Pseudagris de Saussure, 1863

Selis, Marco, 2023, Taxonomic revision of the Afrotropical genus Pseudagris de Saussure (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), with description of four new species, Zootaxa 5315 (3), pp. 201-230 : 202-229

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5315.3.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:942793E6-A7AE-495C-84EB-B269CDA85FF0
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8130553
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E1746F-FF9A-DA02-0BE7-FBB82ED2FA05
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Pseudagris de Saussure, 1863
status

Treatment

Genus Pseudagris de Saussure, 1863 View in CoL

Pseudagris de Saussure 1863: 203 View in CoL , division of genus Synagris Latreille. View in CoL

Type species: Synagris carinata de Saussure, 1863 View in CoL , by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Medium to large sized “odynerine” wasps characterized by the following combination of characters: mandible with flattened teeth separated by narrow incisions, second tooth of mandible pointed and projecting, palpal formula 5:3, labial palpi long and robust, third segment of labial palpi with preapical thick bristles, clypeus shortly pyriform with longitudinal carinae, gena narrower than compound eye, cephalic foveae present and located in a depression (except in P. tessmanniana , which lacks foveae), lateral surface of pronotum evenly convex, tegula with a posterior triangular lobe at least equaling parategula, axillary fossa narrow and slit-like, metanotum convex with lateral longitudinal carinae, propodeum with a median longitudinal carina fused to a basal triangular sclerite, posterolateral angles of propodeum produced and sharp (except in P. brunnea , which has entirely rounded propodeum), inferior carina of propodeum running up to posterolateral corners, T1 with median longitudinal furrow or depression, apical margin of T2 duplicate with slightly reflexed preapical margin, S1 with arched carina between narrow and enlarged parts, S2 with a basal depression and bulging basally in lateral view, prestigma shorter than pterostigma (except in P. versicolor , where the prestigma is as long as pterostigma), apex of male clypeus truncated or very narrow and rounded, first segment of labial palpi of female as long as following segments combined (modified from Selis & Carpenter 2022).

Key to the species of Pseudagris View in CoL

[The females of P. apicalis , P. nigrithorax and P. nigrorufa , and the males of P. holomelas rubripes , P. tanzanica , P. tessmanniana and P. versicolor are unknown; characters of male P. holomelas holomelas and female P. brunnea are extracted from literature and/or pictures ( Gusenleitner 2007; von Schulthess 1928)]

1. ♀: flagellum 10-segmented and apically simple, six metasomal segments......................................... 2

-. ♂: flagellum 11-segmented and apically hooked, seven metasomal segments..................................... 10

2. Mesosoma depressed and elongate, with mesoscutum and scutellum flattened and forming an even surface, metanotum weakly oblique ( Fig. 3d View FIGURE 3 ). Dorsal faces of propodeum mostly smooth with very sparse punctures... Pseudagris brunnea Gusenleitner View in CoL

-. Mesosoma not depressed and elongate, scutellum convex and not forming an even surface with mesoscutum, metanotum distinctly angled with a posterior vertical face. Dorsal faces of propodeum densely punctate, without smooth interspaces... 3

3. Cephalic foveae barely visible, not located in a depressed portion of vertex ( Fig. 11c View FIGURE 11 ). Head and mesoscutum with interspaces shiny and as large as or larger than diameter of punctures. Mesepisternum with large flat bottomed punctures. Propodeum with lateral flattened irregular teeth. S2 with narrow depression in basal third, strongly margined anterolaterally. Entirely black; wings weakly fuscous, strongly darkened along costa ( Fig. 11a View FIGURE 11 )............... Pseudagris tessmanniana (von Schulthess)

-. Cephalic foveae clearly visible, located in a depression of vertex; depression deep or shallow, but always visible ( Figs. 1e View FIGURE 1 , 4e View FIGURE 4 , 5c View FIGURE 5 , 9e View FIGURE 9 , 10c View FIGURE 10 , 12c View FIGURE 12 ). Interspaces on head and mesoscutum shorter than diameter of punctures and dull. Mesepisternum with smaller punctures. S2 with shallower and larger depression........................................................... 4

4. Cephalic foveae located in a very shallow oval depression ( Fig. 5c View FIGURE 5 ). Metasoma velvety due to dense short black pubescence ( Fig. 5d View FIGURE 5 ). Larger species, body length around 20 mm. Wings strongly fuscous, almost black, with strong blue-purplish reflections. ................................................................................................... 5

-. Cephalic foveae located in a deep pit. Metasoma without such pubescence, or pubescence sparse. Smaller species, body length generally less than 15 mm. Wings not so strongly fuscous and with weaker reflections............................... 6

5. Clypeus, mandible, and legs largely red ( Fig. 6b View FIGURE 6 )...................... Pseudagris holomelas rubripes (Giordani Soika)

-. Clypeus, mandible, and legs black, except inner side of fore tibia ( Fig. 5a View FIGURE 5 )........ Pseudagris holomelas holomelas (André)

6. Pit on vertex with elevated posterior margin ( Fig. 12c View FIGURE 12 ). Mesosoma abundantly marked with orange-red; wings with bronzy reflections ( Fig. 12a View FIGURE 12 ).................................................... Pseudagris versicolor (von Schulthess)

-. Pit on vertex not margined posteriorly ( Figs. 1e View FIGURE 1 , 4e View FIGURE 4 , 9e View FIGURE 9 , 10c View FIGURE 10 ). Mesosoma entirely black or with reduced brownish-red markings on anterior face of pronotum; wings with purplish reflections.................................................. 7

7. Apical margin of clypeus broader, 0.25× as wide as clypeus width ( Figs. 1c View FIGURE 1 , 9c View FIGURE 9 )................................... 8

-. Apical margin of clypeus narrower, 0.20× as wide as clypeus width ( Figs. 4c View FIGURE 4 , 10c View FIGURE 10 )................................. 9

8. Tegula densely micropunctate, without macropunctures. Apical tergites orange-red ( Fig. 9a View FIGURE 9 ).................................................................................................... Pseudagris pygmaea Gusenleitner View in CoL

-. Tegula with large macropunctures. Apical tergites yellowish-white ( Fig. 1a View FIGURE 1 )......... Pseudagris albicauda (von Schulthess) View in CoL

9. Longitudinal carinae of clypeus sharp in ventral third, then becoming dull ( Fig. 4c View FIGURE 4 ). Pit on vertex irregularly margined and nearly oval ( Fig. 4e View FIGURE 4 ). Posterolateral angles of propodeum produced in an obtuse but distinct tooth, lateral margins denticulate; lateral face of propodeum with shallow and irregular striae. Basal depression of S2 margined anterolaterally by rounded bumps; S 2 in lateral view strongly convex basally, then flattened ( Fig. 9e View FIGURE 9 )..................... Pseudagris carinata (de Saussure) View in CoL

-. Longitudinal carinae of clypeus sharp for entire length ( Fig. 9b View FIGURE 9 ). Pit on vertex distinctly margined and small, heart-shaped ( Fig. 9c View FIGURE 9 ). Posterolateral angles of propodeum entirely rounded, lateral margins not denticulate; lateral face of propodeum only with sparse barely visible punctures. Basal depression of S2 not margined by bumps; S 2 in lateral view almost regularly convex from base to apex ( Fig. 9d View FIGURE 9 )........................................................... Pseudagris tanzanica sp. nov.

10. Larger species, body length around 15 mm. Metasoma velvety due to dense short black pubescence ( Fig. 5d View FIGURE 5 ). Wings strongly fuscous, almost black, with strong blue-purplish reflections ( Fig. 5a View FIGURE 5 ). F11 thick and apically rounded....................................................................................... Pseudagris holomelas holomelas (André)

-. Smaller species, body length less than 12 mm. Metasoma without such pubescence. Wings less fuscous and with weak reflections. F11 different.............................................................................. 11

11. Free apical part of clypeus strongly tapering apically, apical margin reduced to a rounded point ( Fig. 3b View FIGURE 3 ). F 11 in lateral view digitiform and straight with rounded apex, barely reaching basal margin of F9 ( Fig. 3c View FIGURE 3 ). Metanotum short and oblique; dorsal faces of propodeum largely impunctate and touching behind metanotum ( Fig. 3d View FIGURE 3 )........ Pseudagris brunnea Gusenleitner View in CoL

-. Free apical part of clypeus not strongly tapering, apical margin usually subtruncate and distinct even if narrow ( Figs. 1b View FIGURE 1 , 2b View FIGURE 2 , 4b View FIGURE 4 , 7b View FIGURE 7 , 8b View FIGURE 8 , 9b View FIGURE 9 ). F 11 in lateral view claw shaped and curved with pointed apex, reaching apex of F8 ( Figs. 1d View FIGURE 1 , 2c View FIGURE 2 , 4d View FIGURE 4 , 7c View FIGURE 7 , 8c View FIGURE 8 , 9d View FIGURE 9 ). Metanotum angled with a long posterior vertical face; dorsal faces of propodeum densely punctate and not touching behind metanotum......................................................................................... 12

12. F 11 in dorsal view apically pointed, nearly circular in section ( Figs. 1d View FIGURE 1 , 4d View FIGURE 4 )...................................... 13

-. F 11 in dorsal view obliquely truncated at apex, flattened dorsoventrally ( Figs. 2c View FIGURE 2 . 7c View FIGURE 7 , 8c View FIGURE 8 , 9d View FIGURE 9 )........................ 14

13. Longitudinal carinae of clypeus strongly marked ( Fig. 4b View FIGURE 4 ). F11 shorter, 2.45× as long as basally wide in lateral view ( Fig. 4d View FIGURE 4 ). Mesepisternum densely punctured, interspaces shorter than diameter of punctures. T4–T7 almost entirely orange ( Fig. 4a View FIGURE 4 )............................................................................ Pseudagris carinata (de Saussure) View in CoL

-. Longitudinal carinae of clypeus weak, appearing as rounded folds ( Fig. 1b View FIGURE 1 ). F11 longer, 3× as long as basally wide in lateral view ( Fig. 1d View FIGURE 1 ). Mesepisternum more sparsely punctured, interspaces as long as diameter of punctures. T4 with thin apical band and T5–T7 largely white ( Fig. 1a View FIGURE 1 ).......................................... Pseudagris albicauda (von Schulthess) View in CoL

14. Posterior half of mesoscutum coarsely punctured, interspaces reduced to thin carinae, surface appearing dull. T1–T2 dull due to blackish pubescence and shallow punctures. Clypeus, T4–T7 and S5–S7 orange ( Figs. 9a–b View FIGURE 9 )................................................................................................. Pseudagris pygmaea Gusenleitner View in CoL

-. Posterior half of mesoscutum less coarsely punctured, interspaces flattened and with some micropunctures, surface not dull. T1–T2 not dull. Coloration different..................................................................... 15

15. Clypeus apically rounded, without a distinct apical margin ( Fig. 2b View FIGURE 2 ). F4–F8 weakly convex dorsally ( Fig. 2c View FIGURE 2 ). Posterior face of propodeum not shiny. T1–T3 with dense and deep oblique punctures. Clypeus red, T4 with thin apical band and T5–T6 largely white, wings strongly fuscous and nearly matt black at base, with purplish reflections ( Figs. 2a–b, 2d View FIGURE 2 )................................................................................................ Pseudagris apicalis sp. nov.

-. Clypeus apically truncated, apical margin narrow but distinct ( Figs. 7b View FIGURE 7 , 8b View FIGURE 8 ). F4–F8 strongly convex dorsally ( Figs. 7c View FIGURE 7 , 8c View FIGURE 8 ). Posterior face of propodeum densely micropunctate but shiny. T1–T3 with shallower and sparser punctures. Clypeus yellow, metasomal markings different, wings not black at base....................................................... 16

16. Gena narrower, 0.4× as wide as eye at bottom of ocular sinus, more or less linear in lower third ( Fig. 8d View FIGURE 8 ); vertex strongly sloping in posterior half. Punctures on mesoscutum and mesepisternum sparser, interspaces exceeding half diameter of punctures. Black with reddish markings on head, mesosoma and fore legs, wings strongly fuscous with purplish reflections ( Fig. 8a View FIGURE 8 )............................................................................... Pseudagris nigrorufa sp. nov.

-. Gena wider, 0.6× as wide as eye at bottom of ocular sinus, occipital carina and eye diverging in lower third ( Fig. 7d View FIGURE 7 ); vertex shallowly sloping in posterior third. Punctures on mesoscutum and mesepisternum denser, interspaces shorter than half diameter of punctures. Black with pale yellow lateral spots on T1–T4, wing weakly fuscous with brassy reflections ( Fig. 7a View FIGURE 7 )................................................................................... Pseudagris nigrithorax sp. nov.

Updated checklist of the species of Pseudagris

1. Pseudagris albicauda ( von Schulthess, 1923)

2. Pseudagris apicalis sp. nov.

3. Pseudagris brunnea Gusenleitner, 2007

4. Pseudagris carinata ( de Saussure, 1863)

5. Pseudagris holomelas holomelas ( André, 1895)

5a. Pseudagris holomelas rubripes ( Giordani Soika, 1987)

6. Pseudagris nigrithorax sp. nov.

7. Pseudagris nigrorufa sp. nov.

8. Pseudagris pygmaea Gusenleitner, 1998

9. Pseudagris tanzanica sp. nov.

10. Pseudagris tessmanniana (von Schulthess, 1913) stat. rev. et comb. nov.