Dasyproctus idrieus (Cameron, 1901) Binoy & Kumar & Santhosh, 2021

Binoy, C., Kumar, P. Girish & Santhosh, S., 2021, Review of Indian Dasyproctus Lepeletier & Brullé 1835 (Hymenoptera Crabronidae) with description of four new species, Zootaxa 4991 (3), pp. 467-498 : 479-482

5. Dasyproctus idrieus (Cameron, 1901) stat. rev. et comb. nov.

( Figs 47–62 )

Crabro idrieus Cameron 1901b: 53 , Maldives ♀, corrected to ♂ ( Leclercq (1956) (comb. nov., stat. rev.).

Dasyproctus buddha (Cameron) : ♂ Leclercq (1956): 147.

Dasyproctus amplicarinalis Yue & Ma , China in Yue et al. 2021: 23 , ♀ (syn. nov.).

Taxonomic History. Cameron (1901b) described Crabro idrieus from a female from the Maldives stating —“the face is distinctly keeled in the centre; at the apex this keel slightly projects and is smooth and shining”—. Leclercq (1956) corrected the sex to male and synonymized the species with Dasyproctus buddha . However, the male of Crabro idrieus Cam. considerably differs from the female of D. buddha in key characters which were subsequently treated as crucial for species identification ( Leclercq 2015: 43). Leclercq (1956) considered the maculation on mesosoma and metasoma as key characters in synonymizing Crabro idrieus Cameron with Rhopalum buddha Cameron. He considered the modification of the IOC in Crabro idrieus as a sexual difference within D. buddha as no females with such lamellar expansions were available for study. The following differences between both males and females of D. idrieus and D. buddha were observed during the present study: IOC differentiated into almost straight lamellar expansion, medially notched inwards (vs. IOC not differentiated into lamellar expansions); scape yellow with brown patch medio-ventrally (vs. scape yellow); conspicuous imprinted punctation on head and mesosoma (vs. punctuation on head and mesosoma not very marked, obsolete punctures beyond lateral ocelli); small yellow spots on anterior angle of scutellum (vs. large macula on scutellum, covering anterior 3/4 th of dorsum). These modifications observed in the specimens studied here agree with the observations of C. idrieus by Leclercq (1956: 147). Thus, the authors believe that these differences surpass the limits of individual variation of D. buddha and hence reinstate Crabro idrieus as a valid species.

Justification of New Synonymy. Yue & Ma (2021) described D. amplicarinalis based on two females from China comparing them to female of D. buddha (Cam.) . These two females had IOC modified as a high, lamellar, transverse carina at the upper margin of the scapal basin, the carina interrupted by a broad and deep depression medially. However, according to Leclercq (1956) the male of D. buddha (reinstated as D. idrieus in the present paper) is characterised by IOC modified into such a lamellar expansion among other noted key characters. Hence, the authors feel that D. amplicarinalis Yue & Ma clearly falls within the limits of D. idrieus and synonymise the two species accordingly.

Diagnosis. Clypeus with median lobe flat, truncated, hardly bevelled; shorter lateral expansions, closer to median lobe of clypeus; IOC differentiated into almost straight lamellar expansion, medially notched inwards; deep excavation beyond IOC leading to densely and almost coarsely punctate frons and vertex; vertex with no longitudinal line passing through post-ocellar space onto occiput; anterior part of pronotal lobe with series of conspicuous parallel wrinkles; mesosoma with distinct punctation.

Description. Female. ( Figs 47–56 ). Body length 11.35–11.71 mm; fore wing length 7.97–8.12 mm.

Colour. Body matt black with following parts variously coloured: scape deep yellow, medio-ventrally with brown spots; pedicel pale brown apically, remaining antennomeres brown, mandible deep yellow with apical part reddish to black, pronotal lobe lemon yellow, prepectus black; all coxae, trochanters and hind femur deep brown; fore and mid femora brown with wide yellow band ventrally; fore and mid tibiae brown with yellow streaks ventrally reaching apex; hind tibia brown with yellow streak ventrally, apically brown; all tarsomeres yellowish brown ( Fig. 47 ).

Pubescence. Thick silvery bristles on clypeus, comparatively fainter setosity concentrated on scapal basin (except for an inverted triangular area medio-dorsally) and above scapal basin forming linear line below anterior ocellus; gena with dense short white setae; frons and vertex with dense short appressed brown setae, denser near anterior ocellus, remaining vertex with linearly arranged setae; pronotum glabrous; mesoscutum, mesopleuron and scutellum with scattered short brown apressed setae; propodeum with long pale brown setae; legs moderately setose, hind femur inside and hind tibia ventrally thickly clothed with white setae; Gt 1 with moderately long setae at base, remainder of metasoma with thicker and stouter brown setae.

Head. As seen from above transverse, 1.5 × as wide as long ( Fig. 51 ); mandible tridentate with subapical tooth smaller; clypeus markedly setose with surface well-hidden below thick silvery bristles, apico-medially produced forward, slightly bevelled, apical margin almost straight ( Fig. 50 ); antennal toruli almost touching one another and inner eye margin; scapal basin densely rugose reticulate; IOC not indicated, brownish, translucent lamellar expansion near scapal basin, almost straight, notched medially ( Fig. 49 ); smooth, deep excavation onto frons; frons rugulose with setigerous pits; vertex with minimal rugulosity, with setigerous pits; gena with setigerous micropunctures; supraorbital furrow distinct, 2.52 × as long as wide; POD 0.84 × OOD ( Fig. 51 ); scape with two carinae ventrally; relative lengths of scape: pedicel: flagellomeres I to XI (last) = 9.2: 1.8: 3.0: 2.7: 2.3: 2.0: 1.8: 1.7: 1.4: 1.5: 1.4: 2.1.

Mesosoma . Anterior part of pronotum with several rugulae laterally; pronotal collar with lateral corner angulate, with medial notch distinct anteriorly, conspicuous medio-posterior bordering ridge present; mesoscutum and scutellum matt with scattered setigerous punctures; mesoscutum antero-medially with fine superficial rugulae, lateral margin carinate, posterior margin finely sinuate to wide mesoscuto-scutellar margin; scutellum with fewer setigerous punctures anteriorly, punctation denser posteriorly; posterior margin with longitudinal fovea; metanotum rugose punctate with lateral depression ( Fig. 52 ); propodeum finely rugose, interspaces shiny; hind femur wider than basal width of Gt 1; hind tibia with five stout spines; mesopleuron and mesosternum matt with scattered setigerous micropunctures ( Fig. 53 ); fore wing moderately setose and with brown tinge ( Fig. 54 ).

Metasoma. Sub-sessile with Gt 1 stout; Gt 1 1.91 × as long as wide, basally forming raised smooth area with three carinae, progressing onto expanded posterior part; Gt 2 with deep smooth, shiny transverse furrow at anterior margin, remainder matt with setigerous pits ( Fig. 55 ); remaining terga matt black with setigerous pits ( Fig. 56 ).

Male. ( Figs 57–62 ). Body length 9.52–9.81 mm; fore wing length 6.43–6.54 mm.

IOC differentiated into brownish or translucent lamellar expansion, almost straight ( Fig. 59 ); anterior bordering carina of pronotal collar curving onto pronotal lobe; clypeus medio-apically well truncated, straight ( Fig. 60 ); scape, pronotal collar, pronotal lobe, axillae, scutellum, tibia, mandible (extensively), prepectus and legs yellow ( Fig. 61 ); Gt 1, Gt 2, Gt 5 & Gt 6 immaculate; Gt 3 and Gt 4 with short macula laterally ( Fig. 62 ).

Prey. Unknown.

Distribution. India: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal. Elsewhere: China ( Yue et al. 2021); Maldives (Cameron 1903). Distribution records of previously identified males of D. buddha from various parts of the world are to be accepted after proper validation.

Materials Examined. India: Kerala: 2 ♂ Kannur dt., Kannapuram , 10.ii.2019 & 05.v.2019, Coll. C. Charesh, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV. 16500 & 16501; 1 ♂ Kannur dt., Kannapuram, 18.v.2019, Coll. C. Charesh, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV. 16503; 1 ♂ Kerala: Kannur dt., Madayippara , 01.ix.2018, Coll. Tessy Rajan, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV. 16504; 1 ♀ Kasargod dt., Ranipuram (12°25’4.8”N & 75°21’1.62”E, 780m,

22.i.2020, Coll. ZSI Research Scholars, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV.16488; 1 ♂ Kozhikode dt., Jaffer Khan Colony , 13.iv.2018, Coll. P. Girish Kumar, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV. 16497; 1 ♂ Kozhikode dt., Kakkavayal , 8.i.2018, Coll. Girish Kumar, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV. 16505; 1 ♀ Wayanad dt., Chan- danathod , 15.ii.2021, Coll. P. Girish Kumar; Rajasthan: 3 ♂ Sirohi dt., Dhanari , 28.iii.2019, Coll. P. Girish Kumar, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV.16494–16496; Tamil Nadu: 1 ♀ & 1 ♂ Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Thenkasi dt., Kannupulimedu , 27.viii.2019, Coll. B. H. C. K. Murthi & party, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/ WGRC /IR/ INV.16489 & 16492; 2 ♂ Coimbatore dt., Anaikatty , 04.i.2019, Coll. P. Girish Kumar, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV. 16498 & 16499; Uttar Pradesh: 2 ♂ Prayagraj dt., Naini , 01.iv.2006, Coll. S. Sheela & party, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV.16490 & 16491; West Bengal: 1 ♂ Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve, S-24 Parganas dt., Canning , 06.viii.2013, Coll. Gourav Sharma & party, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV. 16502 .

Figures

FIGURES 47–54. Dasyproctus idrieus (Cameron) stat. rev. et comb. nov. ♀. 47. Habitus, lateral view; 48. Head, lateral view; 49. Head, frontal view; 50. Clypeus; 51. Head, dorsal view; 52. Mesosoma, dorsal view; 53. Mesosoma, lateral view; 54. Fore wing.

FIGURES 55–56. Dasyproctus idrieus (Cameron) stat. rev. et comb. nov. ♀. 23. Gt1 & Gt2 (Gt3 in part), dorsal view; 56. Metasoma, lateral view.

FIGURES 57–62. Dasyproctus idrieus (Cameron) stat. rev. et comb. nov. ♂. 57. Habitus, lateral view; 58. Head, dorsal view; 59. Head, frontal view; 60. Clypeus; 61. Mesosoma, dorsal view; 62. Metasoma, lateral view.