Pison elatum 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 : 164-166

Pison elatum Pulawski , species nova

Figures 343 -348.

NAME DERIVATION.– Elatum is the neuter of the perfect passive participle of the Latin verb effero, to bring forth, bring out; with reference to the elevated platform on male sternum VIII.

RECOGNITION.– The male of Pison elatum (the female is unknown) is characterized by an all black gaster, the presence of three submarginal cells, the second recurrent vein interstitial with the second intersubmarginal vein or nearly so, and the setae appressed on tergum I. It is unique in having an elevated, triangular platform on sternum VIII ( Figs. 344, 345 ). The free margin of the clypeal lamella concave on each side of the midpoint ( Fig. 343 ) and the apically rounded sternum VIII ( Fig. 344 ) are subsidiary recognition feature.

DESCRIPTION.– Frons dull, minutely punctate, punctures less than one diameter apart. Labrum not emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum not foveate along flange, without short longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures fine, less than one diameter apart. Tegula slightly enlarged. Mesopleural punctures nearly contiguous (except posteriorly). Postspiracular carina present, about as long as midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus 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 obliquely ridged (ridges fine except conspicuous near base, evanescent on most of surface in specimen from South Australia), punctate between ridges; side punctate, with interspaces merging into ridges (ridges well defined dorsally, evanescent ventrally); posterior surface transversely ridged, punctate between ridges, with several conspicuous ridges radiating up from transverse carina just above gastropropodeal articulation. Punctures of tergum I about one diameter apart anterior to apical depression. Sterna punctate throughout, most punctures less than one diameter apart, but median, preapical punctures more than one diameter apart on sterna II-IV.

Setae silvery, appressed on postocellar area, scutum, and tergum I; on lower gena subappressed to suberect, straight (with apices curved), shorter than midocellar diameter; completely concealing integument on clypeus (except lamella). Apical depressions of terga with silvery, setal fasciae.

Body black, flagellum all black or brown ventrally, legs black in specimens from 6 km E Nilpinna and from 28 km E Leonora, fore- and midtibiae partly ferruginous and hindtibia and tarsi ferruginous in those from 47 km and 80 km S Pardoo Roadhouse (forebasitarsus dark in specimen from 104 km E Marble Bar).

♀.– Unknown.

♂.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.80 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.1-1.2 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.1-1.2 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.96 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella acutely angulate, concave on each aside of midpoint ( Fig. 343 ). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.8 × apical width, of flagellomere X 1.2-1.3 × apical width. Sternum VIII with apical margin rounded and with median, triangular, elevated platform ( Figs. 344, 345 ). Genitalia: Figs. 346, 347 . Length 6.1-6.6 mm; head width 2.0 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 348).– South Australia, Western Australia.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♂, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 104 km E Marble Bar at 21°19.1ʹS 120°40.3ʹE, 2-15 May 2003, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker ( ANIC).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: 6 km E Nilpinna , 4-6 Mar 1975, E.G. Matthews (1 ♂, SAM) . Western Australia: 28 km E Leonora , 18 Sept 1962, E.S. Ross and D.Q. Cavagnaro (1 ♂, CAS) ; 47 km S Pardoo Roadhouse on Shay Gap road at 20°22.7ʹS 120°01.3ʹE, 1-14 May 2003, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Park- er (3 ♂, CAS) ; 80 km S Pardoo Roadhouse on Shay Gap road at 20°28.3ʹS 120°10.0ʹE, 5 Jan-14 May 2003, F.D. Parker and M.E. Irwin .

Figures

FIGURES 343–347. Pison elatum Pulawski, sp. nov., male. (343) Clypeus and mandibles; (344) Sternum VIII (ventral surface); (345) Sternum VIII in oblique lateral view; (346) Genitalia in dorsal view; (347) Genitalia in lateral view. FIGURE 348. Collecting localities of Pison elatum Pulawski, sp. nov.