Zethus (Zethoides) utingensis Lopes, 2024

Lopes, Rogério B. & Noll, Fernando B., 2024, Taxonomic notes on the Zethus olmecus de Saussure, 1875 species group (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae), with the description of five new species, Zootaxa 5437 (3), pp. 363-383 : 379-380

Zethus (Zethoides) utingensis Lopes , sp. n.

( Figs 94–97 )

Type material. Holotype, ♀, “ Brasil —PA/ Belém—Utinga/ 14.xii.17/ Coelho B.//Nin 13 14/12/2016” [ MPEG] . Paratypes: 1♁, same data as holotype [ MPEG]; 1♀ , same data as holotype, 10.i.17 [ MPEG] .

Diagnosis. The species is very close to Z. pygmaeus , sharing the ridged metanotum, submedian propodeal carina basally angled and metanotum lower than other dorsal metasomal sclerites. The main difference is the punctation that is dense but not reticulated and surface of cuticle that is shiny rather than dull.

Description. Female. Coloration. Black, with the following yellow markings: clypeus; mandibles; pair of spots above antennal sockets; spot on ocular sinus; hypostoma; lower half of gena, extending as a wide band to the upper half; pair of wide bands from the middle of pronotum nearly reaching the pronotal lobe; proepisternum; parategula; tegula, except for central region; mesopleuron with large scrobal spot; a pair of spots on the scutellum and on the metanotum; forelegs; lateral spot on coxa, ventral stripe on femur and dorsal stripe on tibia of the midleg. Creamy-yellow markings: apical bands on T1–3 and S2–3. Brownish markings: central region of tegula; dorsal surface of coxa; dorsal stripe on femur and ventral surface of tibia of foreleg; dorsal surface of coxa, ventral surface of tibia and tarsus of midleg; subapical spot on femur and ventral stripe on tibia of hindleg; base of S2. Dark yellow: apical bands on T4–5 and S4–5. Propodeal apical lamella opaque and milky Wings hyaline. Structure. Clypeus with apex wide and truncate, inconspicuous teeth. Mandible 5-toothed. Gena with lower margin straight and, in dorsal view, convex. Pronotal carina with constant height. Pronotal humeri not projected, with inter-humeral distance subequal to that of humerus-tegula. Parategula digitiform, strongly bent on apex. Tegula evenly convex, posteriorly narrow. Scutellum flat. Metanotum strongly bent. Propodeum with dorsum lower than scutellum and metanotum. Apical lamella of propodeum triangular with rounded tip. T1 expansion twice as long as wide with angular posterior constriction. S2 regularly convex. Sculpture. Microstriae absent. Clypeus with moderate striato-punctation intercalated by smooth areas. Dense micropunctures on vertex, posterior margin of pronotum and T2. Dense striato-punctation on frons, pronotum and mesoscutum, moderate on scutellum. Miscropunctation dense on frons, vertex, mesoscutum, scutellum and T2. Dense, shallow, and very large punctures on propodeum. Dense macropunctation on T1; Dorsal half of gena smooth. Post-ocular carina and ventral portion of occipital carina absent. Notaulices present on posterior third. Submarginal carina with concave dorsal margin, making dorso-lateral more acute, approximately 90°. Pilosity. Clypeus glabrous, rest of body with fine tomentum; dense and long setae on propodeum apex. Long and sparse setae on S2. S3–5 with wide subapical band of long and dense pilosity.

Measurement. Forewing length 7.8 mm.

Male. As described for the female, except the following. Structure. Clypeus with apex slightly concave. F-XI lightly curved and truncate apex. Mandible 4-toothed. Pronotal carina higher at humeri than medially. Pronotum with very small humeral projections, with inter-humeral distance longer than humerus-tegula distance. Scutellum slightly humped. Metanotum with a strong bend, with a transverse ridge. S7 apically straight. Sculpture. Clypeus, mesoscutum and scutellum with moderate macropunctation, not striato-punctate. Post-ocular carina present. Pilosity. mid femur with a tuft of long setae on the ventral surface. Male genitalia ( Fig. 98 ). Aedeagus with a narrow and rounded basal plate; apodemes with rounded apex; ventral margin of ventral ventral lobe with regular serration of thin teeth except posteriorly, where there are two long teeth; body with strong downward bend preceding the head, which is then reflexed upward and with a bilobed apex. Gonocoxite with apex curved inward. Volsellar body narrow with very small digitiform base, and small pre-apical hump. Digitus with quadrate root presenting narrow but deep incision; basal lobe large and wide, with moderate pilosity on its tip; ventral lobe long, basally wide becoming apically narrow with its tip curved inwards and covered by small setae. Cuspis with single beak-like root; basal projection large and triangular; apical lobe also triangular and developed, but smaller than basal projection.

Measurement. Forewing length 6.2 mm.

Distribution. Brazil (Pará).

Etymology. The name refers to the type locality Utinga.

Sex association. The holotype and male paratype were captured from the same trap-nest, what made the sex association certain.

Observations. The female paratype has 7.6 mm and less vibrant coloration, that may be caused, but not certain, by preservation in alcohol.

Figures

FIGURES 98. Male genitalia of Zethus hexacirratus (left) and Z. utingensis (right). Aedeagus in ventral view (above), lateral view (medium) and gonocoxite and volsellar complex in inner view (below). Dashed circle shows oblique close-up of apex of digitus. Dashed lines indicate underlaid structure. Cuspis highlighted in gray. Scales: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 94–97. Zethus utingensis sp. n., female holotype (94, 95) and male paratype (96, 97). 94, 96. Habitus. 95, 97. Head, frontal view. Scales: 1.0 mm.