Physetopoda thai Lelej 1995
Creators: name: Williams, Kevin A.
name: Lelej, Arkady S.
name: Okayasu, Juriya
name: Borkent, Christopher J.
name: Malee, Rufeah
name: Thoawan, Kodeeyah
name: Thaochan, Narit
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Mutillidae
Physetopoda
Physetopoda thai

description: 12a. Physetopoda thai Lelej, 1995
(Figs 11, 71–76)
Physotopoda thai Lelej 1995b: 15, ♀; 2005: 51; Okayasu et al. 2018: 308.
Diagnosis. FEMALE. This species can be recognized by its T2 pattern, which has one basomedial spot, one apicomedial spot, and two apicolateral spots. Other useful diagnostic features include: the clypeus has a basomedial tooth; the vertex has a transverse patch of silver to golden setae; the mesosoma is longer than wide; the scutellar scale is posteriorly rounded and surrounded by scattered tubercles; and the pygidium is smooth. Body length 3.5–7.5 mm. MALE. Unknown.
Material examined (150 ♀). LAOS, Bolikhamsay Province, Ban Phone Kham environs, 200–300 m, 18 o 19'N 104 o 0 8'E, 2317 o 20'N 101 o 20'E, 23–29.V.2011, M. Brancucci, M. Geiser, D. Hauck, Z. Kraus, A. Phantala, and E. Vongphachan (1♀ RHMB). MYANMAR, Northeast, Sadon, 1200 m, 28.VI–5.VII, Malaise trap (2♀ RMNH). THAILAND: Chiang Mai, Rim Pa Huay Tong, 18.542 o N 98.954 o E, 250 m, 10–20.VIII.1997, Malaise trap in field at edge of mixed deciduous forest, S. Sonthichai (1♀ EMUS); Krabi, 14 km NNE Krabi, Phnom Bencha Mountain Resort, 8.208 o N 98.937 o E, 80 m, 2.IV.2017, MKT (5♀ CSCA); Loei, Phu Ruea National Park, Rong huay hin gao, 17 o 29.943'N 101 o 20.456'E, 1184 m, litter sample, 19–22.X.2006, N. Jarochenai, T627 (1♀ QSBG); Nakhon Ratchasima, Sakaerat, env[irons] res[earch] centre, 15.IX.2001, K. Eguchi (2♀ SKYC); Nakhon Si Thammarat, 4.4 km N Hin Tok, Mountainside rubber farm, 8.303 o N 99.849 o E, 7–8.IV.2017, MKT (5♀ CSCA); Phatthalung, 2.4 km S Ban Na, Farm, 7.543 o N 99.883 o E, 50 m, 10.IV.2017, MKT (1♀ CSCA); Phetchabun, Nam Nao National Park, Forest Checkpoint, 16 o 43.695'N 101 o 33.797'E, 921m, pan traps, 26–27.X.2006, N. Hongyothi, T1006 (1♀ QSBG); Phetchaburi, Kaeng Krachan, Baan Maka Nature Lodge, 12.840 o N 99.590 o E, 140 m: 16.V.2018, MKT (5♀ CSCA); 22–23.V.2018, MKT (10♀ CSCA); Sakon Nakhon, Phu Phan National Park, behing Huay Wien Prai Forest Unit, 17 o 0 6.847'N 104 o 0 0.302'E, 376 m, pan traps, 2–3.VIII.2006, V. Khongnara, T496 (1♀ QSBG); Songkhla, Hat Yai, Prince of Songkhla University, forest edge, 7.008 o N 100.508 o E, 40 m, 11–12.IV.2017, MKT (98♀ CSCA EMUS MIUP PSUC QSBG); Surat Thani, Khlong Sok: Khao Sok Jungle Huts, 8.909 o N 99.526 o E, 70 m: 14.V.2018, MKT (1♀ CSCA); 25–26.V.2018, MKT (12♀ CSCA); Our Jungle House resort, 8.908 o N 99.534 o E, 75 m, 25–27.V.2018, MKT (3♀ CSCA); Ubon Ratchathani, Pha Taem National Park, 15 o 31.985'N 105 o 35.774'E, 155 m, pan traps, 10–11.IX.2006, M. Sai-ngam, T886 (1♀ QSBG).
Distribution. Laos *, Myanmar *, Thailand (Chiang Mai, Krabi, Loei, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Sakhon Nakhon, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani).
Remarks. This species was described based on a single specimen from Chiang Mai; nearly 150 specimens have since been examined, allowing us to discuss intraspecific variation for this interesting species. The mesosoma varies from uniform reddish (Figs 71, 72) to largely infuscated dorsally and posteriorly (Fig. 73). The metasomal setal spots vary from bright golden (Fig. 71) to pale whitish gray (Fig. 72). The shape of the posterior T2 spot varies from a nearly equilateral triangle (Fig. 72) to broadly obtuse triangle (Fig. 73). There can be a medial setal spot on T3 (Figs 72, 73) or T3 can lack such a medial spot (Fig. 71). The body length varies from 3.5 to 7.5 mm.
description: Published as part of Williams, Kevin A., Lelej, Arkady S., Okayasu, Juriya, Borkent, Christopher J., Malee, Rufeah, Thoawan, Kodeeyah & Thaochan, Narit, 2019, The female velvet ants (aka modkhong) of southern Thailand (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), with a key to the genera of southeast Asia, pp. 1-69 in Zootaxa 4602 (1) on page 24, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.2669927