Denistilla Lelej, 2023

Lelej, A. S., 2023, Review of the tribe Ctenotillini (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) from Oriental and Palaearctic regions, Far Eastern Entomologist 480, pp. 1-22 : 11-12

Genus Denistilla Lelej , gen. n.

https://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/ C7DB47DA-2370-4BF0-BE76-B2515F610CC5

Pristomutilla : Lelej, 2005: 36; Pagliano et al., 2020: 166.

Type species: Mutilla pauli André, 1898 , designated here.

DIAGNOSIS. MALE. T4–7 with medial longitudinal carina. S7 with lateral tubercle. S8 apically with deep triangular emargination bordered by carina. Gonostylus sharply narrowed distally of parapenial lobe apex. Three-four basal metasomal segments ferruginous-red. FEMALE. Prementum tuberculate. Genal carina lacking. Inner margin of mandible without subbasal denticle. Propodeum posterodorsally with complete row of spines, middle spine longest. T2 with two basal spots of white setae disposed transversely and two narrow apical spots of white setae. Pygidial plate granulose and carinated laterally.

DESCRIPTION. MALE. Head not rounded posterad, dorsally with well-defined preoccipital carina. Eyes weakly notched inside. Prementum strongly tuberculate. Mandible with obtuse preapical tooth on inner border, well-defined dorsal curved carina and large triangle acuminated lobe beneath. Scape curved with upper defined carina, space below carina punctured setose. Ocelli small. Antennal tubercle large, carinated, transverse carina between torulus and eye defined. Tegula large, projecting over mesoscuto-scutellar suture. Pterostigma large closed, not sclerotized. Radial cell slightly shorter than first radio-medial cell. Mesopleuron beneath swollen without tooth. T2 with long lateral felt line, S2 without any lateral felt line. S7 with lateral tubercle. S8 apically with deep triangular emargination bordered by carina. Gonostylus sharply narrowed distally of parapenial lobe apex.

FEMALE. Prementum tuberculate. Hypostomal carina tuberculate. Genal carina lacking. Clypeus with basomedial tooth. F1 slightly flattened, almost twice as long as F2. Pronotum with well-defined humeral carina. Propodeum posterodorsally with complete row of spines, middle spine longest. T1 much narrower than propodeum, dorsally without pale spots. T2 with two basal spots of white setae disposed transversely and two narrow apical spots of white setae. T2 with lateral long felt line. T3 with widely interrupted band of white setae. Pygidial plate rater wide, granulose and carinated laterally.

SPECIES INCLUDED. Type species Denistilla pauli ( André, 1898) , comb. n. and undescribed species (female) from South India with very narrow granulose pygidial plate and short propodeal spines .

DISTRIBUTION. Pakistan, India: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh.

REMARKS. The male of Denistilla gen. n. belongs to the group with medial carina on T4–6 but differs by having S8 with deep triangle apical emargination bordered by carina (S8 apically rounded or straight in other genera). The female of new genus belong to the group with granulose pygidial plate, but differs by having T2 with two basal spots of white setae disposed transversely (T2 without two spots of white setae disposed transversely in other genera).

ETYMOLOGY. I am delighted to name this new genus in honor of Denis J. Brothers, world authority on Mutillidae and Aculeate classification and evolution and my best colleague with a common suffix for mutillid genera. Gender feminine.

Figs 15–23. 15–17 – Denistilla pauli , ♀; 18–20 – Lehritilla ianthis , ♀; 21–23 – L. locascioi , ♀, paratype. 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22 – habitus (15, 18, 21 – dorsal view, 16, 19, 22 – lateral view); 17, 20, 23 – T6, pygidial plate.