Pison argentifrons 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 : 72-75

Pison argentifrons Pulawski , species nova

Figures 90 -98.

NAME DERIVATION.– Argentifrons is derived from two Latin words, argentum, silver, and frons, a noun in apposition to the generic name; with reference to the silvery frons setae that differentiate this species from the female of Pison auriventre .

RECOGNITION. – Pison argentifrons is an all black species except for the ferruginous mandible and apical depressions of terga, with appressed setae on tergum I and the scape inflated in lateral view (as in Fig. 155 ). The female is characterized by the presence of a short psammophore on the lower gena (longest setae about 0.5 × greatest forefemoral width), the ocellocular distance smaller than the interocellar distance, the integument practically impunctate and asetose between the psammophore and the oral fossa, and the clypeal lamella obtusely angulate, with an obtuse but well-defined corner on each side (the distance between the corners is greater than the distance between a corner and the adjacent orbit); the setae on the forefemoral venter are erect, but not forming a real psammophore. It is closely similar to Pison auriventre , but unlike that species it has the scutal punctures less than one diameter apart (rather than contiguous), tergum VI narrower (compare Figs 93 and 159 ), and the frontal setae silvery (golden in many females of auriventre ).

The male has the clypeal lamella acutely to slightly obtusely angulate; the dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.8 × apical width; tergum VII usual (without translucent apical lamella); punctures of sterna III-VI averaging about 1-3 diameters apart mesally; a rounded or truncate apically sternum VIII, without posterolateral corner and with a prominent subbasal convexity ( Figs. 94, 95 ), combined with closely, finely punctate sternum VII. It resembles Pison auriventre , but unlike that species it has the flagellum cylindrical (rather than flagellomeres III-VI expanded apicoventrally) and the scutal punctures less than one diameter apart (rather than contiguous).

DESCRIPTION.– Frons dull, finely punctate, punctures less than one diameter apart. Occipital carina joining hypostomal carina. Labrum not emarginate. Scape inflated in lateral view (see Fig. 155 ). Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum not foveate along flange, without short longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures fine, less than one diameter apart; interspaces finely microsculptured, dull ( Fig. 92 ). Tegula elongate. Mesopleural punctures superficial, less than one diameter apart in female, contiguous in male; interspaces markedly microsculptured. Postspiracular carina about as long as midocellar diameter. Mesopleuron adjacent to metapleuron and propodeal side adjacent to metapleuron below dorsal pit with conspicuously foveolate sulcus. Propodeum with irregular longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface and extending from gastral socket area toward spiracle; dorsum obliquely ridged, punctate between ridges; side ridged, punctate between ridges; posterior surface irregularly ridged, punctate between ridges. Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin not carinate or carinate only apically. Punctures of horizontal portion of tergum I minute in female, fine in male, averaging less than one diameter apart. Sterna uniformly, densely punctate throughout, but sternum II with punctures averaging mesally 2-3 diameters apart in female, 1-3 diameters apart in male.

Setae silvery on head, thorax, and propodeum, in most specimens golden on gaster; on upper frons one part of setae erect, another part appressed, oriented dorsally between midfrontal carina and midocellus; appressed on scutum and tergum I; see below for setae of lower gena; completely concealing integument on clypeus (except lamella).

Body black, mandible ferruginous mesally, apical depressions of terga ferruginous.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.64-0.66 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.8-1.0 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.5-1.6 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 1.14-1.20 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella obtusely angulate ( Fig. 90 ). Labrum transverse. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.7-1.9 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 1.3-1.4 × apical width. Lower gena and mandibular posterior margin with psammophores (longest setae of genal and mandibular psammophores about 0.5 × and 0.7 ×, respectively, of greatest forefemoral width); lower gena impunctate and asetose between oral fossa and psammophore, at most with a few sparse punctures and associated setae; forefemoral venter with erect setae up to about one midocellar diameter long that do not form psammophore. Mandible: trimmal carina with small incision at about midlength. Tergum VI point- ed ( Fig. 93 ). Length 6.7-8.8 mm; head width 2.2-2.3 mm.

♂.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.74-0.80 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.3-1.6 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.7-1.8 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 1.16-1.20 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella acutely to slightly obtusely angulate ( Fig. 91 ). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.8 × apical width, of flagellomere X 1.2 × apical width. Lower gena, on each side of oral fossa, either sparsely or densely punctate; setae suberect, slightly sinuous, up to one midocellar diameter long. Sternum VII finely, closely punctate. Sternum VIII with unsculptured swelling subbasally ( Fig. 95 ), densely punctuate between swelling and apical margin, which is rounded or truncate ( Figs. 94 ). Genitalia: Figs. 96, 97. Length 6.3-7.7 mm; head width 1.9-2.4 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 98).– Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♂, AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 4 km W Sunny Corner at 33°22.7ʹS

11-17 Dec 1987, M.E. Irwin (1 ♂, CAS), and 8 Jan

1988, M.E. Irwin (1 ♀, UCD) ; Canberra , 27 Feb 1984, D.B. McCorquodale (1 ♀, ANIC) and E.McC. Callan , 5 Dec 1974 (1 ♀, ANIC) and 9 Mar 1983 (1 ♀, ANIC) . New South Wales: same locality and collectors as holotype, 7 Dec 2009 (2 ♀, 14 ♂, CAS) , 10 Dec 2009 (1 ♀, 4 ♂, CAS) , 11 Dec 2009 (3 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS) ; Braidwood: Shoalhaven bridge, 12 Dec 1984, D.B. McCorquodale (1 ♀, ANIC) ; Burrendong Botanic Garden at 32°42.1ʹS 149°06.2ʹE, 13 Dec 2009, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski (1 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS) ; Kinchega National Park at 32°22.8ʹS 142°23.6ʹE, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski, 17 Dec 2011 (1 ♀, CAS) , 18 Dec 2011 (1 ♀, CAS) , and 19 Dec 2011 (3 ♀, CAS) ; Mookerawa Waters Park 6 km NE Stuart Town at 32°46.0ʹS 149°09.8ʹE, 12 Dec 2009, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski (3 ♀, CAS) ; Nerriga , 18 Dec 1984, D.B. McCorquodale (2 ♀, 3 ♂, ANIC) ; Orange Botanic Gardens at 33°15.3ʹS 149°05.7ʹE, 9 Dec 2009, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski (3 ♀, 3 ♂, CAS) ; Shoalhaven River via Braidwood , 2 Jan 1987, I.D. Naumann (1 ♀, ANIC) ; Whiskers 7 km WNW Hoskinstown at 35°24ʹS 149°23ʹE, M.S. Upton, 14 Jan 1993 (1 ♀, ANIC) and 1 Apr 1993 (1 ♀, ANIC) . Northern Territory: 32 km WNW Alice Springs at 23°36ʹS 133°35ʹE, 8 Oct 1978, J.C. Cardale (1 ♀, ANIC) ; Todd River 9 km NE Alice Springs at 23°38ʹS 133°53ʹE, 10 Oct 1978, J.C. Cardale (1 ♀, ANIC) . Queensland: Brisbane: Blunder Creek , 11 Nov 1979, H.E. Evans (2 ♀, QMB) ; Dipperu National Park at 21°53.9ʹS 148°46.5ʹE, 2 Nov 2012, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski (3 ♀, 2 ♂, CAS) ; Dynevor Lakes at 28°05ʹS 144°12ʹE, 26 Oct 1991, G. Daniels (1 ♀, QMB) , Heathlands at 11°45ʹS 142°35ʹE 15-16 Jan 1992, I.D. Naumann and T. Weir (1 ♀, ANIC) ; Homevale National Park at 21°26.9ʹS 148°32.4ʹE, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski, 27 Nov 2012 (1 ♂, CAS) , 28 Nov 2012 (2 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS) . South Australia: 5 km S Mylor , A.D. Austin, 27 Dec 1980 (1 ♂, BMNH) and 31 Jan 1981 (1 ♀, 1 ♂, BMNH) ; 79 km NNW Renmark at 33°31ʹS 14°24ʹE, K.R. Pullen , 10 Oct – 9 Nov 1995 (1 ♂, ANIC) and 11 Oct – 9 Nov 1995 (1 ♂, ANIC) ; Wilpena in Flinders Ranges National Park at 31°31.7ʹS 138°36.2ʹE, V. Ahrens and W.J. Pulawski, 26 Jan 2011 (1 ♀, CAS) and 27 Jan 2011 (1 ♀, 1 ♂, CAS) . Tasmania: Hobart , 30 Aug 1933, C.E. Cole (1 ♀, SAM) . Western Australia: Albany , 29 Nov 1979, R.M. Bohart (1 ♂, UCD) ; Gingin , 3 Nov 1979, R.M. Bohart (2 ♀, 2 ♂, UCD) ; Moora , 6 Nov 1979, R.M. Bohart (1 ♀, 4 ♂, UCD) ; Serpentine Falls , 20 Jan 1971, G.A. Holloway (1 ♀, AMS) .

Figures

FIGURES 90–95. Pison argentifrons Pulawski, sp. nov. (90) Female clypeus and mandibles; (91) Male clypeus and mandibles; (92) Female tegula and adjacent scutum; (93) Apex of female gaster; male: (94) Sternum VIII (ventral surface); (95) Sternum VIII in lateral view;

FIGURES 151–156. Pison auriventre Turner. (151) Female clypeus and mandibles; (152) Female gena showing psammophore; (153) Female head from below showing unsculptured areas; (154) Male clypeus and mandibles; (155) Female scape in lateral view; (156) Female tegula and adjacent scutum.

FIGURES 157–162. Pison auriventre Turner. (157) Female tegula; (158) Basal flagellomeres of male; (159) Female gaster in dorsal view; (160) Apex of female gaster; male: (161) Sternum VIII (ventral surface); (162) Sternum VIII (ventral surface in lateral oblique view).