Aulacophilinus caliginosus (Turner)

Pulawski, Wojciech J., 2017, A Revision of the Wasp Genus Aulacophilinus Lomholdt, 1980 with Descriptions of Three New Species (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 64 (1), pp. 1-29 : 8-11

Aulacophilinus caliginosus (Turner)

Figures 10–17 .

Pison caliginosum Turner, 1908:518 , ♀. Holotype: ♀, Australia: Queensland: Kuranda near Cairns (BMNH), not examined. – Turner, 1916:596 (in key to Australian Pison ), 600 (brief description); R. Bohart and Menke, 1976:335 (in checklist of world Sphecidae ); Cardale, 1985:258 (in catalog of Australian Sphecidae ); Naumann, 1990a:24 ( Norfolk Island), 1990b:235 (in revision of caliginosum group of Pison , descripion of ♂), 1998:185 ( Australia: Northwest Queensland: Musselbrook area at approximately 18°40′S 138°23′E). – As Aulacophilinus caliginosus : Menke, 2016:337 (new combination, in key to Aulacophilinus ).

RECOGNITION.— Aulacophilinus caliginosus shares with rennellensis and weiri the presence of only two submarginal cells. Unlike rennellensis , its gastral segment I is sessile rather than conspicuously pedunculate; the entirely punctate tegula is a subsidiary recognition feature. Unlike weiri , the frons, scutum, and mesopleuron of caliginosus are punctate rather than coarsely areolate (although the mesopleuron may be rugose), the gena has no crenulate sulcus along the posterior eye margin, there is no omaulus (omaulus present in weiri ), and the pronotal collar has no crenulate furrow (crenulate furrow present in weiri ).

SPECIES STATUS.— The material I have examined shows significantly more variation than described by Naumann (1990b). Most variants of different characters, however, do not correlate with each other, indicating that one species, and not a number of closely related species, is involved.

DESCRIPTION.— Frons with well defined punctures less than one diameter apart in most specimens (compressed against each other in some), but punctures ill defined, shallow, up to about one diameter apart in females from Taree area, New South Wales; interspaces varying from unsculptured, shiny, to conspicuously microsculptured, dull; middle supraantennal line mostly absent, present in larger females. Free margin of clypeal lobe obtusely triangular ( Fig. 10 ). Occipital carina expanded in many specimens. Width of labrum equal to 0.5 × midocellar diameter. Anteromedian pronotal pit slightly transversely elongate, about as long as midocellar diameter. Pronotal collar with ill-defined transverse furrow next to apical margin (furrow not foveolate). Scutum foveate along flange (only inconspicuously so in smallest specimen), with or without short longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures less than one diameter apart in most specimens, but some punctures more than one diameter apart in some individuals; interspaces varying from unsculptured and shiny to markedly microsculptured, dull. Tegula punctate throughout. Mesopleuron mostly punctate, but rugose in some specimens from Western Australia; punctures conspicuous, less than one diameter apart, but not conspicuous and more than one diameter apart ventrally in females from Taree area. Metapleuron longitudinally ridged between dorsal and ventral metapleural pits in most specimens, but minutely, sparsely punctate in females from Blundells Creek and from Taree area. Propodeum in most specimens without longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface and extending from gastral socket area toward spiracle, but such carina present (rudimentary to well defined) in some specimens; dorsum obliquely ridged, punctate between ridges (punctures fine in most specimens, but coarse in some males), punctate only in one male from Pilbara Region, Western Australia; side ridged, punctate between ridges in larger specimens, punctate only in small ones; posterior surface densely, coarsely punctured, transversely ridged ventrally in some specimens. Forewing with only two submarginal cells ( Fig. 11 ); in one female from 50 km NW Taree, minuscule additional submarginal cell appears in lower right corner of second cell of left wing, making the wing appear to have three submarginal cells ( Figs. 12, 13 ); length of posterior margin of second cell 1.2–2.4 × its height, second cell triangular in some males from Pilbara Region. Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin sharply carinate, but carina obsolete basally in many specimens. Outer surface of hindtibia with fine but well-defined spines. Punctures of tergum I averaging about one diameter apart.

Setae nearly appressed on upper frons and scutum, appressed on tergum I, completely concealing integument on clypeus or nearly so; erect (curved apically) on lower gena, about as long as 0.5 × midocellar diameter. Apical depressions of terga with silvery, setal fasciae.

Body all black or mandibular apex ferruginous.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.68–0.70 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.1–0.5 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.0–1.2 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.98–1.04 × distance between eye notches. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.8–2.0 × apical width. Length 5.9– 6.5 mm; head width 1.8– 1.9 mm.

♂.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.77–0.86 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.5–0.6 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.2 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.92–1.04 × distance between eye notches. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.4–1.9 × apical width. Sternum VIII deeply emarginate (Fig. 14). Genitalia: Figs. 15 and 16. Length 4.7–6.8 mm; head width 1.5–1.7 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION ( Fig. 17 ).— Whole Australia including Tasmania, also Norfolk Island.

RECORDS (N = Naumann, 1990b).— AUSTRALIA: Australian Capital Territory: Black Mountain at 35°16′S 149°06′E (3 ♀, 2 ♂, ANIC; 1 ♂, BMNH; 1 ♀, 2 ♂, CAS; 1 ♂, UCD), Blundells Creek at 35°22′S 148°50′E (7 ♀, ANIC), Canberra (1 ♀, ANIC), Hume (1 ♀, ANIC). New South Wales: 6 km NE Bilpin near Kurrajong (2 ♀, AMS), 100 km SE Broken Hill at 32°51′S 141°37′E (1 ♀, ANIC), Colo Heights ( N), Congo Point (1 ♀, BMNH), Cullerin (1 ♂, UCD), Gilgandra (1 ♀, 1 ♂, AMS), Jinki Creek in Blue Mountains (1 ♀, AMS), 0.5 km SE Lansdowne near Taree (1 ♀, AMS), Lindfield at 33°46′S 151°11′E (1 ♀, CAS), Lorien Wildlife Refuge 3 km N and ca 1 km NNW Lansdowne near Taree (2 ♀, AMS), Mount Tomah (1 ♀, 1 ♂, AMS), 15 km SE Nimmitabel ( N), Springs Creek 68 km SW Wilcannia at 31°44′S 142°41′E ( N), 50 km NW Taree at 31°31′S 152°14′E (2 ♀, 2 ♂, AMS), Whiskers 7 km WNW Hoskinstown at 35°24′S 149°23′E (1 ♂, ANIC), Woodford ( N). Norfolk Island: Mount Bates (1 ♀, BISH), Rocky Point Reserve at 29°03′S 167°55′E ( N), Selwyn Pine Road at 29°01′S 167°57′E ( N). Northern Territory: Areyonga ( N), Roe Creek 12 km WSW Alice Springs ( N), Gregory National Park at 16°03′01″S 130°04′07″E (1 ♂, ANIC) , Keep River National Park at 15°44′17″S 129°06′55″E (2 ♂, CAS), at 15°45′42″S 129°06′45″E (1 ♂, USU) , at 15°54′55″S 129°04′11″E (1 ♂, USU) , at 15°55′22″S 129°03′25″E, at 15°57′55″S 129°01′52″E (1 ♀, ANIC) , and at 16°03′01″S 130°24′07’’E (1 ♂, ANIC) , Tennant Creek (1 ♂, WAM) , 131 km N Tennant Creek at 18°28′S 133°52.1′E (1 ♂, CAS) , Victoria Highway 109 km WSW Timber Creek at 15°56′11″S 129°35′22″E (1 ♂, USU) , Waterhouse Range 19 km SSW Alice Springs ( N), Yuendumu ( N). Queensland: 5 km S Batavia Downs at 12°41′S 142°41′E (3 ♀, ANIC) , 3 km W Batavia Downs at 12°40′S 142°39′E (1 ♀, ANIC) , Beerwah (1 ♀, QMB) , Bundaberg ( N), 48 km S Cunnamulla ( N), Davies Creek National Park at 17°00.6′S 145°34.9′E (1 ♂, CAS) , Hann River at 15°11′S 143°52′E (2 ♀, 1 ♂, ANIC) , Heathlands at 11°45′S 142°35′S (1 ♀, ANIC) , 2 km S Horseshoe Lookout in Blackdown Tableland ( N), Isaacs River 100 km NE Clermont (1 ♂, QMB) , Lawn Hill National Park at 18°35′15″S 138°04′28″E (1 ♂, QMB) , 18°38′13″S 138°12′29″E (1 ♀, QMB) , and 18°40’15″S 138°22’15’’ (1 ♀, QMB) , Moonie (1 ♀, QMB) , Mount Cook National Park ( N), Mount Nebo ( N), 29 km NW Mundubbera (1 ♀, QMB) , Musselbrook Camp at 18°36′S 138°08′E (2 ♂, ANIC) , North Stradbroke Island ( N), Split Rock 14 km SE Laura at 15°39′S 144°31′E (2 ♀, ANIC) , 6 km N Taroom at 25°36′S 149°46′E (1 ♂, QMB) , 13 km SE Weipa at 12°40′S 143°00′E (4 ♀, 1 ♂, ANIC) . South Australia: Mount Davies area in Tomkinson Range ( N), 79 km NNW Renmark at 33°31′S 140°24′E (2 ♀, ANIC; 3 ♀, CAS). Tasmania: 14 km S Bronte Park at 42°15′S 146°29′E (1 ♀, ANIC) , 1 km SSE Gladstone ( N), Great Pine Tier 13 km NNW Bronte Peak (1 ♂, BMNH) , Mount Field National Park ( N). Western Australia: 48 km NW Carnarvon at 24°35.2′S 113°31.2′E (1 ♀, CAS) , Charnley River 2 km SW Rolly Hill (1 ♀, ANIC) , Drysdale River at 15°02′S 125°55′E ( N), Great Northern Highway at 22°41′36″S 118°42′19″E (2 ♀, 4 ♂, AMS) , 23°02.6′S 118°50.2′E (3 ♀, CAS; 1 ♂, USU), and 23°07.3′S 119°05.5′E (1 ♂, ANIC; 1 ♂, USU), Juna Downs road to Packsaddle Bore at 22°51’30″S 118°40’14″E (4 ♀, 4 ♂, AMS) and 22°52′31″S 118°31′49″E (1 ♂, AMS) , 14 km SE Kalumburu Mission at 14°25′S 124°50′E (1 ♀, ANIC) , Karijini National Park at 22°26.3′S 118°22.9′E (2 ♀, 2 ♂, USU) , at 22°28.4′S 118°32.6′E (1 ♂, ANIC) , and at 22°30.1′S 118°24.4′E (1 ♂, USU) , Kennedy Range National Park at 24°38.7′S 115°10.7′E (1 ♀, USU) , 11 km E Marble Bar at 21°09.0′S 119°51.7′E (2 ♂, ANIC; 1 ♂, CAS), 25 km N Marble Bar at 20°56.2′S 118°51.0′E (1 ♂, USU) , 30 km E Marble Bar at 21°11.0′S 120°01.7′E (1 ♀, ANIC; 2 ♂, CAS), 133 km SW Marble Bar at 21°41.6′S 119°04.8′E (4 ♀, USU) , 4 km SW Mining Camp in Mitchell Plateau at 14°52′S 125°50′E (4 ♀, ANIC) , Mount Augustus National Park at 24°21.9′S 116°52.2′E (1 ♂, CAS) , Murdoch, southern suburb of Perth (1 ♀, WAM) , 65 km E Nanutarra Road House at 22°27.8′S 116°02.6′E (1 ♂, USU) , Nanutarra-Wittenoom road at 22°21′21″S 117°54’16’’ (1 ♂, AMS) , 22°26′08″S 117°49′56″E (2 ♀, 2 ♂, SAM) , and 22°26’36″S 117°48′23″E (1 ♀, 2 ♂, AMS) , 47 km S Pardoo Roadhouse on Shay Gap road at 20°22.7′S 120°01.3′E (2 ♀, 4 ♂, ANIC) , Perth (1 ♂, BMNH) , Perth: Darling Range (1 ♀, BMNH) , Perth: Darlington (1 ♂, WAM) , Thomas River 23 km NNW Mount Aridat 33°55′S 123°00′E (N).

Figures

FIGURES 10–14. Aulacophilinus caliginosus. (10) Female clypeus and mandibles; (11) Right wing, with nor- mal venation; (12) Left wing of the same individual, vena- tion abnormal (arrow shows additional submarginal cell); (13) Portion of left wing at a higher magnification (arrow shows additional submarginal cell); (14) Male sternum VIII (ventral surface).

FIGURES 15–16. Aulacophilinus caliginosus. (15) Male genitalia dorsally; (16) Male genitalia laterally

FIGURE 17. Collecting localities of Aulacophilinus caliginosus.