Traumatomutilla ingens ( André, 1903 )

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 : 46-50

Traumatomutilla ingens ( André, 1903)

( Figs 15A–C , 16A–F )

Ephuta (Traumatomutilla) ingens André, 1903: 452 , lectotype [designated here], ♀, Argentina, Santiago del Estero (MNHN), examined.

Mutilla tristis (nec Klug, 1821): Burmeister 1875: 471, ♀ [nec ♂], misidentification, synonymized by André (1908c) (MACN).

Traumatomutilla ingens: André, 1904: 40 : Nonveiller 1990: 79, ♀.

Diagnosis. FEMALE. Mesonotum as wide as distance between pronotal spiracles, sculpture of lateral face of propodeum sparser anteroventrad, tibial spurs white, dorsal face of propodeum much shorter than virtually vertical posterior face. MALE. Cuspis club-like, laterally flattened, and conspicuously broader apicad in lateral view, scutellum gibbose with dorsal face shorter than posterior face, mesopleuron tuberculate on dorsal half, axillar projections acute.

Description. FEMALE. Body length 18–20 mm. Head. Posterior margin virtually straight. Occipital carina evenly arched and equally wide throughout. Vertex width 0.9 × pronotal width. Eye almost circular, its length in frontal view virtually equal to the distance from its ventral margin to mandibular condyle. Head sculpture mostly partially concealed by dense setation, densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to punctate where visible; sculpture less dense and coarse on gena and mala space. Genal carina present, well-defined. Mandible oblique, tapering slightly towards with small subapical tooth. Dorsal scrobal carina present, extending over antennal tubercles and narrowly separated from poorly defined and irregular lateral carina. Antennal tubercle coarsely and irregularly rugose. Flagellomere 1 2.55 × pedicel length; flagellomere 2 1.65 × pedicel length. Mesosoma . Length 0.8 × width. Mesosomal dorsum densely and coarsely areolate-punctate with smooth intervals; medial longitudinal carina on mesonotum present, well-defined, not reaching scutellar area; medial longitudinal carina present on dorsal face of propodeum; areolations on mesonotum slightly less defined adjacent to longitudinal carina; scutellar area simply and densely punctate. Anterior face of pronotum defined, long, as long as pronotal collar, indistinctly and coarsely striated longitudinally ventrad, densely and coarsely punctured dorsad; dorsal face roundly angulate into anterior face in lateral view. Humeral carina well-defined, broadly separated from slightly projected and rounded epaulet, anterolateral corners of pronotum rounded in dorsal view. Pronotal spiracle narrowly projected from lateral margin of pronotum, rounded. Lateral face of pronotum densely punctate with dense interspersed micropunctures, slightly swollen anterior to pronotal spiracle; mesopleuron sculpture mostly concealed by dense setation, micropunctate anteriorly and densely coarsely foveolate-punctate along mesopleural ridge where visible; metapleuron sculpture concealed by dense setation, except dorsal third completely asetose, smooth. Lateral face of propodeum densely foveolate-punctate to throughout with smooth shinning intervals, never wider than surrounding foveolations. Ratios of width of humeral angles, pronotal spiracles, widest point of mesonotum, narrowest point of mesonotum and propodeum posterior to propodeal spiracles, 64:85:83:63:58. Lateral margin of mesonotum constricted anterior to propodeal spiracle, strongly diverging anteriad, mesonotum with expanded lateral margin. Propodeal spiracle slightly projected from lateral margin of mesosoma; post-spiracular area absent. Scutellar scale and anterolateral carinae indistinct, irregular, reduced to transverse irregular intervals narrowly delineating scutellar area which is densely and finely punctate; scabrous intervals absent on scutellar area. Propodeum gibbose, dorsal face virtually apparently shorter than posterior face. Metasoma. Ratios of width of T1, width of T2 and length of T2, 21:42:41. Disc of T2 densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to punctate with dense interspersed micropunctures throughout; foveolations slightly sparser and larger laterally and over integumental spots. T3–5 sculpture predominantly concealed by dense setation, densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to simply punctate with interspersed micropunctures where visible; T6, except pygidial plate, completely concealed by dense setation. S1 densely, coarsely and confusedly foveolate-punctate, surface cuneiform, ending in sub-sharp longitudinal medial carina slightly higher posteriorly. S2 densely and finely foveolate-punctate, with conspicuous unsculptured medial longitudinal area; anteromedial crest-fold indistinct. S3–6 sculpture completely concealed by dense setation. Pygidial plate broadly subpyriform, defined by lateral carinae at apical third of plate; surface mostly irregularly longitudinally rugose; interstice apparently granulose.

MALE. Body length 19–20 mm. Head. Transversely subrectangular with posterolateral angles rounded in dorsal view; lateral margin subparallel posterior to eyes, not contiguous with eyes outline, 0.8 × pronotal width. Eye almost circular. Ocelli small; OOD 3.9 × DLO, IOD 1.1 × DLO. Occipital carina distinct. Head surface densely and finely punctate with sparse interspersed micropunctate, 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, slightly convex dorsomedially, virtually flat ventromedially; densely and coarsely punctate; apical/ventral margin with a pair of medial subrounded free teeth. Scape bicarinate. Flagellomere 1 2.3 × pedicel length; flagellomere 2 2.9 × pedicel length. Mandible obliquely tridentate apically, inner tooth slightly larger than medial 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 densely punctate with interspersed micropunctations throughout. Tegula convex, mostly glabrous and impunctate except for dense coarse punctures on along inner and anterior margins. Mesoscutum densely and finely foveolate-punctate, parapsis present, notaulus vestigial, both reduced to posterior half of mesoscutum. Scutellum subglobose, with well-defined dorsal and posterior faces, densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate; with broad longitudinal unsculptured “carina-like” area medially. Axilla produced posterolaterally acute projection, 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 and posterior faces indistinguishable. Lateral face of pronotum densely and coarsely punctate with dense interspersed micropunctures; mesopleura with conspicuous rounded blunt tubercle on dorsal half; mesopleural sculpture densely and coarsely areolate-punctate to foveolate-punctate with interspersed micropunctures along anterior margin. Metapleuron sparsely micropunctate to smooth throughout, except for basal fourth densely and coarsely areolate-punctate. 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 0.4 × as wide as T2. T2 length 0.9 × 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 apicad, granulose basad, broader than long, weakly defined by parallel carinae apicolaterally. S1 longitudinally elevated medially, terminating in slightly concave blunt longitudinal carina, slightly higher posteriorly. S2 coarsely and sparsely foveolate-punctate to punctate, with interspersed micropunctations laterally, conspicuous medial subovate pit densely filled with setae; longitudinal anteromedial crest-fold present. S3–6 sparsely and coarsely foveolate-punctate with sparse interspersed micropunctures; S7 densely foveolate-punctate with well-defined medial longitudinal unsculptured area; longer than broad, well-defined by lateral carinae throughout, posterior margin projected medially, 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, 60:37:11; paramere marginally sinuous in dorsal view, upcurved apically in lateral view; with sparse setae ventrally on basal half; cuspis broad, ellongate club-like, laterally compressed at apical half, slightly wider apicad in dorsal view and conspicuously wider apicad in lateral view, outer surface somewhat concave; with strong setae apically on ventral, outer and dorsal margins; paracuspis well-developed, not sessile, lobe-like, subrounded, virtually as wide as long with rounded posterior margin and sparsely setose along posterior margin in lateral view predominantly, setae overall shorter than paracuspis; digitus short, slightly curved inward in dorsal view and upcurved in lateral view, sparsely setose basodorsally, apex somewhat expanded in lateral view, knob-like; penis valve with inner surface strongly concave, with well-defined pair of short teeth posteroventrally; posterior tooth acute, subposterior tooth subacute, externolateral pocket present, reduced; apical distance between teeth 0.1 × length of valve; dense setae present along truncate posterior margin and inconspicuous setae present at base of subposterior tooth on external surface.

Coloration and variations. FEMALES. Body and appendages predominantly black to brownish-black, except most flagellomeres and mandibles partially reddish-black to reddish-brown; T2 with four longitudinally subovate orange to reddish integumental spots. Body setae predominantly black varying in density, except for the following areas with silvery-white varying in density: posterior half of mesoscutum laterally, mesopleuron posteroventrally, metapleuron predominantly, propodeal dorsum laterally; T1 laterall, T2 disc (except areas in between integumental spots), fringe of T2–3 medially and laterally, fringe of T4–6 medially, S1–3, and fringe of S2–3. Tibial spurs yellowish-white. MALES. Integument black, except antennal flagellomeres and mandibles partially reddish-brown. Body setae predominantly black varying in density, except following areas with silvery-white setae varying in density: metanotum medially, propodeal dorsum, anterolateral corners of T2, fringe of T2–4 laterally, S1–4, and fringe of S2–3. Tibial spurs yellowish-white. Wings light brown infuscated, except basal third hyaline, with faint purplish reflections.

Distribution. Paraguay and Argentina

Material examined. (26♀, 8♂) Type material. Lectotype, ♀, Argentina, Santiago del Estero ( MNHN) . Additional material. BRAZIL: 1♀, Kriechbaum ( MNHN) ; Mariposa [sic] , 1♀, 1915, M. Pic ( MNHN) ; Minas Gerais, Sertão de Diamantina , Fazenda das Melancias , 1♀, 10.XI.1902, E. Gounelle ( MNCN) ; PARAGUAY, Chaco, Teniente Enciso , 1♀, 02.XI.2001, G. Arriagada ( FSCA) ; Boqueron, 1♀, I.1991, Peña ( MIUP) ; Boqueron, Parque Nacional Teniente Enciso , 213 msnm, 21°12’S 61°39’W , 1♀, 1.IV.2004, B. Garcete ( MIUP) ; Presidente Hayes, Es- calante, 151 msnm, 23°48’ S 60°46’W , 1♀, 27–28.XI.2003, B. Garcete ( MIUP) ; Alto Paraguay, La Victoria, Puerto La Esperanza , 79 msnm, 22°01’S 58°01’W , 2♀, 29.XI–4.XII.2006, B. Garcete ( MIUP) . ARGENTINA: Santiago del Estero: 1♀, Konow ( MNHN) ; Banks of the Salado river , outskirst of Icaño : 2♀, 1910, E.R. Wagner ( MNHN) ; 1♀, XII.1910, E.R. Wagner ( MNHN) ; 25 km north of Icaño, Marshes of the Salado river, Paso de Don Jose , 2♀, decembre, janvier, 1910, E.R. Wagner ( MNHN) ; Rio Salado , 6♀, Décembre ( MNCN) ; Salta, La Viña: II.1984, Fritz ( AMNH) ; 1♀, III.1984, Fritz ( AMNH) ; 1♀, 22–25.XII.1983, M. Wasbauer ( AMNH) ; 3♂, II.1984, Fritz ( AMNH) ; 1♂, II.1993, Fritz ( EMUS) ; 1♂, II.1988, Fritz ( AMNH) ; 1♂, II.1987, Fritz ( AMNH) ; 1♂, I.1985, Fritz ( AMNH) ; 1♂, I.1984, Fritz ( AMNH) .

Remarks. Traumatomutilla ingens is the third species in a small apparent sub-group, which includes T. aemulata and T. grossa , and is characterized by large and stout bodied species in both sexes and males with a highly modified club-like cuspis. The sex association was made possible due to distribution and “morphological clues” provided by T. aemulata and T. grossa . A large bodied male morphospecies was found in relatively large numbers in Salta, Argentina, having the typical club-like cuspis of T. characterea , from which it differs mainly in the tuberculate mesopleuron (simply swollen in T. characterea ). Coincidentally, the only large-bodied female to occur in the same area was T. ingens , which shares the overall body shape, indistinct scutellar armature, and mesosomal sculpture of T. grossa . Burmeister (1875) identified a few females in MACN as T. tristis ( Klug, 1821) and described the male of that species based on three males, all from Argentina. André (1908c) disassociated the sexes, stating that the females belonged to his recently described species T. ingens but the males labeled as T. tristis by Burmeister could not be confidently associated with the females because two of them belonged to T. foveiventris ( Gerstaecker, 1874) , now a synonym of T. tristis , and the third belonged to T. characterea .

Figures

FIGURES 15A–C. Traumatomutilla ingens (André, 1903), lectotype, ♀, line 2 mm; A. Dorsal habitus; B. Lateral habitus; C. Type labels.

FIGURES 16A–F. Traumatomutilla ingens (André, 1903), ♂, line 2 mm; A. Lateral habitus; B. Genitalia (halved), dorsal view; C. Genitalia (halved), ventral view; D. Genitalia (halved, penis valve removed), lateral/inner view; E. Cuspis (removed, not to scale), lateral/inner view; F. Penis valve (removed, not to scale), lateral/outer view.