Traumatomutilla bellica ( Cresson, 1902 )

Bartholomay, Pedro R., Williams, Kevin A., Luz, David R., Cambra, Roberto A. & Oliveira, Márcio Luiz de, 2019, Traumatomutilla André miscellanea: Revision of the bellica, bifurca, diabolica, and vitelligera species groups, and a new group for the new species T. pilkingtoni Bartholomay and Williams (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae: Sphaeropthalminae: Dasymutillini), Insecta Mundi 709 (709), pp. 1-37 : 24-25

Traumatomutilla bellica ( Cresson, 1902)

( Fig. 51–55 )

Mutilla bellica Cresson 1902: 40 . Holotype (designated by Cresson (1916: 80)) female, Brazil, [Mato Grosso do Sul], Chapada [dos Guimarães] (CMNH), examined.

Ephuta (Traumatomutilla) bellica André 1902: 54 (new combination).

Traumatomutilla bellica André 1904: 40 (new combination).

Diagnosis. Female. In addition to the structural characters referenced in the species groups diagnosis, T. bellica can be defined by its entirely black head and dorsum of mesosoma, and its longitudinal yellow integumental spots on T2.

Description. Female. Body length 8-10 mm. Head. Posterior margin nearly straight. Occipital carina uniformly wide throughout; tubercles of vertex absent. Head width 0.8 × pronotal width. Eye almost circular, its length in frontal virtually 1.4 × the distance from its ventral margin to mandibular condyle. Front, vertex, and gena densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate, more finely so on gena and malar space; intervals slightly scabrous on front. Genal carina present, well defined, short, broadly separated from gular carina. Mandibles with small subapical tooth, unarmed ventrally and dorsally. Dorsal scrobal carina present, narrowly separated from antennal tubercles and broadly separated from lateral scrobal carina; lateral scrobal carina reduced to longitudinal impunctate smooth area. Antennal tubercles sculpture indistinct, apparently irregularly smooth. Flagellomere 1 2.5 × pedicel length; flagellomere 2 1.75 × pedicel length. Mesosoma. Mesosoma 0.8 × as long as wide. Pronotum slightly wider than mesothorax. Anterior face of propodeum distinct from dorsal face, short, vestigially longitudinally striate ventrally and coarsely foveolate-punctate dorsally. Mesosomal dorsum densely, sharply and finely areolate-punctate throughout; intervals aligned appearing to form sinuous longitudinal carinae. Humeral carina present, well developed, slightly produced apically, disconnected from slightly pronounced epaulet; antero-lateral corners of pronotum angulate in dorsal view. Pronotal spiracle virtually flat against lateral margin of pronotum. Sculpture of lateral face of pronotum predominantly micropunctate, except dorsal third sharply areolate-punctate and anterior margin sparsely foveolate-punctate. Mesopleuron sculpture predominantly micropunctate, except along mesopleural ridge sparsely foveolate-punctate. Metapleuron predominantly micropunctate, except ventral fourth coarsely foveolate-punctate and dorsal third unsculptured, smooth. Lateral face of propodeum micropunctate, for few scattered punctures along posterior and anterior margin. Post-spiracular area defined, with few sparse punctures. Ratios of width of humeral angles, pronotal spiracles, widest point of mesonotum, narrowest point of mesonotum and propodeum posterior to propodeal spiracles, 79:79:77:65:57. Lateral margin of mesosoma not constricted, simply diverging anterad and converging slightly posterior to pronotal spiracles. Scutellar, anterolateral carinae and scabrous intervals of scutellar area absent. Propodeal spiracle virtually flat against lateral margin of mesosoma. Posterior face of propodeum as long as dorsal face. Legs. Meso and metafemora strongly truncate apicolaterally; truncation deeply sulcate; apex of metafemora strongly and sub-acutely projected posteriorly. Metasoma. Ratios of width of T1, width of T2 and length of T2, 41:91:91. T2 maximum width posterior to midlength. Disc of T2 dense and coarse foveolate-punctate to coarse punctate; foveolations sparser and larger laterad and over integumental spots. T3–6, except pygidium, densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate. S1 anteriorly with vestigial longitudinal blunt crest. S2 sparsely foveolate-punctate; antero-medial crest-fold and subapical slope absent; sculpture smaller and sparser posteromediad. S3–6 dense coarse foveolate-punctate. Pygidium broad, sub-ovate, defined by lateral carinae except at basal third; surface with well-defined, slightly sinuous, longitudinal, uninterrupted, subparallel costae; interstice granulose.

Coloration and variations. No significant color or setae variations were observed. Body and appendages color predominantly reddish-brown to black, except for mandibles and antennal flagellomers partially orange-brown, and T2 with a pair of longitudinally elliptical yellow spots. Body setae predominantly brownish-black to black, except for silvery-white to silvery-golden setae varying in density on the following: lateral face of prontum; mesosomal pleurae; lateral face of propodeum; lateral felt lines, lateral margins and lateral spots on fringe of T2; lateral and medial spots on fringe of T3–4; medial spot on fringe of T5; T6 except pygidium; and S1–4.

Distribution. Brazil.

Material examined. (14♀) Type material. Holotype of Traumatomutilla bellica , ♀, BRAZIL, [Mato Grosso], Chapada [dos Guimarães ], [H.H. Smith] ( CMNH). Other material. BRAZIL, Mato Grosso, Chapada dos Guimarães, 4♀, 15.xi.2013, Melo, G.A.R., Luz, D.R., Williams, K.A. ( DZUP); 2♀, 16.xi.2013, Melo, G.A.R., Luz, D.R., Williams, K.A. ( DZUP) ; 2♀, 13.xi.2013, Melo, G.A.R., Luz, D.R., Williams, K.A. ( DZUP) ; 1♀, 12.xi.2013, Melo, G.A.R., Luz, D.R., Williams, K.A. ( DZUP) ; Mato Grosso, Chapada [dos Guimarães ], [H.H. Smith]: 1♀, v, ( CMNH); 2#, x, ( CMNH) ; 1♀, v, ( MNHN) .

Remarks. Five of the examined specimens were collected by H. H. Smith in Chapada dos Guimarães and formed the type series in Cresson’s (1902) paper. Over 100 years after these specimens were collected, nine additional females were collected by KAW and DRL in the same area. This strange species has apparently never been documented from any other locality. The color pattern for T. bellica approximates several other species from Chapada dos Guimarães, such as T. rectilineata André , T. andrei (Cresson) , and T. ipanema (Cresson) , appearing to be in an intermediate stage between circular spots on T2 (as T. virginalis ) and longitudinal spots as in the previously mentioned species.

Figures

Figures 51–55. Traumatomutilla bellica (Cresson, 1902), ♀, holotype. 51) Dorsal habitus, line 3mm. 52) Lateral habitus, line 3mm. 53) Head, frontal view. 54) T6 (pygidium), posterior view. 55) Holotype labels.