Pison ponape Krombein, 1949

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 : 551-552

Pison ponape Krombein

Figures 1345-1349.

Pison ponape Krombein, 1949b:405 , ♀. Holotype: ♀, Federate States of Micronesia: Island of Pohnpei (formerly Ponape): Colonia (USNM). Paratypes examined. – Krombein, 1949b:385 (in key to Sphecidae of Micronesia); Yasumatsu, 1953:134 (in list of Pison of Pacific islands ), 144 (bibliographic reference to original description, description of ♂; Caroline Islands); R. Bohart and Menke, 1976:336 (in checklist of world Sphecidae ).

RECOGNITION.– Pison ponape closely resembles P. marginatum . Like that species, it is all black and has three submarginal cells, the second recurrent vein interstitial with the second intersubmarginal vein, the setae apparessed on tergum I and sinuous and slightly longer than the midocellar diameter on the lower gena, and most thoracic setae silvery (scutal setae brownish). Contrary to the other Pacific Islands species with this character combination, the two species have sternum II densely punctate mesally (although the punctures are about 2-3 diameters apart in P. marginatum and 3-4 diameters in ponape ). Unlike P. marginatum , P. ponape has at most the first two terga with silvery, apical fasciae, and no such fasciae in some specimens (rather than terga I-IV fasciate), and the punctures of the upper frons average about 2-3 diameters apart (Fig. 1345) rather than 1-2 diameters. Unlike P. mariannense , the apex of the marginal cell is markedly closer to the wing apex than that of he third submarginal cell (rather than being about equidistant). Pison ponape differs from P. trukense in the sculpture of the propodeum which has a well-defined longitudinal carina that separates the side from the dorsum and the posterior surface, and the medi- an sulcus on the dorsum is well-defined, without transverse carinae. Also, the setae of the propodeal dorsum are not conspicuous. In P. trukense , the longitudinal carina on the propodeal dorsum is ill-defined and present only along the posterior half (but not along the posterior surface), the middle sulcus is evanescent and crossed by short, transverse carinae, and the setae of the dorsum are conspicuous.

DESCRIPTION.– Frons punctate, punctures of medium size, about 2-3 diameters apart on upper frons, interspaces microareolate, dull (Fig. 1345). Distance between antennal socket and orbit minimally greater than socket diameter. Gena narrow in dorsal view (Fig. 1346). Labrum not emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about as long as 2.5 × midocellar diameters. Scutum not foveate along flange, without longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures well defined, unevenly distributed (less than one diameter apart to several diameters apart); interspaces aciculate. Tegula not enlarged. Mesopleural punctures well defined, less than one diameter apart in one specimen examined, in the other averaging about one diameter apart near center. Postspiracular carina present, about 2 × 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 not ridged, punctate, punctures about 2-3 diameters apart in middle portion, less than one diameter apart laterally (Fig. 1347); side punctate (punctures up to about one diameter apart near center) and with evanescent ridges; posterior surface with well-defined, transverse ridges, finely punctate between ridges (Fig. 1348). Posteroventral forefemoral surface with sparse, microscopic punctures. Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin sharply carinate in posterior half. Punctures of tergum I fine, averaging 2-3 diameters apart in one specimen examined, in the other 3-4 diameters apart. Punctures of sternum II fine, about 3-4 diameters apart mesally.

Setae silvery, erect on frons (slightly longer than 0.5 × midocellar diameter), appressed on postocellar area, on lower gena sinuous and slightly longer than midocellar diameter, on scutum dark and inclined posterad (about 0.5 × midocellar diameter mesally, about 1 midocellar diameter laterally), appressed on tergum I, not concealing integument on clypeus. Apical depression of tergum I with silvery, setal fascia in most specimen, but with tergum I and II fasciate in some specimens, and terga nonfasciate in female from Tamon, Island of Pohnpei.

Body all black.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.5 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.4 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 0.7 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 1.0 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella obtusely angulate. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.8 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 1.9 × apical