Lissodynerus unicus Selis, 2018

Selis, Marco, 2018, Additions to the knowledge of solitary wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), with description of eight new species, Zootaxa 4403 (3), pp. 441-468 : 451-453

Lissodynerus unicus Selis , sp. nov.

( Figs. 14–18 )

Diagnosis. This species is unique in the whole genus by the combination of the following characters: head wider than long in frontal view, clypeus elongated and flattened in the middle, apical margin of clypeus weakly rounded ( Fig. 15 ), lateral carina of propodeum distinct and pointed on posterolateral angles ( Fig. 16 ), apical lamellae of terga becoming shorter laterally ( Fig. 17 ), whole body strongly and densely punctured, punctation of mesoscutum and scutellum elongate and forming striae. According to Giordani Soika (1994), L. trilaminatus Giordani Soika, 1994 , also shows laterally shortened lamellae on terga, but in this species these lamellae do not reach the lateral margins of the terga, while in L. unicus they reach the margin.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE, ♀, pinned, “ Sikkim / E. Himalayas / May 1912.” [printed on brownish label], “62” [printed on white label] ( MSNVE).

Description. Female. Body length 12 mm; fore wing length 13 mm.

Head 1.13× as wide as long in frontal view. Clypeus almost entirely flattened in lateral view, apical margin weakly rounded, two longitudinal carinae running from ventral corners up to basal third of clypeus, clypeus 1.18× as long as wide ( Fig. 15 ). Distance from posterior ocellus to inner eye margin 0.5× as the distance from posterior ocellus to occipital margin; ocelli disposed as a obtuse triangle, distance between posterior ocelli 2.5× as long as distance between anterior ocellus and posterior ocellus. Temples 0.7× as wide as eye at bottom of ocular sinus; occipital carina indistinct medially, thickened ventrally. Scape 3.7× as long as apically wide; F1 1.8× as long as apically wide; F2–F4 about as long as wide; following flagellomeres missing. Foveae small and close to each other, separated by a short longitudinal carina, each bearing a tuft of short hairs. Mesosoma in dorsal view elongate, 1.2× as long as wide. Pronotal carina short but well-defined for entire length and weakly lamellate, rounded on humeri. Mesoscutum 0.95× as long as wide between tegulae, flattened in lateral view. Scutellum in lateral view flattened anteriorly and weakly convex on posterior margin, anterior and posterior margins crenate. Metanotum angled in lateral view, with a dorsal horizontal face and a posterior vertical face, separation between faces indistinct; posterior face weakly convex. Tegulae narrow, posterior lobe short and not equaling parategula. Parategulae short and almost longitudinal. Mesepisternum convex, epicnemial carina indistinct. Propodeum oblique in lateral view, posterior face broadly and shallowly depressed with two basal elongate foveae, lateral face flat, transitions between faces of propodeum well defined; dorsal carina forming a short tooth behind lateral margin of metanotum; lateral carina well-defined and forming a flattened tooth on posterolateral corner ( Fig. 16 ). T1 2× as wide as long in dorsal view, anteriorly with a weak transverse carina more resembling a fold. T2 weakly convex in lateral view. Apical margin of T2–T4 with a weakly reflexed lamella, longer in the middle and becoming gradually shorter laterally. Apical margin of T5 with a flattened and not clearly separated lamella. S2 broadly depressed basally, in lateral view weakly convex basally and then flattened ( Fig. 17 ).

Whole body covered by erected golden bristles, shorter on dorsal face of mesosoma. Mesepisternum with longer white setae, curved ventrally. Posterior face of metanotum and lateral face of propodeum with very short dense whitish pubescence.

Clypeus with irregular longitudinal striae, some big punctures on basal corners. Frons, vertex, pronotum and mesepisternum with big and dense flat-bottomed punctures, interspaces narrow and forming an elevated reticulation, punctures bigger on mesepisternum. Gena punctured like vertex, but interspaces wider and smooth. Ventral corners of pronotum strongly transversely striate. Anterior half of mesoscutum with very dense deep punctures, puncture confluent and forming irregular striae. Posterior half of mesoscutum and scutellum with deep large punctures, interspaces narrow and forming regular elevated longitudinal striae. Dorsal face of metanotum with dense large punctures, interspaces indistinct; posterior face of metanotum dull and with not defined shallow punctures. Dorsal plate of metaepisternum shiny with some transverse striae, ventral plate dull and not clearly sculptured. Dorsal face of propodeum with not clearly defined large shallow punctures, except for smooth lateral margins; lateral face of propodeum with strong transverse striae, becoming large irregular punctures on dorsal margin; posterior face of propodeum with dense transverse fine striation. Anterior vertical face of T1 entirely smooth, posterior horizontal face with dense deep punctures becoming finer and sparser apically, apical margin impunctate. T2 with dense and deep oblique punctures ( Fig. 18 ), lateral margins with deeper and sparser punctures. T3–T5 with small deep punctures. S2 with deep punctures, interspaces larger than points diameters. S3–S5 with punctures deeper and sparser than respective terga.

Color. Black; following parts yellow: clypeus except margins and median inverted heart-shaped marking, spot between and above interantennal space, inner eye margin up to bottom of ocular sinus, oval spot on dorsal half of gena, ventral face of scape, anterior fourth of dorsal face of pronotum, medially interrupted band on anterior margin of metanotum, dorsal face of propodeum almost entirely, dorsal rounded spot on mesepisternum, two preapical oval markings on T1, anterolateral spots on T1, preapical band on T2 expanded medially and laterally, lateral basal spots on T2, preapical margin of T3–T4, lateral spot on mid and hind coxa, outer spot at apex of fore and mid femora, outer face of all tibiae, last fore tarsomere; legs brownish-black where not yellow; apical lamellae of T2–T5 dark brown.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. India: Sikkim.

Etymology. The specific name is in reference to the unique characteristics of this species.

Figures

FIGURES 14–18. Lissodynerus unicus sp. nov., ♀, holotype. 14, Habitus. 15, Head in frontal view. 16, Propodeum in posterior view. 17, Metasoma in dorsolateral view. 18, Metasoma in dorsal view.