Gonaporus alfierii Priesner 1955
Creators: name: Zonstein, Irina
name: Wahis, Raymond
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Pompilidae
Gonaporus
Gonaporus alfierii

description: Gonaporus alfierii Priesner, 1955
(Figs 5–7, 21, 24, 29, 38, 88, 99, 110, 121, 131, 142, 153, 164, 175, 186, 196, 197, 200, 208)
Gonaporus alfierii Priesner, 1955: 200 (syntypes, 5 ♀♀: Egypt, NHMV, examined); Priesner 1960: 80; Osborn & Krombein 1969: 16; Wolf 1990: 630.
Xenaporus tenellus Priesner, 1955: 204 (holotype, ♂, Wadi El Tih, Egypt, NHMV, examined); 1960: 80. Synonymized with Gonaporus alfierii Priesner, 1955 by Osborn & Krombein 1969: 16.
Diagnosis. G. alfierii is most similar to G. emiratus sp. nov. in that the males of both species, unlike those of other congeners, do not have a ventral tooth on the claws (Fig. 197). The head (clypeus, frons and occiput), propleuron, pronotum and procoxa of both species are strongly setose with long fine whitish setae (in addition to brown setae along inner orbit) (Figs 88, 99). The other congeners have long fine whitish setae almost restricted to the propleuron and posterior part of the head. G. a l f i e r i i and G. emiratus sp. nov. have also the long malar space (found also in G. israelicus and G. setitarsus sp. nov.). However, unlike G. israelicus and G. setitarsus sp. nov., the females of G. alfierii and G. emiratus sp. nov. have short anteroventral spines on the protarsomere 1 (Fig. 24), and unlike G. gracilis, G. mirabilis sp. nov. and G. spinosissimus sp. nov., they have only three posterior spines of the tarsal comb on the protarsomere 1 (Figs 131, 133). The female of G. alfierii differs from that of G. emiratus sp. nov. by the longer protarsomere 1, less widened spines of the tarsal comb, the ventral tooth of the claws being parallel-sided or slightly dilated apically (Figs 38, 40), and the longer malar space (Table 1). The male of G. a l f i e r i i differs from that of G. emiratus sp. nov. by the shape of the subgenital plate that is conspicuously widened medially (Fig. 200), and by the shorter base of the volsella of the genitalia (Fig. 208).
Redescription. Female. Body length 6.0– 7.8 mm. Structure: see Table 1. Coloration (Figs 5, 6): Head mostly black; clypeus mostly black, with apical 0.33 orange; mandible mostly orange-yellow, orange to blackish-brown on apical 0.33; antenna mostly brownish-black, scape often orange ventrally, sometimes entirely orange. Mesosoma usually mostly black, except yellowish lateral margins of pronotum, sometimes mesosoma entirely orange; tegula light yellowish-orange. Legs: Coxae mostly black, orange apically; trochanters black; femora black basally, orange apically; protibia mostly black, orange basally and apically; meso- and metatibia mostly orange; tarsomere 1 mostly orange-brown, narrowly blackish-brown apically; other tarsomeres brown; spurs whitish basally, blackish apically; spines of tarsal comb hyaline to orange-brown; spines on tibiae and femora mostly hyaline to orangebrown; tarsi with brown spines. Metasoma: Segment 1 entirely to mostly orange-brown, blackish medially; segments 2–5 mostly black basally and orange-brown apically; segment 6 mostly orange to mostly black. Pygidium orange-black and shiny. Pubescence: Metapostnotum without pubescence (Fig. 29). Setae: Head (frons, clypeus, vertex and posterior part of head), propleuron and procoxa with numerous long fine curved whitish setae. Protarsomere 1 with 3 long spines posteriorly and with 1–2 short spines anteroventrally (Figs 24, 131).
Male. Body length 4.9–7.4 mm. Structure: see Table 2. Protarsus as in Figs 21, 142. Subgenital plate as in Fig. 200: Hirsute, broad lanceolate, with well-developed median keel. Genitalia as in Fig. 208. Coloration in general similar to female (Fig. 7). Posterior spines on protarsomere 1 hyaline to orange; other leg spines dark brown. Metasoma: Segment 1 orange; segments 2–3 orange to mostly black, yellowish-orange apically; segments 4–5 mostly black, yellowish-orange apically; apical segments mostly black; T7 with large white spot medially. Setae: Frons, vertex, head (posteriorly) and propleuron with numerous long fine whitish setae; clypeus with moderately long brownish setae; pronotum and procoxa with few long fine whitish setae.
Material examined. Syntypes of G. alfierii: EGYPT: Wadi El Tih, 20.iv.1934, H. Priesner, 1♀ (NHMV); Um Assad, 9.iv.1934, H. Priesner, 1♀ (NHMV); About Ronache, 21.v.1923, 1♀; Fagoum [Faiyum?], 8.iii.1936, 1♂ (both from Alfierii collection; now in NMNH); Badrashin, 1.x.1937, 1♀ (CRW). Other material. CANARY ISLANDS: Fuerteventura, Gran Tarajal, 13.v.1964, K.M. Guichard, 4♀, 2♂; Tenerife, Los Christianos, 17.iv.1964, K.M. Guichard, 1♀ (all in MNHN). TUNISIA: 10 km NW Remada, 10.iv.2001, M. Halada, 1♂ (OLML). LIBYA: Tripolitana, Bir-el-Hamera (50 km SW of Mizda), 20.v.1951, K.M. Guichard, 2♀(OLML). EGYPT: Kerdasa, 3.iv.1983, K.M. Guichard, 1♀, 8–17.iv.1983, 1♀ (BMNH); Faiyum, Kom Oshim, 24.iv.1965, K.M. Krombein, 1♀, 4♂; 29.iv.1965, 1♂; Saggara, 29.v.1966, P. M. Marsh, 1♀; (last 7 specimens are deposited in NMNH); Fayed, v.1943, H. Priesner, 1♀; Dahschour, Cairo environs, 16.v.1958, W.J. Pulawski, 1♀; Mersa Matruh, 22– 24.viii.1954, 1♂; Assiut [Asyut], 9.v.1981, K.M. Guichard, 2♂ (MNHN); Wadi El Tih, 20.iv.1934, H. Priesner, 1♂ (NHMV); Giza, 2.v.1981, K.M. Guichard, 1♀; Dou Q/Gattania, 10.v.1992, A. Mochi, 1♂ (CRW); W. Digla [Degla], 21.iv.1990, A. Mochi, 1♂ (CRW). ISRAEL: South Arava, Elifaz, 2 km E Samar, 29°48'N 35°02'E, 80 m, 19.iv.2005, S. Zonstein, 1♀; same, I. Zonstein, 2♂; Nahal Shezaf, 6 km SW Hazeva, 30°43'N 35°16'E, - 120 m, 3– 11.iv.2005, I. & S. Zonstein, 4♀, 5♂; Nahal Shezaf, 3 km WSW Hazeva, 30°45'N 35°16'E, - 120 m, 14–17.iv.2005, I. & S. Zonstein, 1♀, 1♂; Nahal Shezaf, 6 km SW Hazeva, 30°43'N 35°16'E, - 120 m, iv.2006, I. & S. Zonstein, 1♂; Nahal Shahaq, 30°45'N 35°15'E, 20.ii.1997, O. Neihuis, 1♂ (all in TAU); Arava Valley, 0.2 km N Hazeva Field School, small wadi, 30°46'17''N 35°14'58''E, 16 m, 8.iv.1995, M.E. Irwin, 1♂; same, 30°46'56''N 35°14'39''E, 28– 30.iv.1996, M.E. Irwin, 1♂; Arava Valley near Hazeva School, 30°47'N 35°15'E, 10.v.1996, M.E. Irwin, 2♂ (CAS, CRW); Arava Valley, Iddan, side wadi below date orchad, 30°49'05''N 35°16'55''E, 640 ft, 16.iv.1996, M.E. Irwin, 1♀ (CAS); Nahal Shezaf, 6 km WSW Hazeva Field School, 30°45'N 35°15'E, 20–25.iv.2007, 1♀ (I. & S. Zonstein), same, 6 km SW Hazeva, 30°43'N 35°16'E, 120 m, 8.iv.2005, 1♂ (S. Zonstein) (both in CRW). JORDAN: 70 km NE Aqaba, road to Amman, 12.iv.1989, J. Gusenleitner, 1♀ (OLML).
Distribution. Canary Islands, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel, Jordan (Fig. 216).
Habitat. In Israel this species was found in the open arid sandy biotopes of the Arava (Figs 3–4).
Biology. The females after hunting dig a simple one-cell burrow in compacted sand. They prey on adult females of Salticidae, and feed on flowers of Polycarpaea repens (Caryophyllaceae) and Ochradenus baccatus (Resedaceae) (I. Zonstein, personal data).
TABLE 1. Interspecific variation in some female characters of Gonaporus species.
Characters G. alfierii G. ecbatanus G. emiratus G. gracilis G. israelicus G. maureanus G. mirabilis G. omanicus G. setitarsus G. simulator G. spinosissimus ratio 1.2 1.1‒1.3 1.1‒1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2‒1.3 1.1‒1.2 1.2 1.2‒1.3 1.2 width/pronotum width 1.4‒1.5 1.5‒1.6 1.5 1.4‒1.5 1.5 1.5‒1.6 1.5‒1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5‒1.6 1.5 ratio 1.6 1.8‒2.0 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.7‒1.8 1.8 1.7 1.6‒1.7 1.8 dorsal length/temple length 3.8‒4.8 3.6‒5.4 3.4‒4.3 3.5‒4.2 4.7‒5.0 3.1‒4.0 3.5‒4.0 3.7‒4.2 3.7 3.5‒4.0 3.0 space length/apical width of 0.53‒0.77 0.31‒0.43 0.42‒0.56 0.17‒0.22 0.39‒0.42 0.19‒0.25 0.1‒0.2 0.18‒0.28 0.5 0.1‒0.2 0.2
/OOD 1.1‒1.2 0.93‒1.2 1.2‒1.2 1.0‒1.1 1.1‒1.2 1.0 1.0 1.0‒1.1 0.9 1.1‒1.2 1.1
Anterior ocellar angle 90°‒93° 83°‒87° 80°‒85° 80° 81°‒86° 90° 77°‒83° 82°‒85° 75° 80° 83°
Antennal segments ratio 2.1‒2.4: 1: 2.3‒2.9: 1: 2.6‒2.9: 1: 2.7‒2.9: 1: 2.2‒2.4:1:3.6‒3. 2.6‒2.7: 1: 4‒4.3: 2.8‒2.9: 1: 2.5‒2.7: 1: 3.3: 1: 4.4: 3.7 2.2‒2.4: 1: 3.2: 1: 5.4: 4.2
3.7‒4.3: 4.0‒4.9: 4.1‒4.6: 4.2‒4.7: 9:3.0‒3.1 3.2 4.6‒5.0: 4.5‒4.6: 3.1‒3.3 – 2.9‒3.5 3.1‒3.7 3.2‒3.5 3.3‒3.5 3.7‒3.9 3.3‒3.8 2.5‒2.8
ratio 5.5‒6.3 5.4‒6.4 5.3‒6.4 5.2‒5.4 5.2‒5.4 4.5‒4.9 6.0‒6.5 5.6‒6.4 6.2 4.2‒4.7 6.7
Apical flagellomere ratio 3.4‒4.0 3.3‒3.6 4.0‒4.5 5 3.1‒3.6 4 4.8‒5.5 3.8‒4.0 4.4 3.1‒4 5
Metapostnotum/metanotum (ratio 0.6 0.60‒0.76 0.4‒0.5 0.7 0.5‒0.56 0.4‒0.6 0.5‒0.6 0.60‒0.75 0.75 0.55‒0.71 0.50
lengths)
Pubescence on metapostnotum absent (Fig. 29) absent (Fig. absent absent dense (Figs 30, absent absent absent dense sparse (Fig. absent (Fig. 35)
33) 32) 34)
Protarsomere 1 ratio 5.9‒6.4 5.3‒6.4 4.5‒4.8 6.7 4.2‒4.4 5.3‒6.5 6.5‒7 5.5‒6.0 5.2 4‒4.7 5.9
Protarsus: spines in posterior row 7 6 6‒7 7 6 6 8 6 7 6 9
leg: posterior spines of tarsal slightly slender to widened, slightly slender slender widened slightly slightly slightly slightly widened
on protarsomere 1 (shape) widened slightly almost widened widened widened widened widened spatulate
Posterior spines on protarsomere 1 3 3 3 4 3 3 5 3 3 3 6
number)
Apical spine of protarsomere 1 0.57‒0.67 0.40‒0.63 0.86‒0.89 0.47‒0.49 0.73‒0.84 0.36‒0.40 0.6 0.52‒0.56 0.9 0.48‒0.53 0.53
length/length protarsomere 1
Protarsus: anteroventral spines 1‒2 short (Fig. 2 short or: 1 1‒2 short 2 short 2 long (Fig. 26) 1 short to 2 short 1 short to 3 long 2 short 3 short (Fig. 28)
24-28) 24) short and 1 relatively long long (Fig. 27) long (Fig. 25)
Number of dorsoapical spines on 1‒3 5 2‒3 3 0‒3 absent 4 3‒6 absent 2 5‒6
metafemur (Fig. 18)
Ventral tooth on claws (shape) parallel‒sided dilated slightly slightly slightly tapering parallel‒sided parallel‒sided dilated slightly tapering dilated apically
38‒40) to slightly apically (Fig. tapering (Fig. dilated apically tapering dilated apically 39) 40) apically
(Fig. 38)
wing: second submarginal cell 0.21‒0.30 0.23‒0.37 0.19‒0.26 0.26‒0.27 0.15‒0.23 0.20‒0.25 0.21‒0.32 0.29‒0.33 0.26 0.16‒0.29 0.27
ratio between anterior and
posterior margins
Abscissa RS1 of hind wing straight arcuated straight slightly straight straight straight arcuated straight straight straight
arcuated
wing: distal angle between right right or acute right right obtuse or right right right right obtuse slightly obtuse slightly
abscissa RS1 and vein R1 acute 0.53‒0.55 0.63‒0.81 0.49‒0.60 0.70‒0.76 0.59‒0.61 0.69‒0.80 0.61‒0.63 0.71‒0.75 0.53 0.53‒0.64 0.68 0.96‒1.08 1.10‒1.39 1.04‒1.21 1.22‒1.25 1.10 1.21‒1.24 1.1‒1.2 1.2‒1.3 1.0 0.97‒1.2 1.2 0.36‒0.47 0.47‒0.56 0.31‒0.36 0.50‒0.53 0.24‒0.29 0.35‒0.36 0.42‒0.54 0.29‒0.33 0.34 0.37‒0.43 0.47
wing ratio 3.7‒4.0 3.6‒3.9 3.7‒4.0 3.7‒.41 3.9‒4.4 3.9‒4.2 3.2‒4.1 3.6‒4.1 4.2 3.6‒3.9 3.6
length 6.0‒7.8 7.6‒9.0 5.5‒7.2 8.6‒9.0 6.0‒7.8 23 6.8 7.9‒8.3 7.1‒9.0 5.7 6.0‒8.2 11.5
description: Published as part of Zonstein, Irina & Wahis, Raymond, 2015, Revision of the Palaearctic genus Gonaporus Ashmead, 1902 of spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), pp. 451-505 in Zootaxa 4018 (4) on pages 466-469, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4018.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/234261