Tachytes galeatus Pulawski, 2019

Pulawski, Wojciech J., 2019, A Review of the Wasp Genus Tachytes Panzer, 1806 of Madagascar (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 66 (7), pp. 117-135 : 126

Tachytes galeatus Pulawski , species nova

Figures 18–20.

NAME DERIVATION.— Galeatus is an adjective derived from galea, which is unusually long in this species.

RECOGNITION.— Like T. argyropis and unlike all other Madagascan Tachytes , the galea of this species is longer than the scape, as in Figs. 1 and 2 (rather than shorter) and the first article of the labial palpus is about as long as the scape, as in Fig. 3 (rather than markedly shorter). Unlike T. argyropis , the palpal formula of T. galeatus is 6+4 (rather than 5+3); see the key for other differences.

Tachytes galeatus resembles several continental African species in having an elongate galea and the first article of the labial palpus and in lacking the golden setae arranged in a checkered pattern on the gastral terga (these setae are present in T. basilicus Guérin-Méneville and its relatives). It differs from all these species in having the gaster dark reddish or at least with dark reddish zones rather than all black.

DESCRIPTION.— Head round in frontal view. Gena in dorsal view slightly narrower than in T. panzeri (Dufour) . Galea 1.5 × as long as scape. First article of labial palpus about as long as scape.

Appressed silvery pilosity concealing integument on pronotal collar, sparse and not concealing integument on remaining thorax and propodeum (scutum anterolaterally without conspicuous appressed pilosity). Setae of postocellar area as long as 0.5-0.6 × scape, those on scutum 0.4 × scape in female, 0.5 × in male; sternum II without erect setae in female, in male with erect setae posteromedially (setal length about 2.0 × midocellar diameter).

Head, thorax and propodeum black; male

Figures

FIGURES 18–19. Tachytes galeatus sp. nov. (18) Male hindfemur showing length of erect setae; (19) Male genitalia: a – genitalia in dorsal view, b – right gonocoxite in lateral view; c – volsella, d – penis valve.

FIGURE 20. Collecting localities of Tachytes galeatus sp. nov.

FIGURES 1–5. Tachytes argyreus de Saussure. (1) Galea of female in front view; (2) Galea of female in lateral view; (3) Labial palpus of female; (4) Male midbasitarsus; (5) male hindfemur showing length of erect setae.