Plumarius gradifrons Diez, 2012

Diez, Patricia A., Fidalgo, Patricio & Roig-Alsina, Arturo, 2012, Systematics of the South American genus Plumarius Philippi, 1873, with descriptions of new species (Hymenoptera, Plumariidae), Zoosystema 34 (3), pp. 635-650 : 646-648

Plumarius gradifrons Diez n. sp.

( Fig. 7 )

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: Argentina, province of La Rioja, Patquia, Breyer , 1 ♂ ( MACN en-9891).

Paratypes: Argentina, Province of Rio Negro, San Antonio Oeste, 14.I.1968, Stange, 3 ♂♂ ( IFML). — General Fernandez Oro, 17.I.1980, Willink, P. Fidalgo, Domínguez, Claps, 3 ♂♂ ( IFML). — Province of Neuquén, Picún-Leufú, 30.XI.1985, A. Roig-Alsina, 4 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Province of Mendoza, Lavalle, El Retamo, 11.XII.1979, A. Roig-Alsina, 41 ♂♂ ( MACN), 10 ♂♂ ( MNHN); Ruta 7 km 1071 c. Cacheuta, 1200 m a.s.l., 13.XII.2006, P. A. Diez, G. Fidalgo, P. Fidalgo, 6 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Province of San Juan, Ruta 141 km 173 c. Caucete, 14.I.2006, at light, P. Fidalgo, 15 ♂♂ ( MACN); Ruta 141 km 197 c. Caucete, 28.I.2006, P. Fidalgo, 78 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Province of Córdoba, Yacanto, 23.II.1966, Stange, 2 ♂♂ ( IFML). — Province of La Rioja, 20 km N La Rioja, 24.IX.1968, Peña, 9 ♂♂ ( IFML). —Patquia, Guayapa, 4.X.1954, 14.X.1954, 18.V.1954, Hayward, 35 ♂♂ ( IFML); Patquia, 25- 26.I.1947, Hayward, Willink, 9 ♂♂ ( IFML); Patquia, Breyer, 3 ♂♂ ( MACN 34612, 34615, 34720). — Illiar, 1934, M. Gómez, 12 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Anguiñán, Chilecito, 1-15.II.1969, Malaise trap, Willink, Terán, Stange, 1 ♂ ( IFML); Chilecito, 1.II.1969, Willink, Terán, Stange, 1♂ ( IFML); Ruta 40 km 593 c. Chilecito, 7.IV.2005, G. Fidalgo, P. Fidalgo, Torréns, 10 ♂♂ ( MACN). — La Rioja Capital, 6.III.1970, Porter, Stange, 1 ♂ ( IFML). — Ruta 66 between Mazán and Aimogasta, 17.I.1970, P. Fidalgo, 1 ♂ ( IFML). — 5 km S of Udpinango, III.2005, 3.XII.2005, G. Fidalgo, P. Fidalgo, 11 ♂♂ ( MACN); same location, but 16-25. III.2005, P. Fidalgo, P. A. Diez, 19 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Udpinango, 16.II.2006, I.2007, Torréns, Nieto, P. Fidalgo, 14 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Termas de SantaTeresita, 12.II.2005, 19.II.2005, XI.2006, P. Fidalgo, Torréns, 16 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Ruta 141 km 104 c. Marayes, 29.I.2006, at light, P. Fidalgo, 29 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Ruta 141 c. Mascasín, 12.XII.2006, P. A. Diez, G. Fidalgo, P. Fidalgo, 43 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Pinchas, 16.XI.2007, P. Fidalgo, 13 ♂♂ ( MACN). — El Barrial, 17.II.2006, Torréns, P. Fidalgo, 3 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Province of Catamarca, Belén, 6.II.1966, Willink, Stange, 1 ♂ ( MACN). — Saujil, Tinogasta, 11.I.1970, P. Fidalgo, 1 ♂ ( MACN). — Cuesta de Belén, 26.III.1969, Baurero, Paganini, 1 ♂ ( IFML). — 6 km N of Belén, 16-30. IX.1968, 1240 m a.s.l., Malaise trap, Willink, Terán, Stange, 1 ♂ ( IFML). — Los Nacimientos de Abajo, 1-31.X.1968, 16-28.II.1969, Malaise trap, Willink, Terán, Stange, 84 ♂♂ ( IFML). — 4 km N of Santa María, 1700 m a.s.l., 4.X.1968, Willink, Terán, Stange, 1 ♂ ( IFML). — c. Saujil (Fiambalá), 23.XI.2005, at light, Porter, P. Fidalgo, P. A. Diez, 23 ♂♂ ( MACN). — 10 km N Fiambalá, 8.II.2006, yellow pan trap, 16.II.2007, P. Fidalgo, P. A. Diez, 7 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Belén, 10 km E Ruta 46, 3.XI.2005, Porter, P. Fidalgo, 22 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Ruta 46, 12 km of Belén, 20.XII.2005, P. Fidalgo, P. A. Diez, 12 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Ruta 46, 12 km W Andalgalá, 28.III.2005, Torréns, P. Fidalgo, 1 ♂ ( MACN). — Ruta 45 km 1280, c. Rio Colorado, 10.IV.2005, P. Fidalgo, 13 ♂♂ ( MACN). — c. Amaicha del Vallle, Ruta 307 km 122, XI.2005, P. Fidalgo, Porter, 6 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Medanito, 9.IV.2005, Fidalgo, 1 ♂ ( MACN). — 5 km N Palo Blanco, 23-24.I.2007, P. Fidalgo, P. A. Diez, 9 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Province of Tucumán, Amaicha, 20.XI.1966, Stange, 3 ♂♂ ( IFML). — Between Amaicha and Santa María, 28.XI.2005, Torréns, P. Fidalgo, 8 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Province of Salta, Cafayate, 20.XII.1970, Stange, 1 ♂ ( IFML). — Yacochuya, 9 km NW Cafayate, 23-26. IV.1970, Stange, Porter, 1 ♂ ( IFML). — Yacochuya, Cafayate, 16-30.IX.1968, Willink, Terán, Stange, 10 ♂♂ ( IFML). — El Barrial c. San Carlos, 30.XI.1981, A. Roig- Alsina, 4 ♂♂ ( MACN). — Province of Jujuy, 20 km N Capital, 24.IX.1968, Peña, 1 ♂ ( IFML).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Plumarius hirticornis : “ Mendoza / Amer. mer.”, “ Konowiella / hirticornis cotype” ( MNHN), paralectotype.

TYPE LOCALITY. — Argentina, province of La Rioja, Patquia.

DISTRIBUTION. — Argentina, from the province of Salta in the north to the province of Río Negro in the south.

ETYMOLOGY. — The name of this species refers to the step-like protuberance of the supraclypeal area in lateral view.

DIAGNOSIS. — Setose areas on both hind coxa and trochanter, step-like protuberance of supraclypeal area.

DESCRIPTION OF HOLOTYPE

Length: 6.0 mm (paratypes: 4.4-8.6 mm). Colour pale brown with head and antennae distinctly darker. Species sparsely punctate.

Head

1.2× wider than high in frontal view; wider in dorsal view than width of scutum between tegulae (49:45). Inner margin of orbits converging ventrally. Ocellocular distance 0.9× diameter of lateral ocellus; postocellar distance 1.7× ocellocular distance. Antennocular distance 0.6× diameter of torulus; interantennal distance 5.5× antennocular distance. Vertex smooth, without striae or punctures.Torulus closer to lateral ocellus than to clypeus (10.5:20). Lateral ocelli in frontal view below upper margin of head. Median ocellus above supra-torular line by 0.3× its maximum diameter ( Fig. 7A ). Genal carina present, distinct. Length of area between preoccipital carina and suboral swelling subequal to length of swelling (1.1:1.2); this area without median longitudinal carina ( Fig. 7B ). Malar area longer than width of first flagellomere (1.2:0.9), without striae. Supraclypeal area, in frontal view, with distinct lateral striae and central smooth elevated area; in lateral view with step-like protuberance ( Fig. 7C ). Epistomal suture distinct. Clypeus 1.5× wider than long, with lateral striae; with apico-lateral area scarcely bent forwards. Proportional lengths of segments of maxillary palp from base to apex,?:10:15:14:9:10. Scape basally with ventral rounded, compressed expansion ( Fig. 7C ). First flagellomere 5.8× as long as apical width, longer than sum of lengths of scape and pedicel (34:29).

Mesosoma

Area anterior to pronotal lobe smooth, not forming lower pocket; pronotal lateral carina distinct. Notaulus marked, as long as admedian line; anterior surface of scutum weakly punctate. Metapostnotum without longitudinal striae reaching posterior margin. Propodeum transverse, swollen behind spiracle. Forewing: marginal cell with anterior margin 2.4× as long as posterior margin; vein Rs3 shorter than Rs4 (17:22); vein M separated from cu-a by 0.4× length of cu-a, discal cell rectangular. Hind wing: veins cu-a and M interstitial. Forebasitarsus without outer lateral spines. Hind coxa and hind trochanter with ventral setose areas; hind basitarsus 1.3× as long as middle basitarsus; inner hind tibial spur 1.3× a long as outer spur.

Metasoma

Genitalia as in Figure 7D ; aedeagus with apical lateral spines.

VARIATION

The body colour varies considerably in this species. Pale brown specimens with a dark brown head are common, but some specimens are entirely pale and some others entirely dark brown. The apex of the clypeus in some specimens is slightly notched. The ventral setose areas of the hind coxa and the hind trochanter are sometimes less distinct.

Figures

FIG. 7. — Plumarius gradifrons Diez n. sp.: A, B, paratype from the province of San Juan, Ruta 141 km 173 c. Caucete, head, frontal view (A) and ventral view (B); C, paratype from the province of La Rioja, 5 km S of Udpinango, head, lateral view; D, genital capsule, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.