Pison sinuosum Pulawski, 2018

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 : 425-426

Pison sinuosum Pulawski , species nova

Figures 1031-1032.

NAME DERIVATION.– Sinuosum is a Latin neuter adjective meaning curved, sinuous; with reference to the shape of the female clypeal free margin.

RECOGNITION.– Pison sinuosum has three submarginal cells, the second recurrent vein contiguous with the second intersubmarginal vein or nearly so, and the setae appressed on tergum I. The female (the male is unknown) is characterized by the clypeus practically not differentiated into the median lobe and lateral section, its free margin forming almost an even arch from one orbit to the other (Fig. 1031). The species closely resembles P. laterirugosum , from which it differs in having the mesopleural punctures about two diameters apart near center (rather than less than one diameter apart), the propodeal dorsum with inconspicuous ridges laterally (rather than conspicuous), and the ocellocular distance equal to one midocellar diameter (rather than 0.7 ×) Also similar are Pison longulum and P. rotundum , but in those species the clypeal free margin is evenly arcuate, whereas in P. sinuosum the lateral portion of the free margin is minimally concave (Fig. 1131).

DESCRIPTION.– Frons finely, shallowly punctate, punctures averaging about one diameter apart; interspaces conspicuously microsculptured. Hypostomal carina slightly expanded, about 0.3 × as high as midocellar diameter. Gena narrow in dorsal view. Labrum minimally, shallowly emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about twice as long as midocellar diameter. Most punctures of propleuron more than one diameter apart. Scutum not foveate along flange, without longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures fine, shallow, about one diameter apart on disk, less than one diameter apart near margins. Tegula not enlarged. Mesopleural punctures shallow, about two diameters apart at center. Postspiracular carina present, about 1.5 × as long as midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus not costulate between dorsal and ventral metapleural pits. Propodeum with irregular longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface and extending from gastral socket area toward spiracle; dorsum finely, obliquely ridged; side finely ridged, minutely punctate between ridges; posterior surface with well-defined, transverse ridges. Posteroventral forefemoral surface finely punctate, punctures averaging about 1-2 diameters apart. Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin obtusely carinate. Punctures of tergum I, in middle of horizontal part (and before apical depression), averaging about 2-3 diameters apart. Punctures of sternum II well defined, averaging about 2-3 diameters apart along midline, apical depression impunctate at center.

Setae silvery, appressed on frons, scutum, and tergum I, oriented ventrally between dorsal end of middle carina and midocellus; on lower gena suberect, curved, slightly shorter than midocellar diameter; concealing integument on clypeus. Apical depressions of terga with silvery, setal fasciae.

Body black, mandible dark ferruginous except black basally, tarsal apex brown.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.72 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.0 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 0.9 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 1.04 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella forming almost an even arch from one orbit to other, minimally concave on each side (Fig. 1031). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.7 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 1.4 × apical width. Mandible: trimmal carina with small incision shortly beyond midlength. Tergum VI with median carina length about 1.5 × midocellar diameter. Length 9.7 mm; head width 2.7 mm.

♂.– Unknown.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 1032).– Known from one locality in central eastern New South Wales.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♀, AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Burrendong Botanic Garden at 32°42.1ʹS 149°06.2ʹE, 13 Dec 2009, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski ( AMS).