Ctenocerus srilankae Shimizu & Broad & Yoshimura & Pitts 2022, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Shimizu, Akira
name: Broad, Gavin
name: Yoshimura, Jin
name: Pitts, James P.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Pompilidae
Ctenocerus
Ctenocerus srilankae

description: Ctenocerus srilankae Shimizu sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: E214E6F5-3193-41D1-91A3-FAAB02249E21
Figs 3, 5
Diagnosis
Female
Body and legs mostly black (Fig. 3A); head with longitudinal yellow streak along inner orbit (Fig. 3D); propodeum reddish brown (Fig. 3A–B); T1–5 with paired posterolateral patches of silvery pubescence; frontal bridge (Fig. 3D, arrow) much broader than pedicel width; and clypeus with apicolateral margin obliquely truncate.
Male
Body and legs mostly black (Fig. 5A) with pale yellow streaks on frons along inner orbit (Fig. 5D), upper gena along outer orbit (Fig. 5B–C) and posterior margin of pronotum, and pale-yellow spots on scutellum (Fig. 5A–B) and T7 apically; hind femur orange to reddish brown (Fig. 5A, F–G); T1–4 with posterior bands of silvery pubescence (Fig. 5A); flagellum catenulate (Fig. 5H); all tarsal claws bifid.
Etymology
The species name is derived from its locality, Sri Lanka.
Type material
Holotype SRI LANKA • ♀; “ SRI LANKA: Tri. Dist. Tennamaravadi 18-v-1976 ” / “Collected by K. V. Krombein P. B. Karunaratne S. Karunaratne D. W. Balasooriyo ”; NMNH.
Paratypes SRI LANKA • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; Man. Dist., Kokmotte Bungalow, 0.5 mi NE of Wilpattu Natl. Park; 21–25 May 1976; K.V. Krombein, P.B. Karunaratne, S. Karunaratne and D.W. Balasooriyo leg.; NHMUK • 1♂; same collection data as for preceding; 22–25 May 1976; Malaise trap; NMNH • 1 ♀; Man. Dist., 0.5 mi NE of Kokmotte, Wilpattu Natl Park; 50–100 ft; 5–8 Oct. 1977; K.V. Krombein, P.B. Karunaratne, S. Karunaratne and D.W. Balasooriyo leg.; NMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 22–23 Jan. 1977; Malaise trap; NMNH • 1 ♀; Anu. Dist., Padaviya; 180 ft; 18–19 May 1976; K.V. Krombein, P.B. Karunaratne, S. Karunaratne and D.W. Balasooriyo leg.; NMNH • 3 ♂♂; Anu. Dist., Padaviya, Irrigation Bungalow; 180 ft; 18 May 1976; Malaise trap; K.V. Krombein, P.B. Karunaratne, S. Karunaratne and D.W. Balasooriyo leg.; NMNH • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; NHMUK.
Description (measurements of the holotype are given in parentheses.)
Female
MEASUREMENTS. Length: body 9.1–14.3 (14.3) mm; FW 6.0–8.5 (8.5) mm.
COLOURATION. Body and legs dominantly black or reddish black (Fig. 3A, G). Frons with longitudinal yellow streak along inner orbit (Fig. 3D). Following reddish brown to dark rufous: clypeus apically (Fig. 3D), mandible, antenna, scutellum (disc sometimes reddish black (Fig. 3B)), metanotum, metapostnotum and propodeum dorsally, fore tibia ventroapically, all femora and tarsi apically (fore tarsomere 5 wholly reddish brown), tibial spurs, tarsal claws, S1 medially, and S2 anterior to and immediately posterior to transverse groove (Fig. 3I). Labrum and labio-maxillary complex orange brown (stipes and prementum dark brown). FW pale yellow (Fig. 3C); pterostigma yellowish brown; apical half of marginal cell, SMC3 except basally, SMC4, and discal cell 3 infuscate; HW transparent with yellowish tint, slightly infuscate apically.
INTEGUMENT. Following with silvery white pubescence: frons around antennal socket (Fig. 3D), clypeus basilaterally, mandible basally, gena (Fig. 3E), thorax laterally (Fig. 3H) and ventrally, propodeum posterolaterally (Fig. 3B), all legs, T1–5 posterolaterally (dense and forming paired silvery patches (Fig. 3A)), T6 laterally, and S1–6 (Fig. 3I). Following with coppery pubescence: vertex medially, pronotal dorsum except posteriorly (Fig. 3E), scutum except anterolaterally and posterolaterally (Fig. 3B), scutellum, metasomal terga except for paired silvery patches and lateral margins, and S1 and S2 anteromedially (Fig. 3I). Setae on body scarce; vertex along inner orbit with a few fine, erect setae (Fig. 3D); apical margin of labrum, mandible, T6 and S5–6 with long erect bristles.
HEAD. 1.0–1.1 (1.1) × as broad as high. Vertex, frons, and mandible polished (Fig. 3D). Vertex strongly convex above level of eye tops. MID 0.65–0.66 (0.66)× TFD. Frons with median sulcus shortly impressed only on supra-antennal area. Antennocular line gently convex between eyes (Fig. 3E). Inner orbits convergent above and below (Fig. 3D). UID:MID:LID = 8.3–8.4 (8.4):10:8.7–9.2 (8.9). POD:OOD = 1:0.85–1.1 (1.1). OOcD /POD = 1.1–1.5 (1.5). Clypeus 1.4–1.8 (1.4)× as broad as long; apical rim not delimited from main part; apicolateral margin obliquely truncate; apical margin truncate or weakly emarginate. Gena, in dorsal view, roundly narrowing posteriorly (Fig. 3E), in profile, 0.5–0.6 (0.6) × as broad as eye, abruptly narrowing dorsally (Fig. 3H). Scape distinctly concave laterally (Fig. 3E). Scape:pedicel:fl1:fl2 =15–16 (15):2.1–2.8 (2.5):10: 9.1–9.4 (9.4). Fl1 2.8–3.1 (3.0) × as long as broad, 0.37–0.39 (0.37)× UID.
MESOSOMA. Pronotum much longer than mesoscutum (Fig. 3A) with dorsum gently convex transversely and longitudinally; lateral margins slightly convex, roundly converging anteriorly (Fig. 3E); posterior margin subangulate medially (Fig. 3A). Mesoscutum depressed interiorly to parapsidal sulcus and along posterior margin (Fig. 3B). Disc of scutellum scarcely raised above level of mesoscutum. Metapostnotum 0.27–0.38 (0.27) × as long as metanotum at midline, shallowly and triangularly emarginate posteromedially. Propodeum with dorsum finely and transversely rugulose without median groove, its sides slightly convex in dorsal view (Fig. 3B); declivity rather flattened (Fig. 3H) but not delimited from dorsum, transversely or arcuately rugulose.
LEGS. Mid tibiae with several short spines dorsally. Hind tibia lacking spines dorsally (Fig. 3J); apical outer margin with minute sparse spines. Longer spur of hind tibia 0.36–0.41 (0.38)× hind tarsomere 1.
WINGS (Fig. 3C). FW marginal cell from wing tip by 0.83–0.87 (0.87)× its own length. SMC2:SMC3 = 1:0.97–1.5 (1.0) on vein M, 1:1.1–1.3 (1.2) on vein Rs. SMC2 0.63–0.69 (0.67) × as high as long, narrowed on vein Rs by 0.56–0.60 (0.58) × its length on vein M, receiving cross-vein 1m-cu at its basal 0.37–0.43 (0.43). SMC3 0.65–1.0 (0.76) × as high as long, narrowed on vein Rs by 0.65–0.72 (0.68) × its length on vein M, receiving cross-vein 2m-cu at its basal 0.44–0.52 (0.52), distant from outer wing margin by 1.7–2.4 (1.9)× its own length. Cross-vein 2rs-m slightly curved, nearly vertical to vein M. Cross-vein 2m-cu barely curved outward or bisinuate. Cross-vein cu-a originating distal to point of separation of vein M+CuA by more than its own length, curved outward. HW cross-vein rs-m nearly vertical or slightly oblique to vein M. Cross-vein cu-a originating posteriorly to point of separation of vein M+CuA.
METASOMA. T1 barely petiolate (Fig. 3A). S6 barely compressed laterally with short median carina posteriorly (Fig. 3I).
Male
MEASUREMENTS. Length: body 7.4– 5.8 mm; FW 4.5–5.8 mm.
COLOURATION. Body and legs mostly black (Fig. 5A); following pale yellow: longitudinal streaks on frons along inner orbit (Fig. 5D), upper gena along outer orbit and posterior margin of pronotum (Fig. 5B–C),
spots on scutellum (Fig. 5A–B), fore coxa anteroapically, mid and hind coxae lateroapically, and T7 apically. Fore femur, tibia and mid femur apically, hind femur (Fig. 5G), sometimes hind tibia, all tarsi, and apical metasomal terga posteromedially orange to reddish brown. Fore tibial spur pale yellow; mid and hind tibial spurs light brown. Apical half of mandible reddish brown. Wings transparent with brownish tint, becoming iridescent depending on incident lighting angle (Fig. 5E); FW marginal cell anteriorly and outer wing margin slightly infuscate; pterostigma light brown.
INTEGUMENT. Body with silvery white pubescence, this being long and dense on lower frons (Fig. 5D), clypeus, scape below, pronotum anteriorly (Fig. 5C), pro- and mesopleura (Fig. 5G), metapostnotum laterally, and propodeum laterally (Fig. 5B); pubescence on T1–4 posterolaterally short but very dense, forming paired silvery patches, those appearing to be continuous medially depending on incident lighting angle (Fig. 5A); pubescence on propodeum posteromedially long, erect, and grey, directed forward or outward. T5 and 6 with coppery pubescence except posterolaterally. Coxae and trochanters covered with silvery white pubescence; remain of legs with silvery to sericeous pubescence. Vertex, lower frons, gena, pronotum, and propleuron with silvery white to grey setae, those on gena and propleuron in particular long and dense. Head, pro-, meso- and metanota, and mesopleuron finely and densely punctate (frons narrowly impunctate and polished at midline). Collar finely and transversely striate (Fig. 5C). Side of metanotum with several oblique striae. Metapostnotum also with several transverse striae, those being decurved posteromedially. Metapleuron and propodeum minutely reticulate-rugulose.
HEAD. Broad and rhomboid (Fig. 5D), 1.1–1.2 × as broad as high. Vertex strongly convex above level of eye tops, chevron-shaped. Frons with median sulcus very fine only below. MID 0.62–0.66× as broad as head width. Antennocular line chevron-shaped between eyes (Fig. 5C). Inner orbits weakly emarginate above middle, as a whole divergent below (Fig. 5D). UID:MID:LID = 9.7–10.1:10:7.9–8.7. POD:OOD = 1:0.95–1.1. OOcD /POD = 0.80–1.2. Clypeus 1.5–2.0× as wide as long, its surface broadly raised medially; lateral margin oblique, apicolateral corner broadly rounded; apical rim very narrow, smooth and polished, not depressed; apical margin almost straight. Labrum almost truncate apically. Scape short, its apicomesal corner pointed (Fig. 5C). Scape:pedicel:fl1:fl2 = 9.2–12:2.7–4.2:10:11–12. Fl1 1.4–2.1 × as long as wide, 0.28–0.34 × UID. Flagellomeres crenulate (Fig. 5H). Gena, in dorsal view, more strongly receding posteriorly than in female (Figs 5C vs 3E), in profile, 0.2–0.3× as broad as eye. Uppermost part of occipital suture situated moderately deep below vertex crest (Fig. 5B).
MESOSOMA. Pronotum with declivity almost vertical (Fig. 5G), somewhat concave; dorsum roundly narrowing anteriorly (Fig. 5C). Scutellum distinctly raised above level of mesoscutum (Fig. 5G). Metapostnotum 0.58–0.73× as long as metanotum at midline, depressed below level of metanotum but on same plane as propodeal dorsum, constricted strongly in front of propodeal spiracle and slightly medially (Fig. 5B). Propodeum with dorsum transversely convex above without median groove, rather strongly narrowing posteriorly; declivity distinctly and transversely rugulose medially.
LEGS. Mid and hind tibiae with several minute spines dorsally. Longer spur of hind tibia 0.44–0.52 × hind tarsomere 1. All tarsal claws bifid.
WINGS (Fig. 5E). FW marginal cell from wing tip by 0.64–0.76× its own length. SMC2:SMC3 = 1:0.79– 1.0 on vein M, 1: 0.81–1.1 on vein Rs. SMC2 0.61–0.68 × as high as long, narrowed on vein Rs by 0.60–0.69 × its length on vein M, receiving cross-vein 1m-cu at its basal 0.38–0.47. SMC3 0.69–0.85× as high as long, narrowed on vein Rs by 0.62–0.74× its length on vein M, receiving cross-vein 2m-cu at its basal 0.47–0.63, from outer wing margin by 1.6–2.1 × its own length. Cross-vein cu-a originating distal to point of separation of vein M+CuA by less than its own length. HW cross-vein cu-a originating distinctly distal to point of separation of vein M+CuA.
METASOMA. Somewhat compressed dorsoventrally. Subgenital plate roughly rectangular (Fig. 5I); lateral margins subparallel, roundly narrowing subapically, truncate at apex. Genitalia: paramere, in lateral view (Fig. 5L), parallel-sided and arcuate, with long, dense setae on dorsal margin and minute, dense spinules on ventral margin, extending far beyond apex of digitus volsellaris (Fig. 5J–K); digitus volsellaris, in lateral view (Fig. 5L), strongly broadened apically with apical margin truncate, extending beyond apex of parapenial lobe (Fig. 5J–K); basal hooklet double; parapenial lobe broadened basally, gradually narrowing apically into slender lobe, slightly extending beyond apex of aedeagus (Fig. 5J–K); aedeagus inverted-spade-shaped, ending with rounded apex.
Distribution
South Asia (Sri Lanka).
description: Published as part of Shimizu, Akira, Broad, Gavin, Yoshimura, Jin & Pitts, James P., 2022, First records of the spider wasps Ctenocerus Dahlbom and Paraclavelia Haupt from Asia, with discussions on the systematics of Ctenocerinae (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), pp. 101-131 in European Journal of Taxonomy 845 (1) on pages 109-115, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.845.1957, http://zenodo.org/record/7258882