. parallelus. (7, 8) D. insularis. (9, 10) D. fulvisetatus. (11, 12) D. fulvicentratus. a, Aedeagus; b, right basiparameres; c right cuspis; p, right parameres; r, basal ring. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

Figures 49–52. Tachyphron spp., male genitalia, lateral and dorsal views. (49, 50) T. planus (note: basal ring not shown). (51, 52) T. halmaherensis (note: basal ring partially obscured by apex of metasoma). Scale bar: 0.25 mm.

Figures 33–40. Tachyphron spp., male genitalia, lateral and dorsal views. (33, 34) T. fragilis. (35, 36) T. neosubfragilis (note: basal ring partially detached). (37, 38) T. comatus. (39, 40) T. nigrisetatus. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

Figures 17–24. Heligmothynnus spp., male genitalia, lateral and dorsal views. (17, 18) H. microspinus. (19, 20) H. atratus. (21, 22) H. neoaratus. (23, 24) H. sabronensis (note: basal ring not shown). Scale bar: 0.25 mm.

Figures 13–16. Deuterothynnus spp., male hypopygia. (13) D. fulvicentratus. (14) D. fulvisetatus. (15) D. parallelus. (16) D. insularis. Scale bar: 0.25 mm.

Figures 25–28. Heligmothynnus spp., male hypopygia. (25) H. sabronensis. (26) H. microspinus. (27) H. atratus. (28) H. neoaratus. Scale bar: 0.25 mm.