Mischocyttarus occiduus, Silveira, 2006

Silveira, Orlando Tobias, 2006, Revision of the subgenus Kappa de Saussure of Mischocyttarus de Saussure (Hym.; Vespidae, Polistinae, Mischocyttarini), Zootaxa 1321 (1), pp. 1-108 : 77-78

Mischocyttarus occiduus sp. n.

( Figs. 74, 80 )

M. metathoracicus: Richards, 1978: 307 (in part; misidentification)

HOLOTYPE: ♀ Colombia, Cauca, Llano Bajo, nest 98, 4­x­71 (M. Cooper) ( BMNH).

FEMALE. Length of fore wing 10 mm; head transverse as seen from above, MWH/DLH 2.4, in frontal view low and wide, FHH/intOW 0.93; clypeus very wide, H/WClp 0.86, median angle moderately projecting below, apex just narrow (i.e. not so notably) and round, lateral margin nearly straight (not sinuous), zone in contact with eye as extensive as the upper free part of the margin; malar space narrow, not more than 1/3 of the height of an antennal socket; tentorial pit as close to the eye as to antennal socket; mandible anterior surface without a prominent border; antennal scape very short and wide, L/Wesc 2.15; occeli widely separated, POL about 2.4 diameters, POL/OOL more than 2/3; occiput with margin distinct and salient even at the center; foraminal area shaped ventrally as a shelf; hypostomal lamella narrow; pronotum with lateral fovea, pronotal anterior margin medially with lamella narrow and moderately reflexed, region just behind not quite continuous, a little raised but not forming a definite secondary margin; humeral region angular and projecting forwards instead of laterally ( Fig. 80 ), carina with lamella low, not reflexed nor salient at sides, not forming lateral lobe, as seen from above with profile distinctly concave, sides of the pronotum strongly converging, total width of carina less than that of mesoscutum, the latter only a fraction longer than wide, L/WMsc 1.03; fore wing very short, LDis/HMpl 1.98, pterostigma about 3 times longer thna wide; metanotum moderately convex, not very salient relative to scutellum; inner claw of hind tarsus rather round; propodeum inflated, median furrow rather shallow, triangular, developed on the posterior three­fourths of the propodeum dorsal surface, the anterior fourth adjacent to metanotum prominent nearly horizontal, propodeal valve moderately wide, triangular, limit between propodeum and lower metapleuron marked by a sulcus which is considerably deep but not shining; first segment of metasoma moderately elongated ( Fig. 74 ), LSI/HMpl about 1.15, distal part with sides diverging from just behind the spiracles, these distinctly prominent, apex about 2.5 times wider than the base, basal petiole elongated, sternum flattened, limit between sternum and tergum proximally marked by a prominent shining edge.

Sculpture: disk of clypeus with a strong pattern of very dense medium to large punctures, the interstices very narrow, rather shining, area close to the ventral margin reticulate and shining, with few large punctures; upper part of interantennal area and frons dull with very dense comb­like medium to large punctures; mesoscutum with strong dull pattern formed by very dense comb­like punctures; mesopleuron with numerous strong medium sized punctures and more sparse larger ones; anterior lateral region of propodeum with a regular pattern formed by numerous large and well marked punctures.

Color: black; legs, brown; tegula brown with outer margin reddish; antenna below brown to yellowish brown at the apex; lower third of clypeus, most of mandible, articular processes on meso and metapleuron, spot on the base of mid and hind femora, spot on inner face of fore tibia, yellowish brown; inner orbit to lower border of ocular sinus, posterior margin of pronotum, scutellum, metanotum, large paired oval spots (medially coalescing) on propodeum, valvular region, one streak on mid coxa, two streaks on hind coxa, inner distal margin of trochanters, apex of femora, apex of fore and mid tibiae, dorsum of fifth segment of fore tarsus, distal margin of metasomal terga 1–2, yellow; larger hind tibial spur, light brown; wings hyaline, veins brown.

Variation: The paratype female from Nariño has additionally the pronotal carina and two paired weak marks on mesoscutum yellow .

MALE: unknown.

NEST. Richards (1978: 307) mentions one small nest collected with the holotype, without giving additional information.

Etymology The specific epithet occiduus is Latin meaning “western”.

Remarks

This species is known from the holotype and another female, both from Colombia. Richards (1978) cited the holotype as similar to M. metathoracicus (Saussure) but noting some differences, especially regarding the shape of the first metasomal segment. The cuticle sculpture is stronger in the new species, and the pronotal carina is lower and distinctly concave forwards ( Fig. 80 ). The yellow spots on propodeum are less extensive and not completely fused medially.

Distribution SOUTH AMERICA: Colombia.

Examined material

COLOMBIA: 1♀ (PARATYPE) Nariño, Barbacoas, 21/iii/1974 (M. Cooper) ( BMNH) .

Figures

FIGURES 66–80. M. metathoracicus: 66, mesosoma lateral, 67, male antenna, 68, mesosoma part dorsal, 77, T1, 79, pronotum frontal; M. flavoscutellatus: 69, mesosoma lateral, 72, T1; M. efferus sp. n.: 70, male antenna, 71, mesosoma part dorsal, 76, T1, 78, pronotum frontal; M. acreanus sp. n.: 73, T1, 75, mesosoma part dorsal; M. occiduus sp. n.: 74, T1, 80, mesosoma part dorsal.