Larrisson variegatus Pulawski, 2012

Pulawski, Wojciech J., 2012, A review of the genus Larrisson Menke, 1967, and description of the new genus Larrissa (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 25, pp. 35-82 : 67-69

Larrisson variegatus Pulawski sp. n. Figs 18 22 23

Name-derivation.

Variegatus is the perfect past participle (here used as an adjective) of the Latin verb variegare, meaning "to make various sorts or colors", with reference to the unusual coloration of the male antenna.

Recognition.

Unlike all other Larrisson , the first recurrent vein of variegatus is received by the second submarginal cell ( Fig. 23 ) rather than the first. The species is further characterized by an all or largely reddish brown gaster and a densely punctate mesothoracic venter, with the integument totally concealed by vestiture, two features shared with orbitalis and quintus. Unlike quintus, variegatus lacks small, dense punctures and setae between spines on the outer surface of the hindtibia (except ventrally). Unlike orbitalis, the inner eye margin are almost parallel above the level of the antennal socket ( Fig. 22a ) rather than markedly bowing toward the frons midline. The male has three unique characters: 1. multicolored antenna ( Fig. 22b, c ), with flagellomeres I-VI convex ventrally ( Fig. 22c ); 2. an unusually large basal concavity of tergum I that extends to both lateral margins, is largely asetose, and is bordered laterally by the basolateral tergal carina up to its dorsal end ( Fig. 22d, e ); and 3. sternum II with a transverse swelling that is markedly curved posterad ( Fig. 22f ). The emarginate apically male sternum VIII is a subsidiary recognition feature, shared with armatus, orbitalis, quintus, tegularis, and also with Larrissa nedyma .

Description.

Width of face across clypeus and vertex in female = 60:49-51, least interocular distance 34-35; in male 60:48-51, and 32-33, respectively. Orbital fovea in female well defined but narrow, less than half ocellocular distance, in male varying from well defined (as narrow as in female) to nearly absent. Clypeal lobe only slightly prominent, its free margin arcuate, not angulate laterally. Length of scape (excluding radicle) 2.7 × width in female, 2.8-2.9 × in male, length equal to flagellomeres I-IV combined. Mesopleuron with obtuse, transverse crest in front of midcoxa; mesothoracic venter uniformly densely punctate, punctures about one diameter apart. Metanotum with rudimentary median carina. Propodeal dorsum without spine or tubercle behind spiracle; side finely, densely ridged; posterior surface unsculptured both mesodorsally and mesoventrally. First recurrent vein received by second submarginal cell ( Fig. 23 ). Outer surface of hindtibia impunctate and asetose between spines (except basally and ventrally).

Setae all silvery, appressed on head, thorax, propodeum, and legs, concealing integument on clypeus, large part of frons in female and most of frons in male (except for glabrous scapal basin), largely concealing integument on mesopleuron and mesothoracic venter in female, totally so in male. Hindfemoral venter asetose, inner (= posterior) surface asetose except setose dorsally.

Head, thorax, and propodeum black except scapal venter and pronotal lobe yellow, also mandibular base in female (yellowish in male). See below for color of flagellum, legs, and gaster.

Female. Inner eye orbits nearly parallel between antennal socket and midocellus level ( Fig. 22a ); hindfemoral venter slightly concave near apex and with a few setae. Length 5.0 mm. Flagellum brown dorsally, reddish brown ventrally; fore- and midfemora reddish brown, pale yellow ventrally (except near base), hindfemur reddish brow, pale yellow at very apex; tibiae reddish brown, pale yellow dorsally; tarsi reddish brown. Gaster all reddish brown.

Male. Flagellomeres I-VI convex ventrally ( Fig. 22c ), dorsal length of flagellomere I equal to apical width. Posterior mandibular margin slightly concave between base and notch. Forefemur flat ventrally. Basal concavity of tergum I unusually large, largely asetose, extending to both lateral margins ( Fig. 22d ), bordered laterally by basolateral tergal carina attaining concavity’s dorsal end ( Fig. 22e ). Sternum II with transverse swelling that is markedly curved posterad ( Fig. 22f ); sterna III-VII with long, erect setae at bases of apical depressions and also with shorter, erect setae on remaining surface; sternum VIII emarginate apically, with glabrous, slightly elevated platform that covers most of its surface, punctate and setose along margins outside platform. Length 7.5-8.4 mm. Flagellomeres I-VI reddish brown, VII black, VIII and IX pale yellow, X and XI brown ( Fig. 22b, c ). Forefemur reddish brown, pale yellow ventrally, with some black areas basodorsally, midfemur black dorsally, pale yellow ventrally, with intermediate areas reddish brown, hindfemur black, pale yellow at very apex; tibiae reddish brown, pale yellow dorsally; tarsi reddish brown. Gaster largely reddish brown, but terga II-VII with lateral spots that become large toward apex (black areas larger on terga V and VI than red median zone).

Geographic distribution

( Fig. 18 ). Known from two localities in South Australia.

Specimens examined.

Holotype: ♂, AUSTRALIA: South Australia: Calperum Station 14 km WNW Renmark at 34°07'S, 140°37'E, mallee, 7 Nov - 13 Dec 1995, K.R. Pullen (ANIC). Paratypes: same data but 13 Dec 1995 - 25 Jan 1996 (1 ♀, 6 ♂, ANIC; 1 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS); 4 mi. S Maynards Bore (which is 27°18'37"S, 132°23'40"E) in Everard Park Station, 5 Nov 1970, E. Matthews (1 ♂ , SAM).

Figures

Figure 18. Collecting localities of Larrisson sulcatus, tibialis, and variegatus.

Figure 22. Larrisson variegatus: a female head in frontal view b male head in dorsal view c male antenna d male tergum I in dorsal view e male tergum I in oblique lateral view f gastral base of male in lateral view.

Figure 23. Larrisson variegatus: forewing (arrow indicates first recurrent vein).