Pison pilifrons 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 : 347-349

Pison pilifrons Pulawski , species nova

Figures 834 -841.

NAME DERIVATION.– The name pilifrons derives from two Latin words: pilus, a hair, and frons, frons, with reference to this species unusual frons vestiture.

RECOGNITION. – Pison pilifrons has three submarginal cells, the second recurrent vein ending at the basal part of the third submarginal cell, setae appressed on tergum I, and an all black gaster. Like P. aurifex , P. elongatum , and P. emarginatum , it has the ferruginous tibiae, but no longitudinal carina separating the propodeal side from the dorsum and posterior surface. It is unique in having the appressed setae of the frons median portion uniformly oriented dorsally from the antenmicrosculptured), and erect setae present on the scutum (rather than appressed only). The male differs from the three other species in having tyloids on flagellomeres II-IV and in having the venter of flagellomere III slightly concave basally and convex preapically ( Fig. 837).

834 835 836 837

DESCRIPTION.– Frons dull, microscopically punctate, punctures practically unrecognizable, less than one diameter apart. Labrum not emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about twice as long as midocellar diameter. Propleuron with dense, minute punctures and with large, shallow punctures that average more than one diameter apart. Scutum not foveate along flange, without short longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures minute, less than one diameter apart, interspaces dull, markedly microsculptured. Tegula enlarged. Mesopleural punctures averaging 2-3 diameters apart, interspaces dull, conspicuously microsculptured. Postspiracular carina present, about twice as long as midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus not costulate between dorsal and ventral metapleural pits. Propodeum without longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface and extending from gastral socket area toward spiracle; dorsum obliquely ridged, punctate between ridges; side ridged, punctate between ridges; posterior surface transversely ridged to irregularly rugose. Second recurrent vein ending on basal part of submarginal cell III. Forecoxal venter with small, dense punctures and large, sparse punctures. Posteroventral forefemoral surface with both minute, dense punctures, and large, scattered punctures. Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin indistinctly carinate. Punctures of tergum I minute, less than one diameter apart. Sternum II minutely punctate throughout, punctures about one diameter apart.

Setae silvery, on frons both erect, sinuous and straight, appressed, appressed setae oriented uniformly dorsally between antennal socket and midocellus on the frons middle section ( Fig. 836);

erect, sinuous on thorax, forecoxal venter, and fore- and midfemoral venters; appressed on tergum I; not concealing integument on clypeus; setae of lower gena sinuous, longer than basal mandibular width. Apical depressions of terga with silvery, setal fasciae (fasciae inconspicuous on terga IV and V).

Head, thorax, propodeum, femora, and gaster black; mandible black basally, yellowish brown medially, dark apically. Tibiae and tarsi ferruginous.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.54 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.8-1.0 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 0.8 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 1.16-1.18 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella broadly arcuate ( Fig. 834). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 3.0-3.2 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 1.7-1.8 × apical width. Mandible: trimmal carina with small incision shortly beyond midlength. Length 9.3-10.2 mm; head width 2.6-2.8 mm.

♂.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.60 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.8 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 0.7 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 1.22 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella roundly, obtusely angulate ( Fig. 835). Flagellomeres II-IV with tyloids, venter of flagellomere III slightly concave basally and convex preapically ( Fig. 837). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.5 × apical width, of flagellomere X 1.1 × apical width. Apical margin of sternum VIII slightly convex except narrowly emarginate mesally, and with prominent lateral corner ( Fig. 838 ). Genitalia: Figs. 839, 840 . Length 6.9 mm; head width 1.3 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 841).–

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♀, AUSTRALIA: Australian Capital Territory: Canberra: Black Mountain , Nov 1981, I. Gould ( BMNH).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Australian Capital

Territory: same data as holotype (1 ♀, BMNH) .

New South Wales: 0.5 km SE Lansdowne near

Taree, 6-15 Nov 1992, G.A. Williams (1 ♀, AMS) ,

16 km N Mudgee, 30 Nov 1982, D.S. Horning, Jr.

(1 ♂, ANIC); 4 km W Sunny Corner at 33°22.7ʹS

149°51.6ʹE, 11 Dec 2009, V. Ahrens and W.J.

Pulawski (1 ♀, CAS); Urila 28 km S Queenbeyan, FIGURE 841. Collecting localities of Pison pilifrons 7-15 Dec 1987, M.E. Irwin (1 ♀, CAS). Pulawski, sp. nov .

Figures

FIGURES 838-840. Pison pilifrons Pulawski, sp. nov., male. (838) Sternum VIII (ventral surface); (839) Genitalia in dorsal view; (840) Genitalia in lateral view.