Pison decipiens F. Smith

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 : 139-143

Pison decipiens F. Smith

Figures 275-282 .

Pison decipiens F. Smith, 1869:295 , ♂. Lectotype: ♂, Australia: Western Australia: Champion Bay, now Geraldton (BMNH), present designation, examined. – Kohl, 1885:186 (in checklist of world Pison ); Froggatt, 1892:217 (in catalog of Australian Hymenoptera ), 1894:33 (nest structure, nest parasite: Chrysis transversa Smith ); Dalla Torre, 1897:711 (in catalog of world Hymenoptera ); Turner, 1916b:598 (in key to Australian Pison ), 612 (comparison with Pison dimidiatum ); R. Bohart and Menke, 1976:335 (in checklist of world Sphecidae ); Cardale, 1985:258 (in catalog of Australian Sphecidae ).

Pison dimidiatum F. Smith, 1869:295 , ♂ (as dimidiatus, incorrect original termination). Lectotype: ♂, Australia: Western Australia: Champion Bay, now Geraldton (BMNH), present designation, examined. New synonym. – Kohl, 1885:186 (in checklist of world Pison ); Froggatt, 1892:217 (in catalog of Australian Hymenoptera ); Dalla Torre, 1897:711 (in catalog of world Hymenoptera ); Turner, 1916b:597 (in key to Australian Pison ), 603 (recognition characters); R. Bohart and Menke, 1976:335 (in checklist of world Sphecidae ); Cardale, 1985:258 (in catalog of Australian Sphecidae ).

Pison inconspicuum Turner, 1916b:612 , ♂. Lectotype: ♂, Western Australia: Mundaring Weir (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 DESIGNATION. – Smith did not indicate the number of specimens examined in his descriptions of Pison decipiens and dimidiatum . I have designated as lectotypes of these species the only specimen of each present in the National History Museum, London. Although said in the description to originate from Champion Bay, the specimens are labeled “ Australia: Swan R.”, presumably Swan River.

In the original description of Pison inconspicuum Turner did not indicate the number of specimens studied. I have designated as the lectotype of this species the only specimen, a male, present at The National History Museum, London.

RECOGNITION. – Pison decipiens has three submarginal cells, the second recurrent vein interstitial with second intersubmarginal vein or nearly so, and setae appressed on tergum I.

In the female, the inner mandibular margin has a rounded tooth at about two thirds of length, a character shared with P. impressiventre , P. protrudens , and P. scutatum . This feature is invisible in most museum specimens, having the mandibles closed. Such specimens can be recognized by the following combination: lower gena punctate and setose on each side of the oral fossa, its setae sinuous and longer than midocellar diameter (contrastingly straight and shorter than midocellar diameter in P. protrudens ), psammophore absent, clypeal surface slightly convex dorsally of the lamella, which is roundly triangular, ocellocular distance equal to 1.0-1.4 × midocellar diameter, dorsal length of flagellomere I about 2.1 × apical width, sterna punctate throughout, the scutal punctures averaging one diameter apart or less, but some midscutal punctures, just behind the center, about two diameters apart, and at least the hindtibia is ferruginous (tibiae contrastingly all black in P. scutatum ). Pison basale is similar, but in P. decipiens the antenna is black or the basal three flagellomeres are ferruginous on the inner side, the tegular apex is rounded, and the occipital carina is not expanded, equal to about 0.2 × the midocellar diameter. In P. basale , the scape, pedicel, and basal two flagellomeres are ferruginous, the tegular apex is obtusely pointed, and the occipital carina is slightly expanded ventrally, equal to about 0.5 × midocellar diameter. The differences between the females of P. decipiens and P. impressiventre are weak, and these species can best be recognized by association with topotypical males. The most reliable difference is the color of the tergal setae, which are silvery in P. decipiens and golden or with golden tinge in P. impressiventre . Somewhat helpful is the color of the gaster that is all black in P. impressiventre (except for the apical depressions), but all or partly ferruginous basally in several P. decipiens . Also, P. impressiventre is known from the Northern Territory and Western Australia, whereas P. decipiens occurs, in addition to these two states, also in New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland.

The males of P. decipiens share with P. ocellare and P. scutatum the following combination: dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.8-2.3 × apical width (2.7-3.0 × in P. novaecambriae ); flagellum without tyloids (flagellomeres III-VIII with tyloids in P. angulare ); clypeal lamella acutely angulate (obtusely angulate or rounded in P. tridentatum ); mandible simple apically (bidentate in P. tridentatum ), all black or ferruginous mesally (pale yellow in at least basal third in most P. xanthognathos ); ocellocular distance 1.5-2.4 × hindocellar diameter (0.9 × in P. formicarium ); propodeum with irregular longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface and extending from gastral socket area toward spiracle; propodeal dorsum ridged; sterna without apicomedian impressions (round apicomedian impressions present on sterna IV-VI in P. impressiventre ); sternum VIII without glabrous line extending to apical margin (glabrous line present in P. angulare ), with apical margin shallowly, broadly emarginate ( Fig. 279 ). Unlike P. ocellare , the hindfemur is at least slightly thickened dorsoapically in P. decipiens , markedly so in most specimens ( Fig. 277 ). Unlike P. protrudens , the setae of the propodeal dorsum extend beyond the lateral carina. A subsidiary recognition feature is the presence, in most specimens, of a basal swelling on sternum VIII (swelling mostly unsculptured, but punctate or aciculate in some specimens). Pison decipiens differs from P. scutatum in having the tibiae all or partly ferruginous (rather than all black), and the subsidiary recognition features are: scutal punctures varying from less than one diameter apart to more than one diameter apart (more than one diameter apart in P. scutatum ) and gastral base varying from all black to all or partly ferruginous (gaster all black in P. scutatum ).

JUSTIFICATION OF NEW SYNONYMY.– The only difference between the lectotypes of Pison decipiens and P. dimidiatum is in color: in the latter, the gaster is nearly all ferruginous (brown apically), whereas in the former the ferruginous is limited to a narrow band adjacent to the apical depression of tergum I. This difference, however, falls within the limits of the individual variation of this species. I therefore synonymize the two names. They were proposed in the same paper on the same page and, acting as First Reviser (Article 24.2), I hereby select Pison decipiens as the valid name and Pison dimidiatum as its junior synonym.

Turner (1916b) differentiated Pison inconspicuum from decipiens by the leg color: in the former species the trochanters and the femora were supposed to be wholly ferruginous, whereas in the latter the trochanters were all black and the femora ferruginous at the apex only. According to my observations, there is a continuous color spectrum of these body parts and, as I could not detect any other difference between these two nominal species, I treat them as synonyms.

DESCRIPTION.– Frons dull, finely punctate, punctures less than one diameter apart. Labrum not emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum not foveate along flange, without longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures small but well defined to medium sized, in female averaging less than one diameter apart, but some midscutal punctures, just behind the center, up to about two diameters apart, in male less than one diameter apart to more than one diameter apart (this variation can be observed in specimens collected the same day in the same place, e.g., in Bowling Green Bay National Park, Queensland); interspaces in most specimens unsculptured, shiny. Tegula with outer margin regularly convex in most specimens, but outer margin minimally concave mesally in single female from Cobra Station area, West Australia. Mesopleural punctures compressed against each other, interspaces in many specimens merging into small ridges. Postspiracular carina rudimentary, about 0.6 × 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 and side punctate, interspaces merging into fine ridges; posterior surface ridged. Punctures of tergum I well defined, averaging about one diameter apart, nearly compressed on apical depression. Punctures of sternum II well defined, about two diameters apart mesally in female, more than one diameter apart mesally in male.

Setae silvery (with golden tinge on upper frons in many specimens), suberect or erect on upper frons and scutum; suberect and curved on each side of oral fossa in most specimens, but straight and nearly appressed, oriented ventrad, in some males; concealing integument on clypeus; appressed on tergum I; setal length slightly more than midocellar diameter on upper frons and lower gena, 0.5-0.6 × midocellar diameter on scutum.

Head, thorax, and propodeum black, mandible ferruginous mesally, antenna black (in some specimens flagellomeres I-III partly or all red). Femora all ferruginous or fore- and mid femora black, as are most of hindfemur; tibiae, and tarsi ferruginous (all in most specimens, partly in some). Gaster either all black or terga I and II all or partly ferruginous, also part of tergum III ferruginous in many specimens (only narrow band adjacent to apical depression of tergum I may be ferruginous); all gaster ferruginous in some males.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.86 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.0-1.4 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli 1.1-1.4× hindocellar diameter;

ular distance equal to 1.5-2.3 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli 1.3-1.7 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.90-0.94 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lip sharply angulate ( Fig. 276 ). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.7-2.1 × apical width, of flagellomere X 1.1 × apical width. Hindfemur at least slightly thickened dorsoapically, conspicuously so in many specimens ( Fig. 277 ). Sterna IV-VI in many specimens with unsculptured and asetose area before apical depression ( Fig. 278 ), unsculptured area evanescent in some specimens, and absent in others (then sterna are punctate throughout). Sternum VIII with apical margin shallowly, broadly emarginate but convex mesally in some specimens, in many specimens swollen basomedially ( Fig. 279 ), swelling mostly unsculptured, but punctate or aciculate in some specimens. Genitalia: Figs. 280, 281 ). Length 5.5-6.9 mm; head width 1.7-2.2 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION ( Fig. 282 ).– New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia.

RECORDS.– AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 56 mi. W Cobar (2 ♀, BMNH), 119 km W Cobar at 31°33.5ʹS 144°37.6ʹE (1 ♂, CAS), 1 km W Eumungerie at 31°56.7ʹS 148°36.9ʹE (1 ♂, CAS), Gilgandra (1 ♀, AMS), Kinchega National Park at 32°23.7ʹS 142°22.7ʹE (2 ♂, CAS), Menindee (1 ♂, AMS), 10 mi. N Mount Hope (1 ♀, BMNH), Narrandera (2 ♂, AMS), 15 km W Narrandera (1 ♂, AMS), Paroo Darling National Park at 30°51.9ʹS 143°05.5ʹE (1 ♀, CAS), 87 km E Wilcannia at 31°42.8 S 144°08.6ʹE (1 ♀, CAS) . Northern Territory: Buchanan Highway 31 km SSE Victoria Highway at 15°57ʹ37ʺS 130°38ʹ20ʺE (2 ♂, CAS), Cattle Creek 54 km SW Borroolola at 16°32ʹS 136°10ʹE (2 ♂, ANIC), Cullen River bank 27 km Pine Creek at 14°02.0ʹS 131°56.6ʹE (2 ♂, CAS), Gregory National Park at 15°36ʹ43ʺS 130°24ʹ08ʺE (2 ♂, CAS), at 16°03.7ʹS 130°27.1ʹE (2 ♂, CAS), at 16°06.7ʹS 130°25.4ʹE (1 ♂, CAS), at 16°06ʹ42ʺS 130°25ʹ23ʺE (2 ♂, CAS), at 16°07ʹ55ʺS 130°26ʹ11ʺE (1 ♂, ANIC; 3 ♂, CAS), at 16°10ʹ49ʺS 130°25ʹ51ʺE (1 ♂, ANIC; 1 ♂, CAS), and at 16°12ʹ47ʺS 130°25ʹ11ʺE (1 ♂, CAS), Keep River National Park at 15°45ʹ30ʺS 129°06ʹ28ʺE

(1 ♂, ANIC; 3 ♂, CAS), McArthur River 48 km

SSW Borroloola at 16°27ʹS 136°05ʹE (1 ♀, ANIC) ,

7 mi. S Ti-Tree (4 ♂, CAS), Victoria Highway 38.5

km SW Timber Creek at 15°42ʹ40ʺS 130°07ʹ48ʺE

(2 ♂, CAS). Queensland: 4 km NE Batavia Downs at 12°39ʹS 142°42ʹE (8 ♂, ANIC; 1 ♂, CAS), Bowling Green Bay National Park at 19°26.0ʹS

146°56.7ʹE (5 ♂, CAS), Coen at 13°57ʹS 143°12ʹE

(2 ♂, ANIC), Dalrymple National Park at 19°49.3ʹS

146°05.3ʹE (1 ♀, CAS), Dipperu National Park at

21°53.9ʹS 148°46.5ʹE (2 ♀, CAS), Emerald (1 ♀,

ANIC); Granite Gorge ca 6 km SW Mareeba (2 ♂,

CAS), Hann River at 15°11ˈS 143°52ˈE (1 ♂,

ANIC), Heathlands at 11°45ʹS 142°35ʹE (2 ♂,

ANIC), Homevale National Park at 21°26.9ʹS FIGURE 282 . Collecting localities of Pison decipiens 148°32.4ʹE (6 ♀, 4 ♂, CAS) , 10 km S Moreton (3 ♂, F. Smith.

ANIC), 3 km NE Mount Webb at 15°03ʹS 145°09ʹE (1 ♂, ANIC) , Pinnacle Creek 27 km N Archer Crossing in Cape York (2 ♂, ANIC) , 2 km N Rockeby at 13°39ʹS 142°40ʹE (1 ♂, ANIC) , 1 km N Rounded Hill near Hope Vale Mission at 15°17ʹS 145°13ʹE (1 ♂, ANIC) , Split Rock SE Laura at 15°39ʹS 144°31ʹE (4 ♂, ANIC) and 15°39ʹS 142°42ʹE (2 ♂, ANIC) , 6 km N Taroom at 25°36ʹS 149°46ʹE (1 ♂, QMB) , 13 km SE Weipa at 12°40ʹS 143°00ʹE (2 ♂, ANIC) . South Australia: Wilpena in Flinders Ranges National Park at 31°31.7ʹS 138°36.2ʹE (15 ♀, 6 ♂, CAS) , 3 km ENE Wilpena at 31°31.0ʹE 138°36.6ʹE (7 ♀, 4 ♂, CAS) . Western Australia: 8 mi SE Belele (1 ♂, CAS) , Buningonia Spring at 31°26ʹS 123°33ʹE (1 ♀, WAM) , 10 km W Cobra Station at 24°10.2ʹS 116°23.0E (1 ♀, 1 ♂, ANIC; 1 ♀, CAS; 1 ♀, USU), 12 km ENE Comet Vale Siding at 29°57ʹS 121°07ʹE (3 ♂, WAM) , Ethel Creek 300 mi. N Meekatharra at 22°54ʹS 120°10ʹE (1 ♀, 16 ♂, WAM) , Geraldton (2 ♂, BMNH, lectotypes of Pison decipiens and Pison dimidiatum , labeled Swan R.), Great Northern Highway at 23°02.6ʹS 118°50.2ʹE (1 ♀, CAS) and 23°54.3ʹS 119°45.4ʹE (1 ♂, CAS) , Hamelin Telegraph Station at 26°23.9ʹS 114°09.9ʹE (4 ♂, CAS) , Kennedy Range National Park at 24°38.7ʹS 115°10.7ʹE (1 ♂, ANIC) , 25 km N Marble Bar at 20°56.2ʹS 118°51.0ʹE (1 ♂, ANIC) , 1 km NE Millcreek Homestead at 21°35ʹS 117°04ʹE (1 ♀, ANIC) , Mining Camp in Mitchell Plateau at 14°49ʹS 125°50ʹE (8 ♂, ANIC; 1 ♂, CAS), Moora (1 ♂, UCD) , Mount Gibson Station, now Mount Gibson Sanctuary (1 ♀, WAM) , Mundaring Weir (1 ♂, BMNH, lectotype of Pison inconspicuum ), 45 km S Newman on Great Northern Highway at 23°42.4ʹS 119°44.3ʹE (1 ♂, CAS) , 158 km S Newman (= 9 km N Kumarina Roadhouse ) at 24°37.8ʹS 119°36.8ʹE (1 ♂, ANIC) , 80 km S Pardoo Roadhouse at 20°28.3ʹS 120°10.0ʹE (8 ♂, CAS) , 30 km ESE Three Rivers Station at 25°13.6ʹS 118°56.9ʹE (1 ♀, ANIC) .

Figures

FIGURES 197–299. Pison bimbi Pulawski, sp. nov., female. (197) Clypeus and mandibles; (198) Head in dorsal view; (199) Pronotum in dorsal view. FIGURE 200. Collecting localities of Pison bimbi Pulawski, sp. nov.