Psomizopelma albiclava, Gibson, 2018

Gibson, Gary A. P., 2018, The species of Psomizopelma Gibson (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), Zootaxa 4444 (1), pp. 73-91 : 76-80

Psomizopelma albiclava n. sp.

Figs 1–16

Type material. Holotype ♀ (UFES). UFES n° | 146444 / BRASIL, ES, Santa Teresa | Est. Biol. Santa Lúcia | 9- 13.v. 2006, Moricke , Bosque 3 | Tavares, M.T., Azevedo | C.O. & eq. col. / HOLOTYPE ♀ | Psomizopelma | albiclava Gibson. Holotype point-mounted; entire; uncontorted.

Allotype ♂ ( UFES). UFES n° | 73345 / BRASIL, ES, Santa Teresa | Est. Biológica de Santa Lúcia | 06- 09.xi. 2009, Malaise T 2 | Tavares, Azevedo & eq. col. / ALLOTYPE ♀ | Psomizopelma | albiclava Gibson.

Additional paratypes. Brazil. Espirito Santo, Laranja da Terra, Joatuba-Faz Betzel , 280-430 [m] , 19°50'25"S 40°49'40"W, 5-12.X.2012, M.T. Tavares & eq. col., MT B-10 (1♀ UFES n°133740, deposited in CNC by permission of UFES, CNC Photo 2017-18). Linhares, Floresta Nac. Goytacazes, 19°26'17"S 40°04'27"W, 29.I- 5.II.2013, M.T. Tavares & eq. col., MT 11 (1♀ UFES n°139291, CNC Photo 2017-19), MT 14 (1♀ UFES n° 139490, deposited in CNC by permission of UFES). Vila Valério, Sitio Benincá, 18°58'S 40°27'W, 14-28.IX.2011, C.O. Azevedo & eq. col., MT (1♂ UFES n° 121405, deposited in CNC by permission of UFES, CNC Photo 2017- 24). Rio de Janeiro, Teresópolis , Faz. das Palmeiras, 22°26'S 42°56'W, VIII. 2005 , ALBG Peronti & eq. col., Ann. Moericke-Borda A 3 (1 ♀ UFES n°06948).

Etymology. Derived from the Latin words albus, “white”, and clava, “club” in reference to the pale antennal clava that uniquely differentiates females from those of other species.

Description. FEMALE (habitus: Figs 1, 2 ). Length about 3.2–3.9 mm. Head ( Figs 1–4 ) mostly orangish but at least rim of torulus dark and lower parascrobal region between torulus and inner orbit, scrobes, and mandibles apically variably dark brown ( Fig. 3 ), and sometimes scrobal depression almost entirely brownish. Labiomaxillary complex yellowish ( Fig. 4 ). Antenna with scape ( Figs 2–4 ) dark ventrobasally and ventrally for about two-thirds to three-quarters length, and pale along most of dorsal margin and apically, though with dark setae apically; pedicel brownish-yellow ( Figs 3, 4 ) to similarly dark brown as funicle and base of clava, but about apical half of clava pale ( Figs 1, 2, 4 ). Mesosoma dorsally ( Fig. 1 ) mostly similarly orangish as head, but pronotum laterally and variably extensively dorsally ( Figs 1, 2 ) plus propleuron and prosternum paler, more yellowish, and pronotum anterodorsally and often mesopectus and about anterior half of acropleuron ( Fig. 6 ) darker, brownish. Legs similarly coloured as mesosoma but with compressed dorsal part of metatibia paler than orangish to brownish cylindrical part of tibia ( Figs 1, 2 ). Gaster ( Figs 1, 8 ) mostly similarly orangish as mesosoma except Gt1 mostly paler, more yellowish dorsally, most or all tergites other than syntergum darker brownish dorsoapically, tergites other than syntergum laterally also darker brown except Gt1 and Gt2 white laterally ( Fig. 8 ), and all but apical two sternites white.

Head ( Figs 3, 4 ) with face almost uniformly punctate-reticulate and completely setose except for Π-shaped bare region composed of scrobes and dorsal part of interantennal prominence; eyes and at least frontovertex with dark hairlike setae, the setae below level of anterior ocellus to scrobal depression similarly long and hairlike as on frontovertex but somewhat paler, and interantennal prominence and parascrobal region to about level of dorsal limit of scrobal depression with shorter, lanceolate, white setae; scrobal depression comparatively deep ventrally and extending about half way to anterior ocellus, delimiting very slender ( Fig. 3 ), carinately margined, sinuate parascrobal region lateral of torulus, with minimum width of parascrobal region between torulus and inner orbit conspicuously less than width of torulus and at most about 0.25× distance between toruli; malar space about 0.25× eye height; OOL: POL: LOL: MPOD = 13: 24: 17: 13; interorbital distance 0.35× head width. Antenna ( Figs 1, 2, 4 ) with scape about 5× as long as greatest width, somewhat compressed basally, widest within basal half, but ventral margin sinuous so narrowed apically; clava slightly shorter than combined length of apical 5 funiculars.

Brachypterous ( Figs 1, 7, 8 ); fore wing variably strongly curved upwards at about level of base of gaster ( Fig. 8 ), but about 6× as long as maximum width and if flat extending about to level of posterior margin of Gt2 ( Fig. 7 ); orangish-infuscate with dense, mostly orangish hairlike setae on membrane except over about apical third setae somewhat broader, lanceolate, and venation with somewhat longer, dark brown hairlike setae ( Fig. 7 ). Mesonotum ( Fig. 5 ) similarly punctate-reticulate as head, with variably extensive mixture of white and dark hairlike setae, the setae sometimes mostly white except dorsally along angulate part of mesoscutal medial lobe, but dark setae often more extensive, including within concave medial part of mesoscutum, and at least scutellar-axillar complex with dark setae; scutellum ( Figs 1, 5 ) conspicuously elongate-oval, about 2.25–3.0× as long as wide and about 1.3–1.4× maximum width of scutellar-axillar complex. Prepectus bare ( Fig. 6 : pre). Acropleuron ( Fig. 6 ) similarly isodiametric meshlike reticulate anteriorly and posteriorly or with somewhat smaller reticulations posteriorly, but with much smaller, more punctate reticulations medially just beyond setation. Metapleuron and metasternum entirely setose ( Fig. 6 , cf. Fig. 50 ). Front leg ( Fig. 2 ) with femur comparatively slender, only slightly expanded subapically such that ventral margin almost straight and dorsal length about 4× maximum width; tibia similarly slender as femur, length about 6× greatest width. Hind leg ( Fig. 2 ) with coxa ( Fig. 8 ) similarly setose dorsally and ventrally and uniformly but much more sparsely and inconspicuously setose over outer surface; femur with dorsal margin slightly incurved at about midlength, but not conspicuously enlarged apically; tibia conspicuously compressed with dorsal margin uniformly curved; basitarsomere subcylindrical. Propodeum with foramen sinuately incurved to v-like emarginate anteromedial margin.

Metasoma with petiole obviously transverse, lunate. Gaster ( Figs 1, 2, 8 ) dorsally entirely isodiametric meshlike reticulate ( Fig. 8 ); Gt1 and Gt2 bare dorsally, but subsequent tergites densely setose with posteriorly directed setae, the setae mostly dark dorsally and pale laterally except yellowish to orangish on syntergum.

MALE (habitus: Figs 9, 10 ). Length about 2.1–2.7 mm. Head ( Figs 9–11 ) mostly dark brown except interantennal prominence and lower face somewhat paler, and sometimes upper face with slight greenish to bluish lusters ( Fig. 11 ). Labiomaxillary complex yellowish except maxillary palps somewhat darker brownish ( Fig. 11 ). Antenna ( Fig. 12 ) with scape extensively yellow but at least brownish basally and dorsoapically; pedicel and flagellum similarly brown or pedicel apically somewhat paler and clava with at most extreme apex pale ( Figs 10– 12 ). Mesosoma ( Figs 13, 14 ) mostly similarly dark brown as head but sometimes mesonotum with slight bluish to greenish lusters, and following paler, lighter brown to yellowish: pronotum at least laterally ( Fig. 14 ) and sometimes variably extensively dorsally ( Fig. 13 ), propleuron, small spot on mesoscutal lateral lobe within anterior half ( Fig. 13 ), and sometimes prosternum and propodeum. Front leg with coxa brown and femur and tarsus variably extensively brown, but at least tibia and basal tarsomere paler, more yellowish. Middle leg ( Fig. 10 ) mostly brownish-yellow beyond coxa or femur variably extensively ventrally and apical three or four tarsomeres dark brown. Hind leg ( Fig. 10 ) with coxa, femur and at least apical tarsomeres dark brown, tibia variably extensively dark brown ventrally but much paler, more yellowish, at least along dorsal margin (paler region widening basally), and trochanter and at least basal tarsomere pale. Gaster ( Figs 9, 10 ) similarly dark brown as mesosoma or only slightly paler basally.

Head ( Fig. 11 ) with scrobal depression dorsally tapered seemingly to anterior ocellus because region similarly punctate-reticulate and frons slightly depressed, though setose, below anterior ocellus, with frontovertex otherwise, particularly on either side of anterior ocellus, variably more distinctly meshlike reticulate or at least less coarsely sculptured; eyes and face with brownish to dark brown hairlike setae. Width of parascrobal region between torulus and lower inner orbit about ×0.25 distance between toruli; malar space almost 0.45× eye height; OOL: POL: LOL: MPOD = 13: 23: 14: 12; interorbital distance about 0.5× head width. Antenna ( Fig. 12 ) with length (width) ratio of scape: pedicel: funiculars: clava (right antenna) = 75(16): 22(10): 14(9), 15(10), 17(12), 19(12), 19(12), 18(12), 18(12), 17(12): 52(12); scape relatively slender, tapered apically; flagellum with all funiculars obviously longer than wide.

Fore wing ( Fig. 15 ) hyaline except posterior margin of basal cell (mediocubital fold) faintly brownish and disc behind marginal and stigmal veins similarly brownish to about level of medial fold, and cubital fold also sometimes slightly brownish in part; relative length of cc: mv: stv: pmv = 3.6: 2.5: 1: 2.0. Front leg with femur and tibia similarly slender and not distinctly compressed as for female. Hind leg with tibia ( Fig. 10 ) comparatively slender and not distinctly compressed, about 8× as long as greatest width. Metapleuron with 3 or 4 setae dorsal to ventral carina distinguishing much smaller metasternum ( Fig. 14 ). Propodeum on either side of median carina with 2 setae about midway between spiracle and foramen ( Fig. 16 : arrows).

Distribution. Neotropical: Brazil.

Remarks. Although polarities of the shared features are uncertain, females of P. albiclava share different features with those of the other three brachypterous species, P. brachypterum , P. fuscum and P. metallicum , and those of the only recognized macropterous species, P. macropterum . Shared with P. macropterum are a mostly much paler, more orangish body ( Figs 1, 5 ), sublinear parascrobal regions in association with a comparatively ventrally deep scrobal depression ( Figs 3, 4 ), dark setae on the eyes and frontovertex ( Figs 3, 4 ), and a slender profemur and protibia ( Fig. 2 ). Shared with the brachypterous species are a strongly sculptured gaster ( Fig. 8 ) and a more similar mesonotal structure, including the lack of a convex mesoscutal lobe and a more elongate-oval scutellum ( Fig. 5 ). However, the shared mesonotal features may well represent convergences correlated with wing reduction.

The only other species for which males are known is P. brachypterum . Comparison of males with conspecific females of the two species suggests that the unknown males of P. macropterum , like P. albiclava males, will resemble conspecific females in having dark setae on the eyes and face as well as a comparatively slender profemur, protibia and metafemur, and likely the mesosoma and legs partly pale, including a dorsally pale metatibia. The unknown males of P. fuscum and P. metallicum , like males of P. brachypterum , will likely have whitish setae on the eyes, interantennal prominence and parascrobal regions, the profemur conspicuously compressed apically, the protibia and metatibia also quite distinctly compressed, and the body, including the metatibia, virtually entirely brown to dark brown. The larger of the two P. albiclava males has definite though comparatively faint metallic lusters on the head ( Fig. 11 ) and mesonotum ( Fig. 13 ) (see further under P. metallicum ).

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Psomizopelma albiclava n. sp., ♀: 1, dorsal habitus (2017-18); 2, lateral habitus; 3, head, frontal (2017-19); 4, head, frontolateral, and antenna with ventral view of clava (2017-19); 5, mesosoma, dorsal; 6, mesosoma, lateral (pre = prepectus, tg = tegula); 7, fore wings (2017-18); 8, gaster and wings, dorsolateral (2017-19).

FIGURES 9–16. Psomizopelma albiclava n. sp., ♂ (all 2017-24 except 10 & 11 allotype): 9, dorsal habitus; 10, lateral habitus; 11, head, frontal; 12, antenna; 13, mesosoma, dorsal; 14, mesosoma, lateral; 15, fore wing; 16, propodeum (arrows point to setae on left side).

FIGURES 48–53. Psomizopelma macropterum n. sp., ♀: 48, mesosoma, dorsal (2017-13) (arrow points to triangular mesoscutal medial lobe); 49, mesosoma, lateral; 50, metapleuron (arrow points to carina distinguishing metapleuron from metasternum); 51, propodeum and petiole (2017-13); 52, fore wing; 53, gaster, dorsal (2017-13).