Pison tridentatum 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 : 468-473

Pison tridentatum Pulawski , species nova

Figures 1137-1148.

NAME DERIVATION.– Tridentatum, Latin neuter adjective meaning tridentate; with reference to the apically tridentate female mandible.

RECOGNITION.– Pison tridentatum is an all black species with the setae silvery, three submarginal cells, the second recurrent vein interstitial with the second intersubmarginal vein or nearly so, and the setae appressed on tergum I.

The female has a psammophore on the gena, mandible, and forefemoral venter, and the lower gena impunctate and asetose on each side of the oral fossa (between the fossa and the psammophore). Other species are similar, but P. tridentatum and P. dentatum are unique in having two conspicuous preapical teeth on the inner mandibular margin apically rather than simple. Unlike P. dentatum , most of the tegula is impunctate in P. tridentatum , while mostly punctate in P. dentatum . Additionally, the ocellocular distance of P. tridentatum is smaller than the interocellar area, the clypeal lamella is rounded laterally, not forming a corner, the propodeum has a longitudinal carina separating the side from the dorsum and the posterior surface, and sterna II and III are impunctate apicomesally. Also similar is P. setiferum , which differs in having a simple mandibular apex, the setae of the upper frons and of interocellar area appressed, as long as 0.2-0.3 × midocellar diameter (rather than erect or suberect, as long as 0.4-0.6 × midocellar diameter), and the longest setae of the genal and forefemoral psammophores, respectively, about 0.4-0.6 × and 0.3-0.5 × the greatest forefemoral width (rather than 0.5-1.0 × and 0.6-0.8 ×).

The male shares with P. dentatum the free margin of the clypeal lamella obtusely angulate or rounded, not acutely angulate, and the mandible bidentate apically. Unlike P. dentatum , most of the tegula is impunctate in P. tridentatum (most of tegula punctate in P. dentatum ), and sternum VIII is at most minimally emarginate apically, rounded apicolaterally (in P. dentatum sternum VIII is emarginate apically, with angulate apicolateral corner). The presence of a well-defined abductor ridge is a subsidiary recognition feature, as is sternum VIII punctate and setose only near the apex; also, in some specimens the occipital carina is expanded ventrally (higher than the hypostomal carina).

DESCRIPTION.– Frons dull, with shallow but well-defined punctures less than one diameter apart. Occipital carina joining hypostomal carina, expanded ventrally in some specimens. Female gena narrow in dorsal view. Mandible with well-defined abductor ridge (Fig, 1144). Labrum minimally emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about as long as 1.5 × midocellar diameter. Propleuron varying: either densely punctate throughout or largely with sparse punctures. Scutum not foveate along flange, without short longitudinal ridges adjacent to posteri- or margin; scutal punctures small but well defined, nearly compressed in most specimens, but with small interspaces (less than one puncture width) in some small males; interspaces unsculptured. Tegula slightly enlarged. Mesopleural punctures well defined, compressed against each other in most specimens, up to one diameter apart in some. Postspiracular carina present, about as long as midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus in many specimens 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 (carina inconspicuous in specimen from Martins Well, Western Australia); dorsum irregularly rugose with tendency to form oblique ridges, punctate between rugae, with middle carina in shallow sulcus; side ridged, punctate between ridges; posterior surface conspicuously transversely ridged, punctate between ridges. Tergum I with small but well-defined punctures that vary from less than one diameter apart to slightly more than one diameter apart. Sternum II with punctures that vary from minute to conspicuous and from less than one diameter apart (some males) to several diameters apart mesally.

Setae silvery, appressed on frons (oriented dorsolaterally or dorsally in upper half, oriented laterally and ventrally in lower half); suberect on scutum but not longer than half midocellar diameter; mostly sinuous on lower gena (but straight, curved apically in smallest males), as long as 2.5 × midocellar diameter in female, as 1.0-1.5 × midocellar diameter in male; appressed on tergum I; nearly completely concealing integument on clypeus (except lamella) in female, completely so in male. Apical depressions of terga I-IV with silvery, setal fasciae.

Head, thorax, propodeum, legs, and gaster black; mandible varying from all black to yellowish brown mesally; male flagellum partly yellowish brown in some specimens.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.66-0.68 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.7-0.8 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.1-1.3 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.90-0.94 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella evenly rounded, with ill-defined corner, corners closer to each other than to respective orbit (Fig. 1137). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.2-2.7 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 1.3-1.5 × apical width. Lower gena, mandibular posterior margin, propleural and forecoxal outer margins, and forefemoral venter with psammophores (longest setae of genal, mandibular, and forefemoral psammophores about 0.5-1.0 ×, 0.8-1.0 ×, and 0.6-0.8 ×, respectively, of greatest forefemoral width); longest setae of midfemoral venter varying from 0.5 × midocellar diameter to 1.0 × midocellar diameter. Lower gena impunctate and asetose between oral fossa and psam-

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♂, AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: Keep River National Park at

15°57ʹ55ʺS 129°01ʹ52ʺE, 3-8 June 2001, M.E.

Irwin, F.D. Parker, and C. Lambkin (ANIC).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory :

12-17 mi. E Alice Springs, 22-27 Sept 1972, H.E.

Evans (1 ♀, 1 ♂, ANIC); Buchanan Highway 31 km

SSE Victoria Highway, 18-19 June, M.E. Irwin and

F.D. Parker (1 ♂, CAS); Gregory National Park at

16°06.6ʹS 130°25.7ʹE, 24 May – 4 June 2001, M.E.

Irwin, F.D. Parker, and C. Lambkin (1 ♀, ANIC), at

16°06ʹ35ʺS 130°25ʹ39ʺE, 24 May – 4 June 2001,

M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, and C. Lambkin (1 ♂,

CAS), at 16°06.7ʹS 130°25.4ʹE, 5-12 June 2001,

T. Weir, K. Pullen, and P. Bouchard (2 ♂, CAS), at FIGURE 1148. Collecting localities of Pison tridentatum 16°06ʹ47ʺS 130°25ʹ24ʺE, 24 May – 4 June 2001, Pulawski, sp. nov .

M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, and C. Lambkin (4 ♂, ANIC; 2 ♀, 1 ♂; CAS), at 16°09.8ʹS 130°26.5ʹE, 5-12 June 2001, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, and C. Lambkin (1 ♀, ANIC) , and at 16°09ʹ45ʺS 130°26ʹ31ʺE, 12-15 June 2001, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, and C. Lambkin (1 ♀, ANIC) ; Keep River National Park at 15°45ʹ44ʺS 129°05ʹ55ʺE, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker , 8 June 2001 (1 ♀, 1 ♂, ANIC; 1 ♂, CAS), 9 June 2001 (2 ♀, 1 ♂, ANIC) , 10-20 June 2001 (1 ♂, CAS) , at 15°45.4ʹS 129°05.6ʹE, 8 June 2001, F.D. Parker and M.E. Irvin (2 ♂, CAS) , at 15°47ʹ49ʺS 129°06ʹ31ʺE, 31 May – 3 June 2001, T. Weir, K. Pullen, and P. Bouchard (1 ♀, CAS) , and 3-6 June 2001, C. Lambkin F.D. Parker, and M.E, Irwin (1 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS) , at 15°54ʹ55ʺS 129°04ʹ11ʺE, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, and C. Lambkin , 1-3 June 2001 (1 ♂, ANIC) , and 3-8 June 2001 (1 ♂, ANIC; 1 ♀, CAS), at 15°55ʹ22ʺS 129°03ʹ25ʺE, 3-6 June 2001, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, and C. Lambkin (1 ♂, CAS) , at 15°57ʹ33ʺS 129°01ʹ44ʺE, 3-8 June 2001, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, and C. Lambkin (1 ♀, ANIC) , at 15°57ʹ55ʺS 129°01ʹ52ʺE, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, and C. Lambkin , 3-8 June 2001 (1 ♀, CAS) , 10-13 June 2001 (2 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS) , and 13-20 June 2001 (1 ♀, CAS) ; Koongarra 15 km E Mount Cahill at 12°52ˈS 132°50ˈE, 12-13 June 1973, J.C. Cardale (1 ♀, ANIC) ; Victoria Highway at 15°42ʹ40ʺS 130°07ʹ48ʺE, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Park- er, and C. Lambkin , 6-13 June 2001 (1 ♀, CAS) , 13-19 June 2001 (1 ♂, CAS) , and 16°03ʹ22ʺS 129°05ʹ15ʺE, 15-19 June 2001, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, and C. Lambkin (1 ♀, CAS) ; Virginia 31 km SE Darwin Central Business District at 12°33ʹS 131°02ʹE, 16 Aug 1998, S.M. Gregg (1 ♂, NTM) . Queensland: 7 km S Batavia Downs at 12°43ʹS 142°42ʹE, 19 June – 22 July 1992, P. Zborowski and E.S. Nielsen (1 ♂, ANIC) ; Cockatoo Creek at 11°39ʹS 142°27ʹE, 12 Aug – 10 Sept 1993, P. Zborowski and S. Shattuck (1 ♀, ANIC) ; Cockatoo Creek Crossing 17 km NW Heathlands at 11°39ʹS 142°27ʹE, 7 June – 25 July 1992, P. Zborowski and E. Nielsen (3 ♀, 2 ♂, ANIC) , 25 July – 19 Aug 1992, P. Zborowski and J.C. Cardale (1 ♀, ANIC) , and 19 Aug - 18 Sept 1992, P. Zborowski and L. Miller (1 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS) ; Coen at 13°57ʹS 143°12ʹE, 16 Aug – 30 Sept 1993, P. Zborowski and A.S. Shattuck (1 ♂, ANIC) and 13 Sept – 20 Oct 1993, P. Zborowski and D. Rentz (1 ♀, ANIC) ; 30 km S Cooktown at 15°40.9ʹS 145°12.4ʹE, 13 May 2007, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski (1 ♂, CAS) ; Hann River at 15°11ʹS 143°52ʹE, 17 Aug – 15 Sept 1993, P. Zborowski and S. Shattuck (1 ♀, ANIC) ; Holts Creek 8 km N Mussellbrook Camp at 18°33ʹS 138°11ʹE, I.D. Naumann (1 ♀, CAS) ; Musselbrook Camp at 18°36ʹS 138°08ʹE, 8-21 May1995, I.D. Naumann (2 ♂, ANIC) ; Ridgepole Waterhole 24 km ESE Musselbrook Camp at 18°40ˈS 138°20ˈE, 19 May 1995, I.D. Naumann (1 ♂, ANIC) ; 13 km SE Weipa at 12°40ˈS 143°00ˈE, 15 Aug – 12 Sept 1995, P. Zborowski and S. Shattuck (1 ♀, ANIC) . South Australia: Brookfield Conservation Park at 34°19ʹS 139°30ʹE, 2 Dec 1991 – 2 Jan 1992, J. Stelman and S. Williams (1 ♀, ANIC) ; 19 km N Renmark at 34°00ʹS 140°47ʹE, 24 Jan – 20 Feb 1996, K.R. Pullen (1 ♀, ANIC; 1 ♀, CAS) . Western Australia: Carson escarpment at 14°49ʹS 126°49ʹE, 9-15 Aug 1975, I.F.B. Common and M.S. Upton (1 ♀, ANIC; 1 ♀, CAS) ; Drysdale River at 15°02ʹS 126°55ʹE, 3-8 Aug 1975, I.F.B. Common and M.S. Upton (2 ♀, ANIC; 1 ♀, CAS) ; Karijini National Park at 22°26.3ʹS 118°22.9ʹE, 23 Apr – 4 May 2003, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker (2 ♀, CAS) , 22°28.8ʹS 18°21.6ʹE, 21 Apr 2003, F.D. Parker and M.E. Irwin (1 ♀, ANIC) , and 22°28.4ʹS 118°32.6ʹE, 23 Apr – 4 May 2003, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker (1 ♀, CAS) ; Lennard River crossing at 17°23ʹS 124°44ʹE, 14-28 July 1988, T.F. Houston (2 ♂, WAM) ; Lone Dingo 9 km

SW Warrender Hill at 14°35ʹ30ʺS 125°45ʹ40ʺE, Aug 1987, C. Kemper (1 ♂, SAM) ; Martins Well at 16°34ʹS 122°51ʹE, 29 Apr 1977, D.H. Colless (1 ♂, ANIC) ; Mount Augustus National Park at 24°18.0ʹS 116°47.6ʹE, 25 Apr – 7 May 2003, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker (1 ♀, CAS) ; 47 km S Pardoo Roadhouse at 20°22.7ʹS 120°01.3ʹE, 1-14 May 2003, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker (3 ♂, CAS) ; Synnot Creek at 16°31ʹS 125°18ʹE, 17-20 June 1988, T.A. Weir (1 ♂, ANIC) .