Arpactophilus arboreus Bohart, 1999

Breitkreuz, Laura C. V., Ohl, Michael & Engel, Michael S., 2016, A review of the New Caledonian Arpactophilus (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), Zootaxa 4063 (1), pp. 1-66 : 59-60

Arpactophilus arboreus Bohart, 1999

( Figs. 25–26 )

Arpactophilus arboreus Bohart, 1999: 100 [♀: holotype MNHN].

Diagnosis (based largely on Bohart, 1999). Arpactophilus arboreus appears to be the only New Caledonian species in the genus with the combination of a bulge on the metasomal sternum II ( Fig. 26 , and as in Fig. 2 ), a yellow mandible ( Fig. 25 ) and metatibia, a black face and black or dark brown metasoma ( Fig. 26 ).

Remarks. Although we were not able to examine types in the MNHN as part of this particular study, a series of males and females were tentatively identified specimens based on Bohart’s original account (vide Material examined, infra). In the original description the form of the occipital carina was not discussed. If our interpretation of the species is correct, then A. arboreus has a dorsally-interrupted occipital carina ( Fig. 6 ). The wing coloration was unclear in the original description where it is described in different places of the same paragraph as “highly stained” and then as “slightly stained” ( Bohart 1999). All of the specimens examined by us had nearly hyaline wings with only a slight brownish tinge. If this is correct, then Bohart’s “highly stained” may have been a lapse. Those females we examined have a lighter colored area apically on the metatibia rather than the more modified condition we have documented among other species (vide supra). The anterior border of submarginal cell II is shorter than the posterior border, which does not entirely accord with the quadratic submarginal cell II as originally described. In our material sternum II has a bulge (as in Fig. 2 ), which is not mentioned in the original description. Lastly, there is some variation among a few females regarding the degree of brown coloration on the femora and mandible. The male differs from the female in the following: clypeus not as strongly projecting medially; antenna lighter; no lighter colored area on metatibia; sternum VIII narrow. While our species discussed here appears to be A. arboreus (and we obviously have treated it as such), this remains to be confirmed against the type series as Bohart’s omission of several features leaves it open as to whether this was a definitive statement that such characters were not present in his material, or only that he failed to comment on them even when present. See also remarks section of A. kumak .

Material examined. 7♀, 5♂:

♀: (1x) “ NEW CALEDONIA 8700: 20°57’S x 164°54’E, 700m, Ateou (NNE of Kone). 27 Nov 2001. G. Monteith. Pyrenthrum, trees & logs” [QM]; (5x) “Nouvelle Calédonie, Pindaï 30m, 18.IV.1995, Réc. Chazeau & Jourdan” [ CAS]; (1x) “ Nouvelle-Calédonie, Sarraméa, Col d’ Amieu; Collecté sur: Divers arbres / Par battage du 0 2 au 30/11/05 Cazeres, Mille & Kataoui” [IAC].

♂: (3x) “Nouvelle Calédonie, Pindaï 30m, 18.IV.1995, Réc. Chazeau & Jourdan” [ CAS]; (1x) “Nouvelle Calédonie, Pindaï 30m, 19.IV.1995, Réc. Chazeau & Jourdan” [ CAS]; (1x) “ NEW CALEDONIA Col de Ho, 11.II.1963; C. Yoshimoto & N. Krauss, Malaise Trap” [ BPBM].

Figures

FIGURES 23 – 28. Facial views and lateral habitus of ♀ holotypes (except for Arpactophilus abdominalis Bohart and A. arboreus Bohart) of species of Arpactophilus Smith. 23. A. abdominalis, facial view; 24. A. abdominalis, lateral habitus; 25. A. arboreus, facial view; 26. A. arboreus, lateral habitus; 27. A. arha sp. nov., facial view; 28. A. arha, lateral habitus.

FIGURES 1 – 4. Line drawings of metasomata and forewings of New Caledonian species of Arpactophilus Smith. 1. Metasoma in profile of ♀ of Arpactophilus merle sp. nov., arrow indicates unmodified metasomal sternum II; 2. Metasoma in profile of ♀ of A. irwini Bohart, arrow indicates ventrally swollen metasomal sternum II. 3. Forewing of ♀ of A. irwini; ps: pterostigma, sz I: submarginal cell I, sz II: submarginal cell II. 4, Forewing of ♀ of A. caledonicus Bohart; ps: pterostigma, sz I: submarginal cell I.

FIGURES 5 – 9. Head and metatibial details of New Caledonian Arpactophilus Smith. 5. Schematic view of posterior of head of Arpactophilus, arrow indicates complete occipital carina; 6. Schematic with arrow indicating incomplete, dorsallyinterrupted occipital carina; 7: Metatibia of holotype ♀ of A. xaragure sp. nov., arrow indicating slightly differently colored but not differently-structured area apically; 8. Metatibia of holotype ♀ of Arpactophilus orowe sp. nov., arrow indicating differently colored and structured area apically; 9. Metatibia of paratype ♀ of A. orowe, scanning electron micrograph with arrow indicating concave area apically.