Sphaeropthalma nocticaro Pitts, 2005

Pitts, James P., 2005, Description of a new species in the Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica species­group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), Zootaxa 1050, pp. 39-43 : 40-43

Sphaeropthalma nocticaro Pitts , New Species ( Figs. 1–5 )

Diagnosis. This species is easily differentiated from other members of the S. pensylvanica species­group by the piceous integumental coloration ( Fig. 1 ), the white brachyplumose setae, and T3 being completely covered in distinct, white, plumose setae ( Fig. 1 ).

Description of Male Holotype. Coloration and Setal Pattern. Integument piceous, flagellum black ( Fig. 1 ). Body covered in sparse erect white brachyplumose setae, except front also with indistinct piceous brachyplumose setae present, and mesonotum, tibiae, tarsi, disk of T2, T4–T7 and S6–S7 also with piceous brachyplumose setae ( Fig. 1 ). Fringe of T1–T3 with dense distinct white plumose setae ( Fig. 1 ). T3 disk covered in dense plumose white setae obscuring sculpture; some plumose setae yellow tinged ( Fig. 1 ). Wings infuscate with simple brown setae ( Fig. 1 ). Pterostigma and veins dark brown.

Head. Subquadrate posteriorly; parallel behind eyes; moderately punctate throughout ( Figs. 2, 3 ). Eye small, barely protruding ( Figs. 2, 3 ). Ocellus small, interocellar distance ~2.75X lateral ocellus diameter, ocellocular distance ~4.5X lateral ocellus diameter ( Fig. 2 ). Glabrous triangular region present anterior to median ocellus. Antennal scrobe carinate dorsally; tubercle present. Mandible tridentate (well­worn in holotype), broad and vertical throughout ( Fig. 3 ). Mandible with slight ventral excision resulting in basal angulation. Clypeus truncate apically, distinctly curved dorsally, with 2 small tubercles set back from corners of truncation. Clypeus greatly depressed below dorsal margin of mandibles ( Fig. 2, 3 ). Malar space ~ 2X observed length of pedicel. First flagellomere ~2.25X length of pedicle. Second flagellomere slightly longer than first.

Mesosoma . Moderately punctate. Notali complete. Parapsidal furrows present on posterior ~0.66 of mesonotum. Pronotum nitid anterior to epaulets, area almost reaching anterior margin. Propodeum coarsely punctate dorsally, vertical and lateral faces reticulate, becoming coarsely punctate ventrally. Dorsal face with median area longitudinally concave. Mesosternum unarmed. Metasternum truncate with small median tooth present. Coxae and trochanters unarmed. Marginal cell ~ 2X length of stigma as measured along costa. Wings with 3 submarginal cells.

Metasoma. T1 nodose with T2. T1 moderately punctate laterally and apically, otherwise sparsely punctate with interstitial area nitid. T2 with small dense punctures; interstitial width less than diameter of punctures, nitid. T3–T6 micropunctate, appearing granulate. T7 wider than long; nitid, except for apical margin with setigerous punctures bearing fringe of short hooked setae. S2 felt line absent, although micropunctures present in felt line area. Punctation of sternites similar to respective tergites, except S7 with small punctations. S7 wider than long. Apical margin of S7 broadly triangulate.

Genitalia. Paramere arcuate, stout at base, tapering toward apex, curved dorsally ( Figs. 4, 5 ). Dense setae present on ventral margin of paramere ( Figs. 4, 5 ). Cuspis elongate, 0.8X free length of paramere, basal portion cylindrical, dilated and flatted towards apex, inner and outer margin with long dense setae, tips of setae plumose with many branches, basal portion with plumose tipped setae ventrally, small basal pit present with long simple to brachyplumose setae, dorsum asetose ( Figs. 4, 5 ). Basal lobe present on cuspis, setose ( Figs. 4, 5 ). Digitus cylindrical, short, minutely pubescent ( Figs. 4, 5 ). Penis valve bidentate ventrally, not angulate dorsally ( Figs. 4, 5 ).

Length. ~ 14 mm.

Female. Unknown.

Type Material. Holotype: “Temascal, Oax[aca], Mex[ico], VI­22­64, D.H. Janzen, Collector”. Deposited into CISC. Paratype: “ Guatemala, Petén, Ruinas de Tikal, 27/29 August, 1974, E.M. Fisher, collr.” Deposited into LACM.

Etymology. From the Latin noctu “by night” and Latin caro “flesh”, in reference to the black coloration of the integument.

Remarks. This species easily keys out to the subgenus Sphaeropthalma (now the S. pensylvanica species­group; see Pitts et al. 2004) in Manley and Pitts (2002). In general, this species is quite similar morphologically to other species in this species­group, except for the coloration and white plumose setal mentioned previously. This species is also probably diurnal like the other members of this group as deduced from the very small ocelli and dark integumental coloration. The genitalia also differ from the other species. For S. nocticaro , the paramere has ventral setae present much further towards the apex, the basal portion of cuspis is not as densely setose ventrally, and the digitus is much larger in comparison to the cuspis. There is also a slight difference in the shape of the apex of the cuspis between S. nocticaro and the other species.

As with most organisms, morphological variation has been documented for many of the Sphaeropthalma species. Because only two specimens are available, variation cannot be adequately addressed for S. nocticaro at this time. Furthermore, the holotype and paratype are quite similar morphologically, differing only in wear of the mandibular teeth. Normal variation with male Sphaeropthalma usually includes a large range in body size. For smaller individuals, the diameter and coarseness of punctations are normally reduced, and the integumental coloration is lighter ( Ferguson, 1962). Variation of this type is expected for S. nocticaro once more specimens are found. The diagnostic characters, however, used to differentiate this species from other members of the Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica species­group are unlikely to vary given the normal variation seen in other members of this group, as well as for Sphaeropthalma as a whole.

Figures

FIGURE 1 – 3. Holotype of Sphaeropthalma nocticaro, sp. nov., 1. Habitus, lateral view; 2. Head, dorsal view; 3. Head, frontal view.

FIGURE 4 – 5. Holotype of Sphaeropthalma nocticaro, sp. nov., genitalia. 4. Dorsal view, right, ventral view, left; 5. Lateral view.