Smicromyrme ceballosi Suárez, 1959

Matias, Rafael, 2023, Smicromyrme ceballosi Suárez, 1959 and S. plantourianus Schwartz, 1986: two little known species new for Portugal (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae), Zootaxa 5375 (1), pp. 58-82 : 60-64

1. Smicromyrme ceballosi Suárez, 1959

( Figs. 1A–J )

Smicromyrme ceballosi Suárez, 1959 : Eos 35 (1): 101 (♀, description: holotype “Sierra de Guadarrama, Madrid ” [ Spain], 20-VI-1913 (Dusmet leg., Instituto Español de Entomologia)). Lelej 2002: 73 (catalogued); Pagliano et al. 2020: 194 (catalogued).

Material examined (2♀♀). PORTUGAL. BRAGANÇA: ca. 1.5 km SW of Rebordãos (alt.: 974 m a.s.l.; site: 41°43'49.3"N 6°50'44.8"W), serra da Nogueira, 8.vii.2018, 1♀ ( R. Matias leg., det. & coll.) . ÉVORA: Montes Juntos ( Alandroal ), 29.iv.1979, 1♀ (A. Serrano leg., R. Matias det., MNHNCENT922) .

Preliminary notes. The specimen from Bragança (‘specimen A’, below) was readily identified due to T 5 entirely covered by a silvery pubescence band (unique feature among European Smicromyrmini ; e.g. Fig. 1H ), distinctive mesosoma structure and general chromatic pattern, which are consistent with the original description ( Suárez 1959); on the other hand, the specimen from Évora found in the collection of the MNHNC (‘specimen B’, below) presented T 5 fully obscured (apparently by exuded grease), with structure allowing this specimen to be safely determined; rather than presenting a full description, some aspects shown by these specimens are detailed below, before presenting a diagnosis for the species (where those are simplified or not mentioned); while some are unique features of these particular individuals, others may represent characteristics of this species not described in the original description, namely:

1) Colour of integument. Specimen A. Head. Gena and malar space anteriorly, up to the external part of the antennal tubercles stained dark-red. Clypeus all red. Postgena and postgenal bridge dark purplish-red ( Figs. 1B–C, 1G, 1I ). Mesosoma. Propleuron dark purplish-red. Sternum all dark-red ( Fig. 1B ). Legs. Coxae, trocantera, femora, tibiae and tarsi orange-red, except dark brown tarsomeres 2–5 of forelegs ( Figs. 1A–C ). Metasoma. S2–6 very dark chestnut-brown, paler brown basally ( Fig. 1B ). Specimen B. Pronotum anteriorly and pronotal collar darkened, otherwise similar to specimen A.

2) Pubescence. Specimen A. Clypeus with fringe of short black setae over medial transverse carina ( Figs. 1G, 1I ). T 1 laterally with apical fringe of sparse yellowish white recumbent setae ( Fig. 1J ). T 2 laterally with sparse yellowish-white recumbent pubescence (including fringe at lateral margin of tergite), not forming well developed spots (not visible dorsally), continuous with apical band of denser silvery-golden pubescence ( Fig. 1J ). Specimen B. Very similar to specimen A, except T 5 fully obscured, apparently soiled by grease. Black setae more numerous around scutellar scale.

3) Punctation and other sculpture. Specimen A. Antennal scrobe absent or weakly developed, dorsally ecarinate, limited to depressed area between antennal tubercles and eyes, densely punctate (not distinct from upper frons) ( Fig. 1G ). S2 with punctures of irregular size (smaller medially), interspaces as wide as diameter of ca. 1–2 punctures. S3–5 densely punctate, interspaces narrower than diameter of 1 puncture, some interspaces obliterate. Pygidium. Striated laterally over basal two thirds, and medially over basal half, with granulose pattern medially from about half length to tip; striations relatively shallow, concentric basally, becoming slightly divergent laterally ( Fig. 1D ); Suárez (1959) describes the pygidium as striated over its whole length. Specimen B. Similar to specimen A.

4) Shape and structure. Specimen A. Compared to the figure presented by Suárez (1959: 101), this specimen appears more robust and slightly differently proportioned: head less rounded and wider behind the eyes, with larger and more elongated metasoma, which is more pyriform than oval ( Fig. 1A ). Gena well developed, laterally as high (vertical depth) as smallest diameter of eye ( Fig. 1C ). Clypeus vertically truncate, with medial transverse weakly arched carina, medially elevated on upper half, not forming tubercle; lower half short, weakly concave (nearly flat). Mandible lacks internal denticle (mentioned by Suárez), possibly due to abrasion in this individual ( Fig. 1G ). Antenna ( Fig. 1E ): F1 1.5 × pedicel, 0.83 × F2 and 0.86 × F3 (Suárez indicates pedicel slightly longer than half F1, and F1 equal to F2 and F3). Mesosoma uniquely shaped, dorsally, well depicted in Suárez illustration; seen laterally, dorsum of mesosoma also characteristic: pronotal area slanted, rising towards dorsum, becoming more horizontal over the mesonotum, then sub-truncate on the propodeal area (dorsal propodeal surface slightly convex with declivity of ca. 45º, progressing to slightly concave sub-vertical posterior propodeal surface) ( Fig. 1C ). Meso and metatibia externally with 12 short robust black spines (roughly organized in two parallel rows of six spines each), together with five similar apical spines and two terminal ivory coloured finely serrated spurs; tarsomeres with apical row of short black spines ( Fig. 1H ). Pygidium strongly convex basally. Specimen body length (clypeus to apex of T 6): 7.9 mm. Additional biometrics. Length from clypeus to apical margin of T 2 (dorso-medially): 6.4 mm. Head: length 1.4 mm, width (at the eyes) 1.7 mm, width (behind the eyes) 1.6 mm. Minimum distance between the eyes: 1.1 mm. Mesosoma: length 2.3 mm (pronotal anterior margin to posterior propodeal face), 1.7 mm (pronotal anterior margin to apex of scutellar scale); width 1.5 mm (humeral angles), 1.7 mm (anterior spiracles: maximum width), 1.5 (minimum width), 1.5 mm (at scutellar scale level). Metasoma: total length 3.9 mm, maximum width ( T 2) 2.2 mm. Tergites: T 1 width (max.) 1.1 mm; T 2 length (to tip of medial terminal fringing pubescence) 2.3 mm. Scutellar scale width: 0.2 mm. Ratio mesosoma width/scutellar scale: ca. 7.5. Specimen B. Generally similar to specimen A, including pygidial pattern. The specimen is younger than A, thus mandible shows subapical inner denticle. T 2 is dorsally slightly narrower anteriorly.

Diagnosis. FEMALE. The only European species in the tribe Smicromyrmini with T5 covered by complete band of pale golden pubescence; identical pubescence defines single basomedial round spot and medially acute apical band of pale pubescence over T2 (the band apicomedially shorter, forming black spot), full band over T3, and vertex with small spot of pale bronze-golden pubescence; mesosoma with dorsolaterally depressed angled propodeum, and scutellar scale with elongate convergent sides, projecting over propodeum, both features almost uniquely shaped in an Iberian context. Body length 6–7.9 mm. MALE. Unknown.

Extended diagnosis. FEMALE. Body length 6–7.9 mm. Colouration. Head black, except for reddish-brown antennal tubercle, antennal scrobe anteriorly, clypeus, malar space, gena anteriorly and post-gena, and orange basal two thirds of mandible; mandible externo-basally with long pale brownish setae; vertex medially with proportionately narrow round to subtriangular spot of golden-bronze appressed pubescence; clypeus with short black setae sparsely fringing medial carina, medially longer; gena with sparse pale pubescence. Antenna dark-brown, except for scape, pedicel, F1 and partially F2 reddish-orange; scape with short yellowish pubescence. Mesosoma ferruginous-red, except for darkened apex of scutellar scale; pronotum anteriorly with moderately sparse and long black appressed pubescence; sparse recumbent black setae anterior to the scutellar scale and on the posterior propodeal face. Legs yellowish-red, including coxae, with darker apical tarsomeres 2–5 (markedly on first pair of legs), covered with not very dense whitish pubescence; meso and metatibial spines dark-brown; tibial spurs yellowish. Metasoma black dorsally, S1 reddish-brown and sternum browner; pubescence black except for the following areas covered with silvery-golden appressed pubescence: round basomedial spot and apical band medially enlarged in acute triangle (with concave sides) on T2, full band both on T3 and on T5; T6 with long silvery-golden setae laterally; apical band on T2 containing apicomedial black square spot, and on T3 pale band is apico-medially narrower; T2 basally ventro-lateraly with somewhat sparse pale pubescence and does not define dorsally visible pale spot; S2 covered with sparse white pubescence and fringes of sparse white pubescence are present on S2–5, denser on S2–3; felt-line on T2 composed of tightly set short pale-brown setae, proximally overlapped by some long setae of the sparse lateral pubescence. Shape and structure. Head. Head sub-square, with sides slightly broader behind the eyes and rounded posterior angles, slightly broader than pronotum; clypeus short, truncate, with weakly arched medial transverse carina and no notable tubercle on upper half; antennal scrobe weakly defined, with no dorsal carina; mandible unidentate, apically acuminate, internally with a small denticle on the apical third. Antenna with pedicel ca. two thirds of F1, F1 ca. three fourths of both F2 and F3. Mesosoma. Unique shape, with pronotal anterior margin convex, narrowed behind pronotal spiracle with concave to subparallel sides, with propodeum depressed dorsolaterally, angled, on each side of the scutellar scale. Scutellar scale transverse, large, proportionately elongate (ca. 2 × broader than long), ca. 2–3 punctures wide; shaped as a dorsally arcuate trapezium, with well formed convergent sides, apically truncate, projecting over propodeum ( Fig. 1F ). Legs. Meso and metatibia with 12 short dark-brown spines in two rows, together with five similar apical spines. Metasoma. T1 short, dorsally trapezoidal; T2 basally narrow, smoothly blending with T1. Pygidium with sub-parallel sides, covered with sub-parallel longitudinal striae, basally concentrical and less well defined medially and apically; low lateral carina. Felt-line ca. 0.6 × T2 lateral length ( Fig. 1J ). MALE. Unknown.

Remarks. Suárez (1959) suggested this may be the unknown female of S. merceti ( André, 1903) , a taxon still unrecorded from Portugal; this sex-association is possibly correct, according to the arguments presented by Suárez (both taxa have the penultimate metasomal tergite with full band of pale pubescence, a feature unknown on other Iberian species, and were collected within the same general areas). Phenology. Previous records of S. ceballosi ranged from 19 May to 24 July ( Suárez 1959); the record from Bragança fits in the already known period of occurrence for the species, however the specimen from Évora extends it by nearly one month.

Habitat. Rebordãos, Serra da Nogueira (Bragança): open agricultural land in the immediacy of hills covered with dense and extensive well-preserved Pyrenean oak ( Quercus pyrenaica ) woodland, with species-rich undergrowth. Montes Juntos (Alandroal, Évora): the area is characterized by gently rolling hills, covered with olive groves ( Olea europaea ) and cork oak ( Quercus suber ) open woodland (‘montado’), but the exact habitat where the specimen was collected is unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Smicromyrme ceballosi, female, serra da Nogueira, 8.vii.2018. A dorsal habitus B ventral habitus C lateral habitus D pygidium E antenna F scutellar scale.