Pison scutatum Pulawski, 2018

Pulawski, Wojciech J., 2018, A Revision of the Wasp Genus Pison Jurine, 1808 of Australia and New Zealand, New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 65, pp. 1-584 : 402-406

Pison scutatum Pulawski , species nova

Figures 970 -980.

NAME DERIVATION.– Scutatum, Latin neuter adjective derived from scutum; with reference to this species sparsely punctate scutum.

RECOGNITION.– Pison scutatum has an all black gaster and three submarginal cells, the second recurrent vein joining the third submarginal cell or interstitial with the second intersubmarginal vein, the hypostomal and occipital carinae not expanded, the tegula partly impunctate, with the outer margin evenly convex, gastral segment I not elongate, setae of tergum I appressed, and the female has no psammophore on the gena, mandible, and forefemur. Also, the scutum, in addition to dense appressed setae, has sparse erect or suberect setae (whose length is up to about 1.0 × midocellar diameter) and well-defined punctures, the mesopleural punctures are less than one diameter apart, the propodeal dorsum and posterior surface are separated from the side by an irregular, longitudinal carina, from which transverse ridges emerge on the dorsum (ridges not longer than midocellar diameter), and male sternum VIII is broadly emarginate ( Fig. 979 ). A subsidiary recognition character is the vestiture of the propodeal dorsum: the setae, in the dorsal view, do not conceal the integument on the enclosure, but almost completely conceal it outside the enclosure ( Fig. 974 ).

The female of P. scutatum can be recognized by the frons punctures about one diameter apart in combination with the scutal punctures averaging more than one diameter apart (except along the anterior and the posterior margins). The ocellocular distance equal to 1.3-2.0 × hindocellar diameter is a subsidiary recognition feature. In most other species the frons punctures are about one diameter apart or less and the scutal punctures average less than one diameter apart (in some species, several punctures near the scutum center are more than one diameter apart; in most P. gregorii the scutal punctures average 2-3 diameters apart, but the frons punctures are less than one diameter apart and the ocellocular distance is 1.2 × hindocellar diameter,

The male lacks the specializations found in many other Pison . For example, the dorsal length of flagellomere I is 2.0-2.1 × apical width (2.9-3.0 × apical width in P. novaecambriae ), the flagellomeres are not expanded ventrally and lack tyloids, the ocellocular distance is equal to 1.8-2.4 × hindocellar diameter (no more than 0.9 × hindocellar diameter in P. separatum and P. formicarium ), and the propodeal dorsum is ridged and punctate (only punctate in P. aterrimum ). Many specimens have a distinctive unsculptured, shiny preapical area on sterna III-VI, shared with P. impressiventre , P. protrudens , and many P. decipiens . Pison impressiventre , however, has a well-defined, round apicomedian impression on sterna IV-VI lacking in P. scutatum and the other two, and in P. protrudens the setae of the propodeal dorsum are unusually short, not extending over the lateral propodeal carina (extending in P. scutatum ), the apical margin of sternum VI is concave (straight in P. scutatum ), and sternum VII is unsculptured mesally (minutely, densely punctate in P. scutatum ). Unlike P. decipiens , the scutal punctures of P. scutatum average more than one diameter apart (averaging less than one diameter apart to more than one diameter apart in P. decipiens ), and the gaster is all black (either all black or the gastral base is all or partly ferruginous in P. decipiens ).

DESCRIPTION.– Frons dull, minutely punctate, punctures shallow, about one diameter apart. Labrum minimally, shallowly emarginate in female, not emarginate in male. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum not foveate along flange, without longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures, on disk, averaging one diameter apart to more than one diameter in female ( Fig. 972 ); in many males punctures are up to two or three diameters apart on disk, but in some specimens less than one diameter apart except slightly more than one diameter apart behind center ( Fig. 973 ). Tegula enlarged, almost reaching anterior margin of axilla. Mesopleural punctures less than one diameter apart. Postspiracular carina present but inconspicuous, about 0.4-0.6 × as long as midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus in most specimens costulate between dorsal and ventral metapleural pits. Propodeum with irregular longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface and extending from gastral socket area toward spiracle; dorsum irregularly, obliquely ridged, punctate between ridges ( Fig. 974 ); side ridged (inconspicuously so in at least ventral half) and punctate; posterior surface ridged. Punctures of horizontal part of tergum I averaging about one diameter apart, up to two diameters apart mesally in some males. Sterna punctate throughout, punctures well defined.

Setae silvery, suberect on upper frons (setal length up to about 1.5 × midocellar diameter), on lower gena varying from slightly curved to sinuous and from subappressed to suberect (setal length varying from about 1.0 to about 1.5 × midocellar diameter), many setae sparse and suberect to erect on scutum (setal length up to about 1.0 × midocellar diameter), appressed on tergum I.

Head, thorax, propodeum, and gaster black (apical depressions of terga brown). Femora, tibiae, and tarsi all black in most females, but tibiae and tarsi partly ferruginous in some; in male, legs vary from all ferruginous to largely black.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.82-0.94 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.3-2.0 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.2-1.6 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.88-0.96 × distance between eye notches. Clypeal lamella varying both in length and width, broadly arcuate in many specimens ( Fig. 970 ), but as long mesally as laterally in some. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.8-2.2 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 1.0-1.2 × apical width. Mandible: trimmal carina with small incision at about two thirds of length, forming ill-defined tooth proximal to incision. Length 6.7-9.2 mm; head width 2.1-2.8 mm.

♂.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.88-1.10 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.8-2.4 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.6-1.8 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.92-0.96 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella acutely angulate ( Fig. 971 ). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.0-2.1 × apical width, of flagellomere X 0.9-1.0 × apical width. Hindfemur thickened dorsoapically ( Fig. 975 ). Sterna III-VI or IV-VI in many specimens with preapical, glabrous, unsculptured, shiny area ( Fig. 976 ), but punctate throughout in some specimens; apical margin of sternum VI straight, sternum VII minutely, densely punctate; sternum VIII unsculptured basally, apical margin shallowly, broadly emarginate, slightly prominent mesally ( Fig. 977 ). Genitalia: Figs. 978, 979 . Length 5.6-7.0 mm; head width 1.9-2.3 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 980).– Northern Territory and Queensland.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♀, AUSTRALIA: Queensland: Split Rock 14 km SE Laura at 15°39ʹS 144°31ʹE, 29 Jun – 24 Aug 1992, P. Zborowski and J.C. Cardale ( ANIC).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: Gregory National Park at 16°03.7ʹS 130°27.1ʹE ,

6-12 June 2001, M.E.Irwin, F.D. Parker, and

C. Lambkin (1 ♀, CAS), at 16°06.6ʹS 130°25.7ʹE ,

24 May – 5 June 2001, T. Weir, K. Pullen, and

P. Bouchard (2 ♀, CAS), at 16°07ʹ55ʺS

130°26ʹ11ʺE, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, and C. Lambkin, 5-12 June 2001 (1 ♀, ANIC), and 16-18 June

2001 (1 ♀, ANIC). Queensland : 4 km NE Batavia

Downs at 12°39ʹS 142°42ʹE, 18 Jun – 22 Jul 1992,

P. Zborowski and S. Nielsen (3 ♀, ANIC) and

22 June – 23 Aug 1992, P. Zborowski and J.C.

Cardale (2 ♀, ANIC); 5 km S Batavia Downs at

12°41ʹS 142°41ʹE, 23 Aug – 16 Sept 1992,

P. Zborowski and L. Miller (1 ♀, ANIC); 7 km

S Batavia Downs at 12°43ʹS 142°42ʹE, 19 Jun – 22

Jul 1992, P. Zborowski and E.S. Nielsen (1 ♀, FIGURE 980 . Collecting localities of Pison scutatum ANIC ); Coen at 13°57ʹS 143°12ʹE, 13 Sept – 20 Oct Pulawski, sp. nov .

1993, P. Zborowski and D. Rentz (1 ♀, ANIC) , 20 Oct – 16 Nov 1993, P. Zborowski and M. Horak (2 ♀, ANIC) , 16 Nov – 17 Dec 1993, P. Zborowski (3 ♀, ANIC) , and 17 Dec 1993 – 13 Jan 1994, P. Zborowski and E.D. Edwards (3 ♀, ANIC) ; Heathlands at 11°45ʹS 142°35ʹE, 15-26 Jan 1992, I.D. Naumann and T. Weir (5 ♀, ANIC) , 18 Aug – 18 Sept 1992, P. Zborowski and L. Miller (1 ♀, ANIC) , and 8 Dec 1992 – 19 Feb 1993, P Zborowski (1 ♀, ANIC) ; Lockerbie area in Cape York, 13-27 Apr 1973, S.R. Monteith (1 ♀, ANIC) ; 48 km E Mount Surprise at 18°09.0ʹS 144°43.6ʹE, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski, 21 Nov 2012 (26 ♀, CAS) and 22 Nov 2012 (19 ♀, 2 ♂, CAS) ; Pinnacle Creek 27 km N Archer Crossing in Cape York, 29 June 1975, S.R. Monteith (2 ♀, CAS) ; Split Rock 14 km SE Laura at 15°39ʹS 144°31ʹE, 29 June – 24 Aug 1992, P. Zborowski and J.C. Cardale (10 ♀, ANIC) , 28 May – 26 June 1993, P. Zborowski and I.D. Naumann (2 ♀, ANIC) , 24 June – 29 Jul 1992, P. Zborowski and E.S. Nielsen (3 ♀, ANIC) , 29 Jun – 24 16 Jul – 18 Aug 1993, P. Zborowski and J. Balderson (1 ♀, ANIC) , 24 Aug – 21 Sept 1992, P. Zborowski and L. Miller (6 ♀, ANIC) , 26 June – 16 July 1993, K. Halfpapp and S. De Feveri (1 ♀, ANIC) , 30 Oct – 24 Nov 1992, P. Zborowski and A. Calder (3 ♀, ANIC) , and 18 Nov – 16 Dec 1993, P. Zborowski (1 ♀, ANIC) .

Figures

FIGURES 970-975. Pison scutatum Pulawski, sp. nov. (970) Female clypeus and mandibles (part of setae removed); (971) Male clypeus and mandibles; (972) Female tegula and adjacent scutum; (973) Male tegula and adjacent scutum; (974) Propodeal dorsum of female; (975) Male hindfemur.

FIGURES 976-979. Pison scutatum Pulawski, sp. nov., male. (976) Sterna in lateral oblique view; (977) Sternum VIII (ventral surface); (978) Genitalia in dorsal view; (979) Genitalia in lateral view.