Stenodynerus punjabensis Qasim, Carpenter et Rafi, 2018

Qasim, Muhammad, Carpenter, James M., Rafi, Muhammad Ather, Khan, Muhammad Rafique & Khan, Muhammad Rahim, 2018, A new species of Stenodynerus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) from Pakistan, Zootaxa 4370 (3), pp. 271-274 : 271-274

Stenodynerus punjabensis Qasim, Carpenter et Rafi , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–4 )

Type material. Holotype: ♀, Pakistan, Punjab province, Multan : 30.2674° N, 71.5018° E, Elevation: 123 m, July, 2015 (leg. M. Qasim) [deposited in the National Insect Museum ( NIM), National Agriculture Research Centre Islamabad, Pakistan] .

Etymology. The specific name punjabensis refers to the Punjab region where the type specimens were collected.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Stenodynerus by body black with yellow and light yellowish ferruginous markings and covered with dense and large punctures, clypeus truncate apically, T1 reticulate at declivity and S2 evenly convex.

Description. Female: Holotype body length from dorsal side approximately: Head 0.8 mm; Mesosoma 3.23 mm; T1+T2 3.23 mm; forewing length approximately 7 mm.

Structure: Clypeus apically truncate and with sparse punctures. Mandible five-dentate with long distal tooth. Interantennal space with median prominence. Area between eyes and antennae lacking macropunctures. Frons with coarse punctures. Cephalic foveae shallow and small. Pronotum, scutum, scutellum and mesopleuron densely punctate. Propodeum with large deep, shallow punctures as compared to pronotum, scutum and scutellum. Humeri slightly pointed anteriorly with dorsal carina present only laterally, pronotum anteriorly with shining and sloping surface and with few punctures, median foveae forming a V-shaped depression. Parategula with its hind margin strongly concave. T1 with coarse punctation appearing reticulate at declivity. S1 with central longitudinal ridge, punctation reduced adjacent to this. S2 with basal groove coarsely ridged; evenly convex, with basomedian sulcus.

Color: Body black with yellow markings as follows: Transverse band across basal half of the clypeus; dorsal base of scape; interantennal spot; spot on temple; a thick transverse band, briefly interrupted medially, on pronotum; large mesopleural spot; whole metanotum; apical bands on T1, T2 and S2. Light yellowish ferruginous markings as follows: whole venter of scape; tegula largely; parategula; apical half of fore and mid femora, apex of hind femur; all tibiae and tarsi.

Remarks. In the key by Gusenleitner (1981) this species comes closest to xanthomelas (Herrich-Schaeffer), which has been recorded from Iran. We have examined specimens of xanthomelas in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History, and the clypeus is different, being truncate apically in punjabensis and emarginate in xanthomelas. A truncate clypeus is also found in sapidus (Giordani Soika), which we have not seen, but according to Gusenleitner’s key the second metasomal sternum is different, being convex in punjabensis but flat in sapidus.

The key by Gusenleitner (1981) may be modified (and translated) to key out the species now known from Pakistan as follows.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Stenodyneruspunjabensis, habitus (dorsal view).

FIGURE 2. Stenodyneruspunjabensis, habitus (lateral view).

FIGURE 3. Stenodyneruspunjabensis, head (frontal view)

FIGURE 4. Stenodyneruspunjabensis, mesosoma (dorsal view).