Pison pilbara 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 : 345-347

Pison pilbara Pulawski , species nova

Figures 827 -833.

NAME DERIVATION.– Pilbara, a large, dry region in the north of Western Australia, where the holotype was collected; a noun in apposition to the generic name .

RECOGNITION.– Pison pilbara , known only from the male, is an all black species, with three submarginal cells, the second recurrent vein interstitial with the second intersubmarginal vein, the setae erect (except posteriorly) on tergum I, but shorter than the midocellar diameter, and a small body size (length 5.4 mm). It is characterized by a broad hypostomal carina whose greatest height is about 0.5 × the midocellar diameter. Additionally, the mandible is simple apically and the male flagellomeres are simple, without tyloids. Three other species ( P. carinigerum , P. hypostomale , and P. separatum ) are similar, but P. pilbara differs in having the scutal punctures averaging 2-3 diameters apart ( Fig. 829 ), the scutal setae erect, and male sternum VIII asetose except setose near the apical margin ( Fig. 830 ). In the other three species, the scutal punctures average one diameter apart or less, the scutal setae are appressed, and male sternum VIII is setose.

DESCRIPTION.– Frons shallowly punctate, punctures averaging about one diameter apart; interspaces markedly microsculptured, dull; middle supraantennal carina replaced by fine, shallow sulcus. Hypostomal carina expanded, its greatest height about 0.5 × midocellar diameter. Occipital carina joining hypostomal carina. Gena narrow in dorsal view ( Fig. 828 ). Labrum not emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum not foveate along flange, with minute longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures well defined, about 2-3 diameters apart; interspaces finely microareolate ( Fig. 829 ). Tegula slightly enlarged, its outer margin convex except nearly straight anteriorly. Mesopleural punctures shallow, less than one diameter apart. Postspiracular carina present, about 1.5 × as long as midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus 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 obliquely ridged; side ridged throughout, punctate between ridges; posterior surface with well-defined, transverse ridges, punctate between ridges. Posteroventral forefemoral surface with narrow, impunctate, unsculptured zone. Punctures of tergum I, anterior of apical depression, about one diameter apart. Sternum II mesally with punctures several diameters apart, sparsely punctate area narrowing toward base.

Setae silvery, erect on frons, postocellar area, and scutum, on frons and scutum up to 1.5 × as long as midocellar diameter; erect on tergum I (except posteriorly), but shorter than midocellar diameter; not concealing integument on clypeus; on lower gena sinuous, up to 2.0 × as long as midocellar length. Apical depressions of terga with silvery, setal fasciae.

Body all black.

♀.– Unknown

♂.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.98 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.8 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 2.2 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.92 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella acutely angulate ( Fig. 827 ). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.8 × apical width, of flagellomere X 1.0 × apical width. Mandible with ill-defined abductor ridge. Sternum VIII unusually short, wide, impunctate and asetose except near apical margin; apical margin minimally emarginate, almost straight ( Fig. 830 ). Genitalia: Figs. 831, 832 . Length 5.4 mm; head width 1.8 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 833).– Known from a single locality in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♂, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 45 km S Newman on Great Northern Highway at 23°42.4ʹS 119°44.3ʹE, 24 Apr – 6 May 2003, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker ( ANIC).

Figures

Figures 827-829. Pison pilbara Pulawski, sp. nov., male. (827) Clypeus and mandible; (828) Head in dorsal view; (829) Tegula and adjacent scutum.

FIGURES 830-832. Pison pilbara Pulawski, sp. nov., male. (830) Sternum VIII (ventral surface); (831) Genitalia in dorsal view; (832) Genitalia in lateral view. FIGURE 833. Collecting locality of Pison pilbara Pulawski, sp. nov.