Bischoffitilla lamellata (Mickel, 1933)

Williams, Kevin A., Lelej, Arkady S., Okayasu, Juriya, Borkent, Christopher J., Malee, Rufeah, Thoawan, Kodeeyah & Thaochan, Narit, 2019, The female velvet ants (aka modkhong) of southern Thailand (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), with a key to the genera of southeast Asia, Zootaxa 4602 (1), pp. 1-69 : 12-13

4a. Bischoffitilla lamellata (Mickel, 1933)

( Figs 36–38 )

Squamulotilla lamellata Mickel 1933b: 295 . Chen 1957: 141.

Squamulotilla arundinacea Pagden, 1934a: 445 . Mickel 1935: 184, syn. nov.

Bischoffitilla arundinacea: Lelej 2002: 127 ; Lelej 2005: 24; Okayasu et al. 2018: 302.

Bischoffitilla lamellata: Lelej 2002: 127 ; Lelej 2005: 27; Okayasu et al. 2018: 303; Barthélémy et al. 2018: 232 .

Diagnosis. FEMALE. This species can be immediately recognized by having the gena armed with a posterolateral tooth below the eye. Other useful features include: antennal tubercle unarmed; genal carina obscure; clypeus with weak middle tooth connected to apicolateral teeth by carina; mesopleural lamella longer than flagellar width, apically truncate; mesosomal dorsum with complete longitudinal carina; dorsoposterior propodeal row obscure, medial tooth usually distinct; posterior propodeal face reticulate; T1 apicomedially and T2 basomedially with white to golden spot; T2 apically with complete transverse band of whitish to golden cuticle and/or setae; T3 entirely clothed with whitish to golden setae; T4 usually with medial white to golden setal spot; and T5 usually with setae black medially. Body length 3–7 mm. MALE. See Barthélémy et al. (2018)..

Material examined Type material. CHINA, Guangdong, Canton [Guangzhou] , Honan Island, W.E. Hoffmann (2♀ SYSM, paratypes of Squamulotilla lamellata Mickel, 1933 ). Other Material (49 ♀) . THAILAND: Chiang Mai, Amphoe Fang, Nam Mae Kok , 10.I.1989, Trautner and Geigenmüller, (1♀ IBSS) ; Kanchanaburi: Mueang Kanchanaburi, Mahogany plantation, 14.193 o N 99.363 o E, 130 m: 21.V.2018, MKT (1♀ CSCA) ; Sai Yok, Prasat Mueang Sing Park , 14.040 o N 99.243 o E, 50 m: 19.V.2018, MKT (1♀ CSCA) ; Thong Pha Phum, Vimarndin farm stay, 14.655 o N 98.521 o E, 200 m, 17–20.V.2018, MKT (16♀ CSCA EMUS) ; Krabi: 12.4 km NNW Krabi, Oil palm farm, 8.193 o N 98.876 o E, 50 m: 29.III.2017, MKT (2♀ CSCA) ; 3.IV.2017, MKT (3♀ CSCA) ; 14 km NNE Krabi, Phnom Bencha Mountain Resort, 8.208 o N 98.937 o E, 80 m, 2.IV.2017, MKT (1♀ CSCA) ; 19.5 km NW Krabi, 8.201 o N 98.751 o E, 10 m, 1.IV.2017, MKT (2♀ CSCA) ; Nakhon Si Thammarat, 4.4 km N Hin Tok, Mountainside rubber farm, 8.303 o N 99.849 o E, 8.IV.2017, MKT (1♀ CSCA) ; Phetchabun, Khao Kho National Park , office, 16 o 39.55'N 101 o 8.134'E, 230 m, 2.VIII.2006, Malaise trap, S. Chachumnan and S. Singtong, T174 (1♀ QSBG) ; Phetchaburi, Kaeng Krachan, Baan Maka Nature Lodge , 12.840 o N 99.590 o E, 140 m: 16.V.2018, MKT (5♀ CSCA MIUP PSUC QSBG); 22–23.V.2018, MKT (7♀ CSCA) ; Phuket, Phuket Island , 50 m, 7 o 47'N 98 o 19'E, 1.VIII.1986, R. Hensen (1♀ RMNH) ; Songkhla: Hat Yai , Prince of Songkhla University , forest edge, 7.008 o N 100.508 o E, 40 m, 11-12.IV.2017, MKT (5♀ CSCA) ; 27 km SW Hat Yai, Ton Nga Chang National Park , 200 m, 6 o 54'N 100 o 21'E, 24.VII.1986, R. Hensen (1♀ RMNH) ; Trang, 0.5 km NE Palian, Orchard , 7.291 o N 99.858 o E, 6.IV.2017, MKT (1♀ CSCA) .

Distribution. China (Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao), Vietnam, Thailand (Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phuket, Songkhla, Trang), Malaysia (Perak).

Remarks. Bischoffitilla lamellata was included in Chen’s (1957) key to Chinese species and B. arundinacea was included in Mickel’s (1935) key to mutillids from Pacific Islands. This treatment is apparently the first to compare these taxa. These females differ from other Bischoffitilla in key features, most notably: the gena has a distinct tooth-like projection behind the eye, the mesopleural lamella is elongate and apically truncate, and T3 has a complete band of white to golden setae. The comprehensive original descriptions of each species (Mickel 1933b, Pagden 1934a) were compared and they differ only in slight features of color or sculpture. Some of the apparent differences could be attributed to author interpretations of the same feature. Further, some individuals from the series of 18 specimens collected in Kanchanaburi differ from one another in greater magnitude than differences noted in the original descriptions for these taxa. We therefore treat B. arundinacea as a junior synonym of B. lamellata . The male of this wideaspread species was recently discovered and described in Hong Kong ( Barthélémy et al. 2018).

Figures

FIGURES 36–47. Myrmillinae: Bischoffitilla females. 36–38. B. lamellata; 39–41. B. perakensis; 42–44. B. cambrai, sp. nov.; 45–47. B. tokay, sp. nov. 36, 39, 42, 45. Habitus, dorsal view; 37, 40, 43, 46. Habitus, lateral view; 38, 41, 44, 47. Face view.