Pison laterirugosum 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 : 249-250

Pison laterirugosum Pulawski , species nova

Figures 574 -577.

NAME DERIVATION.– Laterirugosum is derived from two Latin words: latus (genitive: lateris), meaning side, and rugosum , a neuter adjective meaning rugose; with reference to the conspicuously rugose sides of the propodeal dorsum.

RECOGNITION.– Pison laterirugosum has three submarginal cells, the second recurrent vein contiguous with the second intersubmarginal vein or nearly so, and the setae appressed on tergum I. The female (the male is unknown) is characterized by the clypeus practically not differentiated into the median lobe and lateral sections, its free margin forming almost an even arch from one orbit to the other ( Fig. 574 ). It closely resembles P. sinuosum , but differs in having the mesopleural punctures less than one diameter apart (rather than about two diameters apart at the center), the propodeal dorsum with conspicuous ridges on the inner side of longitudinal propodeal carina (rather than inconspicuous), and the ocellocular distance equal to 0.7 × midocellar diameter (rather than 1.0 ×). Also similar are Pison longulum and P. rotundum , but in those species the clypeal free margin is evenly arcuate, whereas in P. laterirugosum the lateral portion of the free margin is minimally concave ( Fig. 574 ), and the ridges are inconspicuous on the side of the propodeal dorsum, while conspicuous in P. laterirugosum ( Fig. 576 ). Unlike P. longulum , the propodeal dorsum of P. laterirugosum is about 1.5 × as long mesally as the scutellum (rather than twice as long) and flagellomere I has ill-defined, inconspicuous punctures (rather than conspicuous). Unlike P. rotundum , the dorsal length of flagellomere I of P. laterirugosum is 3.2 × apical width (rather than 2.1 ×). The well-defined transverse ridges on the inner side of the longitudinal propodeal carina are shared with P. hypostomale . Unlike that species, the hypostomal carina of P. laterirugosum is not expanded, about as wide as the occipital carina (rather than wider than occipital carina) and the mesopleural punctures are less than one diameter apart (rather than about one diameter apart below the center).

DESCRIPTION.– Frons dull, finely punctate, punctures shallow, almost contiguous. Occipital carina narrowly separated from hypostomal carina. Gena narrow in dorsal view ( Fig. 575 ). Labrum not emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about twice as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum not foveate along flange, without longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures well defined, averaging about one diameter apart on disk, less than one diameter apart near margins; interspaces microsculptured. Tegula not enlarged. Mesopleural punctures well defined, less than one diameter apart. Postspiracular carina present, slightly longer than midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus markedly 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 transversely ridged (ridges becoming conspicuous between enclosure and longitudinal carina); side ridged, punctate between ridges ( Fig. 576 ); posterior surface conspicuously, transversely ridged. Posteroventral forefemoral surface minutely punctate, punctures about 1-2 diameters apart. Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin sharply carinate. Horizontal part of tergum I with punctures less than one diameter apart anteriorly, but up to about two diameters apart adjacent to apical depression mesally. Sternum II finely, densely punctate throughout.

Setae silvery, appressed on frons, scutum, and tergum I; on lower gena suberect, straight, about 0.7-0.8 × as long as midocellar diameter; not concealing integument on clypeus (integument easily visible). Apical depressions of terga with silvery, setal fasciae.

Head, thorax, propodeum, and gaster black, clypeus ferruginous next to free margin, mandible ferruginous mesally, antenna ferruginous ventrally. Legs mainly black, but mid- and hindfemora and tibiae tinged with brownish, and tarsal apex brown.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.72 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.6 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 0.7 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 1.04 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella forming almost an even arch from one orbit to other, minimally concave on each side ( Fig. 572 ). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 3.2 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 1.7 × apical width. Mandible: trimmal carina with small incision at about midlength. Length 7.7 mm; head width 2.3 mm.

♂.– Unknown.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 577).– Known from one locality in coastal northern part of Western Australia.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♀, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Broome , 13 Oct 1962, E.S. Ross and D.Q. Cavagnaro ( CAS).

Figures

FIGURES 574-576. Pison laterirugosum Pulawski, sp. nov., female (574) Clypeus and mandible; (575) Head in dorsal view; (576) Propodeum in lateral oblique view. FIGURE 577. Collecting locality of Pison laterirugosum Pulawski, sp. nov.

FIGURES 571-572. Pison laeviventer Pulawski, sp. nov., female. (571) Clypeus and mandibles; (572) Body in dorsal view.