Pison aterrimum 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 : 81-85

Pison aterrimum Pulawski , species nova

Figures 119 -131.

NAME DERIVATION.– Aterrimum is the superlative of the Latin neuter adjective atrum , black, meaning the most black; with reference to this species coloration.

RECOGNITION.– Pison aterrimum has three submarginal cells, the second recurrent vein interstitial with the second intersubmarginal vein or nearly so, and the setae appressed on tergum I. It can be recognized by the setae all black on the frons (except lateroventrally), thorax, propodeum, femora, and gaster (the terga without setal fasciae on the apical depressions), wings conspicuously darkened, almost black ( Fig. 125 ), many scutal punctures 2-3 to several diameters apart, and the propodeal dorsum without ridges, with punctures more than one diameter apart (except laterally). In the female, the gena is impunctate and asetose on each side of the oral fossa, the asetose area bordered by a psammophore (a psammophore is also present on the outer margins of the propleuron and the forecoxa and on the ventral margin of the forefemoral venter). In the male, the apical margin of sternum VIII is not emarginate ( Fig. 129 ).

DESCRIPTION.– Frons dull, shallowly punctate, punctures averaging about one diameter apart, less than one diameter apart below midocellus ( Fig. 121 ). Occipital carina joining hypostomal carina. Gena narrow in dorsal view ( Fig. 122 ). Labrum not emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, slightly longer than midocellar diameter. Scutum not foveate along flange, without longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures fine, well defined, most of them 2-4 diameters apart, but several punctures one diameter apart or less ( Fig. 123 ); interspaces aciculate, shiny. Tegula enlarged. Mesopleural punctures well defined, less than one diameter apart at center, about one diameter apart posteroventrally in some specimens. Postspiracular carina present, about 1.5 × as long as midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus not costulate or minimally costulate between dorsal and ventral metapleural pits. Propodeum with or without longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface and extending from gastral socket area toward spiracle (in last case, carina replaced by series of short, transverse ridges); dorsum with fine transverse ridges along midline, with well-defined punctures that average more than one diameter apart, but less than one diameter apart along lateral margin ( Fig. 124 ); side with well-defined punctures that are less than one diameter apart, interspaces merging into longitudinal ridges; posterior surface transversely ridged, punctate between ridges. Posteroventral forefemoral surface with fine but well-defined punctures that average 2-3 diameters apart. Punctures of tergum I well defined, averaging 2-3 diameters apart. Sternum II punctate except apicomedially, punctures well defined, averaging 2-3 to several widths apart medially.

Setae black except silvery on clypeus (black mesally) and on frons lateroventrally, erect and sinuous on frons and gena, erect or appressed on scutum, appressed on tergum I; not concealing integument on clypeus; setal length about 1.0 × midocellar diameter on frons, up to 2.5 × midocellar diameter on lower gena. Apical depressions of terga without setal fasciae ( Fig. 126 ).

Body all black; wings almost black, with violet tinge ( Fig. 125 ).

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.58-0.60 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.7-0.9 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.2-1.3 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.96 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella obtusely angulate ( Fig. 119 ). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 3.0 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 1.3 × apical width. Lower gena, mandibular posterior margin, propleural and forecoxal outer margins, and forefemoral venter with psammophores (longest setae of genal, mandibular, and forefemoral psammophores about 0.75 ×, 0.5 ×, and 1.0 ×, respectively, of greatest forefemoral width); lower gena impunctate and asetose between oral fossa and psammophore. Mandible: trimmal carina with minute incision at about midlength. Tergum VI with median carina apically. Length 6.3-8.8 mm; head width 2.5-2.9 mm.

♂.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.90 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.3-1.4 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.4-1.6 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.94-0.98 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella acutely angulate ( Fig. 120 ). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.5-2.8 × apical width, of flagellomere X 1.1-1.2 × apical width. Sternum VIII impunctate except next to apical margin; apical margin rounded ( Figs. 127, 128 ). Genitalia: Figs. 129, 130 . Length 7.3-9.2 mm; head width 2.4-2.8 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 131).–

New South Wales, Western Australia.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♀, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 186 km ESE Bromme at 18°53ʹS

123°43ʹE, 10 Aug 1976, I.F.B. Common (ANIC).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales :

100 km SE Broken Hill at 32°51ʹS 141°37ʹE, 3-13

Oct 1988, E.D. Edwards (1 ♀, CAS; 1 ♂, ANIC) .

Western Australia: Lake Cohen and vicinity at

24°26ʹE 125°05ʹE, 1 Aug 1983, T.F. Houston and

R.P. McMillan (1 ♂, WAM); 2 mi S Maya , 3 Nov

1968, N. McFarland (1 ♀, SAM); Youanmi at

28°37ʹS 118°50°ʹE, 13 Oct 1974, A.M. and M.J.

Douglas (1 ♀, WAM) .

FIGURES 131. Collecting localities of Pison aterrimum Pulawski , sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 119–124. Pison aterrimum Pulawski, sp. nov. (119) Female clypeus and mandibles; (120) Male clypeus and mandibles; (121) Upper frons of female; (122) Female head in dorsal view; (123) Female tegula and adjacent scutum; (124) Propodeal dorsum of female.

FIGURES 125–130. Pison aterrimum Pulawski, sp. nov. (125) Female forewing; (126) Female gaster in dorsal view; male: (127) Sternum VIII (ventral surface); (128) Sternum VIII in lateral view; (129) Genitalia in dorsal view; (130) Genitalia in lateral view (damaged specimen).