Apoica (Apoica) ellenae Pickett, 2007

PICKETT, KURT M. & WENZEL, JOHN W., 2007, Revision and Cladistic Analysis of the Nocturnal Social Wasp Genus, Apoica Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Polistinae, Epiponini), American Museum Novitates 3562 (1), pp. 1-32 : 23

Apoica (Apoica) ellenae Pickett , new species figures 19 , 20A

DIAGNOSIS: Eye hairs sparsely present and prominent over the entire surface of the eyes. Mesonotum sits more deeply into the pronotum than in other Apoica ( fig. 20A ). Pronotal fovea recessed into a pit. Metanotal bristles curved; mesonotal bristles not reaching anterior margin; mesonotum, metanotum, and dorsal metasoma covered with fine, silverygrey pubescence.

DESCRIPTION: Wing length 15.0 mm. Color — Brown cuticle with silvery-grey ‘‘frosting’’ (especially the dorsal metasoma) due to fine pubescence. Two short pale longitudinal mesonotal marks appear medial to parapsidial furrows, but not reaching anterior or posterior border of the mesonotum.

DISTRIBUTION: Apoica ellenae is known only from the type locality, Barro Colorado Island , Panama .

TYPE MATERIAL: Female holotype: Panama CZ, Barro Colorado I., 6–12 XI 1980, H. Wolda I. N . SM, deposited in the Bohart Museum of Natural History ( UCD).

ETYMOLOGY: The name honors KMP’s late sister-in-law, Ellen English Pickett, who loved animals.

REMARKS: The phylogenetic placement of A. ellenae is uncertain, mainly because neither male genitalia characters nor DNA can be coded. A. ellenae is certainly a member of subgenus Apoica , due to its possession of a reduced anal lobe in the hind wing and the structure of the flagellomeres (see below). Its robust form would suggest a potentially close relationship with A. albimacula or A. thoracica ; this is further supported by the presence of a pit into which the pronotal fovea is recessed. However, the silvery dorsal metasomal pubescence resembles that of A. gelida , which would tend to place A. ellenae among the more derived Apoica . Resolution of this matter awaits the collection of males and other female specimens. Unfortunately, this may not be forthcoming. As Barro Colorado Island is so heavily trafficked by research scientists, it seems unlikely that the species could go uncollected, save a single specimen, if the species were extant. Perhaps fragmented populations persist elsewhere.

Figures

Fig. 19. Habitus of the lone specimen and holotype of Apoica ellenae. Scale bar 5 5.0 mm.

Fig. 20. A: Apoica ellenae. Mesonotum sits lower relative to pronotum, mesonotal bristles do not reach anterior margin; B: Apoica thoracica. Mesonotum sits higher (typical), mesonotal bristles reach anterior margin.