Pison acutum 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 : 41-44

Pison acutum Pulawski , species nova

Figures 13 -25.

NAME DERIVATION.– Acutum, Latin neuter adjective meaning sharp; with reference to the sharp median carina on the apical tergum.

RECOGNITION. – Pison acutum is an all black species, with three submarginal cells, the second recurrent vein interstitial with the second intersubmarginal vein or nearly so, the tegula partly impunctate and asetose, and setae appressed on tergum I. Both sexes have a median carina on the apical third of the apical tergum ( Figs. 18 and 19 ), and punctures of sternum II are several diameters apart mesally. The female clypeus is unique: the free margin of the lamella is broadly, roundly arcuate, and the lateral, convex portion of the free margin is relatively long, attaining the lamella ( Fig. 13); in other species, the lateral, convex part of the free margin is separated by a concave part from the lamella The male, in addition to the median carina of tergum VI, has erect setae on sterna II-VIII that become gradually longer toward gastral apex, as long as the midocellar diameter on sternum VII ( Fig. 20 ). A subsidiary recognition feature is the mesopleural punctation: the punctures are well defined and in most specimens average more than one diameter apart at the center. The presence of a longitudinal carina on the apical tergum is shared with the female of Pison nitens , in which the propodeal dorsum is minutely, sparsely punctate whereas all ridged in acutum .

DESCRIPTION.– Frons dull, conspicuously microsculptured, minutely punctate, punctures inconspicuous, less than one diameter apart. Gena narrow in dorsal view. Labrum emarginate mesally, inconspicuously so in male. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum not foveate along flange, at most with evanescent, short longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures fine, about one diameter apart on disk; interspaces microsculptured. Tegula slightly enlarged, its free margin broadly rounded posteriorly ( Fig. 16). Mesopleural punctures well defined, averaging more than one diameter apart at center in most specimens, but less than one diameter apart in some; interspaces microsculptured. Postspiracular carina present, 1.0-1.5 × as long as midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus costulate or not 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 with or without middle carina, obliquely or transversely ridged, with inconspicuous punctures between ridges ( Fig. 17); side ridged, punctate between ridges; posterior surface ridged. Posteroventral forefemoral surface finely punctate, punctures up to several diameters apart. Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin not carinate. Punctures of tergum I several diameters apart on horizontal part. Apical tergum with median carina in apical third, measured from tergum’s anterior margin ( Figs. 18, 19 ). Sternum II with punctures several diameters apart mesally.

Setae silvery, appressed on scutum, femoral venters, and tergum I, oriented ventrad between dorsal end of middle carina and midocellus, completely concealing integument on clypeus except lamella; setae of lower gena curved, about as long as one midocellar diameter. Apical depressions of terga with silvery, setal fasciae.

13 14 15 16 17 18

Body all black.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.74 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.1-1.2 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.1 × hindocellar diameter ( Fig. 15); eye height equal to 1.00-1.02 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella broadly, roundly arcuate; lateral, convex portion of free margin relatively long, attaining lamella ( Fig. 13). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.5-2.6 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 1.3-1.5 × apical width. Mandible: trimmal carina with small incision shortly beyond midlength. Length 8.5-9.0 mm; head width 2.5-2.7 mm.

♂.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.76-82 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.3-1.6 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.2-1.3 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.98-1.0 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella acutely to slightly obtusely angulate, nearly rectangular ( Fig. 14). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.5-2.6 × apical width, of flagellomere X 1.3-1.4 × apical width. Sterna II-VIII with erect setae becoming gradually longer toward gastral apex, as long as midocellar diameter on sternum VII ( Fig. 20 ). Sternum VIII impunctate apicomesally, broadly emarginate apically, apicolateral arm sharp ( Figs. 21, 22 ). Genitalia: Figs. 23, 24 . Length 6.8-8.3 mm; head width 2.1-2.5 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 25).–

New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♂, AUSTRALIA: South

Australia: 3 km ENE Wilpena in Flinders Ranges

National Park at 31°31.0ʹE 138°36.6ʹE, 26 Jan 2011,

V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski ( SAM).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales :

Coolbaggie Forest Reserve 10 km E Eumungerie at

31°58.5ʹS 148°40.5ʹE, 29 Dec 2011, V. Ahrens and

W.J. Pulawski (1 ♀, CAS); 1 km W Eumungerie at

31°56.7ʹS 148°36.9ʹE, 12 Dec 2011, V. Ahrens and

W.J. Pulawski (1 ♂, CAS); 16 km N Mudgee , 3-4

Oct 1982, D.S. Horning (1 ♂, ANIC); 40.5 km SW

Narrabri at 30°37.7ʹS 149°34.1ʹE, V. Ahrens and Figure 25. Collecting localities of Pison acutum Pulaw W.J. Pulawski , 3 Jan 1012 (1 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS) and 5 Jan ski, sp. nov .

2012 (1 ♀, CAS) . Queensland: Ban-Ban Range via Coalstoun Lakes , Jan 1974, H, Frauca (1 ♀, ANIC) ; 3 km W Batavia Downs at 12°40ˈS 142°39ˈE, 23 Aug – 16 Sept, P. Zborowski and L. Miller (1 ♂, ANIC) ; Brisbane: Karawatha Forest at 27°38.6ʹS 153°04.2ʹE, 12 Dec 2006, W.J. Pulawski (1 ♂, CAS) ; 12 km W Fairview via Laura , 26 June 1975, S.R. Monteith (1 ♂, ANIC) ; Granite Gorge ca 6 km SW Mareeba, 19 Jan – 1 Feb 1999, M. Generani and P.L. Scaramozzino (1 ♂, CAS) ; 13 km SE Weipa at 12°40ʹS 143°00ʹE, 15 Nov – 16 Dec 1993, P. Zborowski (1 ♀, ANIC) . South Australia: same place and collectors as holotype, 26 Jan 2011 (1 ♀, CAS) , 27 Jan 2011 (2 ♀, 2 ♂, CAS) ; Aroona Ruins in Flinders Ranges National Park at 31°17ʹS 138°35ʹE, 9 Nov 1987, I.D. Naumann and J.C. Cardale (1 ♀, CAS) ; Sheoak Hill Conservation Reserve 38 km NNW Coville at 33°22.6ʹS 136°47.4ʹE, 29 Dec 2010, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski (2 ♀, CAS) , Trezona Camp at Brachina Creek at 31°20ʹS 138°37ʹE, 10 Nov 1987, I.D. Naumann and J.C. Cardale (1 ♀, ANIC) .

Figures

FIGURES 19-24. Pison acutum Pulawski, sp. nov. (19) Gastral apex of male; (20) Apical sterna of male in profile; male. (21) Sternum VIII (ventral surface); (22) Sternum VIII in lateral view; (23) Genitalia in dorsal view; (24) Genitalia in lateral view.