Aulacophilinus solitarius Pulawski, 2017

Pulawski, Wojciech J., 2017, A Revision of the Wasp Genus Aulacophilinus Lomholdt, 1980 with Descriptions of Three New Species (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 64 (1), pp. 1-29 : 22-23

Aulacophilinus solitarius Pulawski , species nova

Figures 47–48.

NAME DERIVATION.— Solitarius is a Latin adjective meaning solitary, lonely; with reference to the fact that only one specimen of this species is known.

RECOGNITION.— Aulacophilinus solitarius is an all black endemic of New Guinea with three submarginal cells. It differs as follows from this island’s congeners: unlike A. amblygnathus , the frons punctures are no more than one diameter apart (rather than 2–3 diameters apart); unlike A. carinatum , it lacks the longitudinal carina separating the propodeal side from the dorsum and posterior surface and the ridges at the side of the propodeal dorsum are evanescent (carina present in carinatum , with well-defined ridges meeting its dorsal side); and unlike A. tegularis , the tegula is impunctate posteriorly (rather than punctate throughout).

DESCRIPTION.— Frons dull, markedly microsculptured, with well-defined punctures that average about one diameter apart. Free margin of clypeal lobe obtusely angulate ( Fig. 47 ). Width of labrum equal to 1.5 × midocellar diameter. Gena somewhat thicker in dorsal view than in other Aulacophilinus . Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, about twice as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum foveate along flange, with minute, inconspicuous longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures well defined, less than one diameter apart. Tegula impunctate in posterior half. Mesopleural punctures well defined, less than one diameter apart except about one diameter apart ventrally. Postspiracular carina about twice as long as midocellar diameter. Propodeum without longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface; dorsum regularly, obliquely ridged (ridges evanescent laterally), with middle carina that is visible only from certain angles; side punctate, interspaces merging into fine, irregular ridges; posterior surface punctate, transversely ridged in ventral half. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Posteroventral forefemoral surface minutely punctate, punctures averaging about 2–3 diameters apart. Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin obtusely carinate. Outer surface of hindtibia with fine spines. Punctures of tergum I fine, more than one diameter apart (except on apical depression).

Setae silvery, suberect on frons and about as long as midocellar diameter, appressed on postocellar area, suberect on scutum and tergum I and up to about 0.5 × as long as midocellar diameter; on lower gena curved, about as long as midocellar diameter; not concealing integument on clypeus. Apical depressions of terga with silvery, setal fasciae.

Body all black.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.56 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.8 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.2 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.96 × distance between eye notches. Both flagella missing. Length 9.0 mm; head width 2.5 mm.

♂.– Unknown.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION ( Fig. 48 ).— Known from one locality in the Indonesian part of New Guinea.

RECORDS.— HOLOTYPE: ♀, INDONESIA: Western Papua: Paniai Lakes (as Wisselmeren ): Enarotadi , elevation 1,800– 1,900 m, 22 Aug 1962, J. Sedlacek ( BISH).

Figures

FIGURE 47. Aulacophilus solitarius: female clypeus and mandibles.

FIGURE 48. Collecting locality of Aulacophilinus solitarius.