Pristaulacus pilosellus Turrisi & Long, 2024

Pham, Nhi Thi, Long, Khuat Dang, Dzuong, Nguyen Van, Mai, Pham Quynh & Turrisi, Giuseppe Fabrizio, 2024, The genus Pristaulacus Kieffer, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Aulacidae) in Vietnam and Northeastern Laos with descriptions of ten new species, Zootaxa 5432 (2), pp. 213-249 : 244-246

Pristaulacus pilosellus Turrisi & Long , sp. nov.

Figures 21, 22, 23

Type material. LAOS: holotype ♂, labelled: “ LAO, Houaphanh Prov., Ban Saleui; Phou Pan-Mt., 20°13’30’’N / 103°59’26’’E, 1350–1900m, 27.- 28.04.2011, leg. C. Holzschuh + locals”/ Pristaulacus pilosellus sp. n. ♂ Turrisi G.F. & Long K.D. Holotypus [red label]” ( TGFF). Paratype ♂, same data of holotype except 04.05.2011 ( OLML) ; paratype ♂ same data as holotype except “ 17.04.2012 ” ( TGFF) .

Etymology. Named for the long and dense setae on head and anterior part of mesosoma, from “pilosus”, Latin for “hairy”.

Diagnosis. Small sized species, body length about 9.0 mm; body almost entirely blackish; wings hyaline; fore wing with a wide brownish irregular substigmal spot ( Fig. 21A); metasomal tergite 2 narrowly orange at base; head from above 1.2 × wider than long dorsally; setae very long and dense, forming two brushes on temples ( Fig. 21B); occipital margin straight; occipital carina thin, complete 0.2 × diameter of ocellus; temple, from above, well developed, straight, moderately convergent posteriorly, subequal eye length ( Fig. 22A); pronotum, in lateral view, with one projecting long robust tooth-like process and a pronounced dome above ( Fig. 22E); anterior part of mesoscutum in lateral view slightly pointed and slightly overhanging pronotum ( Fig. 22E); vein 2-Rs+M very short, discal cell elongate; vein 3-Ma about half of vein 3-Mb ( Fig. 22G); tarsal claws with four robust tooth-like processes, basal one very weak; petiole elongate, slightly widened apically, 4.0 × its apical width.

Description. (holotype, ♂), body length: 8.7 mm; antennae [partly missing]; fore wing length: 6.1 mm ( Fig. 21A).

Colour. Body almost entirely blackish; mandible dark reddish on distal half; fore and mid femurs blackish brown; distal fifth of fore femur, fore and mid tibiae and tarsi brownish orange; hind tarsus dark brown; wings hyaline, fore wing with a wide irregular brownish substigmal spot covering submarginal cells and very weakly infuscate apically; metasomal tergite 2 with a narrow orange band at base.

Head. From above 1.2 × wider than long dorsally ( Fig. 22A); scape broad, stout, 1.2 × length of pedicel; first flagellomere 1.3 × as long as scape, and 0.5 × length of second flagellomere; vertex and temple densely punctate, punctures fine to coarse, distance between punctures 1.0–2.0 × puncture diameter; frons, malar space and clypeus coarsely and densely punctate; setae very long and dense, especially on temples ( Figs 21A, 22A, B, C); malar space 0.3 × eye length; clypeus 3.0 × as wide as high; temple, from above, well developed, straight, moderately convergent posteriorly, subequal eye length; occipital margin straight; occipital carina complete, narrow, 0.2 × diameter of an ocellus; POL: OOL = 12: 10 ( Fig. 22A).

Mesosoma . Pronotum, in lateral view, with one projecting long robust tooth-like process, and a pronounced protruded dome above the tooth process paralleling the margin of pronotum ( Fig. 22E); propleuron polished punctate, punctures coarse and moderately dense, setae long and dense; mesoprescutum transverse-carinate, with 7 mixed raised and weak carinae, well protruded dorsally ( Figs 22D, E); mesonotum in dorsal view with shallow wide median longitudinal impression anteriorly, anterior margin widely concave, lateral lobes well defined ( Fig. 22D); in lateral view squared and slightly overhanging pronotum ( Fig. 22E); scutellum with three spaced transverse carinae in middle (disc) otherwise areolate rugose ( Fig. 22D); metapostnotum wide, largely crenulate ( Fig. 22D); propodeum areolate-rugose with long and scattered setae; fore wing with vein 2-Ma straight; vein 2-Rs distinctly curved submedially ( Fig. 22G); r: 3-RS = 13: 14; vein 2-Rs+M very short, discal cell elongate; 2-Rs+M: 2-Ma: 3-Ma: 3-Mb = 1: 21: 6: 10 ( Fig. 22G); hind coxa slender, transversely carinate dorsally ( Fig. 22F), polished punctate ventrally, setae long and dense; apical trochanteral groove shallow; trochantellus distinct; hind femur 0.7 × length of hind tibia; inner spur: outer spur = 5: 5; hind basitarsus 1.1 × length of tarsomeres 2–5 combined ( Fig. 22G); hind basitarsus 2.9 × second tarsomere length; second tarsomere 1.5 × length of third; third tarsomere 2.5 × length of fourth; fourth tarsomere 0.4 × length of fifth; tarsal claw with four slender tooth-like processes, basal one very weak.

Metasoma. Pyriform (lateral view) ( Fig. 21A), sharply compressed laterally; petiole elongate, slightly widened apically, 4.0 × its apical width; petiole and tergite 2 polished and shiny; remaining tergites nearly coriaceous, with short and dense setae.

Female. Unknown.

Intraspecific variation. Examined 3♂. The colour pattern is not variable. Body length: 7.5–8.7 (♂); fore wing length: 5.3–6.1 mm (♂).

Taxonomic remarks. The new species is not obviously related to any known species. It is mainly distinguished by the combination of the colour pattern along with the shape of the head, bearing a long and dense pubescence, especially on temples, the shape of the mesosoma, especially the anterior part of mesoscutum which protrudes dorsally.

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. Northeastern Laos (Houaphanh province) ( Fig. 23).