Elampus gayi Spinola, 1851

Lucena, Daercio A. A., Santos-Neto, Pedro E., Zanella, Fernando C. V. & Almeida, Eduardo A. B., 2022, Taxonomic review of the elampine cuckoo wasps from northeastern Brazil (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae), with the description of three new species, Zootaxa 5213 (3), pp. 201-235 : 206-208

Elampus gayi Spinola, 1851

( Figs 2E–H )

Elampus gayi Spinola 1851: 413 . Lectotype ♀, designated by Rosa & Xu 2015: 50 . CHILE, De Santa Rosa y de la Ligua, D. Gay (MRSN: examined by photos).

Elampus gayi Spinola ; Dahlbom 1845: 47; Huber & Pengelly 1978: 93; 1980: 49; Bohart & Kimsey 1991: 168; Rosa & Xu 2015: 50 ; Lucena & Gomes 2016: 556 .

Ellampus (!) (Notozus) gayi ; Mocsáry 1889: 79; Ducke 1913: 13.

Diagnosis. This species closely resembles E. aequinoctialis (Ducke) . Elampus gayi is comparatively longer than E. aequinoctialis (4.4 mm in the former vs. 3.6 mm in the latter), and has denser sculpturing on vertex, pronotum, scutum, and disc of T2–T3 ( Fig. 2E–H ).

Material examined. Lectotype ♀. CHILE: De Santa Rosa y de la Ligua, D. Gay ( MRSN) . Paralectotype female, CHILE, Gay ( MNHN) . ARGENTINA, Catamarca: Santa María , i.1983, Peña ( AMNH: 1♀) . La Pampa: General Pico , 07.xii.1940, Parker H. L. ( USNM: 2♀) . Mendoza: Santa Rosa , 1908, Jensen A. C. ( MNHN: 1♀) . San Juan: Zonda , 28.xi.1993, Michelette E. R. F. ( RPSP: 1♂) . Same data as preceding, except: 17.xi.1993 ( RPSP: 2♂) ; 20.i.1994 ( RPSP: 1♀) ; 06.ii.1994 ( RPSP: 8♂) . Río Negro: Lamarque , Fritz P. ( AMNH: 1♀ 1♂) . Luis Beltrán , xi.1991, Fritz P. ( AMNH: 1♂) . Choele Choel , xi.1991, Fritz P. ( AMNH: 5♂) . CHILE, Biobío: Concepción , 13.xii.1908, Herbst P. ( AMNH: 2♂) . Coquimbo: La Higuera, Llanos de Los Choros , 15.x.1971, Rozen & Peña ( AMNH: 2♀ 1♂) . Maule: Curicó, Río Teno , 25–28.xi.1981, Luis & Peña ( AMNH: 1♂) . Santiago: Tiltil, Cuesta la Dormida , 01.xi.1969, Rozen & Peña ( AMNH: 1♀) .

Distribution. Argentina (Catamarca, La Pampa, Mendoza, San Juan, Río Negro); Chile (Biobío, Coquimbo, Maule, Valparaiso, Santiago) ( Fig. 3 ). See comments under E. aequinoctialis .

Host. Unknown.

Taxonomic notes and key to species of Elampus . The genus Elampus is now represented in South America by four valid species: E. aequinoctialis Ducke , E. gayi Spinola , E. macuxi Lucena , and E. pulchricollis Ducke. By summarizing the preceding remarks, amendments are needed in the previous key of South America species of Elampus ( Lucena & Gomes 2016) : couplets 2–3 are herein modified to include Elampus aequinoctialis .

1. Marginal terga without basolateral translucent border; metanotum rectangular posteriorly; dorsal surface of mesosoma and apical margin of mandibles with distinct reddish highlights; apical margin of T3 rounded; tarsal claws with single subsidiary tooth............................................................................ Elampus macuxi Lucena

- Marginal terga with narrow translucent rim or with broad membranous whitish border along basolateral margins; metanotum truncated or pointed posteriorly; dorsal surface of mesosoma and mandibles without reddish highlights; distal margin of T3 with medial notch; tarsal claws with two subsidiary teeth..................................................... 2

2. Marginal terga with broad membranous whitish rim; integument of head, pronotum and scutum dull and impunctate; scapal basin transversely cross-ridged; integument of T3 apical process smooth.................. Elampus pulchricollis Ducke

- Marginal terga with narrow translucent border; integument of head, pronotum, scutum, and metasoma polished and punctate; scapal basin smooth, without cross-ridge or wrinkles; integument of T3 apical process wrinkled...................... 3

3. Vertex, pronotum, scutum, and discs of T2–T3 sparsely sculptured, minimally 1.5–2× PD apart ( Fig. 2A–D ), usually wider; small-sized, body size shorter than 4 mm [ Brazil]................................... Elampus aequinoctialis Ducke

- Vertex, pronotum, scutum, and discs of T2–T3 densely sculptured, usually no more than 1× PD apart ( Fig. 2E–H ); moderatesized, body size longer than 4.2 mm [western Argentina and Chile]............................ Elampus gayi Spinola

Figures

FIGURE 2. Comparative images of two South American Elampus (females). A–D: E. aequinoctialis Ducke. E–H: E. gayi Spinola. A, E. Dorsal view of head; B, F. Dorsal view of pronotum and scutum; C, G. Dorsal view of T2; D, H. Dorsal view of T3. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A, D, E, H) 0.5 mm (B, C, F, G).

FIGURE 3. Geographical distribution of two South American Elampus (left); individual records for each species shown on the maps on the right.