Pison pauper 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 : 325-327

Pison pauper Pulawski , species nova

Figures 778 -782.

NAME DERIVATION.– Pauper is both a Latin noun and adjective meaning poor, here used as a noun in apposition; in contrast to Pison dives (rich in Latin) which this species resembles.

RECOGNITION.– Pison pauper is an all black species, with three submarginal cells, the setae black on the scutum and erect on tergum I, the mesopleural punctures less than one diameter apart, and only a few, scattered punctures on sterna III and IV mesally. Also, the mandible is simple (posterior margin not step-like, inner margin not tridentate in female and not bidentate in male), and the female gena is punctate and setose on each side of the oral fossa. Two other species are similar, but P. pauper differs as follows. Unlike P. fenestratum , in which the tergal setae are all silvery, the apical depressions of its terga have golden setae. Unlike P. festivum , the scutum of P. pauper has a few longitudinal ridges adjacent to the posterior margin, and the ocellocular distance of the female equals 1.4 × hindocellar diameter. In P. festivum the scutum has no longitudinal ridges adjacent to the posterior margin and the ocellocular distance of the female equals 1.9-2.2 × hindocellar diameter. The male is unknown.

P. pauper also resembles P. dives in having abundant, erect, black setae on the upper frons, postocellar area, thorax, and propodeum, but differs in having the following: punctures of frons shallow but well defined, less than one diameter apart on lower frons, on upper frons many punctures more than one diameter apart ( Fig. 779 ); scutal punctures well defined, mostly less than one diameter apart, but many punctures 1-2 diameters apart, interspaces unsculptured, shiny; mesopleural punctures less than one diameter apart; tegular margin evenly rounded; sterna II-IV with widely scattered punctures (punctures large on sternum II, minute on sterna III and IV), and female tergum VI narrow. In P. dives , the punctures of the frons are minute, several diameters apart; the scutal punctures are fine, averaging about one diameter apart, the interspaces microsculptured, dull; the mesopleural punctures average about 2-3 diameters apart; the anterior half of the tegular margin is straight or minimally concave, clearly contrasting with rounded posterior half; sterna II-IV are evenly, densely punctate, and female tergum VI is broad.

DESCRIPTION.– Frons dull, punctures shallow but well defined, less than one diameter apart on lower frons, on upper frons many punctures more than one diameter apart ( Fig. 779 ). Occipital carina joining hypostomal carina. Gena narrow in dorsal view ( Fig. 780 ). Labrum not emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit slightly transversely elongate, slightly shorter than midocellar diameter. Scutum slightly foveate along flange, with a few longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures well defined, mostly less than one diameter apart, but many punctures 1-2 diameters apart, interspaces unsculptured, shiny ( Fig. 781 ). Mesopleural punctures well defined, less than one diameter apart. Postspiracular carina evanescent, about half as long as midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus 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 irregularly, obliquely ridged, punctate between ridges; side conspicuously ridged, punctate between ridges; posterior surface transversely ridged, punctate between ridges. Posteroventral forefemoral surface with large punctures, most of them less than one diameter apart. Outer surface of hindtibia with minute spines. Tergum I somewhat tumescent medially at base of horizontal part, punctures relatively large, about one diameter apart on each side of tumescence, smaller and denser elsewhere on horizontal part; apical depression markedly below more anterior part of tergum. Sterna II-IV with widely scattered punctures, punctures large on sternum II, minute on sterna III and IV.

Setae black, erect on upper frons, postocellar area, thorax, and propodeum; silvery, erect on tergum I; on gena erect, sinuous, up to two midocellar diameters long; not concealing integument on clypeus. Apical depressions of terga II-V with golden setal fasciae.

Body all black, mandibular apex dark brown.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.78 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.4 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.0 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.84 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella arcuate ( Fig. 778 ). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 3.6 × apical width, of flagellomere IX

1.9 × apical width. Mandible: trimmal carina with small incision shortly beyond midlength.

Length 10.7 mm; head width 2.0 mm.

♂.– Unknown.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 782).–

Known from one locality in central Western

Australia.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♀, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 3 mi. NNE Mount Madley at 24°29ʹS

123°58ʹE, 4 Sept 1971, N.S. Expedition III (WAM). FIGURE 782. Collecting locality of Pison pauper Pulawski , sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 778-781. Pison pauper Pulawski, sp. nov., female. (778) Clypeus and mandible; (779) Frons; (780) Head in dorsal view; (781) Tegula and adjacent scutum.