Pison pandambai 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 : 523-526

Pison pandambai Pulawski , species nova

Figures 1268-1275.

NAME DERIVATION.– Pandambai, a locality in Papua New Guinea where I collected my first specimen of this species (that is now designated as the holotype).

RECOGNITION.– Pison pandambai , an all black species, has three submarginal cells and erect setae on tergum I and sternum II. Like P. punctifrons and P. suspiciosum , it has conspicuous, large punctures on the frons (some punctures equal to 0.3 × midocellar diameter), and like P. punctifrons , the propodeum without a longitudinal carina between the spiracle and the gastropropodeal articulation, and the hindcoxal dorsum with a conspicuous tooth at the base of the inner carina. Unlike these two species, the clypeal lamella of the female is roughly truncate (rather than arcuate or roundly triangular) and the clypeal lamella of the male is tridentate or truncate (the middle tooth can be divided), whereas acutely angulate in P. punctifrons . Unlike most P. suspiciosum , the apical depression of tergum I is all punctate (rather than impunctate mesally).

DESCRIPTION.– Frons dull, coarsely punctate, punctures less than one diameter apart, some punctures equal to 0.3 × midocellar diameter (Fig. 1270). Labrum not emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about 2.5 × as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum not foveate along flange, without longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures well defined, several diameters apart at least near center; interspaces aciculate. Tegula enlarged. Mesopleural punctures well defined, averaging more than one diameter apart to less than one diameter apart near center; interspaces unsculptured. Postspiracular carina present, about 1.5 × as long as midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus costulate between dorsal and ventral metapleural pits. Propodeum without longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface and extending from gastral socket area toward spiracle; dorsum punctate, with evanescent ridges visible from certain angles over most of surface, and with well-defined short, longitudinal ridges basally, punctures averaging 2-3 to several diameters part, but less than one diameter apart near lateral margin (Fig. 1271); side punctate, punctures no more than one diameter apart, also ridged in some specimens; posterior surface with well-defined transverse ridges, punctate between ridges. Posteroventral forefemoral surface with punctures averaging about 2-3 diameters apart. Hindcoxal dorsum with inner carina produced into conspicuous tooth basally. Punctures of tergum I, anterior of apical depression, several diameters apart. Punctures of sternum II several diameters apart mesally in most specimens, but about 2-3 diameters apart in specimen from Misool.

Setae silvery, erect on postocellar area, scutum, and tergum I; setal length on postocellar area those on scutum); not concealing integument on clypeus. Apical depressions of terga with ill-defined, silvery setal fasciae.

Body all black.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.56-0.60 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.0-1.2 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 0.7-0.9 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.92-0.94 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella truncate (Fig. 1268). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.2-2.34 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 1.2-1.4 × apical width. Mandible: trimmal carina with minute incision at about two thirds of length. Length 9.1-10.0 mm; head width 2.9-3.1 mm.

♂.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.64-0.66 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.9-1.4 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 0.6-0.7 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 1.00-1.02 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella tridentate (Fig. 1269), middle tooth divided in specimens from Wau area, truncate in one specimen. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.0-2.6 × apical width, of flagellomere X 1.1-1.4 × apical width. Sternum VIII with rounded apical projection (Fig. 1272). Genitalia: Figs. 1273, 1274. Length 8.0- 11.3 mm; head width 2.5-3.2 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 1275).– Island of New Guinea and the adjacent island of Misool.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♀, PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Madang Province: Pandambai 6 air km W Bundi at 5°38ʹS 145°11ʹE, 2330 m alt., 10-13 May 1988, W.J. Pulawski ( CAS).

PARATYPES: INDONESIA: Misool Island: Fakal , 0-70 m. alt., 20 Sept 1948, M.A. Lieftink (1 ♂, RMNH) .

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Madang Province: 5 air km NE Mundiai Pass at 5°46ʹS 145°09ʹE, 2500 m alt .,

W.J. Pulawski, 14 May 1988 (8 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS) and

17 May 1988 (1 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS); same locality and collector as holotype : 15 May 1988 (1 ♀, CAS) ,

18 May 1988 (1 ♀, CAS); Sapi Forest Reserve 30

km W Madang at 5°12ʹS 145°30ʹE, 19 Feb 1987,

W.J. Pulawski (1 ♂, CAS); Schrader Range 3 km NE

Simbai, 2250 m alt., 12 Mar 1989, D.H. Kavanaugh,

G.E. Ball, N.D. Penny, and P.A. Meyer (1 ♀, CAS) .

Milne Bay Province: Woodlark Island (= Murya

Island): Kulumadau Hill, 19-22 March 1957, W.W.

Brandt (1 ♂, BISH). Morobe Province: 10 km

S Derim at 6°13ʹS 147°06ʹE, 1850 m alt., Mar 1987,

A. Aptroot (2 ♂, RMNH); Nami Creek 6 km W Wau ,

10 June 1962, J Sedlacek (1 ♂, BISH); Wau: Mount

Kaindi, 2100-2300 m alt., 14 Sept 1972, collector FIGURE 1275. Collecting localities of Pison pandambai unknown (1 ♀, RMNH). Pulawski, sp. nov .