Ageniella (Priophanes) dowii ( Banks, 1938 )

Waichert, Cecilia, Rodriguez, Juanita, Von Dohlen, Carol D. & Pitts, James P., 2012, Spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) of the Dominican Republic, Zootaxa 3353 (1), pp. 1-47 : 9-10

Ageniella (Priophanes) dowii ( Banks, 1938)

( Figs 4G–H )

Priocnemis dowii Banks, 1938 , Memorias de la Sociedad Cubana de Historia Natural , 12, p. 245 [Holotype: ♀, CUBA, Cienfuegos (MCZC)].

Priocnemis arioles Banks, 1944 , Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, vol. 94: 186–187. [Holotype: ♀, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, San Domingo (MCZC)].

Diagnosis. This species can be separated from other Ageniella species in the Dominican Republic by having the integument black with bluish-purple-green reflections on the head and mesosoma; the metasoma is orange with the last terga black with purplish reflections ( Fig. 4G ). Additionally, the antenna is brown; the pubescence on the body is short, sparse, and silver, longer on propodeum; the pronotum has the collar differentiated from the disc; the first metasomal segment is not carinate; and the fore and hind wings are subtranslucent. The female has the clypeus trapezoidal with the apical margin slightly sinuous; the dorsal face of the hind tibia has scale-like spines; and the mid tibia has spines. The male ( Fig. 4H ) has the clypeus trapezoidal with the apical margin straight; the dorsal face of the hind tibia with small and thin spines; and the mid tibia are not spinose.

Material examined. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: La Vega, Cordillera Central, Loma Casabito , 16.0 km NW Bonao, 19–02–21N, 70–31–05W, 1487 m, 1 ♀ , evergreen cloud forest at summit, bait trap, sample 21152, J. Rawlins et al., 28.V.2003, CMNH –370,609; 5 ♀, 4 ♂ , evergreen cloud forest, east slope, yellow pan trap, sample 21262, CMNH –370,931/ 371,191/ 370,979/ 370,909/ 371,493/ 370,902/ 371,165/ 371, 389/ 371,029; 1 ♀, 2 ♂ , La Vega, Cordillera Central , 4.1 km SW El Convento, 18–50–37N, 70–42–48W, 1730 m, dense secondary evergreen forest with pine, yellow pan trap, sample 22262, J. Rawlins et al., 31.V.2003, CMNH –370,484/ 370,778/ 370,807; 1 ♀ , La Altagracia, Parque del Este , 2.9 km SW Boca de Yuma, 18–21–51N, 68–37–05W, 11 m, semihumid dry forest, limestone, yellow pan trap, sample 52164, J. Rawlins et al., 28.V.2004, CMNH –370,620; 1 ♀ , La Atagracia, Parque del Este, Caseta Guaraguao , 4.4 km SE Bayahibe, 18–19–59N, 68–48–42W, 3 m, semihumid forest near sea, limestone, yellow pan trap, sample 51164, C. Young et al., 26–27.V.2004, CMNH –370,243; 1 ♀ , Pedernales, Sierra de Baoruco, Aceitillar , 23.6 km NE Pedernales, 18–09–23N, 71–34–09W, 1560 m, open pine forest with grassland, yellow pan trap, sample 42162, C. Young et al., 14.VI.2003, CMNH –362,818; 1 ♀ , Pedernales, La Abeja, 38 km NNW Cabo Rojo , (18–09N, 71–38W), 1250 m, J. Rawlins and R. Davidson col., 15.VII.1987, ( CMNH); 2 ♀, 3 ♂ , Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo, Jardin Botanico, W. J. Pulawski cllr, 9.XI.1986, ( CAS); 3 ♀ , Distrito Nacional, Haina, W. J. Pulawski cllr, 1.XI.1986, ( CAS) .

Distribution. Cuba, Dominican Republic.

Host. Unknown.

Remarks. Alayo (1969) reported Ageniella dowii as a rare species in Cuba. In the Dominican Republic we recorded 24 specimens, nine males and 15 females, whose abundance is relatively high compared to other species of Ageniella and other genera in this study. Our sample shows morphological variation in coloration of integument and in coloration of wings, which can be slightly more translucent in some females. The Dominican Republic specimens may have blue reflections on the propodeum and the mesonotum, which can be more or less conspicuous.

Figures

FIGURE 4. A–B. Epipompilus pulcherrimus: habitus, lateral view: A. ♀; B. ♂. C–D. Ageniella bruesi: habitus, lateral view: C. ♂; D. ♀. E–F. Ageniella domingensis: habitus, lateral view: E. ♀; F.♂. G–H. Ageniella dowii: habitus, lateral view: G.♀. H. ♂. I. Ageniella violaceipes: habitus, lateral view, ♀. J. Ageniella ursula: habitus, lateral view, ♀.