Zethus (Zethus) caetetus Hermes

Hermes, Marcel G., 2012, Two new species of eumenine wasps in the genus Zethus Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) from the New World, Zootaxa 3401, pp. 43-48 : 44-46

Zethus (Zethus) caetetus Hermes , sp. nov.

( Figs 1–8 )

Comments and diagnosis. Within the Zethus heydeni group, Z. caetetus is one of the few species with a ventrolateral crest running from the apical margin to the spiracle of T1 ( Fig. 8 ). It differs from Z. plaumanni Bohart and Stange and Z. inca Kirsch by having two developed yellow welts on the mesoscutum (the mesoscutm is almost entirely black on these two species). Z. caetetus differs from Z. cerceroides Zavattari by having a S1 and S2 nearly equal in length (S1 is longer than S 2 in Z. cerceroides ) and far less yellow maculation on its entire body (see Fig. 78 in Bohart & Stange 1965). Also, the geographical distribution may serve as additional evidence for the separation of the two species: while Z. cerceroides in known from Central America and Bolivia, Z. caetetus was collected in southeastern Brazil.

Type material. Holotype, Ƥ ( DZUP), Brazil: “Estação Ecológica dos Caetetus / Gália, São Paulo, Brasil / 22º22'51''S – 49º40'26''W / L.C. Rocha-Filho col. / B29(6) 22/XI/11 ”.

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Body length 12,1 mm. Coloration. Integument black with yellow markings as follows: base of mandibles; apex of clypeus; large spots on lateral portions of clypeus; spots on frons; stripes on inner and outer lower margins of compound eyes; longitudinal stripes from upper lobe of compound eye almost reaching occipital carina; small stripes on region between gena and vertex; longitudinal stripe on scape beneath; transverse stripe on anterior carina of proespisternum; stripe on pronotum adjacent to pronotal carina running backwards to tegula; spots on lateral surface of proepisternum on fovea; spots on mesepisternum near pronotal lobe; longitudinal narrow stripes on mesoscutum; large spots on scutellum; inner margin of tegulae; parategulae entirely; metanotum entirely; large and wide stripes on posterior surface of propodeum; stripes on inner and outer surfaces of fore femora; anterior surface of fore and mid tibiae; spots on anterior surface of mid coxae; apical transverse stripe on T1 running frontwards laterally to spiracle; preapical transverse stripes on T2-5 and S2-5. Inner surface of flagellum, pronotal lobe, mid tegulae, tarsi and wings chestnut; venation blackish.

Pilosity. Body almost entirely covered by short and sparse golden erect setae, which become denser and longer on posterior surface of propodeum, T1 and S1-2.

Surface of integument. Clypeus, frons and mesoscutum striatopunctate ( Fig. 3 ); pronotum and mesepisternum coarsely punctate with micropunctures indicated but obsolete ( Fig. 2 ); scuto-scutellar suture crenate; punctures on scutellum somewhat indicated and sparse, weakly striatopunctate on middle; sculpture of posterior surface of propodeum irregular, striate ( Fig. 6 ); T1 coarsely punctate and densely micropunctate ( Figs 5, 8 ); T2 densely micropunctate and punctures sparse and weakly indicated ( Fig. 7 ).

Structure. Apex of clypeus truncate ( Fig. 3 ); occipital carina evident, simple and running to base of mandibles, not forked laterally but at least with indication of the hypostomal branch; pronotal carina raised and lamellar, translucent; epicnemial carina indicated ( Fig. 2 ); tegulae elongate, outer margin weakly rounded and posterior lobe narrowly defined; submedian propodeal carina evident but low; submarginal carina raised laterally, lower medially; valvula free posteriorly and quadrate ( Fig. 4 ); mid tibiae with two apical spurs; T1 expanded medially toward middle in dorsal view ( Fig. 5 ), slightly raised in profile, with a shallow transverse subapical furrow on dorsal surface; T1 with ventrolateral crest from apical margin to spiracle ( Fig. 8 ); T2 and S2 with wide and translucent apical lamella ( Fig. 7 ).

MALE unknown.

Distribution. Brazil: São Paulo (known from the type locality only).

Etymology. The name refers to the locality where the specimen was collected.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Zethus caetetus sp. nov., Ƥ, holotype. 1, Habitus; 2, Mesosoma, lateral view; 3, Head, frontal view; 4, Detail of the lower lateral portion of propodeum showing submarginal carina and valvula; 5, T 1, dorsal view; 6, Posterior surface of propodeum; 7, T 2, dorsal view; 8, T 1, lateral view. Scale bar for fig. 1 = 2 mm, fig. 2 = 1 mm, and figs 3 – 8 = 0,5 mm.