Pseudophotopsis mascatiana Invrea, 1962

Soliman, Ahmed Mostafa, 2021, The velvet ant genus Pseudophotopsis Andre, 1896 (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) in the Arabian Peninsula, with the description of two new species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 82, pp. 361-415 : 361

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/jhr.82.65252
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C2CA4E54-C2FE-42DB-806A-6770DB6B5832
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treatment provided by	Journal of Hymenoptera Research by Pensoft
scientific name	Pseudophotopsis mascatiana Invrea, 1962
status

Treatment

Figures 15 View Figure 15 , 16 View Figure 16 , 17 View Figure 17 , 18 View Figure 18 , 19 View Figure 19 , 20 View Figure 20 , 21 View Figure 21 , 22 View Figure 22 ; 34A, B View Figure 34

Pseudophotopsis mascatiana Invrea, 1962: 324, (♂ holotype), “Migiurtinia” (Somalia).

Diagnosis.

Male (Figs 15 View Figure 15 - 17 View Figure 17 ; 34A, B View Figure 34 ). Body length 8.8-16 mm. Metasomal segments darkened, at most 7th segment yellowish-brown to red (Fig. 17B, C View Figure 17 ); fore wing slightly infuscate on distal half, with brown veins (Sc+R and pterostigma darker) (Fig. 17A View Figure 17 ); antennal flagellomeres more or less light brown (Fig. 16A View Figure 16 ). Distance between apex of lower mandibular tooth and upper mandibular ridge less than mandibular height at base (about 0.85 ×) (Fig. 16B View Figure 16 ); POD 1.3-1.6 × OOD (Fig. 15D View Figure 15 ); metanotal horns well developed, distinctly longer than wide (about 1.5 ×) (Fig. 16C View Figure 16 ); T1 distinctly long, about 1.45-1.65 × as long as maximal width (Fig. 15B View Figure 15 ); lateral felt line on T2 about 0.6-0.75 × as long as distance between felt line and posterior tergal margin; S2 with extremely small median basal tubercle (mostly absent) (Fig. 17C View Figure 17 ); parapenial lobe slightly oblique inward, with subrounded apex (Fig. 34A View Figure 34 ); genital ventral lobes at most oblique inward, with outer margin obtusely angulate (Fig. 34B View Figure 34 ).

Female (Figs 18 View Figure 18 - 22 View Figure 22 ). Body length 10.8-16.5 mm. Anterior ocellus absent, only a pair of poorly developed posterior ocelli present (Fig. 19B View Figure 19 ); distance between apex of mandibular lower tooth and upper mandibular ridge 0.86-0.88 × as long as mandibular height at the base (Fig. 19D View Figure 19 ); F1 about 1.2 × as long as F2 (Fig. 20A View Figure 20 ); mesosomal dorsum regularly punctate, with interspaces between punctures ridged but not tuberculate (smooth), clothed with long erect to suberect golden setae (Fig. 20B, C View Figure 20 ); pronotal dorsal face (excluding anterior flange) gently declivitous antero-medially, with convex anterior border (Fig. 20B View Figure 20 ); propodeal dorsal face gently declivitous (rounded) posteriorly, 0.70-0.77 × as long as maximal width (Fig. 20B View Figure 20 ); meso- and metapleura mostly smooth (with scattered fine punctures) (Fig. 20C View Figure 20 ); mid and hind tibiae without prolongation at their apices (Fig. 21A, B View Figure 21 ); hind tibia with narrow shallow groove extending along inner face (Fig. 21B View Figure 21 ); T1-T5 and S2-S5 with apical fringe of compact golden setae (Figs 18A, B View Figure 18 ; 21C, D View Figure 21 ); T2 densely punctate, punctures 1-2 diameters apart (Fig. 21C View Figure 21 ); T6 with bell-shaped, finely wrinkled pygidial area (Fig. 22B View Figure 22 ).

Description of female

(hitherto unknown) allotype (Figs 18 View Figure 18 - 22 View Figure 22 ). Body length 10.8 mm. Color (Figs 18A, B View Figure 18 ; 19A, D View Figure 19 ; 20A View Figure 20 ; 21D View Figure 21 ). Head (including antennal scape, pedicel and F1 and basal third of mandible) and mesosoma (including legs) dark red (mid and hind legs darker); remaining flagellomeres light brown, F11 yellowish apically; mandible black apically; metasomal terga black (except blackish-red T6), sterna blackish-red to black.

Setation (Figs 18A, B View Figure 18 ; 19A-D View Figure 19 ; 20C View Figure 20 ; 21C, D View Figure 21 ; 22A View Figure 22 ). Head (including scape, pedicel and F1 of antenna and basal third of mandible), pronotal lateral face, meso- and metapleura, legs, T1 and S1-S2 clothed with long erect white setae; mesosomal dorsum and T2-T5 with long erect to suberect golden setae; T1-T5 and S2-S5 with apical fringe of extremely dense (compact) golden setae, paler on sterna.

Head (Figs 18B View Figure 18 ; 19A-D View Figure 19 ; 20A View Figure 20 ). In dorsal view, subquadrangular, scarcely narrower than pronotum, convergent behind eyes, with broadly rounded temple; head height slightly greater than width; only a pair of poorly developed posterior ocelli present, anterior ocellus absent; frons, vertex, and gena densely setiferous foveate, interspaces between foveae thick (ridged) without tubercles; eye rather oval-shaped, widely separated from mandibular articulation (malar space about 0.85 × mandibular basal height); scrobal carina well developed, polished and thick; clypeal longitudinal median carina ridged, free margin with a pair of small tubercles; mandible with strong subbasal lower tooth, distance between apex of tooth and upper mandibular ridge about 0.86 × as long as mandibular height at base, subapically with distinctly small inner tooth. F1 1.7 × as long as maximal width, 1.2 × as long as F2, hardly longer than F3 (1.1 ×).

Mesosoma (Figs 20B, C View Figure 20 ; 21A, B View Figure 21 ). Dorsum regularly setiferous punctate, with interspaces between punctures ridged and polished, not tuberculate; pronotal dorsal face slightly wider than propodeum (1.15 ×), rather gently declivitous anteromedially, with slightly convex anterior border and broadly rounded humeral angles; pronotal lateral face foveate-reticulate; promesonotal suture gently arched; mesonotum suddenly contracted behind pronotum (about 0.75 × as wide as pronotum), with posterior suture nearly straight; propodeal dorsal face about 0.77 × as long as maximal width, subparallel at sides, gently declivitous (rounded) posteriorly; propodeal posterior face foveate-reticulate (interspaces between foveae not tuberculate); meso- and metapleura shiny, mostly smooth (with scattered fine punctures), mesepisternum with vertical row of close foveae on ventral half of strong mesopleural ridge; mid and hind tibiae with a double row of 5-7 strong spines on outer faces, both tibiae without prolongation at their apices; hind tibia with longitudinal narrow and shallow groove extending along inner face.

Metasoma (Figs 21C, D View Figure 21 ; 22A, B View Figure 22 ). Sessile; T1 without distinct dorsal face (sharply sloping forward), wider than long (1.3 ×), densely finely punctate apically (punctures 1-2 diameters apart), sparsely punctate at the base; T2 densely punctate throughout (punctures larger than those on T1, 1-2 diameters apart); exposed parts of T3-T5 finely punctate; T6 nearly entirely covered with long golden setae arising from apical fringe of T5 and laterally on T6 (removal of setae shows finely wrinkled, bell-shaped pygidial area of T6); S1 with strongly elevated inverted Y-shaped carina; S2 densely punctate, basally with large median tubercle.

Material examined

(174 males, 11 females). 1♀ (WM2), 11.iv.2019, HP, leg. AMS [KSMA]; 1♂ (JB), 10.ix.1983, leg. Buttiker W. [NMB]; 1♂ ( Al-Wesam ) , 11.x.2010, leg. AlDhafer et al. [allotype KSMA]; 2♂ ( Al-Shafa ) , 12.x.2010, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 1♀ (GR2), 1♀ (GR3), 8.iv.2014, PT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 2♂ (SH6), 1♂ (SH7), 21.iv.2014, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 6♂ (GR1), 24.iv.2014, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 8♂ (SH2), 2♂ (SH5), 2♂ (SH6), 6♂ (SH7), 3.vi.2014, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 18♂ (GR1), 12♂ (GR2), 3♂ (GR3), 8.vi.2014, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 4♂ (GR1), 1♂ (GR2), 1♂ (GR6), 26.viii.2014, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 2♂ (GR1), 1♂ (GR3), 20.x.2014, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 1♂ (WK), 30.x.2014, LT, leg. Al-Harbi M. & Rasool I. [KSMA]; 1♀ (SH7), 26.i.2015, PT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 1♂ (SH2), 27.i.2015, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 2♀ (SH3), 1♀ (SH8), 2.iii.2015, PT, leg. ElTorkey et al. [KSMA]; 1♀ (SH8), 3.v.2015, PT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 1♂ (SH3), 4♂ (SH5), 5.v.2015, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 1♂ (GR2), 7.v.2015, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 5♂, (WY2), 22.v.2015, LT, leg. AMS [KSMA]; 1♂ ( Al-Soudah ) , 23.v.2015, LT, leg. AMS [KSMA]; 3♂ (SH2), 2♂ (SH5), 1♂ (SH6), 1♂ (SH7), 2♂ (SH8), 27.vii.2015, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 5♂ & 1♀ (GR1), 1♂ (GR2), 4♂ & 1♀ (GR3), 10♂ (GR4), 1♂ (GR5), 31.vii.2015, LT for males PT for females, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 1♂ (SH3), 1♂ (SH6), 1♂ (SH7), 1♂ (SH8), 2.ix.2015, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 2♂ (GR1), 1♂ (GR2), 1♂ (GR3), 1♂ (GR4), 5.ix.2015, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 5♂ (SH1), 3♂ (SH2), 4♂ (SH5), 1♂ (SH8), 14.xi.2015, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 1♂ (WN1), 15.xi.2015, LT, leg. AMS [KSMA]; 1♂ (GR1), 3♂ (GR2), 1♂ (GR4), 18.xi.2015, LT, leg. Al-Dhafer et al. [KSMA]; 1♂ ( Wadi Mashwas ) , 20.xi.2015, LT, leg. AMS [KSMA]; 3♂ (WM1), 16.iv.2016, LT, leg. AMS [KSMA]; 1♂ (WBD), 19.x.2016, LT, leg. AMS [KSMA]; 1♂ & 1♀ (WM2), 11.iv.2019, LT for ♂ and HP for ♀, leg. AMS [KSMA]; 1♂ (WK), 12.iv.2019, LT, leg. AMS [KSMA].

Remarks.

Prior to the present study, P. mascatiana was known only from males and restricted in its distribution to the Afrotropical region in Somalia and Yemen ( Lelej and van Harten 2006). Here this species is recorded from Saudi Arabia with discovery of the opposite sex (female) for the first time. The sex association is based on the overlapping distribution areas of males and females (frequently both sexes were collected from the same locality at the same time or within a short period) (Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ), and the general color pattern in both sexes. On the other hand, there is another species, P. aurea , common to southwestern Saudi Arabia and known from both sexes; the females of these two species are similar in having T1-T5 and S2-S5 with apical fringes of compact golden setae; however, P. mascatiana differs from P. aurea in the following aspects: the head and mesosoma are dark red (Fig. 18A, B View Figure 18 ) (they are dark brown with slight reddish tint in P. aurea (Fig. 6A, B View Figure 6 )); the frons and vertex with smooth (not tuberculate) ridges between the foveae (Fig. 19A, B View Figure 19 ) (with coarsely tuberculate ridges between the foveae in P. aurea (Fig. 7A, B View Figure 7 ); the anterior ocellus is absent, only a pair of poorly developed posterior ocelli being present (Fig. 19A, B View Figure 19 ) (three well developed ocelli are present in P. aurea (Fig. 7A, B View Figure 7 )); the mesosomal dorsum is clothed with golden setae, regularly punctate, with smooth (not tuberculate) ridges between the punctures (Fig. 20B, C View Figure 20 ) (in P. aurea the mesosomal dorsum clothed with pale (yellowish-white) setae, coarsely foveate, with ridges between foveae tuberculate (Figs 7D View Figure 7 ; 8A View Figure 8 )); the pronotal dorsal face gently declivitous antero-medially, with a convex anterior border (Fig. 20B View Figure 20 ) (sharply declivitous antero-medially, with a straight anterior border in P. aurea (Fig. 7D View Figure 7 )); the propodeal dorsal face is subparallel at its sides, gently declivitous (rounded) posteriorly, and 0.70-0.77 × as long as its maximal width (Fig. 20B, C View Figure 20 ) (in P. aurea the propodeal dorsal face is strongly expanded at the sides, sharply declivitous (truncate) posteriorly, and 0.50-0.55 × as long as its maximal width (Figs 7D View Figure 7 ; 8A View Figure 8 )); meso- and metapleura are mostly smooth (Fig. 20C View Figure 20 ) (sparsely punctate in P. aurea (Fig. 8A View Figure 8 )); the mid and hind tibiae lack prolongation at their apices, hind tibia with a groove extending along inner face (Fig. 21A, B View Figure 21 ) (the mid and hind tibiae with strong prolongation at their apices, hind tibia without such groove on inner face in P. aurea (Fig. 8B, C View Figure 8 )); T6 with a bell-shaped, finely wrinkled pygidial area (Fig. 22B View Figure 22 ) (T6 with an oval-shaped pygidial area that is minutely rugose on the disc and obliquely striate laterally (Fig. 9A, B View Figure 9 )).

Distribution in the Arabian Peninsula.

Sana’a, Dhamar, Amran, Ta’izz, and Al-Hudaydah (Yemen) ( Lelej and van Harten 2006); Asir, Al-Baha, and Makkah regions (southwestern Saudi Arabia) (Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ).

Global distribution.

Somalia, Yemen ( Gadallah et al. 2020); Saudi Arabia (new record).