Lyroda nuda Mawadda & Girish Kumar, 2021

Mawadda, N. V. Ayisha, Kumar, P. Girish & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, Additions to the knowledge of the genus Lyroda Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) from India with the descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 5005 (2), pp. 201-217 : 205-208

Lyroda nuda Mawadda & Girish Kumar sp. nov.

( Figs 10–18 )

Diagnosis. Lyroda nuda is characterized by the anterior margin of clypeus with two sets of three teeth laterally, two teeth medially and two sets of two intermediate teeth, median set of clypeal teeth narrow and cuspidate ( Figs 12 & 59 ). Forewing with infumation crossing two submarginal cells and apex of second discoidal cell ( Fig. 16 ). The most outstanding character which separates this species from all other Indian Lyroda is its very sparse body setation, particularly on the lower frons and the clypeus, giving these areas a glabrous appearance ( Figs 11 & 12 ).

Description. Holotype ♀ ( Fig. 10 ). Head. Head broader than long; HW1.30–1.35 × HL; IODc 1.13–1.20 × IODv; POD 1.09–1.11 × OOD; inner eye orbits at vertex parallel; vertex and frons punctate, slightly alutaceous, PIS on average ≥ to PD; median furrow distinctly dividing frons into two portions ( Fig. 11 ); clypeus almost bare (without setae), punctate, alutaceous, PIS on average ≥ PD, anterior margin of clypeus usually with one set of two cuspidate teeth medially and two sets of three prominent teeth at lateral margins, with two sets of two intermediate teeth ( Figs 12 & 59 ); mandible deeply cut near base to give rise to two tooth like prominences, distinctly incised at base on outer margin; antennae thin, scape as long as F2, F1 slightly longer (1.05–1.54 ×) than F2, F1 3.05–3.15 × its apical width.

Thorax. Pronotal collar lower than scutum, with three prominent protuberances; anterior third of scutum with two medial, parallel carinae diverging posteriorly, scutum with medial longitudinal depression; propleuron with oblique furrow; mesopleuron convex; scutum, scutellum and metanotum alutaceous with fine dense punctures, PIS on average ≤ PD; forewing with blackish infumation crossing two submarginal cells and apex of second discoidal cell ( Fig. 16 ); hind tibiae with 7–9 spines on posterior external margin.

Propodeum. Dorsum with median carina extending close to posterior margin where short transverse carinae are present, surface rugoso-reticulate ( Fig. 14 ), without lateral carina; occasionally rugae join to form carina-like structure, side shiny with minute punctures, PIS on average greater than PD, distinctly alutaceous ( Fig. 15 ); posterior surface with narrow, wedge shaped deep median furrow, side of furrow with somewhat sinuate rugae.

Gaster. Basal platform of first tergum approximately triangular with constriction, having distinct edges; width of Gt1 1.25–1.30 × its length ( Fig. 17 ); gaster micropunctate with microscopic setae, alutaceous; pygidium triangular with lateral carinae as in figure 18.

Vestiture. Setae silvery; clypeus and lower frons almost glabrous, clypeus with very sparse setae mixed with scattered golden coloured long bristles ( Figs 11 & 12 ); sparse scattered setae on base of mandible, antenna, gena, frons, vertex, posterior sides of pronotal collar, posterior and posterolateral area of scutum, lateral sides of scutellum and metanotum, tibiae, femora, all sides of propodeum, and sternal areas of thorax; discontinuous silvery band of pile on Gt1–Gt3 ( Fig. 17 ); alutaceous with microscopic setae; pygidium with dense, stiff brown setae mixed with longer erect brown bristles.

Colouration. Black; mandible, tegula, tibial spurs and tarsal claws more or less ferruginous; wings hyaline, slightly infumated at two submarginal cells and at apex of second discoidal cell, veins testaceous, stigma, subcostal and radial cell blackish brown.

Variation. On anterior clypeal margin, two intermediate sets of two teeth are usually present. Sometimes, however, the intermediate set is represented by a single tooth on one side compared to two teeth on the other side.

BL. 8.87–9.87 mm.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. India: Kerala.

Etymology. The name of the species ‘ nuda’ is a Latin feminine adjective derived from ‘nudus’ which means nude. A bare appearance of the clypeus and lower frons and sparse setae on other body parts distinguish this species from the other Lyroda .

Discussion. According to the key to Oriental Lyroda provided by Li et al. 2009, females of this new species resemble L. salai Giner Marí and L. aurea sp. nov. in having a similar arrangement of teeth on the anterior clypeal margin and shape of medial sets of teeth and infumation pattern on forewing. Lyroda nuda , however, is characterized by very sparse silvery setae, especially on the clypeus and lower frons and sparse on the antenna, gena, frons, vertex, posterior side of pronotal collar, posterior and posterolateral area of scutum, lateral sides of scutellum and metanotum, tibiae, femora, all sides of propodeum and sternal areas of thorax, giving a glabrous appearance to these areas (in L. aurea sp. nov. dense golden setae are present on the clypeus, lower frons, and other mentioned body parts; in L. salai Giner Marí , dense silvery setae are present on antennae, frons, clypeus, gena, tibiae, femora and both lateral and sternal areas of the thorax). In L. nuda sp. nov. punctures on the clypeus and lower frons are sparser than in L. aurea sp. nov., PIS being on average ≥ PD (in L. aurea sp. nov., punctures on the clypeus and lower frons are denser, PIS on average ≤ PD).

Material examined. Holotype ♀, INDIA: Kerala, Kozhikode district, Purameri (11°40’29’’N, 75°35’43’’E), 4.ix.2018, Coll. K.P. Hanima Raveendran, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/16522 . Paratypes ♀, collection data as that of holotype, 8.x.2018, (2 ♀) ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/16523 & 16524; INDIA: Kerala , Kannur district, Koothuparamb, (1 ♀) (11°50’18’’N, 75°34’58’’E), 30.ix.2020, Coll. Sr. Jeena Lisb, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC/IR/INV/16525; INDIA: Kerala, Kozhikode district, Vilakkottur (2 ♀) (11°45’32’’N, 75°38’40’’E), 14.ix.2019 & 25.x.2018, Coll. K.P. Hanima Raveendran, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/ WGRC/IR/INV/16526–16527, 16529 .

Figures

FIGURES 10–18. Lyroda nuda Mawadda & Girish Kumar sp. nov. Holotype ♀. 10. Habitus, lateral view; 11. Head, frontal view; 12. Lower half of head, frontal view; 13. Head & thorax; 14. Propodeum, dorsal view; 15. Thorax, lateral view; 16. Forewing; 17. Gaster, dorsal view; 18. Pygidium.

FIGURES 58–64. Anterior clypeal margins: 58. Lyroda aurea sp. nov. holotype ♀; 59. Lyroda nuda sp. nov. holotype ♀; 60. Lyroda salai Giner Marí. ♀; 61. Lyroda binghami Tsuneki. ♀; 62. Lyroda binghami Tsuneki. ♂; 63. Lyroda formosa (Smith). ♀; 64. Lyroda formosa (Smith). ♂.