Aulacophilinus pyrrhicus (Naumann)

Pulawski, Wojciech J., 2017, A Revision of the Wasp Genus Aulacophilinus Lomholdt, 1980 with Descriptions of Three New Species (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 64 (1), pp. 1-29 : 16-19

Aulacophilinus pyrrhicus (Naumann)

Figures 30–37 .

Pison pyrrhicum Naumann, 1990b:240 ,

♀, ♂. Holotype: ♀, Australia: Queensland: Kookaburra Cave in Carnarvon National Park ( QMB), examined.

– As Aulacophilinus pyrrhicus : Menke , 2016:338 (new combination, in key to Aulacophilinus ).

RECOGNITION.— Aulacophilinus pyrrhicum is the only member of the genus with a ferruginous gaster and with the posterior propodeal surface with several ridges radiating up from the gastropropodeal articulation. It shares with A. weiri the gena with a crenulate sulcus along the posterior eye margin, the sulcus delimited posteriorly by a well-defined carina. The presence of three submarginal cells is a subsidiary recognition feature.

DESCRIPTION.— Frons coarsely punctate or punctatorugose, interspaces shiny, linear. Free margin of clypeal lobe arcuate mesally, with minute apical point ( Fig. 30 ). Occipital carina expanded ventrally. Width of labrum equal to 1.3× midocellar diameter. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about three times as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum not foveate along flange, without longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutum and mesopleuron coarsely punctate or punctatorugose, interspaces linear, unsculptured ( Fig. 32 ). Tegula posterolaterally impunctate or with microscopic, scattered punctures. Propodeum with or without longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface and extending from gastral socket area toward spiracle; dorsum obliquely ridged, rugose laterally; side coarsely punctate, interspaces merging into fine ridges; posterior surface irregularly transversely ridged, coarsely punctate between ridges, with several ridges radiating up from gastropropodeal articulation. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Posteroventral forefemoral surface minutely punctate, punctures averaging about two diameters apart. Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin sharply carinate. Outer surface of hindtibia with fine but well-defined spines. Punctures of tergum I conspicuous, no more than one diameter apart on horizontal part in female and some males, slightly more in other males.

Setae silvery, erect on frons and scutum, up to about as long as midocellar diameter; on lower gena subappressed to suberect, curved or sinuous, about as long as midocellar diameter; appressed on tergum I; not concealing integument on clypeus. Apical depressions of terga without setal fasciae. Apical depressions of terga without silvery, setal fasciae.

Head, thorax, and propodeum black; flagellum ferruginous (apical flagellomere partly dark). Fore- and midfemora black, ferruginous apically, hindfemur ferruginous in apical third to all ferruginous; tibiae and tarsi ferruginous. Gaster ferruginous.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.60–0.62 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.5–0.6 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.1 × hindocellar diameter ( Fig. 31 ); eye height equal to 0.94–0.96 × distance between eye notches. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.2 × apical width. Length 6.5–7. 5 mm; head width 2.1–2. 3 mm.

♂.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.68–0.76 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.7–0.8 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.1 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.92–0.96 × distance between eye notches. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.0–2.3 × apical width. Sternum VIII shallowly, broadly emarginate apically ( Fig. 33 ), with long, erect setae apically ( Fig. 34 . Genitalia: Figs. 35 and 36 . Length 5.5–6.0 mm; head width 1.9– 2.1 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION ( Fig. 37 ).— Northern Territory, Queensland.

RECORDS.— AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: Kakadu National Park (1 ♂, CAS) , Nourlangie Creek and Obiri Rock in Kakadu National Park ( Naumann, 1990) . Queensland: Arcadia on Magnetic Island (1 ♀, ANIC) , Calamvale, a southern suburb of Brisbane (1 ♀, USNM) , Fletcher Creek 43 km NW Charters Towers at 19°48.9′S 146°03.3′E (3 ♀, CAS) , Kookaburra Cave in Carnarvon National Park ( Naumann, 1990), Pendland at 20°31.0′S 145°24.2′E (3 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS) , 2 km N Rokeby at 13°39′S 142°40′E (1 ♀, ANIC) .

Figures

FIGURES 30–36. Aulacophilus pyrrhicus. (30) Female clypeus and mandibles; (31) Female head in dorsal view; (32) Female tegula and adjacent portion of scutum; (33) Male sternum VIII (ventral surface); (34) Male sternum VIII in lateral view; (35) Male genitalia dorsally; (36) Male genitalia laterally.

FIGURE 37. Collecting localities of Aulacophilinus pyrrhicus.