Anoplius (Notiochares) amethystinus amethystinus ( Fabricius, 1793 )

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 : 25-26

Anoplius (Notiochares) amethystinus amethystinus ( Fabricius, 1793)

Sphex amethystina Fabricius, 1793 , Entomologia Systematica Emendata et Aucta, vol. 2, p. 210 [Holotype: ♀, VIRGIN ISLANDS (collection unknown)].

Pompilus anceps Cresson, 1865 , Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, vol. 4, p. 130 [Syntype: 2 ♂, CUBA (ANSP)]. Nom. praeocc., nec Smith, 1862.

Pompilus cubensis Cresson, 1867: 93 . [New name for P. anceps Cresson, 1865 ].

Pompilus propinquus Fox, 1891 , Transactions of the American Entomological Society, Philadelphia, vol. 18, p. 339 [Holotype: ♀, JAMAICA, Kingston (USNM)]. Nom. praeocc., nec Smith 1879.

Pompilus dux Dalla Torre, 1897 , Catalogus Hymenopterorum, vol. 8, p. 286 [New name for P. propinquus Fox, 1891 ].

Pompilus amethystinoides Strand, 1911 , Archive fur Naturgeschichte, vol. 77, p. 147 [Proposed as new name for amethystinus Taschenberg , believed to differ from amethystinus Fabricius ].

Pompilus philadelphicus var. floridensis Banks, 1917 , Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology , vol. 61, p.106 [Holotype: ♀, FLORIDA, Gulfport (MCZC)].

Diagnosis. This subspecies can be recognized by the following unique combination of characters: the integument is black; the pubescence on the body is brilliant dark-blue or blue-green ( Figs 6E–F); the third antennal segment is more than 2.0 × longer than wide; and the fore wing has a Cu vein distinctly deflected downward at the base forming a posterior pocket in the second medial cell. Additionally, the female ( Fig. 6F) has four comb-spines on the front basitarsus, which are slightly longer than the width of the tarsus at their base, and the second segment has a spine on the outer side near the middle that is as long its apex ( Fig. 8I ). The male ( Fig. 6E) has a number of strong setae in a transverse band on the metasomal sterna (except the first) ( Fig. 8J ).

Material examined. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: 10 ♀, 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. CMNH –371,166/ 370,456/ 370,251/ 369,692/ 370,468/ 370,592/ 371,454/ 370,506/ 370,741/ 370,393; 2 ♀, Independencia, Sierra de Bahoruco, north slope, 13.5 km SE Puerto Escondido , 2 ♂, 18–12–18N, 71–31–08W, 1789 m, ecotonal Pinus grassland, hand collected, sample 41145, 24–25.XI.2004, J. Rawlins et al., CMNH – 370,061/ 371,320; Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo, Parque Paseo de los Indios , (18–26–53N, 69–56–39W), 60 m, 1–10.XI.2002, urban park near ocean, hand collected, sample 50449, A. Walter , 3 ♀ CMNH –370,017/ 369,910/ 369,802, 5 ♂ CMNH –371,302/ 363,552/ 370,086/ 370,903/ 370,016; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Provincia Sanchez, Ramirez , 23 km SW Cotui, 7.XI.1986, W. J. Pulawski ( CAS) ; 1 ♂, Peravia, Arroyo Cana , 650 m, 8.VIII.1980, A. Norrbom, CMNH –370,541; 1 ♂, Distrito Nacional, Haina , 1.XI.1986, W. Pulanksi ( CAS) ; 1 ♂, Provincia Hato Mayor, Farm Mango Limpio (25 km NNW Hato Mayor), 29.X.1986, J. Pulawski ( CAS) .

Distribution. Arizona and southern California, Panama to Mexico. Caribbean from Guadeloupe to Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, and southern Florida ( Evans 1966).

Host. Lycosidae spiders that burrow in the soil ( Snelling & Torres 2004).

Remarks. This subspecies resembles A. (Anoplius) fulgidus in coloration. It can be separated from it by the presence of strong spines on the front basitarsus of the female ( Fig. 8I ), and ventral setae forming brushes on the metasoma in A. amethystinus amethystinus ( Fig. 8J ). There is no significant morphological variation through the species range ( Evans 1966). Adults have been observed on flowers of Heliotropium indicum ( Wolcott 1948) .

Figures

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, ♂.