Tachyphron planus, Brown, 2005

Brown, G. R., 2005, A revision of Tachyphron Brown and description of two new genera within the Ariphron group (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae), Journal of Natural History 39 (2), pp. 197-239 : 231-232

Tachyphron planus sp. n.

( Figures 49, 50 , 53 , 61 )

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: „. Australia: Queensland: 3 km SW Fox Ck Crossing, ‘ Wolverton’, 13 ° 119S, 142 ° 569E, 14 April 1989, G. and A. Daniels, in QM. PARATYPES: 1 „, same data as holotype dated 12 April 1989, at mv lamp, in UQIC; 1 „?, 15 ° 189S, 145 ° 019E, 31 km NW by N of Cooktown, 250 m, 20 May 1977, I. F. B. Common and E. D. Edwards, in ANIC; 1 „, 15 ° 119S, 143 ° 529E, Hann River, Malaise trap, 21 February to 20 March 1994, P. Zborowski and G. Turner, in NTM; 1 „, 13 ° 399S, 142 ° 409E, 2 km N Rokeby, Malaise trap, 18 March to 24 May 1994, P. Zborowski, in ANIC.

Distribution. Cape York Peninsula, Queensland south to Cooktown ( Figure 61 ).

Etymology. The specific name is Latin for flat, and is a reference to the flattened parameres.

Diagnosis. Male: gena approximately half the length of minimum eye diameter. Hypopygium with apical spine triangular but not broadly triangular ( Figure 53 ). Parameres flattened apically ( Figures 49, 50 ). Cuspides short ( Figure 50 ).

Description. Male: black; apex of clypeus (longer so medially), line above antennal insertions, anterior margin of pronotum (discontinuous medially), large spot on tegula, and disc of metanotum, yellow; wings hyaline, veins light brown; setae white. Clypeus closely and finely punctate, apically truncate, sagittally carinate. Frons and vertex rugosely punctate. Gena finely rugosely punctate, oblique, approximately half length of minimum eye diameter. Occipital carina just visible dorsally. Genal cavity not visible dorsally. Pronotum including anterior surface and mesoscutum closely to rugosely punctate. Mesoscutellum rugosely punctate. Metanotum finely punctate. Propodeum and mesopleura rugosely punctate. T1–6 very shallowly punctate; T7 closely and coarsely punctate, medially impunctate; T1 with length: width 1.9:1. S1 closely punctate; S2–8 shallowly punctate, punctures deeper on posterior segments. Hypopygium ( Figure 53 ) subparallel, lateral spines acute, apical spine triangular. Genitalia ( Figures 49, 50 ) with parameres long, subtriangular and slightly down-turned, appearing acute in profile and flattened and truncate with the inner angle of truncation slightly produced mesally in dorsal view, ending before apex of aedeagus; basiparameres in dorsal view triangular, apex narrowly rounded, ending before level of apices of cuspides, narrow (but obscured by parameres) in lateral view; aedeagus with basal and apical sections, basal section subparallel but slightly expanded apically, without ventral lobes, apical section swollen basally, and curved and tapering to an acute apex, ending beyond level of apices of parameres. BL: 9– 11; FW: 6–8; HW: 4–5.

Figures

Figure 61. Distribution of Tachyphron spp. (more common species).

Figures 49–52. Tachyphron spp., male genitalia, lateral and dorsal views. (49, 50) T. planus (note: basal ring not shown). (51, 52) T. halmaherensis (note: basal ring partially obscured by apex of metasoma). Scale bar: 0.25 mm.

Figures 53–58. Tachyphron spp., male hypopygia. (53) T. planus. (54) T. halmaherensis. (55) T. athertonensis. (56) T. mantonensis. (57) T. townsvillensis. (58) T. aculeatus. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.