Pison novabritanicae Tsuneki

Pulawski, Wojciech J., 2018, A Revision of the Wasp Genus Pison Jurine, 1808 of Australia and New Zealand, New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 65, pp. 1-584 : 517-520

Pison novabritanicae Tsuneki

Figures 1251-1260.

Pison novabritanicae Tsuneki, 1982:40 , ♀. Holotype: ♀, Papua New Guinea: Bismarck Archipelago: New Britain: Yalom (ZMUC), examined.

RECOGNITION. – Pison novabritanicae is an all black species with appressed setae on tergum I, on the lower gena with erect setae (curved apically) that are as long as 0.5 × midocellar diameter, and a minutely, sparsely punctate propodeal dorsum (most punctures 3-5 diameters apart, lateral punctures 1-3 diameters apart). It can be immediately recognized by terga I and II conspicuously microareolate, with sparse punctures (Fig. 1256).

DESCRIPTION.– Frons dull, mostly with well-defined punctures (punctures fine in specimen

1.5 × midocellar diameter. Scutum not foveate along flange, with short longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin in holotype and specimen from San Cristobal Island and that from Ambon, without ridges in specimen from Malaita; scutal punctures minute, averaging 2-3 diameter apart. Tegula slightly enlarged. Mesopleural punctures fine, averaging several diameters apart at center; interspaces aciculate except unsculptured in specimen from Ambon. Postspiracular carina present, about as long as midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus costulate between dorsal and ventral metapleural pits, not costulate in specimen from Ambon. Propodeum mostly with longitudinal carina separating side from posterior half of dorsum and posterior surface and extending from gastral socket area toward spiracle but not attaining it; carina replaced by series of large punctures in specimen from Malaita, and absent in specimen from Ambon; dorsum with shallow middle depression, minutely punctate (most punctures 3-5 diameters apart, lateral punctures 1-3 diameters apart in most specimens), interspaces aciculate (Fig. 1255); side punctate or finely ridged, punctures averaging about one diameter apart (2-3 diameters apart in specimen from Ambon), interspaces unsculptured, shiny in holotype and specimen from San Cristobal Island and that from Ambon, microsculptured and dull in one specimen from Solomon Islands; posterior surface punctate (interspaces microsculptured, dull), transversely ridged in ventral third, all microareolate in specimen from San Cristobal Island. Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin not carinate. Terga I and II conspicuously microareolate, with minute punctures that are many diameters apart on disk (Fig. 1256). Sternum II finely punctate throughout.

Setae silvery, erect on frons (about 0.3 × as long as midocellar diameter, about 0.5 × in specimen from Ambon), appressed on scutum and tergum I, on lower gena straight, curved apically, about as long as 0.5 × midocellar diameter; not concealing integument on clypeus. Apical depressions of terga with inconspicuous silvery, setal fasciae.

Body all black, mandible dark brown except black basally.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.50 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.1-0.2 × hindocellar diameter (0.6 × hindocellar diameter in specimen from San Cristobal Island), distance between hindocelli equal to 0.3-0.6 × hindocellar diameter (Fig. 1254); eye height equal to 1.08-1.12 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella rounded (Fig. 1251). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.8-2.9 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 1.2 × apical width. Mandible: trimmal carina with small incision at about midlength. Length 8.4-9.4 mm; head width 2.3-2.6 mm.

♂.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.54 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.2 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 0.6 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 1.04 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella obtusely angulate (Fig. 1252). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.5 × apical width, of flagellomere X 1.2 × apical width. Sternum VIII not emarginate apically (Fig. 1257). Genitalia: Figs. 1258, 1259. Length 5.6-6.7 mm; head width 1.7-2.1 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 1260).–

Ambon Island, Bismarck Archipelago, and

Solomon Islands.

RECORDS.– INDONESIA: Ambon: Waai (1 ♀,

BISH).

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Bismarck Archipelago :

New Britain: Yalom (1 ♀, ZMUC, holotype of Pison novabritanicae ) .

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Guadalcanal: Paripao

(1 ♀, BISH), no specific locality (1 ♂, CAS; 1 ♀,

RMNH). Malaita: Dala (1 ♀, BISH; 1 ♀, CAS),

Malu’u (1 ♀, BMNH). Russel Islands : Pavuvu

Island (1 ♀, CAS). San Cristobal: Wugiroga (1 ♀,

BISH). Tulagi: no specific locality (1 ♀, BISH;

1 ♀, CAS; 3 ♀, 1 ♂, RMNH). Vella Lavella: FIGURE 1260. Collecting localities of Pison novabritani- Ulo Crater (1 ♀, BISH). cae Tsuneki .