Pison inusitatum 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 : 238-240

Pison inusitatum Pulawski , species nova

Figures 547 -554.

NAME DERIVATION.– Inusitatum is a Latin neuter adjective meaning rare, extraordinary, new; with reference to the unusual sternum VIII in the male of this species.

RECOGNITION.– The male of Pison inusitatum (the female is unknown) is easily recognized by its unusually broad, apically rounded sternum VIII ( Fig. 551 ). Subsidiary recognition features are: mesopleural punctures well defined, averaging about one diameter apart ( Fig. 550 ), and the propodeum without a longitudinal carina separating the dorsum and posterior surface from the side.

DESCRIPTION.– Frons finely, shallowly punctate, punctures shallow, averaging about one diameter apart; interspaces conspicuously microsculptured, dull ( Fig. 548 ). Gena narrow in dorsal view. Labrum not emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, slightly longer than midocellar diameter. Scutum foveate along flange, without longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures fine, averaging 1-3 diameters apart; interspaces microareolate, dull. Tegula enlarged, in holotype with longitudinal carina adjacent to scutal flange ( Fig. 549 ). Mesopleural punctures well defined, averaging about one diameter apart; interspaces microsculptured, dull ( Fig. 550 ). Postspiracular carina present, about 1.5 × 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; dorsum punctate and obliquely ridged (ridges conspicuous at base, gradually evanescent); side punctate and ridged (ridges well defined dorsally, evanescent ventrally); posterior surface finely punctate and inconspicuously, transversely ridged. Posteroventral forefemoral surface with relatively well-defined punctures less than to about one diameter apart. Punctures of tergum I fine, anterior to apical depression about 1-2 diameters apart. Punctures of sterna II-IV fine, several diameters apart (except laterally).

Setae silvery, on upper frons erect and longer than midocellar diameter (some setae 2.0 × midocellar diameter), on postocellar area appressed, on scutum erect, about 0.3 × midocellar diameter, on lower gena erect, straight, up to 1.0 × midocellar diameter, on tergum I appressed, on clypeus not completely concealing integument. Apical depressions of terga with silvery, setal fasciae.

Body all black.

♀.– Unknown.

♂.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.76-0.82 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.4-1.6 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.5-1.8 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.94-0.98 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella acutely angulate ( Fig. 547 ). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.1-2.2 × apical width, of flagellomere X 1.0-1.1 × apical width. Sternum VIII unusually broad, apical margin rounded ( Fig. 551 ). Genitalia: Figs. 552, 553 . Length 5.3-6.8 mm; head width 1.5-1.9 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 554).– Known from two localities in southwestern part of Western Australia.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♂, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 75 km WSW Lake Cronin at 32°23ʹS 119°46ʹE, 19-26 Sept 1978, T.F. Houston ( WAM).

PARATYPE: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 14 km NE Kondinin at 32°22ˈS 118°18ˈE, 8 Oct 1981, I.D. Naumann and J.C. Cardale (1 ♂, ANIC) .

Figures

FIGURES 547-550. Pison inusitatum Pulawski, sp. nov., male. (547) Clypeus and mandibles; (548) Upper frons; (549) Tegula and adjacent scutum; (550) Mesopleuron.

FIGURES 551-553. Pison inusitatum Pulawski, sp. nov., male. (551) Sternum VIII (ventral surface); (552) Genitalia in dorsal view; (553) Genitalia in lateral view. FIGURE 554. Collecting localities of Pison inusitatum Pulawski, sp. nov.