Pison simillimum F. Smith, 1869

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 : 415-419

Pison simillimum F. Smith

Figures 1005-1016.

Pison simillimum F. Smith, 1869:292 , ♂ (as simillimus , incorrect original termination). Lectotype: ♂, Australia: no specific locality (BMNH), present designation, examined. – Kohl, 1885:188 (in checklist of world Pison ); Froggatt, 1892:217 (in catalog of Australian Hymenoptera ); Dalla Torre, 1897:713 (in catalog of world Hymenoptera ); Turner, 1916b:597 (in key to Australian Pison ), 609 (recognition characters; Australia: Victoria, as simillimus ); R. Bohart and Menke, 1976:336 (in checklist of world Sphecidae ); Cardale, 1985:262 (in catalog of Australian Sphecidae ).

Pison meridionale Turner, 1916b:611 , ♂. Lectotype: ♂, South Australia: Adelaide (BMNH), present designation, examined. New synonym. – Turner, 1916b:598 (in key to Australian Pison ); R. Bohart and Menke, 1976:336 (in checklist of world Sphecidae ); Cardale, 1985:260 (in catalog of Australian Sphecidae ).

LECTOTYPE DESIGNATIONS.– F. Smith (1869) did not specify the number of specimens examined in the original description of Pison simillimum . I have selected as the lectotype of this species the only specimen in The Natural History Museum, London, a male bearing the labels “ Australia ”, “ P. simillimus Smith ”, and “F. Smith coll., type 79.22”.

In his original description of Pison meridionale, Turner (1916b) did not indicate the number of specimens examined. I have designated as the lectotype of this species the unique specimen in The Natural History Museum, London, a male labeled “ Australia ” and “ Pison meridionale Turn. Type” in Turner’s handwriting.

RECOGNITION.– Pison simillimum has a black gaster (most apical setal fasciae of terga golden), three submarginal cells, second recurrent vein interstitial with second intersubmarginal vein or nearly so, and setae appressed on tergum I. The female is similar to P. vestitum in having an unusually short clypeal lamella, about as long mesally as laterally (Fig. 1005) and not angulate laterally, the acetabular groove with two rows of setae, and in the vast majority of specimens the tibiae and tarsi ferruginous. Unlike that species, the mesopleural punctures of P. simillimum are markedly larger than the scutal punctures (rather than slightly larger), the scutal setae are appressed (rather than erect or suberect), the propodeal dorsum is ridged (rather than punctate), and the setae of tergum I appressed (erect in most P. vestitum ). Also, many females have a tridentate apical margin of tergum VI, the median tooth being larger than lateral ones and more prominent posterad. The latter character is unique within the genus.

As in P. dives and P. vestitum , male tergum VII is emarginate apically (Fig. 1011). Unlike P. dives , the tibiae and tarsi are ferruginous in P. simillimum (rather than all black), the mesopleural punctures average less than one diameter apart (more than one diameter apart in P. dives ), and the tegula is evenly rounded (in P. dives the anterior half of the outer margin is straight or slightly concave, markedly contrasting with the remaining margin). Unlike P. vestitum , the scutal punctures of P. simillimum are markedly smaller than the mesopleural punctures (rather than slightly small- er), the scutal setae are appressed and markedly shorter than the midocellar diameter (rather than erect or suberect, about as long as the midocellar diameter), the hindfemur is incrassate apically (rather than not incrassate), and the setae of tergum I are appressed (erect in most P. vestitum ). In many males, the mesopleural signum is expanded into a longitudinal process (Figs. 1007, 1008), a unique such feature within the genus.

JUSTIFICATION OF NEW SYNONYMY.– Turner (1916b), in his key, placed Pison simillimum in a section of species with the “median segment [= propodeum] very distinctly obliquely striated”, and P. meridionale in that with the “median segment punctured, sometimes striolate-punctured at

DESCRIPTION. – Frons dull, finely punctate, punctures less than to about one diameter apart. Occipital carina joining hypostomal carina. Labrum not emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum at most slightly foveate along flange, with ill-defined, short longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures minute, less than one diameter apart; interspaces microsculptured, dull. Tegula slightly enlarged. Mesopleural punctures conspicuous, markedly larger than those on scutum, averaging less than one diameter apart; interspaces unsculptured, shiny. Postspiracular carina absent. Metapleural sulcus not costulate between dorsal and ventral metapleural pits. Scutellum flat in many specimens. Propodeum with irregular longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface and extending from gastral socket area toward spiracle; dorsum with short oblique carinae emerging from middle carina, remaining surface irregularly, obliquely ridged, punctate between ridges; side with well-defined punctures, interspaces merging into small ridges; posterior surface conspicuously, irregularly ridged. Posteroventral forefemoral surface finely punctate, punctures more than one diameter apart. Hindfemur incrassate apically (more so in male than in female). Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin sharply carinate, inner dorsal carina expanded into tooth basally. Horizontal part of tergum I with punctures about one diameter apart. Sterna punctate throughout, punctures well defined.

Setae suberect on upper frons, appressed on thorax, femora, and tergum I; straight (curved apically) on lower gena, about as long as midocellar diameter; not concealing integument on clypeus (integument easily visible in female). Apical depressions of tergum I with silvery, setal fascia, fasciae on remaining terga golden or with golden tinge (Fig. 1012).

Head, thorax, propodeum, and gaster black, female mandible ferruginous to dark ferruginous mesally, scape, pedicel and one or two basal flagellomeres dark reddish in some specimens; apical depressions of terga (except tergum I) brown. Femora black or largely ferruginous, tibiae, and tarsi ferruginous, but legs all black in specimens from Split Rock and 2 km N Rokeby, both Northern Queensland.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.64-0.74 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.8-1.0 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.0-1.1 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.96-1.0 × distance between eye notches. Clypeal lamella unusually short, as long mesally as laterally, its free margin arcuate (Fig. 1005). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.1-2.6 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 0.9-1.0-1.1 × apical width. Mandible: trimmal carina with incision at about two thirds of length; acetabular groove with two or three rows of punctures. Apical margin of tergum VI either rounded or tridentate (Fig. 1010), median tooth mostly larger than lateral one and more prominent posterad, but minute, almost evanescent in some specimens (also lateral tooth minute, almost evanescent in some specimens). Length 8.7-15.2 mm; head width 21015- 3.7 mm.

♂.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.78-0.84 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.1-1.6 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.0-1.4 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.90-0.94 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella acutely angulate (Fig. 1006). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.2-2.6 × apical width, of flagellomere X 1.0-1.2 × apical width. Mesothoracic venter more concave than in other Pison , mesopleural signum in many specimens expanded into longitudinal process (Figs. 1007, 1008). Hindfemur somewhat thickened apically (Fig. 1009). Apical margin of tergum VII broadly emarginate (Fig. 1011). Sternum VIII broadly emarginate apically, apicolateral arm thick, rounded (Fig. 1013); emargination may be either markedly broader or markedly deeper than here illustrat- ed. Genitalia: Figs. 1014, 1015. Length 7.1-12.4 mm; head width 1.9-3.5 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 1016).– All Australia except Tasmania.

RECORDS.– AUSTRALIA: Australian Capital

Territory: Black Mountain (3 ♀, 6 ♂, ANIC), Canberra (14 ♀, 6 ♂, ANIC) . New South Wales: Australian Museum Sydney : indoors (1 ♀, AMS) , Broken Hill (1 ♀, AMS) , Byrock (1 ♀, AMS) , Deriah

Aboriginal Area 21 km E Narrabri at 30.366°S

149.992°E (1 ♂, AMS); Epping (2 ♀, AMS), Glen

Innes (1 ♀, ANIC), Kinchega National Park at

32°23.7ʹS 142°22.7ʹE (2 ♀, CAS), Lane Cove, a northern suburb of Sydney (1 ♂, AMS), Nymagee

(1 ♂, AMS), 50 km NW Taree (1 ♂, AMS) ,

Tipaminka ca 24 km SSE Coonabarabran (2 ♂,

AMS), Warrenburg National Park (1 ♂, UCD) , Warrumbungle National Park at 31°16.9ʹS 148°59.1ʹE

(42 ♀, 21 ♂, CAS; 1 ♀, QMB), Willoughby, a sub- Figure 1016. Collecting localities of Pison simillimum F. Smith.

urb of Sydney (2 ♀, AMS), Wollemi National Park

(northern edge) at 32°23.4ʹS 150°24.8ʹE (4 ♀, CAS) , Woronora, southern suburb of Sydney (1 ♀, AMS) . Northern Territory: 30 km WNW Alice Springs at 23°32ʹS 133°38ʹE (1 ♂, ANIC) . Queensland: Ban-Ban Range (1 ♀, ANIC) , Bluff Range near Biggenden (1 ♂, ANIC) , Brisbane (1 ♂, QMB; 1 ♂, SAM; 1 ♀, WAM), Edungalba (1 ♀, ANIC) , Eungella National Park at 21°10.5ʹS 148°30.3ʹE (6 ♀, 10 ♂, CAS) , Homevale National Park at 21°26.9ʹS 148°32.4ʹE (1 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS) , Lamington National Park at 28.133°S 153.133°E (1 ♀, 2 ♂, QMB) ; Mount Walsh National Park (1 ♀, 2 ♂, ANIC) , Pendland at 20°31.0ʹS 145°24.2ʹE (5 ♀, 2 ♂, CAS) , 2 km N Rokeby at 13°39ʹS 142°40ʹE (2 ♀, ANIC) , Split Rock 14 km SE Laura at 15°39ʹS 144°31ʹE (17 ♀, 1 ♂, ANIC; 3 ♀, CAS), Spring Creek ca. 30 km S Bundaberg (1 ♂, ANIC) . South Australia: Adelaide (1 ♂, BMNH, lectotype of Pison meridionale , 1 ♀, SAM), Bunyeroo Creek at 31°25ʹS 138°34ʹE (1 ♀, ANIC) , Kings Mill Creek near Arkaroola (1 ♂, SAM) , Murray River (1 ♀, SAM) , 79 km NNW Renmark at 33°31ʹS 140°24ʹE (1 ♂, ANIC) , Rostrevor, a suburb of Adelaide (1 ♂, AMNH) , Wilpena in Flinders Ranges National Park at 31°31.7ʹS 138°36.2ʹE (39 ♀, 12 ♂, CAS) , 3 km ENE Wilpena at 31°31.0ʹS 138°36.6ʹE (6 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS) . Victoria: Lake Hattah (2 ♀, 2 ♂, BMNH) , no specific locality (1 ♀, BMNH) . Western Australia: Gill Pinnacle (1 ♀, SAM) ; Perth (1 ♂, WAM) , Pigeon Rocks at 29°55ʹS 119°16ʹE (6 ♀, 2 ♂, WAM) , Tallering Station in South Murchison (1 ♀, WAM) , Tumba (1 ♀, QMB) . No specific locality: 1 ♂, BMNH, lectotype of Pison simillimum .