Ancistrotilla azurea, Brothers, 2012

Brothers, Denis J., 2012, The new genus Ancistrotilla n. gen., with new species from Vanuatu and New Caledonia (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae), Zoosystema 34 (2), pp. 223-251 : 229-234

Ancistrotilla azurea n. sp.

( Figs 1-3 ; 10A )

Ephutomorpha sp. – Villemant 2011: 136.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype ♂: VANUATU, Espiritu Santo , / Penaoru area, 14°57’≈52”S / 166°38’≈26”E, c. 600 m, / moist lowland forest / ground Malaise MG 06 C1 / 6-18.XI.2006 C. Villemant; specimen / measured & / photographed / D. J. Brothers ( MNHN EY6645 ).

Paratypes (1 ♀, 51 ♂♂): Vanuatu. Espiritu Santo , Penaoru area, 14°57’43.2”S, 166°38’5.89”E, 152 m, mixed deciduous lowland forest, ground Malaise MG 01 A2, 15-29.XI.2006 (C. Villemant) (2 ♂♂ MNHN EY6646 , EY6647 , 1 ♂ DJBC) ; same area and collector but 14°57’50.8”S, 166°38’52.3”E, c. 600 m, moist lowland forest, ground Malaise MG 06 A1, 6-18.XI.2006 (5 ♂♂ MNHN EY6648 - EY6652 , 1 ♂ DJBC) ; same data but MG 06 A2, 18-30.XI.2006 (1 ♂ MNHN EY6653 ) ; same data but yellow-pan trap YEP600A, 9.XI.2006 (1 ♂ MNHN EY6654 ) ; same data as holotype (8 ♂♂ MNHN EY6655-6662 , 1 ♂ BMNH, 1 ♂ BPBM, 1 ♂ [measured] DJBC) ; same area and collector but 14°57’≈52”S, 166°38’≈26”E, c. 600 m, moist lowland forest, ground Malaise MG 06 C2, 18-30.XI.2006 (4 ♂♂ MNHN EY6663-6666 ) ; same area and collector but 14°57’≈52”S, 166°38’≈40”E, c. 600 m, moist lowland forest, ground Malaise MG 06 B1, 6-18.XI.2006 (1 ♂ MNHN EY6667 ) ; same data but MG 06 B2, 18-30. XI.2006 (1 ♂ MNHN EY6668 ) ; same area and collector but 14°57’52.5”S, 166°38’11.69”E, c. 600 m, moist lowland forest, ground Malaise MG 06 D2, 18-30.XI.2006 (1 ♀ [photographed & measured] EY6669, 15 ♂♂ MNHN EY6670-6684 , 2 ♂♂ [1 measured] DJBC) ; same area and collector but 14°58’0.17”S, 166°39’21.69”E, c. 900 m, moist lowland forest, ground Malaise MG 09 A2, 18-30.XI.2006 (2 ♂♂ MNHN EY6685 , 6686 , 1 ♂ DJBC) ; same data but MG 09 B1, 6-18.XI.2006 (2 ♂♂ MNHN EY6687 , 6688 ). — Nokowoula 15°21’S, 166°44’E, 1132 m, 15.IX.1971 (G. F. Gross, Roy. Soc. Percy Sladen Exp.) (1 ♂ [measured] SAM) .

DISTRIBUTION. — Vanuatu: Espiritu Santo.

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific name is a Latin adjective meaning “blue”, with reference to the predominant colour of the integument.

DIAGNOSIS. — Male. Integument predominantly metallic blue; T6 entirely with white setae; S6 with white apical

fringe; postgenal carina present; clypeal tooth with lateral margin sinuate and strongly concave apically; 3 rd submarginal cell longer than high, distance between third submarginal cell and wing apex about 2× length of third submarginal cell; tibial spurs black; pygidium apically recurved with evenly convex apical margin; penis valve with straightish dorsal margin, lateroventral lamella extending well below level of inner lamella, both lamellae attaching to apical tooth within ventral third, apicodorsal setae only on dorsal quarter of apical margin. Female. Integument black with distinct metallic blue reflections; T2 mostly black pubescent except for white apical fringe; head wider than mesosoma; postgenal carina present; mesosoma almost 1.5× as long as wide; inner metatibial spur about 1.3× length of outer spur; T2 about as wide as long in dorsal view; felt line about 0.2× lateral length of T2; pygidial area broadly ovate, finely longitudinally rugose basally becoming very finely and densely punctate/granulate apically, posterolateral carina straightish; hypopygium apically with straight flange-like blunt tooth on each side.

DESCRIPTION

Male

Measurements are for holotype, and range for all four specimens indicated above.

Length 12.0 (8.8-12.0) mm. Integument mostly metallic medium blue; T1 with narrow pale integumental band posteriorly; T2 with slight purplish tinge; hypopygium bronzish purple; antenna, mouthparts, tegula, tibial spurs, tarsi and pygidium black to very dark brown. Pubescence mainly whitish but with a few interspersed dark setae on dorsum of head, dark on scutum, tegula, T2 except anterolaterally, T4-5, S2 except anteriorly, S4-6 and hypopygium; decumbent white setae forming dense apical fringes on T2-3 and T6, covering T7 except for pygidial plate, and forming sparser apical fringes on S2-3 and S6.

Head. Broadly transverse, 1.92× (1.77-1.92) as wide as long, 0.90× (0.89-1.00) as wide as mesosoma, densely and finely punctate-reticulate, with semi-decumbent simple and erect brachyplumose setae, erect plumose setae behind eye. Eye strongly protruding, frons width 0.61× (0.57-0.61) head width. Sides behind head converging and rounded, merging with posterior margin; head length behind eye 0.56× (0.50-0.56) eye length. Vertex convex, ocellar triangle scarcely elevated. Ocelli moderate, median ocellus 0.10× (0.09-0.10) width of head, closely spaced, interocellar distance 1.00× (1.00-1.00) width of median ocellus; interocellar distance 0.40× (0.33-0.40) ocell-ocular distance. Occipital carina distinct dorsally, extended into postgenal carina diverging on to ventral surface of head and ending well short of proboscidial fossa. Genal carina absent. Antennal tubercles finely punctate and shagreened, slightly separated basally.Antennal scrobe deep, well delimited laterally, not reaching eye margin, with short transverse carina dorsomesally (sometimes tooth-like) and separate short prominent tooth-like lamella lateroventral to this at dorsal extremity of lateral marginal ridge. Clypeus deeply depressed dorsolateral to median abruptly margined projecting flattened almost triangular punctate area, ventral margin convex with large obliquely horizontal acute tooth on each side of midline, tooth basally very broad with lateral margin strongly sinuate and concave apically. Malar space 0.48× (0.45-0.50) basal height of mandible. Proboscidial fossa slightly longer than smooth postgenal bridge.Scape strongly bicarinate anteroventrally, dorsal carina restricted to apical ⅔. Pedicel 1.00× (1.00-1.00) as long as wide, 0.75× (0.75-0.83) as long as first flagellomere; first flagellomere 1.20× (1.00-1.20) as long as wide, 0.92× (0.92-1.09) as long as second flagellomere. Mandible in dorsal/anterior view evenly curved, weakly tapering, with strong longitudinal carina dorsally, bidentate apically, subapical tooth well developed, with strong projecting rounded basal tooth ventrally; height across basal tooth 0.76× (0.71- 0.76) mandibular basal height, height immediately beyond basal tooth 0.56× (0.56-0.60) height across tooth, basal tooth length 1.24× (1.09-1.24, mean 1.17) mandibular basal height.

Mesosoma. 1.45× (1.45-1.51) as long as wide; densely and finely punctate except micropunctate and longitudinally rugose on metepimeron above endophragmal pit, smooth on dorsal ⅔ of metepisternum, and reticulate on propodeum; with semi-decumbent simple and erect simple and brachyplumose setae. Pronotal dorsal face (excluding anterior collar) with anterior margin slightly convex, rounded, epaulet a prominent ovate tuft of fine erect setae; humeral angle narrowly rounded; lateral margin weakly sinuate, anteriorly concave; posterodorsal margin broadly V-shaped. Tegula 0.53× (0.48-0.53, mean 0.50) as long as scutum, broadly ovate, not reaching median level of scuto-scutellar suture, convex but very weakly recurved posteriorly, smooth and glabrous except finely punctate and setose along anterior and mesal margins. Mesoscutum without notaulus, parapsis an almost indistinguishable very short line; posterolateral corner forming a slight flattish lobe discontinuous with axilla. Scutellum flattish; axilla produced as a flattened horizontal flange, forming a blunt tooth posteriorly.Metanotum simple, transverse. Propodeum evenly convex, disk and declivity merging in lateral view but margin between dorsal/posterior and lateral faces abrupt. Metasternal process broadly tridentate but apex strongly emarginate, shorter than metacoxal height.

Wings. Infuscated, darkest apical to cells, becoming paler basally. Forewing with moderate ovate sclerotised pterostigma; marginal cell fairly short, 2.29× (2.29-2.36) as long as high, truncate apically with distinct spurlike vein posteriorly; three closed submarginal cells, third submarginal cell 1.05× (1.05-1.11) as long as high; distance between third submarginal cell and wing apex 2.09× (2.00-2.19) length of third submarginal cell.

Legs. Mid- and hind tibiae without dorsal spines; each subapically with distinct secretory pore near base of inner apical spur; apical spurs longitudinally concave dorsally, margins microserrate, densely clothed with microsetae. Metacoxa with distinct but irregular longitudinal carina on inner margin not quite reaching small apical lamellate tooth; inner metatibial spur 1.63× (1.59-1.67) as long as outer spur, 0.76× (0.76-0.79) as long as metabasitarsus.

Metasoma. 0.95× (0.95-0.98) as wide as mesosoma. T1 finely and densely punctate but sparsely so anteromedially, 1.19× (1.19-1.33) as long as wide, 0.48× (0.44-0.48) width of T2, evenly expanded from base, weakly convex, not constricted apically, with erect slender brachyplumose setae and sparse posterior fringe of decumbent slender simple setae; anterior auricle prominent, vertically lamellate.T2 0.95× (0.93-0.97) as long as wide in dorsal view, finely and moderately punctate, interspaces distinct, with erect and semi-decumbent simple setae, a few erect brachyplumose setae near posterior margin; felt line narrow and long, 0.42× (0.41-0.45) lateral length of T2. T3-6 very finely and densely punctate, surface indistinctly shagreened, with erect and semi-decumbent simple setae.T7 mostly finely and densely punctate with semi-decumbent simple setae, apical pygidial area irregularly roughened, weakly recurved apically, with strong convex lateral and apical marginal carina. Sterna fairly sparsely punctate with semi-decumbent simple setae and fewer erect simple to brachyplumose or even sparsely plumose setae. S1 with distinct simple longitudinal carina. S 2 in lateral view strongly convex anteriorly, weakly concave posteriorly; with well-developed but short felt line, 0.33× (0.33-0.34) as long as felt line on T2. S7 partially exposed, apparently about 0.3× as long as S6, almost entirely smooth. Hypopygium about as long as wide, sparsely punctate, weakly concave, posterior margin with prominent acute tooth on each side near midline.

Genitalia. Paramere elongate, slender, laterally obliquely flattened,acute, apex weakly curved dorsad, basilateral setae moderate and reaching scarcely beyond about half length of paramere. Parapenial lobe well developed, apically hooklike and strongly curved mesad, apex narrowed. Cuspis divided near base, paracuspis a short lobe, ventral lobe cylindrical; digitus elongated and laterally flattened, much shorter than cuspis. Penis valve in lateral view with dorsal margin very weakly sinuate, almost straight anteriorly; anteroventral arm parallel-sided, anterior apex rounded; lateroventral lamella broadly truncate apically, almost reaching apex of tooth, extending ventrally well below inner lamella; only a few small setae apically along dorsal quarter of apical margin; in dorsal view anteroventral arm apically parallel-sided.

Female

Length 8.1 mm. Integument mainly black with weak metallic reflections; head and mesosoma dorsally dark purplish with blue tinge, laterally bluish; metasoma distinctly darkish blue, T1 with narrow yellowish integumental band posteriorly; pygidium and appendages, including tibial spurs, dark reddish brown. Pubescence mainly dark but forming sparse transverse broadly U-shaped white band on meso-metanotal area, sparse whitish setae on apex of pygidium and on T1, fairly dense complete white band apically on T1, sparse whitish setae laterally on T2, sparse narrow band of pale golden setae immediately anterior to dense complete white apical fringe on T2, sparse erect whitish setae anteriorly on T3, dense white tuft on each side of pygidial plate, sparse white setae on S1-4 and sparse whitish apical fringes on S2-3.

Head. Broadly transverse, 1.64× as wide as long, 1.09× as wide as mesosoma, densely punctate-

reticulate, with semi-decumbent fine slender setae and erect sparsely brachyplumose setae. Occipital carina weak, present only dorsally.Sides behind head short, slightly converging, distinct from posterior margin, posterolateral angle rounded; head length behind eye 0.50× eye length. Eye very strongly protruding, frons width 0.59× head width. Antennal tubercles simple, smooth, slightly separated basally. Clypeus with raised broadly triangular punctate and setose region above complete almost-straight strong transverse flange-like carina, itself above depressed transverse smooth area, ventral margin slightly convex. Malar space 1.26× basal height of mandible. Genal carina apparently absent, perhaps represented by ventral irregular carinate elevation near proboscidial fossa. Sharp irregular postgenal carina extending from edge of occipital depression about half distance to proboscidial fossa.Proboscidial fossa slightly longer than smooth postgenal bridge. Scape simple, fairly sparsely punctate above. Pedicel 1.11× as long as wide, 0.57× as long as first flagellomere; first flagellomere 1.37× as long as wide, 1.43× as long as second. Mandible slender, tapering, arcuate, apparently bidentate apically (subapical tooth obliterated through wear in only available specimen), with basal lamellate tooth ventrally; height across basal tooth 0.81× mandibular basal height, height immediately beyond basal tooth 0.65× height across tooth, basal tooth length 0.90× mandibular basal height.

Mesosoma. 1.46× as long as wide, broadened to point near metathoracic spiracle, then strongly narrowed to projecting propodeal spiracle, maximum width 1.24× width at base of propodeal spiracle; propodeum weakly narrowed then rounded posteriorly, disk and declivity merging. Dorsum convex, densely punctate-reticulate, more coarsely so posteriorly, clothed with decumbent slender laterally flattened setae and erect brachyplumose setae. Pronotal dorsal face (excluding anterior collar) with anterior margin slightly convex, rounded, epaulet tuberculate, humeral angle blunt; posterodorsal margin clearly indicated by crenulate broadly V-shaped ridge. Meso- and metanotum delimited laterally by strong longitudinal ridge.Lateral face of pronotum punctate and rugose; pronotal-mesopleural suture entirely

distinct. Mesopleuron almost smooth anteriorly and posteroventrally; vertical mesopleural ridge well developed and coarsely punctate-reticulate, specially ventrally, rounded and approaching metathoracic spiracle dorsally,with erect long brachyplumose setae. Metapleuron mainly smooth and shining. Lateral face of propodeum mainly smooth and shining, with a few scattered fine punctures. Metasternal process triangular, apically obtuse, about as long as metacoxal height.

Legs. Foreleg with tarsal comb, a few long strong articulated spines on posterior/lateral margins of tarsomeres 1-3. Mid- and hind tibiae each with two rows of prominent spines, three preapical spines in each row; each subapically with very inconspicuous secretory pore near base of inner apical spur. Metacoxa with strong even longitudinal carina on inner margin, ending posteriorly shortly before small apical tooth; inner metatibial spur 1.34× as long as outer spur, 0.70× as long as metabasitarsus.

Metasoma. 1.25× as wide as mesosoma. T1 2.27× as wide as long, 0.52× width of T2, evenly expanded from base, weakly convex, not constricted apically, finely and sparsely punctate, with erect slender brachyplumose setae and posterior fringe of decumbent slender simple setae; anterior auricle prominent, vertically lamellate.T2 0.98× as long as wide in dorsal view, finely and very densely punctate, clothed with decumbent slender laterally flattened setae and erect brachyplumose setae, posterior band of decumbent slender simple setae; lateral felt line broad, 0.22× lateral length of T2. T3-5 shagreened and very finely but moderately punctate, clothed with decumbent slender laterally flattened to simple setae and erect brachyplumose setae. T6 basolaterally with dense erect simple setae; broadly ovate flattened pygidial area finely longitudinally rugose basally becoming very finely and densely punctate/granulate apically,well defined on posterior half by straightish lateral carina ending posteriorly in a blunt angle, posterior margin weakly concave laterally, convex medially. S1 with weak simple median carina. S2 strongly convex anteromedially, without felt line, finely and sparsely punctate, with erect simple to brachyplumose setae and sparse apical fringe of semi-decumbent simple setae. S3-6 faintly shagreened and finely but moderately to densely punctate, with erect and decumbent brachyplumose or simple setae. Hypopygium (S6) with apex deeply emarginate, forming an elongate straight flange-like blunt tooth on each side.

REMARKS

Apart from the SANTO 2006 material, the only other specimen from Vanuatu that I have seen is the one listed above from SAM. It was collected somewhat further south than the others, which indicates that this species is probably fairly common in suitable habitats.

Figures

FIG. 1. — Ancistrotilla azurea n.gen.,n. sp.,holotype ♂ (MNHN EY6645):A, habitus,dorsal view;B, habitus,lateral view;C, head,dorsal view; D, head, anterior view; E, metasoma, dorsal view; F, T6 and pygidium, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIG. 2. — Ancistrotilla azurea n. gen., n. sp. ♂ genitalia: A, B, dorsal view; C, D, ventral view; E, F, penis valve, outer lateral view; G, H, right half without basal ring and penis valve, inner lateral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIG. 3. — Ancistrotilla azurea n. gen., n. sp. ♀: A, habitus, dorsal view; B, habitus, lateral view; C, head, anterior view; D, propodeum and metasoma, dorsal view; E, T5 and pygidium, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIG. 10. — Ancistrotilla n. gen. ♂, right wings:A, A.azurea n. gen., n. sp.; B, A. aenigmatica n. gen., n. sp.; C, A. nigra n. gen., n. sp. Scale bars: 1 mm.