Tachyphron aculeatus, Brown, 2005

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 : 217-218

Tachyphron aculeatus sp. n.

( Figures 2 , 43, 44 , 58 , 61 )

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: „. Australia: Queensland: Ross R., Mundingburra, near Townsville, 19 ° 189S, 146 ° 479E, 27 February 1998, J. E. Purdie, in NTM. PARATYPES: 2 „, Annandale, near Townsville, 19 ° 199S, 146 ° 479E, 8–16 March 1998, 6 February 2001, J. E. Purdie, in NTM; 1 „, 12 ° 409S, 143 ° 009E, 13 km E by S of Weipa, Malaise trap, 16 February to 20 March 1994, P. Zborowski and D. Khalu, in ANIC; 1 „, Cape York, May 1902, R. E. Turner, in BMNH; 1 „, 15 ° 109S, 145 ° 079E, 3.5 km SW by S of Mount Baird, Malaise trap, 3–5 May 1981, I. D. Naumann, in ANIC; 1 „, 15 ° 049S, 145 ° 079E, Mount Webb National Park , 27–30 April 1981, I. D. Naumann, in ANIC.

Distribution. Cape York Peninsula, Queensland south to Townsville ( Figure 61 ).

Etymology. The specific name is Latin for sharp pointed, and is a reference to the shape of the parameres.

Diagnosis. Male: hypopygium with apical spine broadly triangular and relatively blunt, apex slightly beyond level of lateral spine apices ( Figure 58 ). Parameres long and narrowly triangular in both profile and viewed dorsally ( Figures 43, 44 ).

Description. Male ( Figure 2 ): black; apex of clypeus (longer so medially), line above antennal insertions, anterior margin of pronotum (discontinuous medially), large spot on tegula, and disc of metanotum, yellow; wings hyaline, veins and stigma brown; setae white. Clypeus closely and finely punctate, apically truncate, sagittally carinate. Frons and vertex rugosely punctate. Gena finely rugosely punctate, oblique, approximately half length of minimum eye diameter. Occipital carina visible dorsally. Genal cavity not visible dorsally. Pronotum rugosely punctate with anterior surface closely punctate. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum rugosely punctate. Metanotum finely punctate. Propodeum and mesopleura rugosely punctate, punctures finer on propodeum laterally and mesopleura. T1–6 very shallowly punctate; T7 closely and coarsely punctate, medially impunctate; T1 with length: width 2.1:1. S1 closely punctate; S2–8 shallowly punctate, punctures deeper on posterior segments. Hypopygium ( Figure 58 ) subparallel, lateral spines acute, apical spine broadly triangular and relatively blunt. Genitalia ( Figures 43, 44 ) with parameres long and narrowly triangular, down-turned, apices acute, slightly convergent, ending slightly before apex of aedeagus; basiparameres in dorsal view subtriangular, apex not clearly differentiated from aedeagus, ending before level of apices of cuspides, narrow (but obscured by parameres) in lateral view; aedeagus with distinct basal and apical sections, basal section narrow and subparallel without ventral lobes, apical section short and slightly sinusoidal apically, ending slightly beyond level of apices of parameres. BL: 9; FW: 7; HW: 5.

Figures

Figure 61. Distribution of Tachyphron spp. (more common species).

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 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 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.