Pararrhynchium aurigaster 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 : 453-455

Pararrhynchium aurigaster Selis , sp. nov.

( Figs. 19–22 )

Diagnosis. Using the key provided by Nguyen (2015), this species comes close to the Vietnamese species

Pararrhynchium concavum Nguyen, 2015 , and Pararrhynchium striatum Nguyen, 2015 , due to the reduced transverse carina on T1, but can be differentiated by [characteristics of the other two species in brackets]: metasoma entirely opaque and covered in golden pilosity which is more visible on T3–T6 and S2–S6 ( Fig. 22 ) [integument shiny and without golden vestiture], T3 with apical lamella bent upward and T4 with a very short lamella [T3–T4 without apical lamella], dorsal area of propodeum as long as the length of metanotum [shorter in P. concavum ], dorsolateral areas of propodeum entirely densely punctate [with impunctate areas in P. striatum ], posterior face of propodeum dull with dense shallow coarse punctures [shiny and striate in P. striatum ], propodeal carinae curve ( Fig. 21 ) [not curve in P. striatum ], clypeus black with apical yellow spots ( Fig. 20 ) [entirely black in P. concavum ].

Material examined. HOLOTYPE, ♀, pinned, “MALAYA / (Johore) / Lenggor F.R. / 11.v.1968 / C.G. Roche ” [printed on white label] ( MSNVE).

Description. Female. Body length 11 mm; fore wing length 10 mm.

Head nearly circular, as wide as long in frontal view. Clypeus very weakly convex basally, then flattened in lateral view, apical margin weakly emarginated, emargination 8× as wide as deep, apical teeth short and rounded, clypeus 1.3× as long as wide ( Fig. 20 ). Distance from posterior ocellus to inner eye margin 0.35× as the distance from posterior ocellus to occipital margin; ocelli disposed as a obtuse triangle, distance between posterior ocelli 2.1× as long as distance between anterior ocellus and posterior ocellus. Temples 1.2× as wide as eye at bottom of ocular sinus; occipital carina indistinct medially, thickened ventrally. Scape 3.2× as long as apically wide; F1 1.5× as long as apically wide; F2–F9 wider than long; F10 bullet-shaped. Foveae small and close to each other, located between two large gibbosities, each bearing a tuft of short hairs. Mesosoma in dorsal view elongate, 1.4× as long as wide. Pronotal carina short but well-defined for entire length, rounded on humeri. Mesoscutum as long as wide between tegulae, weakly convex in lateral view, notauli present from posterior margin to half length and confused in the punctation. Scutellum in lateral view flattened, anterior margin crenate. Metanotum flat in lateral view, nearly semicircular in dorsal view. Tegulae broad, posterior lobe equaling parategula. Parategulae short and rounded. Mesepisternum convex, epicnemial carina weak but distinct. Propodeum almost vertical in lateral view; posterior face broadly and shallowly depressed, with a longitudinal median furrow in dorsal half and a carina in ventral half; lateral face flat; dorsal face of propodeum forming a dorsal shelf behind metanotum, shelf as long as length of metanotum; dorsal carinae strong and forming a semicircular border between posterior and dorsal faces, incised medially ( Fig. 21 ). T1 1.65× as wide as long in dorsal view, anterior transverse carina barely visible only at sides and absent medially. T2 weakly convex in lateral view. Apical margin of T2–T3 with a weakly reflexed lamella, a very short lamella present on T4. S2 broadly depressed basally, in lateral view weakly convex for entire length ( Fig. 22 ).

Frons, vertex and dorsal side of mesosoma covered by erected golden bristles. Clypeus and lateral sides of mesosoma covered by curved silvery bristles. Propodeum with dense golden pubescence. T1–T2 with extremely short grayish pubescence. T3–T6 and S2–S6 with a very dense golden pubescence, that gives a golden shine to the whole surface.

Clypeus with deep oblique punctures, interspaces equal to or smaller than points diameter, apical margin with fine transverse striae. Frons, vertex and genae with very dense deep punctures, interspaces very narrow and forming a reticulation; gibbosities behind posterior ocelli shiny and with very fine punctures. Pronotum, mesoscutum, scutellum and mesepisternum with very deep and dense punctation, some points confluing in groups of 3–4. Metanotum punctured like previous mesosomal parts, but punctures larger and interspaces irregular. Metaepisternum coarsely sculpted, with strong striae and deep punctures. Dorsal face of propodeum with very large and deep flat-bottomed punctures, interspaces very narrow and carina-like; lateral face of propodeum with shallower punctures; posterior face of propodeum punctured like other face, but punctures extremely shallow and surface dull. Anterior vertical face of T1 with moderately dense deep punctation, interspaces equal to or slightly larger than points diameter. Posterior horizontal face of T1 and whole T2 opaque and with dense deep punctures; following terga with punctation progressively smaller and sparser. S2 shiny, basally with sparse deep punctures, apically more densely punctured; following sterna progressively more finely punctured.

Color. Black; following parts pale yellow: apical lateral spots on clypeus, small triangular mark on base of mandibles, extremely small postocular dot, ventral face of scape, badly defined line on inner face of fore tibia; following parts dark red: apical margin of clypeus, labrum, mandibles except margins, lateral margin of T1, apical lamella of T2–T3, apical margin of S1. Wings almost hyaline with a weak yellow tinge, apical fourth infuscate with weak purplish reflections.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Malaysia: Johor.

Etymology. The specific name is in reference to the golden pubescence which covers part of the metasoma.

Figures

FIGURES 19–22. Pararrhynchium aurigaster sp. nov., ♀, holotype. 19, Habitus. 20, Head in frontal view. 21, Propodeum in posterodorsal view. 22, Metasoma in lateral view.