Anoplius (Dicranoplius) evansi, 2017

Sadler, Emily, 2017, Review of the Neotropical spider wasp subgenus Anoplius (Dicranoplius) Haupt (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), new comb., Zootaxa 4311 (4), pp. 537-550 : 549

Key to the Species of Anoplius (Dicranoplius) Haupt

(modified from Evans 1969)

Females

1. Entirely black ( Fig. 1 e); first tarsal segment of front leg with four comb-spines................ A. (D.) cujanus (Holmberg)

-. Metasoma orange or reddish, at least in large part (e.g. Figs. 1 a,c); first tarsal segment of front leg with three comb spines (except sometimes a small forth spine in A. (D.) areatus ) ......................................................2

2. Pubescence of head and mesosoma wholly dark ( Figs. 2 c,d,f & 3b), if front and clypeus and along posterior margin of pronotum silvery, remainder of mesosoma with black setae.........................................................3

-. Pubescence of head, mesosoma and metasoma silvery with black setae maculations, at least on front, clypeus, and along posterior margin of pronotum and mesoscutum ( Figs. 1 a,b,c).......................................................8

3. Apical tergum of metasoma with stout bristles; slope of propodeum low with the declivity ill-defined; metasoma sometimes, but not always, black beyond basal 2.5 segments........................................... A. (D.) nigritus (Evans)

-. Apical tergum of metasoma with only thin setae; propodeum more convex and with a strong declivity; metasoma always wholly orange or reddish................................................................................3

4. Comb spines very short, shorter than width of tarsus; pronotum, in profile, rather flat and with a nearly perpendicular anterior face; propodeum very short and strongly convex...................................... A. (D.) areatus (Taschenberg)

-. Comb spines longer than width of tarsus; pronotum sloping rather smoothly in profile; propodeum longer and less convex ... 5

5. Slope of propodeum rather low, the declivity ill-defined; length of fore wing about 8 mm; clypeus about 3× as wide as high................................................................................... A. (D.) pampero (Evans)

-. Slope of propodeum higher and more convex, with a distinct flattened posterior declivity; fore wing 9–13 mm; clypeus 2.5– 2.8× as wide as high...................................................................................6

6. Propodeum with a number of erect setae AND antennal flagellum orange or reddish, often dusky on upper surface ( Fig. 2 f)................................................................................. A. (D.) satanus (Holmberg)

-. Propodeum not at all setose OR antennal flagellum black......................................................7

7. Ocelli form a right triangle; antennal flagellum orange or reddish, often dusky on upper.................................................................................................... A. (D.) evansi Pitts and Sadler , sp. nov.

-. Ocelli form an oblique triangle; antennal flagellum black............................... A. (D.) diphonichus (Spinola)

8. Vertex strongly arched above eye tops................................................ A. (D.) brevitarsus (Banks)

-. Vertex passing nearly straight across at or near eye tops.......................................................9

9. Head subcircular, widest near middle; vertex with a broad dark band; propodeum with dark pubescence at least anteriorly; antennal segments short, dorsal interocular distance approximately 1.7× longer than first flagellomere length........................................................................................... A. (D.) areatus (Taschenberg)

-. Head widest well above middle; vertex wholly silvery-pubescent except at ocellar triangle; propodeum wholly silvery; antennal segments longer, dorsal interocular distance approximately 1.2× longer than first flagellomere length................................................................................................... A. (D.) albidus (Evans)

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus. A. Anoplius (Dicranoplius) albidus holotype female; B. A. (D.) areatus female; C. A. (D.) brevitarsus female; D. A. (D.) brevitarsus male; E. A. (D.) cujanus female; and F. A. (D.) cujanus male.

FIGURE 2. Habitus. A. Anoplius (Dicranoplius) diphonichus, male; B. A. (D.) nigritus holotype male; C. A. (D.) nigritus female; D. A. (D.) pompero allotype female; E. A. (D.) pompero paratype male; and F. A. (D.) satanus female.