Messatoporus bisignatus Aguiar & Supeleto, 2024

Aguiar, Alexandre P., Supeleto, Fernanda A., Mendonça Jr, Milton S. & Negrello, Henrique, 2024, New Species, Host Record, and Male Discovery for Three Messatoporus Cushman (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae) from Brazil, Zootaxa 5471 (1), pp. 83-98 : 84-90

Messatoporus bisignatus Aguiar & Supeleto , sp. nov.

( Figs 1–12 )

Diagnosis. Structurally, differs from all other species in the genus by having two exclusive features, epomia distinct only after diverging from pronotal collar and ovipositor slightly upcurved. The color pattern is unique by the hind femur dorso-apically with two yellow spots, propodeum posteriorly with an arched, somewhat triangular pale-yellow mark, and metapleuron dorsally with a yellow mark.

Female HOLOTYPE. Fore wing 7.68 (5.44–8.30) mm. Head ( Fig. 1 ). Mandible with moderately sparse, long hairs. MDLW 2.50 (1.73–2.50). MWW 0.35 (0.27–0.35). Dorsal tooth in front view not distinctly projected upwards; much longer than ventral tooth; ventral tooth triangular. MSM 0.33 (0.23–0.33). Clypeus basally evenly convex, apically gradually flattened. Centrally straight. CHW 0.62 (0.41–1.62). CWW 1.79 (1.50–2.29). Apical area medially concave. Laterally with distinct triangular lobes. Its margin regular, not raised. Antenna with 29 (26–29) flagellomeres. Flagellum subapical flagellomeres not distinctly flattened. Apex of apical flagellomere much narrower than base, distinctly tapered. Supra-antennal area shiny; scarcely punctate; not striate near antennal sockets; ventrally and around ocelli slightly concave; without median line. Occipital carina uniformly curved; fading out on a distance shorter than basal width of mandible from the hypostomal carina; meeting hypostomal carina far from mandible base. Temple and gena moderately wide; gena regular.

Thorax ( Figs 1, 3 ). Pronotum centrally glabrate, moderately pilose at dorsal margin; shiny; minutely punctulate; with moderate striation along posterior margin and collar. Epomia moderately strong; distinct only after diverging from pronotal collar; short, ending far from dorsal margin of pronotum; after diverging from pronotal collar approximately straight. Mesoscutum moderately and uniformly convex; subcircular; 1.32 (1.27–1.32) × as long as wide; densely covered with short hairs; shiny; minutely punctulate. Notaulus reaching about 0.54 (0.50–0.54) of mesoscutum length; moderately impressed. Surface over notaulus with weak and short transverse wrinkles. Scuto-scutellar groove moderately deep; without wrinkles. Subalar ridge moderately projected. Epicnemial carina complete, reaching subalar ridge; almost straight. Sternaulus moderately strong, wider on posterior apex; weakly sinuous; with weak vertical wrinkles. Scrobe moderately deep. Mesopleural suture with weak longitudinal wrinkles along entire length. Mesosternum medially with short transverse wrinkles. Median portion of posterior transverse carina of the mesothoracic venter short; straight. Transverse sulcus at base of propodeum moderately wide; about 0.60 (0.42–0.60) × as long as anterior area of propodeum; impunctate. Metapleuron minutely rugulose-colliculate; with vestigial wrinkles; densely pilose. Juxtacoxal carina absent. Fore tibia distinctly swollen. Mesal lobe of t4 with a distinct cluster of stout bristles. Hind coxa weakly and densely punctate.

Propodeum ( Figs 2–3 ) 1.11 (1.11–1.14) × as long as wide; shiny; densely pilose.Anterior area densely punctate. Spiracle elongate. SLW 2.22 (2.22–2.59). Anterior transverse carina medially slightly arched forwards. Propodeal wrinkles anteriorly weak, posteriorly strong; closely spaced; anteriorly faint at median portion, posteriorly complete; shape approximately straight. Posterior transverse carina entirely absent.

Wings ( Figs 1 , 4–5 .). Fore wing vein 1-Rs+M very weakly sinuous; bulla placed on basal 0.25. Crossvein 1m-cu more or less uniformly curved; continuous with 1-Rs+M; ramellus indistinct. Vein 1M+Rs anteriorly straight, posteriorly weakly curved. Fore wing crossvein 1 cu-a basad of 1M+Rs by 0.22 (0.07–0.43) of its own length. Vein 2Cua 0.59 (0.58–0.69) × as long as crossvein 2cu-a. Bulla of crossvein 2m-cu placed on midlength. Cell 1+2Rs (areolet) small (as in Fig. 4 ), APH 0.88 (0.62–0.88); pentagonal; about as high as wide, AWH 0.64 (0.53–1.30); crossvein 3r-m absent; 2r-m and 3r-m distinctly convergent, about same length. Vein 3-M distinctly shorter than 2-M. Vein 4-Rs almost straight. Vein 4-M tubular; straight. Hind wing vein 1-M forming straight angle with vein Cua. Vein 2-Rs entirely tubular, apically weaker, reaching wing margin. HWC 1.84 (1.04–3.12). Vein Cub distinctly convex on posterior half; forming distinctly obtuse angle with vein Cua (basally curved). Vein 2-1A reaching 0.95 (0.90–0.96) of distance to posterior wing margin.

Metasoma ( Figs 1, 3 ). First tergite moderately long; about 0.31 (0.31–0.43) × as long as T2–8; somewhat depressed; ventrolaterally rounded; dorsally sparsely pilose, laterally moderately pilose; T1LW 3.33 (2.40–3.45); T1WW 1.48 (1.48–2.94); spiracle on 0.49 (0.48–0.49) of its length; distinctly prominent; median depression elongate, very shallow; median posterior depression absent; lateral depressions absent; ventrolateral carina absent. T2LW 1.15 (1.15–1.26). T2WW 2.19 (2.14–2.67). Thyridium longer than wide; without small circular depression just behind it. T2–8 minutely coriarious; densely and uniformly pilose. OST 0.61 (0.57–0.65). Ovipositor moderately stout; slightly upcurved; basally cylindric, apically slightly depressed. Dorsal valve without ridges. Ventral valve apex with teeth progressively more closely spaced. Surface anterior to first tooth not rugulose.

Color ( Figs 1–3 ). Head black and pale yellow, mesosoma and T2–3 black, orange, and pale yellow, remainder of metasoma black and pale yellow. Head: black; mandible basally, mouthparts, clypeus, supra-clypeal area except small lateral blackish marks, and orbital band widely interrupted at dorsal margin, pale yellow (255,245,150); white band at flagellum starting at f7. Mesosoma: anteriorly mostly black, posteriorly tricolor, orange, black and yellow; pronotum dorsally and anterior margin, propleuron lateral margin, central spot on mesoscutum, scutellar carina, scutellum, postscutellum, subalar ridge, dorsal division of metapleuron, bright yellow; tegula pale yellow; hind margins of mesonotum and metanotum caramel brown; elongate area under sternaulus dark orange (230,130,50); mesepimeron and metapleural triangle from dorsally pale yellow to ventrally brown. Legs: fore leg pale yellow except fore coxa posteriorly, small basal spot on trochanter small, dorso-lateral and ventral, longitudinal stripes on femur which do not reach base and apex, narrow longitudinal stripe ventrally on tibia, and entire apical tarsomere; mid leg coxa light orange, trochanter from ventrally pale yellow to dorsally light orange with some brown, femur brown except anteriorly and at base and apex pale yellow, tibia and tibial spurs pale yellow, tarsomeres light brown, except apical tarsomere brown; hind leg coxa orange, trochanter brown, trochantellus dark brown, coxa dark brown except ventrally brown and two large pale yellow spots dorsally at apex, tibia basal apex on each side and apical 0.44 dark brown, otherwise whitish, tibial spurs basal 0.3–0.5 dark brown, apically light brown, tarsomeres whitish except apex of t5 brown. Propodeum area anterior to ATC black, except laterally with orangeish around spiracle, area posterior to ATC anteriorly shortly black, antero-laterally widely orange, remainder of propodeum extensively yellow. T1 basad of spiracle yellow, apically with large dark brown spot surrounded by light brown, apical margin yellow; T2 basal 0.6 orange, subapical 0.2 and lateral margin brown, apical 0.2 yellow; T3–8 black, apical margin yellowish.

Variation (Female). All observed morphological variation is formally described and coded in Tables 1–2 (only feature 21:3 is exclusive of M. tenuiorbis ). One diagnostic feature of the new species also shows variation, as follows: the hind coxa apical pale yellow spots [13:1–4] vary from small (as in T.003.3) to large and almost touching each other (as in T.221.3) or are sometimes (17%) effectively fused [13:4], making the dorsal apex entirely pale yellow [13:4] ( T.221.4, T.224.2, T.224.4, T.225.1, T.225.2, T.322.5, T.324.8, T.371.1); the lateral spot is usually larger than the mesal spot [13:2], but rarely (7%) the mesal spot is faint or absent [13:1] ( T.244.1, T.270.1, T.353.3). The postscutellum is dark brown [8:0] on two specimens only ( T.196.3 and T.196.5, 4% of the females). The color pattern of propodeum is notable for its high variability ( Fig. 6 ) .

The parsimony analysis of morphological variation ( Fig. 12 ) recovered clades defined by features which are too weak to support separate species. For example, clade T2213P is supported by 3:1 (last fully white flagellomere = 15 th), 10:2 (distance of vein 1M+Rs to crossvein 1cu-a 0.20–0.30), and 15:1 (hind t1 brown on basal 0.05–0.10) but there are no features supporting clade T1101P.

Male ( Figs 7–8 ). Generally similar to the female, but the observed color pattern of the male specimens is highly variable (see Variation, below). The most important differences in relation to the female are as follows: orange or orangish coloration entirely absent (vs. abundant in the central part of the body of the female; e.g., compare Figs 1 and 7 ); postscutellum more frequently dark brown (62% of the specimens) than in females (4%); T2 basally usually (77%) with a distinct yellow spot (vs. absent in females).

Variation (Male) ( Figs 9–11 ). Pronotum from mostly yellow in one specimen ( T.345.1), to incompletely or irregularly dark brown on posterior 0.4–0.7 ( T.088.6, T.110.2, T.122.1, T.124.3, T.323.2) ( Fig. 9 ); mesopleuron with a wide to narrow, somewhat irregular yellowish stripe extending ventrally from anterior to posterior margin, associated with a metapleuron varying from almost entirely yellow to almost entirely dark brown ( T.088.6, T.110.2, T.122.1, T.124.3, T.323.2 - in Fig. 9 , T.345.1,); postscutellum dark brown ( T.003.1, T.058.4, T168.2 , T.269.2, T.344.2, T.355.2, T.345.1, T.370.3); propodeum posterior yellow area showing all stages from a small dark spot at petiolar foramen to a complete, wide longitudinal dark stripe that divides the yellow area in two lateral halves ( T.003.1, T.058.2, T.269.2); T2 basally without a yellow spot ( T.168.2, T.269.2, T.358.1); double spots at the dorsal apex of femur showing approximately the same variation observed for the females .

Comments. Female specimens key out to couplet 54 in the key provided by Santos & Aguiar (2013), which can be revised to include the new species as follows:

54(53) Mesosoma orange................................................................................... 56

- Mesosoma mostly black............................................................................. 56b

56b(54) Hind tibia entirely yellow; T2–8 orange, even if with sparse blackish marks (Fig. 54). Messatoporus teutonicus Santos, 2013

- Hind tibia basally whitish, apical 2/3 dark brown; T2–8 black with posterior yellowish stripes.................................................................................................. Messatoporus bisignatus sp. nov.

Structurally, the new species is closest to M. atlanticus Santos, 2013 , but differs in 72 features. The PCA identifies M. xanthogaster Santos, 2013 as the closest species, with PC1 & PC2 = (1.1177, 0.0874) vs. (1.1174, 0.2300) for M. xanthogaster , but M. bisignatus sp. nov. differs from it by 79 structural features. Additionally, M. teutonicus , M. atlanticus , and M. xanthogaster all exhibit markedly distinct color patterns from M. bisignatus sp. nov.

The color pattern is most similar to that of M. tenuiorbis Santos, 2013 (holotype examined), from which M. bisignatus sp. nov. differs mainly by having the hind femur dorso-apically with two yellow spots (vs. entirely brown); propodeum posteriorly with an arched, somewhat triangular pale-yellow mark (vs. with an orange T-shaped mark at posterior area); and metapleuron dorsally with a yellow mark (vs. entirely orange). Structurally, it also differs from M. tenuiorbis by 66 features, of which the following are the most distinctive: CHW 0.41–1.62 (vs. 2.83 in M. tenuiorbis ); CWW 1.50–2.29 (vs. 2.97); supra-antennal area without median line (vs. medially with a distinct depression but without a distinct line); occipital carina fading out on a distance shorter than basal width of mandible from the hypostomal carina (vs. fading out on a distance about as long as basal width of mandible from the hypostomal carina); mesoscutum densely covered with short hairs (vs. glabrate); notaulus reaching about 0.50–0.54 (vs. 0.65); epicnemial carina complete, reaching subalar ridge (vs. reaching about 0.7 of distance to subalar ridge), almost straight (vs. more or less uniformly curved); transverse furrow of propodeum impunctate (vs. with weak longitudinal wrinkles); propodeal spiracle less elongate, SLW 2.22–2.59 (vs. 3.14); anterior transverse carina medially slightly arched forwards (vs. straight); areolet rectangular (vs. pentagonal), about as high as wide (vs. distinctly higher than wide); crossvein 3r-m absent (vs. spectral); T1LW 2.40–3.45 (vs. 4.84); petiole spiracle distinctly prominent (vs. slightly prominent); and T2LW 1.15–1.26 (vs. 2.04).

Male specimens will be identified as M. mesonotator Kasparyan & Ruíz-Cancino in the key by Santos & Aguiar (2013). However, this species exhibits a predominantly yellow color pattern, including entirely yellow mesopleuron and metapleuron, as well as well-defined yellow stripes on both tergites and sternites.

Biology. The new species was consistently reared from Auplopus subaurarius ( Hymenoptera , Pompilidae ) nests, along with lesser numbers of M. elektor and M. opacus (reported herein). A total of 49 nests yielded Messatoporus spp. , and from 23 of these nests (47%) at least one adult of A. subaurarius also emerged. The recognition of Auplopus species is challenging due to the lack of a genus revision, but our specimens could be identified by comparison with A. subaurarius specimens at UNICENTRO (Guarapuava, PR, Brazil) identified by Eduardo F. dos Santos (Universidade Estadual Paulista). A total of 195 voucher specimens of A. subaurarius from this work are deposited in UFES and UFRGS.

Etymology. From the Latin bi, two and signatus, sign, in reference to the double pale yellow spots dorsally at the apex of the hind femur.

Material examined. Total of 65 specimens, 46♀♀, 19♂♂. Holotype: BRAZIL, 1♀, RS, Porto Alegre , Parque Natural Morro do Osso ,?, Secondary Atlantic Forest , 30°07’02.418”S, 51°14’07.368”W, 89m, 2023-01-10, H.Negrello, Trap nest, T.209.3, ex. Auplopus subaurarius [ Pompilidae ], 2?, UFES • Paratypes: BRAZIL, 1♂, RS, Porto Alegre, Morro Santana,?, Secondary Atlantic Forest , 30°04’00.192”S, 51°07’42.864”W, 139m, 2022-11- 04, H.Negrello, Trap nest, T.003.1, ex. Auplopus subaurarius [ Pompilidae ], 2?, UFRGS • ib, 1♀, 11ib, T.003.3, 4ib • 10ib, 2022-12-19, 2ib, T.058.1, 3ib, UFES • ib, 1♂, 11ib, T.058.2, 3ib, UFRGS • 13ib, T.058.4, 3ib, UFES • 7ib, 30°03’58.866”S, 51°07’38.892”W, 124m, 2023-01-04, 2ib, T.168.2, 4ib • ib, 1♀, 5ib, 30°03’57.792”S, 51°07’38.730”W, 130m, 2023-01-17 ,2ib, T.244.1, 4ib •ib, 1♂, 11ib, T.244.2, 4ib • 4ib, Parque Natural Morro do Osso, 2ib, 30°07’03.229”S, 51°14’05.990”W, 101m, 2022-12-27, 2ib, T.088.6, ib, yellowish form, ib, UFRGS • ib, 1♀, 5ib, 30°07’01.709”S, 51°14’05.215”W, 96m, 3ib, T.110.1, ib,?, ib, UFES • ib, 1♂, 11ib, T.110.2, ib, yellowish form, 2ib • ib, 1♀, 5ib, 30°07’02.418”S, 51°14’07.368”W, 89m, 3ib, T.121.6, ib,?, 2ib • ib, 1♂, 11ib, T.122.1, ib, yellowish form, 2ib • 13ib, T.124.3, 4ib • ib, 1♀, 11ib, T.125.2, ib,?, 2ib • 7ib, 30°07’02.808”S, 51°14’07.284”W, 88m, 3ib, T.127.6, 4ib • 7ib, 30°07’01.235”S, 51°14’04.362”W, 89m, 2023-01-10, 2ib, T.194.5, 4ib • 13ib, T.196.3, 4ib • 13ib, T.196.5, 4ib • 7ib, 30°07’02.418”S, 51°14’07.368”W, 4ib, T.206.2, 4ib • 7ib, 30°07’00.429”S, 51°14’03.014”W, 95m, 3ib, T.220.1, 4ib • 13ib, T.220.2, 4ib • 13ib, T.220.6, ib, closest to holotype, ib, UFRGS • 13ib, T.221.3, ib,?, ib, UFES • 13ib, T.221.4, 4ib • 13ib, T.224.2, 4ib • 13ib, T.224.4, 4ib • 13ib, T.224.6, 4ib • 13ib, T.225.1, 4ib • 13ib, T.225.2, 4ib • 7ib, 30°07’00.096”S, 51°14’02.754”W, 81m, 2023-02-11, 2ib, T.322.2, 4ib • 13ib, T.322.5, 4ib • 13ib, T.322.7, 4ib • ib, 1♂, 11ib, T.323.2, ib, yellowish form, 2ib • 13ib, T.324.1, ib,?, 2ib • ib, 1♀, 11ib, T.324.5, 4ib • 13ib, T.324.8, 4ib • 7ib, 30°07’00.480”S, 51°14’01.986”W, 73m, 3ib, T.326.2, 4ib • ib, 1♂, 11ib, T.344.2, 4ib • ib, 1♀, 11ib, T.345.0, 4ib • ib, 1♂, 11ib, T.345.1, ib, yellowish form, 2ib • ib, 1♀, 11ib, T.347.4, ib,?, 2ib • 7ib, 30°07’00.376”S, 51°14’00.892”W, 72m, 3ib, T.349.1, 4ib • ib, 1♂, 11ib, T.349.2, 4ib • ib, 1♀, 5ib, 30°07’00.874”S, 51°14’03.820”W, 83m, 3ib, T.351.3, 4ib • 13ib, T.353.3, 4ib • 13ib, T.354.6, 4ib • 13ib, T.355.1, 4ib • ib, 1♂, 11ib, T.355.2, 4ib • 13ib, T.358.1, 4ib • ib, 1♀, 5ib, 30°07’01.235”S, 51°14’04.362”W, 89m, 3ib, T.369.2, 4ib • 13ib, T.370.2, 4ib • ib, 1♂, 11ib, T.370.3, 4ib • ib, 1♀, 11ib, T.371.1, 4ib • 7ib, 30°07’00.429”S, 51°14’03.014”W, 95m, 3ib, T.376.1, 4ib • ib, 1♂, 5ib, 30°07’01.235”S, 51°14’04.362”W, 89m, 2023-02-28, 2ib, T.442.1, 4ib • ib, 1♀, 5ib, 30°07’02.418”S, 51°14’07.368”W, 4ib, T.452.1, 4ib • 13ib, T.452.2, 4ib • 7ib, 30°07’00.702”S, 51°14’00.222”W, 74m, 3ib, T.471.1, 4ib • 7ib, 30°07’01.235”S, 51°14’04.362”W, 89m, 2023-03-15, 2ib, T.588.1, ib, closest to holotype, 2ib • 4ib, Refúgio de Vida Silvestre São Pedro, 2ib, 30°10’25.957”S, 51°07’00.130”W, 189m, 2022-12- 21, 2ib, T.068.1, ib,?, 2ib • ib, 1♂, 5ib, 30°10’24.896”S, 51°07’02.531”W, 158m, 2023-01-18, 2ib, T.269.2, 4ib • ib, 1♀, 11ib, T.270.1, 4ib • 7ib, 30°10’25.862”S, 51°07’01.478”W, 142m, 2023-03-28, 2ib, T.611.2, 4ib .

Holotype pinned, left leg beyond femur missing, apex of right fore wing with a perforation, otherwise in good shape.

Distribution. Recorded from three localities, about 12 km distant from each other, in southern Brazil.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Messatoporus bisignatus sp. nov. Female. Propodeum in dorsal view for 16 different specimens, to show variation of color pattern. The width of each frame is equivalent to about 1.7 mm.

FIGURE 12. Single cladogram recovered for the data from Tables 1–2, using exact search with implicit enumeration (in 15752.34 secs). Score: 98.628

FIGURES 1–3. Messatoporus bisignatus sp. nov. Female holotype (T.209.3). 1, Habitus; inset showing head in frontal view. 2, Propodeum, dorsal. 3, Body, dorsal. Scale = 1 mm.

FIGURES 4–5. Messatoporus bisignatus sp. nov. Female fore wing, to show variation of the areolet shape. Specimens T.058.1 and T.209.3, respectively.

FIGURES 7–8. Messatoporus bisignatus sp. nov. Male T.370.3. 7, Habitus. 8, Body, dorsal. Scale = 1 mm.

FIGURES 9–11. Messatoporus bisignatus sp. nov. Male T.323.2, yellow morph. 9, Habitus; inset showing head in frontal view. 10, Body, dorsal. 11, Propodeum, dorsal. Scale = 1 mm.