Traumatomutilla grossa ( Gerstaecker, 1874 )

Bartholomay, Pedro R., Williams, Kevin A., Cambra, Roberto A. & Oliveira, Marcio L., 2022, Revision of the Traumatomutilla indica species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), Zootaxa 5108 (1), pp. 1-97 : 29-33

Traumatomutilla grossa ( Gerstaecker, 1874)

( Figs 8A–F , 9A–G )

Mutilla grossa Gerstaecker, 1874: 73 , lectotype [designated here], ♀, Brazil, Cassapava [sic] (ZMB), examined.

Mutilla abrupta Gerstaecker, 1874: 71 , holotype, ♀, Brazil, [Rio Grande do Sul], Alegrete (ZMB), examined, syn. nov.

Mutilla characterea Gerstaecker, 1874: 319 , holotype, ♂, Brazil, [Rio Grande do Sul], Porto Alegre (ZMB), examined, syn. nov.

Mutilla haemarioides Smith, 1879: 221 , holotype, ♂, Uruguay (NHM). Synonymized by Mickel (1964): 221.

Ephuta (Traumatomutilla) grossa: André, 1902: 55 .

Ephuta (Traumatomutilla) characterea: André, 1902: 54 .

Traumatomutilla grossa: André, 1904: 40 .

Traumatomutilla characterea: André, 1904: 40 .

Traumatomutilla abrupta: Nonveiller, 1990: 74 .

Diagnosis. FEMALE. Mesonotum as wide as distance between pronotal spiracles, sculpture of dorsum of mesonotum homogeneous throughout, longitudinal carina mesonotal and propodeal dorsum indistinct, dorsal face of propodeum much shorter and well differentiated from posterior face, scutellar scale and anterolateral carinae indistinct. MALE. Cuspis broad, club-like and laterally flattened, axillar projections acute, mesopleuron simply swollen on dorsal half.

Description. FEMALE. Body length 17–18 mm. Head. Posterior margin virtually straight. Occipital carina evenly arched and equally wide throughout. Vertex width 0.75 × pronotal width. Eye almost circular, its length in frontal view virtually equal to the distance from its ventral margin to mandibular condyle. Head densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to areolate-punctate, more sparsely and finely so on gena and malar space. Genal carina present, well-defined. Mandible oblique, tapering slightly towards with small subapical tooth. Dorsal scrobal carina present, extending over antennal tubercles and connecting with reduced lateral scrobal carina. Antennal tubercle coarsely and irregularly rugose. Flagellomere 1 2.7 × pedicel length; flagellomere 2 1.5 × pedicel length. Mesosoma . Length 1.2 × width. Mesosomal dorsum densely and coarsely areolate-punctate throughout; simply and densely punctate on scutellar area. Anterior face of propodeum defined, long, as long as pronotal collar, indistinctly and coarsely striated longitudinally at base with dense coarse punctures dorsally; dorsal face roundly angulate into anterior face in lateral view. Humeral carina well-defined, broadly separated from low rounded epaulet, anterolateral corners of pronotum rounded in dorsal view. Pronotal spiracle virtually flat against lateral margin of pronotum, rounded. Lateral face of pronotum densely punctate with dense interspersed micropunctures; indistinct blunt tubercle on ventral margin anterior to pronotal spiracle; mesopleuron sculpture mostly concealed by dense setation, micropunctate anteriorly and densely foveolate-punctate along mesopleural ridge where visible; metapleuron sculpture partially concealed by dense setation, dorsal half completely asetose, smooth. Lateral face of propodeum sparsely foveolate-punctate, with conspicuous unsculptured smooth areas. Ratios of width of humeral angles, pronotal spiracles, widest point of mesonotum, narrowest point of mesonotum and propodeum posterior to propodeal spiracles, 70:88:90:68:64. Lateral margin of mesonotum conspicuously constricted anterior to propodeal spiracle, strongly diverging anteriad, mesonotum with expanded lateral margins. Propodeal spiracle projected from lateral margin of mesosoma; postspiracular area absent. Scutellar scale and anterolateral carinae virtually absent, reduced to transverse irregular intervals delineating scutellar area which is densely and finely punctate; scabrous intervals absent on scutellar area. Propodeum gibbose, dorsal face much shorter than and rounded into posterior face. Metasoma. Ratios of width of T1, width of T2 and length of T2, 38:85:84. Disc of T2 densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to punctate with dense interspersed micropunctures; foveolations sparser and micropunctures absent laterally and over integumental spots. T3–6 sculpture, except pygidial plate, predominantly concealed by dense setation, densely and coarsely foveolatepunctate to simply punctate with interspersed micropunctures where visible. S1 densely, coarsely and confusedly foveolate-punctate, surface cuneiform, ending in sub-sharp longitudinal carina equally high throughout. S2 sparsely foveolate-punctate, punctures conspicuously smaller and sparser medially; anteromedial crest-fold indistinct. S3–6 sculpture mostly concealed by dense setation, densely and finely foveolate-punctate with sparse micropunctures where visible. Pygidial plate broadly subpyriform, defined by lateral carinae at apical fourth of plate; surface mostly irregularly longitudinally rugose; interstice apparently granulose.

MALE. Body length 16–20 mm. Head. Transversely subrectangular with posterolateral angles rounded in dorsal view. Width 0.7 × pronotal width. Eye almost circular. Ocelli small; OOD 4.8 × DLO, IOD 0.85 × DLO. Occipital carina distinct. Head surface densely and finely punctate, less densely so around ocelli. Gena ecarinate. Antennal scrobe concave to eye margin, with well-defined transverse dorsal scrobal carina. Clypeus concave laterally immediately below antennal insertion, conspicuously convex medially; sculpture concealed by dense setation; apical/ ventral margin with a pair of medial subrounded free teeth. Scape bicarinate. Flagellomere 1 2.9 × pedicel length; flagellomere 2 3.6 × pedicel length. Mandible obliquely tridentate apically, medial tooth larger than inner tooth; lacking dorsal or ventral projections. Mesosoma . Epaulets well-defined, virtually flat against anterior margin of pronotum, broadly separated from short humeral carina, anterolateral angles of pronotum rounded. Anterior face of pronotum sparsely punctate with interspersed micropunctations laterally, with a conspicuous smooth unsculptured area basomedially. Tegula convex, mostly glabrous and impunctate except for dense coarse punctures on along inner and anterior margin. Mesoscutum densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate, notaulus and parapsis present, reduced to posterior half of mesoscutum. Scutellum convex, densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate; with longitudinal irregular carina medially. Axilla produced posterolaterally as short acute projections, with conspicuous flat coarsely and densely foveolate-punctate dorsal surface. Metanotum slightly wider laterally, its surface obscured by dense setation. Propodeal dorsum convex, densely areolate, sculpture of lateral face gradually less defined to indistinct anteriad; dorsal face rounded into and poorly distinguished from posterior face. Lateral face of pronotum densely coarsely and confusedly foveolate-punctate with interspersed micropuncture; mesopleura conspicuously swollen on dorsal half, without any well-defined tubercles or projections; mesopleural sculpture densely and coarsely areolatepunctate to foveolate-punctate with interspersed micropunctures. Metapleuron sparsely micropunctate to smooth throughout, except for indistinct areolations basally. Wings. Forewing with elongate sclerotized pterostigma; marginal cell elongated, truncate apically; three submarginal cells. Legs. Simply setose, no strong spines discernible dorsally; spurs finely serrate on margins. Metasoma. T1 0.45 × as wide as T2. T2 length 0.85 × its width. Dorsal metasomal sculpture partially concealed by dense setation, densely and coarsely punctate with interspersed micropunctures where visible; pygidial plate irregularly, transversely and indistinctly rugose, broader than long, weakly defined by parallel carinae apicolaterally, interstice apparently granulose. S1 longitudinally elevated medially, terminating in slightly concave longitudinal carina terminating in subacute projection posteriorly. S2 coarsely and sparsely foveolate-punctate to punctate, with interspersed micropunctations anterolaterally; sculpture sparser and small posteromediad; S2 with conspicuous anteromedial subovate pit densely filled with setae; longitudinal anteromedial crest-fold present. S3–5 sparsely and coarsely foveolate-punctate with interspersed micropunctures; S6–7 sparsely foveolate-punctate. S7 longer than broad, well-defined by lateral carinae throughout, posterior margin projected laterally and medially, medial projection longer than lateral projections and terminating in a pair of very small subacute closely spaced tooth-like structures on posterior margin. Genitalia. Parapenial lobe not at all pronounced apically, subacute. Ratios of free length of paramere, cuspis and digitus, 61:46:14; paramere virtually straight in dorsal view, except for apex slightly curved outward; upcurved apically in lateral view; with dense setae ventrally at basal half; cuspis broad, long, club-like, somewhat laterally compressed, slightly wider apicad in dorsal and broader medially in lateral view, outer surface somewhat concave; with strong setae on ventral, outer and dorsal margins at apical half; paracuspis well-developed, not sessile, lobe-like, slightly wider than long with rounded apical margin and densely setose along posteroapical margin in lateral view predominantly, setae shorter than or as long as paracuspis; digitus short, curved inward in dorsal view and slightly upcurved in lateral view, sparsely setose dorsally at base, apex somewhat expanded in lateral view; penis valve strongly concave on internal surface, with well-defined pair of short teeth apicoventrally; apical tooth acute, subapical tooth subacute, externolateral pocket absent; apical distance between teeth 0.2 × length of valve; dense setae present along apical margin and inconspicuous setae present at base of subapical tooth on external surface.

Coloration and variations. FEMALES. Body and appendages predominantly black except most flagellomeres and mandibles partially reddish-black to reddish-brown; T2 with four sub-quadrate dark-orange to reddish spots. Tibial spurs brownish-yellow. Body setae predominantly silvery-white to silvery-golden varying in density, except the following areas with black to brownish-black setae varying in density: front, dorsal half of gena, occipital area, dorsum of pronotum, mesonotum medially, scutellar area, dorsum of propodeum medially, dorsal third of lateral face of pronotum, dorsal half of mesopleuron anteriorly, lateral face of propodeum, T1 medially, most of disc of T2, fringes of T2–4 sublaterally, fringe of T5 laterally, fringe of S4–5, and tarsi ventrally. MALES. Integument predominantly black to brownish-black, except mandibles partially reddish-brown. Body setae silvery-white to silvery-golden varying in density, except following areas with black to brownish-black setae varying in density: front partially, areas around eyes, gena, malar space, ventral surface of head, lateral face of pronotum, most of mesonotum, axillar projections, anterior half of scutellum, metanotum laterally, dorsal third of mesopleuron, most of metapleuron, posterior two thirds of disc of T2, fringes of T2–5 medially, T6–7, fringe of S5, and S6–7. Wings hyaline-brownish slightly darker at apical third, costa, and around veins.

Distribution. Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.

Material examined. (97♀, 23♂) Type material. Lectotype of Mutilla grossa , ♀, BRAZIL, [Rio Grande do Sul], Cassapava [Caçapava do Sul] ( ZMB) ; holotype of M. abrupta , ♀, BRAZIL, [Rio Grande do Sul], Allegrette [Alegrete] ( ZMB) ; holotype of M. characterea , ♂, BRAZIL, [Rio Grande do Sul], Porto Alegre ( ZMB) . Additional material. BRAZIL: 1♀ ( MNCN) ; Paraná: Bexiga, Cachoeira , 1♀, 22.XI.1955, Correa, S. ( DZUP) ; Ponta Grossa , 1♀, II.1944, Justus ( DZUP) ; Jaguariahyva [Jaguariaíva], 1♀, 28.XII.1966, Justus ( DZUP) ; Rio Grande do Sul: 1♂ ( MNHN) ; 5♀ ( MZSP) ; Pelotas : 1♀ ( MNCN) ; 1♀, 09.II.1958, J. Lucia Mantovani & Biezanko ( MNCN) ; 1♂, IV.1964, Mantovani, Biezanko ( USNM) ; 1♂, 5.III.1945, Biezanko ( USNM) ; 1♀, 05.II.1964, C.M. Biezanko ( MZSP) ; Porto Alegre : 1♀, 1937, Pe. [Padre] Buck ( CESC) ; 1♀, 1935, Pe. [Padre] Buck ( CESC) ; 1♀, 15.VIII.1937, Pe. [Padre] Buck ( CESC) ; 1♀, 01.XI.1937, Pe. [Padre] Buck ( CESC) ; 1♀, 24.XI.1935, Pe. [Padre] Buck ( CESC) ; 1♀, 03.X.1934, Pe. [Padre] Buck ( CESC) ; 1♀, 03.XI.1948, Pio Buck ( MNCN) ; São Francisco de Paula , 2♀, 24.I.1999, M.S. Barbosa ( CESC) ; São Leopoldo , 1♀, X.1947, Pe. [Padre] Buck ( MNCN) ; Taquara, Pituva , 1♀, 10.X.1973, F.R. Meyer ( CESC) ; ARGENTINA: Entre Rios: Dpto. [Departamento] Colón, Parque Nacional : 6♂ ( AMNH) ; 2♀, III.1982, Fritz ( AMNH) ; Pronunciamiento , 1♀, XII.1957, M.R. Zelich ( FSCA) ; Liebig , 22♀, Zelich ( AMNH) ; Feliciano , 1♀, XII.1972, Fritz ( MNCN) ; Io [Primero] de Mayo , 1♀, III.1957, Gontero ( USNM) ; Cordoba , La Granja, 1♀, 12.I.1947, M.A. Fritz ( UMSP) ; Rosario , 2♀, Dr. Stempelmann ( ZMB) ; San Vicente de Cor- doba, 1♀, J. Frenzel S. ( ZMB) ; Patagonia, Bahia Blanca , 1♀ ( DEI) ; Catamarca , 1♀ ( USNM) ; URUGUAY: 1♀, Cornell Univ. [University] Expedition ( CUIC) ; Menendez [sic], 2♂, I.1983, S. Guido ( AMNH) ; Montevideo: Montevideo: 1♀, 1♂ ( MNHN) ; 1♀, IX.1820 ( MNHN) ; Treinta y Tres, Rio Olimar Chico , 25 km WSW [kilometers West by southwest of] Treinte-y-tres [Treinta y Tres], 1♂, 19.IV.1963, J.K. Bouseman ( AMNH) ; Quebrada de los Cuervos , 1♀, XII.1952, Carbonell ( AMNH) ; Isla Patrulla , 1♀, V.1965, Gambardella ( AMNH) ; Artigas : 1♀, Car- bonell ( AMNH) ; A. [arroyo] Cuaró , 1♀, IV.1960, L. do Ximenez ( AMNH) ; Colonia, Colonia , 1♀, 05.I.1943, P.A. Berry ( CISC) ; Rio Negro, 1♀, Rincón de Porrua , IV.1952, Acosta y Lara ( AMNH) ; Cerro Largo, Paso de Aguiar , 1♀, XII.1952, Carbonell ( AMNH) ; Tacuarembó, Puntas, A. [arroyo] Laureles , 1♀, XII.1965, Carbonell ( AMNH) . An additional 27♀ and 8♂ from various localities in ARGENTINA were also examined ( AMNH, LACM, USNM, MNCN, MIUP, DGMC) .

Remarks. The association of T. grossa with T. characterea was based on repeated co-occurrence of both species in the same areas of southern South America, especially in Uruguay, where they were the only species of Traumatomutilla collected in certain areas. We have seen specimens that vary considerably in the overall aspect of the body and there appears to be a slenderer form of T. grossa that was formerly named T. abrupta . The types of both species are identical in structural and color characters. Even though the type of T. grossa is remarkably more robust and stouter than the slender T. abrupta , the proportions of the mesosoma and metasoma are consistent. Additionally, this species seems to be restricted to the Pampas and adjacent areas, being found only in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, with its northernmost record in São Francisco de Paula in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.

Figures

FIGURES 8A–F. A–C. Traumatomutilla grossa (Gerstaecker, 1874), lectotype, ♀, line 2 mm; A. Dorsal habitus; B. Lateral habitus; C. Type labels; D–F. T. abrupta (Gerstaecker, 1874), holotype, ♀, line 2 mm; D. Dorsal habitus; C. Lateral habitus; F. Type labels.

FIGURES 9A–G. Traumatomutilla characterea (Gerstaecker, 1874), holotype, ♂, dorsal habitus, line 2 mm; A. Lateral ha- bitus; B. Type labels; C. Genitalia (halved), dorsal view; D. Genitalia (halved), ventral view; E. Genitalia (halved, penis valve removed), lateral/inner view; F. Cuspis (removed, not to scale), lateral/inner view; G. Penis valve (removed, not to scale), lateral/outer view.