Priocnemis (Priocnemis) cornica ( Say, 1836 )

Waichert, Cecilia, Rodriguez, Juanita, Von Dohlen, Carol D. & Pitts, James P., 2012, Spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) of the Dominican Republic, Zootaxa 3353 (1), pp. 1-47 : 20

Priocnemis (Priocnemis) cornica ( Say, 1836)

( Figs 5H–I )

Pompilus (Miscus) cornicus Say, 1836 , Boston Journal of Natural History , vol. 1, p. 305 [Holotype: ♀, USA, Indiana

(destroyed)]. Pompilus (Priocnemis) pompilius Cresson, 1867 , Transactions of the American Entomological Society, vol. 1, p. 116

[Lectotype: ♀, USA, Pennsylvania (ANSP)]. Ageniella eximia Banks, 1919a , Canadian Entomologist, vol. 51, p. 83 [Lectotype: ♂, USA, Virginia, (MZC)]. Ageniella aludra Brimley, 1928 , Journal Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society, vol. 43, p. 201 [Holotype: ♂, USA, Raleigh

(NCSU)].

Diagnosis. This species can be recognized by the following unique combination of characters: the integument is black ( Figs 5H–I ); the antenna is black; the pubescence on the body is short and reddish; the pronotum has the collar differentiated from the disc; the dorsal face of hind tibia has scale-like spines; the front basitarsus is not spined; apical tarsomere of hind leg without lateral spines; and the fore and hind wings are darkened. Additionally, the male ( Fig. 5H ) has half of the middle and hind femora with a more or less extensive reddish brown marking and the wing is less darkened than in the female ( Fig. 5I ).

Material examined. [ DOMINICAN REPUBLIC]: 1 ♀, Mano Juan, Isla Saona, Romana, Prov [incia] La Romana, R. D., Marcano col., 26.I.1980 ( MHND) 13972 .

Distribution. Southern Canada to Mexico, Puerto Rico ( Snelling & Torres 2004), Dominican Republic.

Host. A variety of species and families of spiders have been associated with P. cornica as prey: Hypselistes florens (Cambridge) (Linyphiidae) ; Allocosa funerea (Hentz) , Schizocosa crassipalpis (Emerton) , Trochosa terricola Thorell (Lycosidae) ; Drassylus sp. , Haplodrassus signifier (Koch) (Gnaphosidae) ; Clubiona kastoni Gertsch (Clubionidae) ; Xysticus sp. (Thomisidae) ; Eris marginata (Walckenaer) , Icius hartii Emerton , Metaphidippus protervus (Walckenaer) , and Metaphidippus sp. (Salticidae) ( Kurczewski et al. 1987). Kurczewski (1981) described a nest of a variant of P. cornica in which specimens have red metasoma. The observation was made in Florida and the female was caught in a two-cell sand burrow, where each cell was filled with one Arctosa sp. , possibly A. furtiva Gertsch , facing head outward and dorsum up ( Kurczewski 1981).

Remarks. The single specimen studied here is in bad condition. Perez-Gelabert (2008) reported two other Priocnemis species ( P. arioles Banks and P. ursula Banks ), but both are currently classified as Ageniella (see Ageniella section). Snelling and Torres (2004) recorded one male and one female of P. cornica in Puerto Rico. Although this is a Nearctic species, Snelling and Torres (2004) discussed the recent introduction to of P. cornica to the Caribbean fauna from USA, maybe due to the trade of live plants.

Figures

FIGURE 5. A–B. Auplopus bellus: habitus, lateral view: A. ♂; B. ♀. C–D. Auplopus charlesi sp. nov.: habitus, ♀: C. dorsal view; D. lateral view. E–F. Entypus ochrocerus: habitus, lateral view: E. ♂; F. ♀. G. Dipogon marlowei sp. nov.: habitus, lateral view, ♀. H–I. Priocnemis cornica: habitus, lateral view: H. ♂; I. ♀. J. Caliadurgus maestris: habitus, lateral view, ♀. K–L. Priocnessus vancei sp. nov.: habitus, ♀: K. lateral view; L. dorsal view.