Pison frontale 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 : 209-210

Pison frontale Pulawski , species nova

Figures 467 -470.

NAME DERIVATION.– Frontale, Latin neuter adjective derived from frons, which is conspicuously swollen in this species.

RECOGNITION. – Pison frontale has the second recurrent vein received near the middle of the second submarginal cell, the distance between the antennal socket and the orbit smaller than half the socket width, and the entire gaster ferruginous. The female differs from similar species in having the clypeal free margin not produced into a median lobe ( Fig. 467 ), practically evenly arcuate orbit to orbit, the frons markedly swollen above the scape ( Figs. 468, 469 ) and without middle supraantennal carina, and the integument not depressed between the ventral end of the postspiracular carina and the episternal sulcus. In addition, the posterior propodeal surface is finely ridged, the ridges being almost imperceptible in some specimens (rather than conspicuously ridged, at least partly so). The male is unknown.

DESCRIPTION.– Frons markedly swollen above antennal socket ( Fig. 469 ), dull, minutely punctate, punctures superficial, about one diameter apart; middle supraantennal carina absent. Distance between antennal socket and orbit smaller than half socket width. Gena narrow in dorsal view ( Fig. 468 ). Labrum not emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, almost twice as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum not foveate along flange, with minute, short longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures minute, less than one diameter apart. Tegula not enlarged. Mesopleural punctures fine but larger than those on scutum, about one diameter apart. Postspiracular carina present, almost as long as midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus not costulate between dorsal and ventral metapleural pits. Propodeum with longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface and extending from gastral socket area toward spiracle; dorsum with middle carina but without middle sulcus, finely obliquely ridged, finely punctate between ridges; side finely punctate, punctures less than one diameter apart anteriorly, averaging about 1-2 diameters apart posteriorly, ridges present only below spiracle; posterior surface punctate and finely, transversely ridged (ridges almost imperceptible in some specimens). Second recurrent vein received near middle of second submarginal cell. Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin sharply carinate in distal half. Outer surface of hindtibia with evanescent spines. Punctures of tergum I minute, averaging about one diameter apart. Sterna punctate throughout.

Setae appressed on frons, lower gena, scutum, femora, and tergum I, oriented dorsally on frons, not concealing integument on clypeus. Terga without setal fasciae on apical depressions.

Head, thorax, and propodeum black; mandible mostly ferruginous, black basally, dark apically; antenna ferruginous, largely darkened in most specimens. Femora black, tibiae, and tarsi ferruginous. Gaster ferruginous.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 1.10-1.25 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.5-0.6 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 0.9-1.0 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.96-1.00 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeus without median lobe, practically evenly arcuate orbit to orbit ( Fig. 467 ). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.4-1.6 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 0.9-1.0 × apical width. Mandible: trimmal carina with small incision at about midlength. Tergum VI with median carina apically. Length 5.1-6.6 mm; head width 1.6-1.7 mm.

♂.– Unknown.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 470).– Eastern New South Wales, eastern Queensland.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♀, AUSTRALIA: Queensland: Kuranda , 1,300 ft., 3 May – 20 June 1913, R.E. Turner ( BMNH).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 0.5 km SE Lansdowne near Taree , 6-15 Nov 1992, G.A. Williams (1 ♀, AMS) . Queensland: Eungella National Park at 21°10.5ʹS 148°30.3ʹE, 31 Oct 2006 and 8 Nov 2012, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski (2 ♀, CAS) ; Mackay , Oct 1891, no collector given, but labeled “Turner Coll., 1909 – 49” (1 ♀, BMNH) ; Noosa , 26 Oct 1965, J.C. Cardale (1 ♀, CAS) .

Figures

FIGURES 467-469. Pison frontale Pulawski, sp. nov., female. (467) Clypeus and mandibles; (468) Head in lateral view; (469) Head in dorsal view. FIGURE 470. Collecting localities of Pison frontale Pulawski, sp. nov.