Phanerotoma nigriscapulata, Kittel & Austin, 2015

Kittel, Rebecca N. & Austin, Andrew D., 2015, New species of Australian arid zone chelonine wasps from the genera Phanerotoma and Ascogaster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) informed by the ‘ Bush Blitz’ surveys of national reserves, Journal of Natural History 50, pp. 211-262 : 255-258

Phanerotoma nigriscapulata sp. nov.

( Figures 13a – d , 16 )

Description

Body measurements. Length of body 2.15 – 4.0 mm females, 2.4 – 4.1 mm males; ratio of antenna to body 0.6 in females, 0.76 – 0.86 in males; ratio of length of fore wing to body 0.9 in females, 0.8 in males; ratio of length of metasoma to mesosoma 1.0 – 1.2.

Head. Ratio of length of third antennomere to fourth 1.0 – 1.4; ratio of length of third, fourth, penultimate and terminal antennomere 2.5 – 3.6, 2.0 – 3.2, 1.3 – 2.0 and 2.0 – 2.7 times their width, respectively; ratio of length of eye in dorsal view to length of temple 2.5 – 2.7; ratio of width of face in anterior view to its height 1.6 – 1.8; ratio of width of clypeus to its height 1.5 – 1.9; clypeus with two teeth; ratio of length of malar space to base of mandible 0.8 – 1.4 in females, 0.5 – 0.8 in males; face, vertex and frons rugose; ratio posterior ocelli:LOL:POL:OOL 1.0:0.6 – 1.3:0.6 – 1.2:2.0 – 3.0.

Mesosoma. Middle lobe of mesoscutum rugose; notauli absent; mesoscutellum rugose; mesopleuron rugose; precoxal sulcus present; ratio of height of mesosoma to its length 1.8 – 2.0; propodeal tubercles present but small; blister on mid tibia present; ratio of length of hind tibia to hind tarsus 1.0 – 1.1; ratio of length of posterior spur to length of basal tarsus 0.4 – 0.5; ratio of hind coxa, hind femur, hind tibia and hind tarsus 2.4 – 2.5, 3.3 – 4.4, 4.0 – 5.0 and 13.0 – 18.0 times their width, respectively; fore wing: 2-R1 absent; ratio of length of 1-R1 to length of pterostigma 1.0 – 1.2; ratio of width of pterostigma to its length 3.0 – 3.6; ratio r:3-SR:SR-1:r-m 1.0:0.6 – 1.4:5.5:0.8 – 1.3; 1-SR+M emanating from base of parastigma; 2-SR+M interstitial or postfurcal.

Metasoma. Shape of metasoma oval in dorsal view; ratio of width of metasoma to its length 0.6; carapace flat in lateral view; ratio of keel to length of metasoma 0.15 – 0.2; carapace longitudinal sculptured; both sutures straight; posterior end of carapace not indented; ratio of the three metasomal tergites 1.0:0.9 – 1.0:1.2.

Colour. Head orange with reddish brown face and temple; antenna brown; interocellar area dark; metasoma dark reddish brown; with middle lobe of mesoscutum dark orange; first tergite of carapace beige, second and third gradually darker, reddish brown; wing venation, parastigma and pterostigma brown.

Diagnosis

This species differs from all other species by not having an indented carapace on the posterior end, in its sculpturing, and by having a unique colour pattern where the scapula is black and the mesoscutum is light brown forming an ‘ M ’.

Specimens examined

Holotype, Australia (South Australia): 1 ♀, “ 27 October 2010, Bon Bon Station , 30° 25 ʹ 29 ″ S, 135°28 ʹ 41 ″ E, R. Kittel, LT ” ( SAM) . Paratypes, Australia (Northern Territory): 1 ♂, 30 km NWbyW of Alice Springs , 23.35°S, 133.38°E, 7 October 1978, J .C. Cardale, ex ethanol ( ANIC); 1 ♀, Mt Weht, Soudan, Narkly Tableland , 17 August 1960, E .M. Exley ( QM) ; South Australia: 1 ♀, Waite Campus, Arboretum, UofA, Urrbrae , 1 – 20 .March 2002, N. Stevens ( WINC); 1 ♀, Bon Bon Stn , 30°25 ʹ 29 ″ S, 135°28 ʹ 41 ″ E, 26 October 2010, S . Mantel, LT; Bush Blitz survey SM164 under Acacia aneura ( SAM) ; Western Australia: 1 ♀, Capel, Bussell Hwy , 33°33.323'S, 115°33.073'E, 31 October 2011, G . Taylor ( WINC); 1 ♀, 60 km W Esperance, South Coast Hwy, Lort River Bridge , 33°44.630'S, 121°15.375'E, 6 November 2011, G . Taylor, Swept Acacia sp. ( WINC) ; 2 ♀♀, 5 km SE of Tambellup, Toolbrunup Rd , 34°04.301'S, 117°40.789'E, 10 November 2011, R . Kittel and L. Krieger sweeping ( WAM SF 008307 – 11 ) . Other material, Australia (Australian Capital Territory): 1 ♂, Canberra , 15 January 1979, N .J. Short, MT ( ANIC) ; New South Wales: 1 ♂, 5 mi S Mendooran , 17 March 1972, G . Daniels, MVL ( AMS K358071 ); 2 ♂♂, Nyngan dist, 1 – 9 February 1960, T .E. Woodward ( QM); 1 ♀, Rainforest Iluka Clarence R, 24 November 1970, D .K. McAlpine, MVL ( AMS K351901 ) ; Northern Territory: 6 ♀♀, 30 km NWbyW of Alice Springs , 23.32S, 133.38E, 7 October 1978, J .C. Cardale, ex ethanol ( ANIC); 1 ♀, 35 km S The Granite Mine Tanami Desert , 20.51S, 130.16°E, 29 October – 2 November 1988, D .C.F. Rentz Stop T-9 ( ANIC); 1 ♀, East Point , 13 May 1981, D .P.A. Sands, ex Hibiscus tilaceus ( ANIC); 1 ♂, Yuendumu , February 1968 ( ANIC) ; Queensland: 1 ♀, Cockatoo Ck Xing , 17 km NW Heathlands, 11.39°S, 142.27°E, 15 – 26 January 1992, I .D. Naumann and T. Weir, LT ( ANIC); 1 ♀, Bertie Ck Xing , 12 km SW Heathlands, 11.50°S, 142.30°E, 15 – 26 January 1992, I .D. Naumann and T. Weir, LT ( ANIC); 1 ♀, Batavia Downs , 12.41°S, 142.41°E, 22 – 23 July 1992, J .C. Cardale and P. Zborowski, LT ( ANIC); 1 ♀, Wenlock R Crossing, Portland Roads Road , 13.06°S, 142.56°E, 17 July 1986, J .C. Cardale,

at MVL (ANIC); 1 ♀, 1 km N of Rounded Hill, 15.17°S, 145.13°E, 5 – 7 May 1981, I.D. Naumann, ex ethanol (ANIC); 1 ♀, 1 ♂, 8 km SEbyE Musselbrook Camp, 18.38°S, 138.11°E, 11 May 1995, I.D. Naumann, LT (ANIC); 3 ♀♀, 10 km SE Musselbrook Camp, 18.39°S, 138.12°E, 13 May 1995, I.D. Naumann, LT (ANIC); 1 ♂, 16 km SEE Musselbrook Camp, 18.44°S, 138.12°E, 18 May 1995, I.D. Naumann, LT (ANIC); 1 ♂, Barakula, via Chinchilla, 4 October 1994, F.R. Wylie, J. King, M. De Baer (ANIC); 1 ♂, Noondoo, 26 February 1963, A.L. Dyce and M.D. Murray, ex ethanol (ANIC); 1 ♀, Mudjimba Beach, E of Nambour, 29 November 1985, G. Cassis (ANIC); 1 ♀, 1 km N of Rounded Hill, 15.17°S, 145.13°E, 5 – 7 May 1981, I.D. Naumann, ex ethanol (ANIC); 2 ♂♂, Corallie R. Bruce Highway, NW Fladstone N. Qld, 23 January 1970, G.A. Holloway, MVL (AMS K358159); 1 ♀, Lake Broadwater near Dalby, site A, 27°21'S, 151°06'E, 24 October 1986, G. and A. Daniels, MVL (QM); 1 ♀, Eurimbula Ck., via Round Hill Head, 3 – 5 May 1975, I.D. Naumann; sweeping low vegetation, open forest/subtropical rainforest boundary (QM); South Australia: 1 ♀, Brookfield CP, 34.19°S, 139.31°E, 24 November 1992, I.D. Naumann, J.C. Cardale (ANIC); 1 ♀, Brookfield CP, 34.21°S, 139.29°E, 17 – 20 February 1992, J.C. Cardale, LT (ANIC); 1 ♂, Brookfield CP, 34.21°S, 139.29°E, Campsite, 30 March – 3 April 1992, A. Calder and W. Dressler, LT (ANIC); 1 ♂, 5 km NNE Prices Bore, 30°20 ʹ 41 ″ S, 136°11 ʹ 46 ″ E, 18 April 2007, Woomera PA Survey, LT (SAM); 1 ♀, Belair NP, Gate 11, 1 – 8 March 2008, J.T. Jennings, MT (WINC); 1 ♀, Flinders ranges, Brachina Gorge, 31°19.954'S, 138°35.916'E, 5 April 2011, G. Taylor, Acacia lingulata (WINC); 1 ♂, Flinders ranges, Brachina Gorge, 31° 20.630'S, 138°33.635'E, 5 April 2011, R. Kittel and G. Taylor, Sweeping Eucalyptus socialis (WINC); Tasmania: 2 ♀♀, Cambridge, 21 February 1967, A. Neboiss (MV); Victoria: 1 ♀, Abbeyard, 27 January 1960, A. Neboiss (MV); 1 ♀, Latrobe R. Survey St 8 U7/s, 17 February 1973, R. Morwell, LT (MV); 2 ♀♀, Meredith, 12 – 13 February 1959, A. Neboiss (MV); 1 ♀, Meredith, 13 February 1959, A. Neboiss (MV); 1 ♀, Myrtleford, 23 June 1973, A. Neboiss, Eucalyptus spp., MVL-trap (MV); 1 ♀, Nunawading, 1 March 1960, A. Neboiss (MV); 4 ♀♀, Porepunkah, 26 January 1960, A. Neboiss (MV); 1 ♂, Mt Langi Ghiran, 17 December 1966, A. Neboiss (MV); Western Australia: 1 ♀, 18 mi E Pingelly, 2 January 1971, G.A. Holloway and H. Hughes, MVL (AMS K351888); 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Miaboolya Beach, N of Carnarvon, 24.48°S, 113.38°E, 22 October 1992, E.D. Edwards and E.S. Nielson (ANIC); 2 ♀♀, Loop Road, 30 km NE by E of Kalbarri, 27.34°S, 114.26°E, 17 October 1984, Kalbarri NP, D.C.F. Rentz Stop 48 (ANIC); 8 ♀♀, Kalbarri, 27.43°S, 114.10°E, 15 October 1992, E.D. Edwards and E.S. Nielson (ANIC); 3 ♀♀, 1 ♂, Kalbarri, 27.43°S, 114.10°E, 24 October 1992, E.D. Edwards and E.S. Nielson (ANIC); 2 ♀♀, Augustus Island, CALM Site 26/1, 15.25°S, 124.38°E, 11 – 16 June 1989, I.D. Naumann (ANIC); 1 ♀, 1 km W of Wave Rock, 32.27°S, 118.53°E, 31 January 1993, E.D. Edwards and E.S. Nielsen (ANIC); 1 ♂, Gill Pinnacle, Mural Crescent, 2 November 1963, P. Aitken and N.B. Tindale, LT (SAM); 1 ♀, Gill Pinnacle, Mural Crescent, 10 November 1963, P. Aitken and N.B. Tindale, LT (SAM); 1 ♀, 3.8 km NE of Comet Vale Siding, 29.57°S, 121.07°E, 7 – 15 March 1979, T.F. Houston et al. 256 – 8 (WAM 82791); 1 ♀, Nullagine, 19 – 20 January 1974, A.M. and M.J. Douglas (WAM 82875); 3 ♂♂, Buningonia Spring (Well), 31°26'S, 123°33'E, 18 – 25 November 1978, T.F. Houston et al. 225/10 (WAM 82785, 82787, 82788); 1 ♀, 9.8 km SSE of Mt Linden, 29.19°S, 122.25° E, 17 – 23 March 1979, T.F. Houston et al. 259 – 1 (WAM 82800); 1 ♂, Spectacles Yargan, 32° 12.893'S, 115°49.758'E, 2 November 2011, R. Kittel and L. Krieger, sweeping Eucalyptus and Banksia (WAM SF 008307 – 17); 1 ♂, Credo Station, 30°04.476'S, 120°36.910'E, 7 September 2011, R. Kittel Sweeping Senna, Bush Blitz survey (WAM).

Biology

One specimen was reared from sea hibiscus ( Hibiscus tilliaceus L.) Malvaceae . Additional specimens were collected from Acacia lingulata A. Cunn. ex Benth. Fabaceae and Christmas Mallee ( Eucalyptus socialis F.Muell. ex Miq. ) Myrtaceae .

Etymology

The species is named after the dark scapula area, as opposed to the orange – light brown mesoscutum.

Distribution

Recorded from across Australia, but it is not as abundant as P. decticauda or P. behriae . It is known from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia (including Bon Bon Station ), Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia ( Figure 16 ) .

CO1 sequence

Genbank accession numbers for this species are KJ438594 – KJ438598 .

Figures

Figure 13. Phanerotoma nigriscapulata sp. nov.: (a) habitus, lateral, paratype, scale line = 1 mm; (b) head, anterior, holotype, scale line = 0.5 mm; (c) mesosoma, dorsal, paratype, scale line = 1 mm; (d) fore wing, paratype, scale line = 1 mm.

Figure 16. Distribution map: Phanerotoma bushblitz sp. nov., black diamond; Phanerotoma lutea sp. nov., grey square; Phanerotoma witchelinaensis sp. nov., black square; Phanerotoma nigriscapulata sp. nov., grey circle; Phanerotoma bonbonensis sp. nov., black circle.