Anoplius (Anoplius) fulgidus ( Cresson, 1865 )

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 : 23-24

Anoplius (Anoplius) fulgidus ( Cresson, 1865)

( Figs 2D , 5C–D , 8B, G–H, K )

Pompilus fulgidus Cresson, 1865 , Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, vol. 4, p. 131 [Holotype: ♀, CUBA (ANSP)].

Pompilus aeneopurpureus Fox, 1891 , Transactions of the American Entomological Society, Philadelphia, vol. 18, p. 339 [Holotype: ♀, JAMAICA, Portland (ANSP)].

Pompilus championi Cameron, 1893 , Biologia Centrali-Americana, vol. 2, p. 196 [Holotype: ♀, GUATEMALA, Guatemala City (BMNH)].

Pompilus mundulus Fox, 1897 , Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. 49, p. 243–244 [Holotype: ♀, BRAZIL, Chapada (ANSP)].

Anoplius amarus Banks, 1947 , Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, vol. 99, p. 416–417 [Holotype: ♀, PERU, Puerto Pichis (CUIC)].

Diagnosis. This species can be recognized by the following unique combination of characters: the integument is brilliant metallic blue ( Figs 6C–D); the pubescence on the body is bluish to ash-grey; the pronotum has a collar differentiated from the disc; the third antennal segment is more than 2.0 × as long as wide; the fore wing has a Cu vein distinctly deflected downward at the base forming a posterior pocket in the second medial cell; and the wings are uniformly dark. Additionally, the female ( Fig. 6C) has a weakly spined front basitarsus, where the spines in the upper row are minute ( Fig. 8H ). The male ( Fig. 6D) has moderately abundant short, suberect setae in the venter, which are not long or dense enough to form brushes ( Fig. 8K ).

Material examined. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: 4 ♂, Barahona, Eastern Sierra Bahoruco, Reserva Cachote , 12 km NE Paraiso, (18–05–54N, 71–11–21W), 1230 m, 21–23.III.2004, cloud forest with tree ferns, yellow pan trap, sample 44263, J. Rawlins et al. CMNH –370,099/ 370,305/ 370,622/ 371,062; 1 ♂, La Estrelleta, Rio Limpio , 650m, 15.VIII.1980, malaise trap, A. Norrbom CMNH –370,570; 1 ♂, Peravia, Arroyo Canas , 650 m, 15.VIII.1980, malaise trap, A. Norrbom CMNH – 370,447; Pedernales, Upper Las Abejas , 38 km NNW Cabo Rojo, (18–09N, 71–38W), 1350 m, 22.VI.1990, Mesic deciduous forest, sweeping, L. Masner , 8 ♂ CMNH –369,922/ 370,783/ 370,660/ 370,659/ 370,488/ 369,653/ 370,895/ 363,144, 1 ♀ CMNH –371,196; 2 ♂, La Vega, Cordillera Central Loma Casabito , 15.8 km NW Bonao, (19–02–12N, 70–31–08W), 1455 m, 28.V.2003, evergreen cloud forest, east slope, yellow pan trap, sample 21262, J. Rawlins et al ., 1 ♂, Azua, East Side of Crest, Sierra Martin Gracia , 7 km WNW Barrero, (18–21N, 70–50W), 860 m, 25–26.VII.1992, cloud forest adjacent to disturbed forest, C. Young et al. CMNH –371,052; 1 ♂, Independencia, Sierra de Neiba just south of crest, 5 km NNW Angel Feliz, 1780 m, (18–41N, 71–47W), 13–15.X.1991, cloud forest, J. Rawlins et al. CMNH –370,898; 1 ♂, Provincia Sanchez, Ramirez , 23 km SW Cotui, 7.X.1986, W. J. Pulawski ( CAS) ; 1 ♂, Provincia Hato Mayor, Farm Mango Limpio (25 km NNW Hato Mayor), 29.X.1986, W. J. Pulawski ( CAS) ; 1 ♂, Distrito Nacional, Haina , 1.X.1986, W. J. Pulawski ( CAS) .

Distribution. Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Central America, Caribbean, USA (southern Florida, Texas, southern Utah, southern California) ( Wasbauer & Kimsey 1985).

Host. Pirata sedentarius Montgomery (Lycosidae) ( Wasbauer 1955) and Arctosus sp. nr. littoralis (Hentz) (Lycosidae) ( Kurczewski & Kurczewski 1968).

Remarks. This is one of the two Dominican Republic Anoplius species with bluish coloration. Anoplius fulgidus can be separated from A. amethystinus amethystinus by the absence of strong spines on the front basitarsus of the female ( Fig. 8H ); the ventral setae not forming brushes on the metasoma in the former ( Fig. 8K ); and presence of these characters in the latter ( Figs 8I–J ). This species is morphologically similar to others in the A. nigerrimus species-group, but the color serves to separate males and females from other species in the subgenus Anoplius ( Wasbauer & Kimsey 1985) . There is only one record of flower visitation by the adults ( Evans 1951). Wasbauer (1955) observed the hunting behavior of females near the edge of a stream.

Figures

FIGURE 2. A. Pepsis marginata: hind and fore wing, dorsal view, ♀. B. Auplopus bellus: propodeum, lateral view, ♂.C. Drepanaporus collaris: hind and fore wing, dorsal view, ♀. D. Anoplius fulgidus: fore and hind wing, dorsal view, ♀. E. Tachypompilus ferrugineus: fore wing, dorsal view, ♀. F. Anoplius americanus ambiguus: fore wing, dorsal view, ♀. G. Anoplius hispaniolae: fore wing, dorsal view, ♀. H. Drepanaporus antillarum: fore wing, ♀. I. Dipogon marlowei sp. nov.: fore wing, ♀.

FIGURE 5. A–B. Auplopus bellus: habitus, lateral view: A. ♂; B. ♀. C–D. Auplopus charlesi sp. nov.: habitus, ♀: C. dorsal view; D. lateral view. E–F. Entypus ochrocerus: habitus, lateral view: E. ♂; F. ♀. G. Dipogon marlowei sp. nov.: habitus, lateral view, ♀. H–I. Priocnemis cornica: habitus, lateral view: H. ♂; I. ♀. J. Caliadurgus maestris: habitus, lateral view, ♀. K–L. Priocnessus vancei sp. nov.: habitus, ♀: K. lateral view; L. dorsal view.

FIGURE 8. A. Psorthaspis hispaniolae: head and front femora, front-lateral view, ♀. B, G–H, K. Anoplius fulgidus, lateral view: B. head and anterior mesosoma, ♀; G.postnotum, ♀; H. front basitarsus, ♀; K. metasoma, ♂. C. Drepanaporus collaris: front femora, lateral view, ♀. D–E. Epysiron conterminous cressoni: ♀: D. postnotum, dorsal view; E. propodeum, lateral view. F.Aporinellus medianus: propodeum, lateral view, ♀. I–J. Anoplius amethystinus amethystinus: lateral view: I. front basitarsus, ♀. J. metasoma, ♂.