Zavatilla Tsuneki, 1993

Zhou, Hu-Ting, Lelej, Arkady S., Williams, Kevin A. & Liu, Jing-Xian, 2018, Revision of the Oriental genus Zavatilla Tsuneki (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae, Trogaspidiini), with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 4418 (2), pp. 101-120 : 102-103

Genus Zavatilla Tsuneki, 1993

Zavatilla Tsuneki, 1993: 42 (as subgenus of Smicromyrme Thomson, 1870 ); Lelej 1995: 2; 1996: 8; 2005: 77; Lelej & Brothers 2008: 66; Brothers & Lelej 2017: 97.

Type species. Mutilla gutrunae Zavattari, 1913 , ♂, by original designation.

Gender. Feminine.

Diagnosis. MALE. Punctures of upper head and mesosoma coarse, confluent, interspaces linear. Clypeus conspicuously concave, medially smooth and shiny with transverse anterior sculptured part and slight but distinct anteromedian emargination. Mandible bidentate apically , with moderate subbasal tooth beneath ( Fig. 26 ). Flagellomere 1 length 1.0–1.2 × width, 0.8–0.95 × flagellomere 2 length. Scape with one strong ventral carina. Mesoscutum with inconspicuous lateral ridges. Mesoscutellum evenly gibbous, with median carina on anterior inclination. Tegula long, protruding over scuto-scutellar suture. Prospurs simple. Metasomal tergum 2 with long lateral felt line, 3.8–4.0 × length of that on metasomal sternum 2. Metasomal tergum 7 with median longitudinal smooth shiny line that widens and is gibbous posterad. Sternum 8 (hypopygium) transversely depressed at base, without strong lateral carinae . Penis valves symmetrical. Volsella with cuspis equal to or slightly longer than penis valves ( Figs. 48, 51, 54 ), with digitus and distinct paracuspis. Parapenis much shorter than penis valve, apically thin, acuminated. FEMALE. Punctures of upper head and mesosoma coarse, confluent, interspaces linear. Mandible bidentate, upper tooth small and inconspicuous . Dorsal transverse curved carina of clypeus with two tubercles that are larger or smaller than basomedian one. Flagellomere 1 length 1.33–1.45 × apical width, 1.54–1.6 × flagellomere 2 length, which is 0.81–0.83 × its width. Genal carina developed, ending anterad on hypostomal carina with tubercle. Scutellar scale wide, 0.64–0.72 × distance between scutellar scale and inner border of posterior spiracle. Metasomal sternum 1 with more or less emarginated longitudinal carina . Metasomal tergum 2 posteriorly with fringe of dense golden (whitish) or black decumbent setae. Metasomal tergum 3 with continuous band of dense golden or whitish decumbent setae. Pygidial plate wide, 0.6–0.7 × total width of metasomal tergum 6, rounded laterally, inconspicuously carinated laterally, finely granulate or longitudinally striate in basal half.

Sex association. The female of the type species was originally described as Mutilla logei Zavattari, 1913 , as suggested by Lelej (2005).

Species included. The genus includes four species (including two new ones described below): Zavatilla gutrunae ( Zavattari, 1913) , ♂, ♀ (China: Taiwan), Z. flavotegulata ( Chen, 1957) , ♂, ♀ (China: Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hunan, Guangdong, Hainan); Z. xuzaifui sp. nov. ♂, ♀ (China: Guangdong, Yunnan, Hainan; Vietnam); Z. nepalensis sp. nov., ♀ (Nepal). Three species are known from both sexes and Z. nepalensis from females only.

Distribution. China (Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Hunan, Guangdong, Yunnan, Hainan), Vietnam, Nepal.

Remarks. The male of the genus Zavatilla differs from other Oriental genera of tribe Trogaspidiini with symmetric penis valves (former tribe Petersenidiini) by having the following set of characters: scape with one ventral carina, volsella with paracuspis, flagellomeres short (flagellomere 1 length 1.0–1.2 × width, 0.8–0.95 × flagellomere 2 length), and metasomal sternum 2 with short lateral felt line. The female of the genus Zavatilla differs from other Oriental genera of tribe Trogaspidiini with propodeum not wider than pronotum (former tribe Petersenidiini) by having the following set of characters: transverse curved carina of clypeus with two sublateral tubercles, which can be smaller or larger than basal median clypeal tubercle; scutellar scale wide (0.64–0.72 × distance between scutellar scale and inner border of posterior spiracle); and pygidial plate wide (0.6–0.7 × total width of metasomal tergum 6), carinated laterally, finely granulated or longitudinally striated in basal part and mostly smooth in apical part.

Figures

FIGURES 25–30. Zavatilla flavotegulata, ♂, Nanling. 25. Antenna; 26. Mandible; 27. Head, anterior view; 28, 29. Head and mesosoma (28, lateral view, 29, dorsal view); 30. Propodeum, dorsal view. (Photos H.-t. Zhou).

FIGURES 46–54. Zavatilla, ♂. 46–48. Z. gutrunae; 49–51. Z. flavotegulata, Nanling; 52–54. Z. xuzaifui sp. nov., holotype. 46, 49, 52. Genitalia, dorsal view; 47. Scape; 50, 53. Genitalia, lateral view; 48, 51, 54. Genitalia, ventral view. (Photos H.-t. Zhou).