Psenulus continentis van Lith, 1962

Figs 4B-4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17B, 18C, D, 19C, D, 20B, 21B

Psenulus continentis van Lith 1962: 97-98. Holotype: ♀; Malaysia, Penang, Batu Feringgi; NHMUK.

Material examined.

China, Hong Kong • 1♂; Sha Tau Kok, Hoi Pui Leng; 22°31'47"N, 114°12'28"E; 10-24 May 2018; C. Taylor and Cheung Shun Chi leg.; HKU • 1♀; Nam Chung; 22°31'32"N, 114°12'29"E; 27 Jun.-11 Jul. 2018; ibid • 1♀; Sam A Tsuen; 22°30'54"N, 114°16'15"E; 17-30 May 2018; ibid • 3♂; Tung Chung; 22°16'55"N, 113°55'43"E; 29 May-12 Jun. 2018; ibid • 2♂ 1♀; Tai Tam; 22°14'45"N, 114°13'23"E; 28 Jun.-12 Jul. 2018; ibid • 7♂; To Kwa Peng; 22°25'43"N, 114°20'01"E; 8-25 May 2018; ibid • 6♂; To Kwa Peng; 22°25'45"N, 114°20'00"E; 8-25 May 2018; ibid • 3♂; To Kwa Peng; 22°25'41"N, 114°20'05"E; 25 May-10 Jun. 2018; ibid • 5♂ 8♀; Ho Chung; 22°21'12"N, 114°15'09"E; 26 Jun.-10 Jul. 2018; ibid • 2♂; Sai Keng; 22°25'06"N, 114°16'11"E; 26 Jun.-10 Jul. 2018; ibid • 3♂; Yim Tin Tsai; 22°22'32"N, 114°18'04"E; 1-15 Jun. 2018; ibid • 3♂; New Territories; May-July 2018; ibid • 4♂ 1♀; To Kwa Peng; 22°25'43"N, 114°19'59"E; 21 Nov.-5 Dec. 2017; C. Taylor and U. Chang; HKU • 1♀; Ping Shan Chai; 22°29'14"N, 114°11'06"E; 140 m a.s.l.; 30 Jul.-03 Sep. 2016; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M258CHy7; CBC • 1♀; Pak Sha O; 22°26'59"N, 114°19'04"E; 70 m a.s.l.; 22 Mar.-05 Apr. 2014; ibid .; ref.: PSOM152CHy1; CBC • 1♀; ibid ..; 05-19 Apr. 2014; ibid; ref.: PSOM153CHy3; CBC • 1♀; ibid; 31 May-14 Jun. 2014; ibid .; ref.: M162CHy2; CBC • 1♀; ibid ..; 19 Sep.-03 Oct. 2015; ibid .; ref.: M220CHy1; CBC • 1♀; ibid .; 11-25 Jun. 2016; ibid .; ref.: M250CHy2; CBC • 1♂; ibid .; 18 May-01 Jun. 2013; ibid .; ref.: M131CHy1; CBC • 1♂; ibid .; 13-27 Jul. 2013; ibid .; ref.: M135CHy3; CBC • 1♀; ibid .; 01-15 Jun. 2019; ibid .; ref.: M418CHy4; CBC • 1♂; Mang Kung Wo; 22°22'06"N, 114°15'12"E; 60 m a.s.l.; 28 Apr.-12 May 2018; ibid .; ref.: M345CHy3; CBC • 1♂; ibid .; 01-15 Jun. 2019; ibid .; ref.: M419CHy5, CBC • 2♂; ibid .; 13-27 Jul. 2019; ibid; refs: M425CHy2A and 2B; CBC •

Standard ratios.

Males (n = 10): L = 5.5-6.40 mm (mean = 5.8 mm); CR = 1.29-1.37 (mean = 1.33); OOR = 0.62-0.79 (mean = 0.71); FLR = 0.8-1.23 (mean = 1.06); FRR = 0.55-0.71 (mean = 0.68); MR = 1.36-1.51 (mean = 1.43); OMR = 0.91-1.00 (mean = 0.95); PR = 0.59-1.91 (mean = 1.20); PFR = 0.887-1.08 (mean = 1.01). Females (n = 10): L = 5.7-6.9 mm (mean = 6.26 mm); CR = 1.23-1.47 (mean = 1. 32); OOR = 0.63-0.73 (mean = 0.68); FLR = 1.26-1.43 (mean = 1.36); FRR = 0.63-0.69 (mean = 0.65); MR = 1.18-1.57 (mean = 1.38); OMR = 0.85-1.00 (mean = 0.92); PR = 0.59-1.62 (mean = 1.20); PFR = 0.87-1.11 (mean = 1.02).

Description.

Male: Antenna without tyloids. Clypeus (Fig. 21B) with two blunt ventral teeth separated by a shallow rounded emargination, remainder of clypeal margin largely straight. Subantennal carina well developed (Fig. 7B); interantennal carina narrow, not broadened dorsally. Mesosoma mostly polished, mesoscutum moderately punctate with intermixed larger and smaller punctures mostly separated by at least their own diameter (Fig. 11B); prescutal sutures short, not extending beyond anterior level of tegula; episternal sulcus broadly foveolate (Fig. 13B); propodeal enclosure with several pairs of longitudinal carinae; propodeum laterally and posteriorly coarsely reticulate (Fig. 15B). Petiole subcylindrical, T1 relatively low (Fig. 5B). Fore wing (Fig. 19D) with first recurrent vein interstitial or reaching second submarginal cell near base, second recurrent vein reaching third submarginal cell near the base.

Head black with appressed silvery pubescence (Figs 7B, 9B); antenna with scape, venter of pedicel and base of venter of flagellum yellow, dorsum of pedicel and remainder of flagellum blackish; mandible yellow with black tip. Mesosoma black with following areas yellow (Figs 5B, 11B, 13B): pronotal collar, pronotal lobe, mesoscutum with two broad yellow submedial longitudinal stripes reaching almost to posterior margin (Fig. 11B), as well as broad marginal stripe laterally; scutellum except scutellar groove and small triangular median spot posteriorly; metanotum; mesopleuron anterior to anterior oblique suture, as well as small spot at top of hypoepimeral area and larger patch behind junction of anterior oblique suture and epicnemial crest; large paired patches laterally and posteriorly on propodeum. Legs mostly yellow, hind trochanter and base of hind coxa dark brown, hind femur, tibia and tarsus reddish. Petiole basally yellow, distally black; remainder of metasoma mostly reddish, S7 dark brown (Fig. 5B).

Female: Clypeus (Fig. 21B) with two blunt ventral teeth separated by a shallow rounded emargination, remainder of clypeal margin largely straight. Subantennal carina absent (Fig. 6B); interantennal carina narrow, not broadened dorsally. Mesosoma mostly polished, mesoscutum moderately punctate with intermixed larger and smaller punctures mostly separated by at least their own diameter (Fig. 11B); prescutal sutures short, not extending beyond anterior level of tegula; episternal sulcus narrowly foveolate (Fig. 12B); propodeal enclosure with several pairs of longitudinal carinae; propodeum laterally and posteriorly coarsely reticulate (Fig. 15B). Hind tibia with cluster of small dark denticles dorsobasally (Fig. 18C) and transverse row of three short spines dorsoapically. T1 swollen, nearly twice as high above dorsum of petiole as maximum height of petiole (Fig. 4B). Fore wing (Fig. 19D) with first recurrent vein interstitial or reaching second submarginal cell near base, second recurrent vein reaching third submarginal cell near the base.

Head black with appressed silvery pubescence (Figs 7B, 9B). Antenna paler than male, pedicel and flagellum mostly brown except dorsum of flagellum blackish. Mesosoma yellow with following black (Figs 4B, 10B, 12B): lower part of pronotum, three longitudinal spots anteriorly on mesoscutum, extending about two-thirds of length, low triangular patch on posterior margin of mesoscutum; scutellar groove and lateral pocket of scutellum; epicnemial area, episternal sulcus and around posterior end of mesopleural scrobe; mesoscutum with spot roundly extending onto base of mesopleuron; metapleuron dorsal enclosed area and median posterior groove of propodeum. Legs yellow except hind femur to tarsus reddish. Petiole basally yellow, distally black; remainder of metasoma mostly reddish, S7 dark brown (Fig. 5B).

Distribution.

*China (Hong Kong); Malaysia (Penang); Singapore (van Lith 1962, 1976).

Notes.

Psenulus continentis was described by van Lith (1962) from a single female specimen and the male had not previously been described. Males here assigned to P. continentis are identified on the basis of their association with females of the species as well as their close similarity to males of the related species P. interstitialis . van Lith (1962) did not specify his reasons for regarding P. continentis as a distinct species from P. interstitialis but comparison of the descriptions of the two species indicates that P. continentis has the mesopleural suture foveolate (vs. simple in P. interstitialis) and numerous longitudinal carinae in the propodeal enclosure (vs 'only a few’).

The discovery of P. continentis in Hong Kong represents a new taxon for the territory and China and a significant extension of the known range of this species previously recorded only from the Malaysian Peninsula (van Lith 1962, 1976).

It is a common taxon, found at 12 of the 20 sites surveyed and it is abundant throughout these sites. It has one of the longest activity period of all Hong Kong Psenulus, spanning from February (W7) to end of November (W47).