Traumatomutilla ameliae Casal, 1969

Bartholomay, Pedro R., Williams, Kevin A., Cambra, Roberto A., Lopez, Vinícius M. & Oliveira, Marcio L., 2025, Revision of the Traumatomutilla quadrinotata species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae, Sphaeropthalminae): new synonyms, sex associations, and a new species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, European Journal of Taxonomy 995, pp. 1-75 : 10-15

Traumatomutilla ameliae Casal, 1969

Figs 1–2

Traumatomutilla ameliae Casal, 1969: 291 .

Diagnosis

Female

Occipital carinae equally wide throughout; anterolateral carinae absent in scutellar area; lateral surface of propodeum evenly and densely sculptured with sharp intervals; T2 with two pairs of red integumental spots; body setae silvery-white in color; setae markings of mesosomal dorsum restricted to propodeum.

Male

Apex of cuspis with long setae; body setae black and silvery-white in color; wings dark brown infuscated throughout with strong violaceous and blueish reflections; setae markings of propodeum and T2 dense, concealing integument beneath.

Type material

Holotype ARGENTINA • ♀; Tucumán, S. [San] Pedro de Colalao ; Jan. 1949; Arnau leg.; AMNH.

Other material examined (16 ♀ ♀, 5 ♂ ♂)

ARGENTINA – Catamarca • 1 ♂; Santa Maria ; Jan. 1994; Fritz leg.; AMNH . – Salta • 1 ♀; La Viña ; Dec. 1992; M.A. Fritz leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀; Jan. 1984; M.A. Fritz leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀; Feb. 1984; M.A. Fritz leg.; MIUP • 1 ♀; Jan. 1988; M.A. Fritz leg.; AMNH • 2 ♂♂; Dec. 1992; Fritz leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀; Rosario Lerme [Rosario de Lerma] ; Feb. 1993; M.A. Fritz leg.; AMNH • 2 ♂♂; 21–23 Dec. 1983; M. Wasbauer leg.; UCDC • 1 ♂; El Carmen ; Jan. 1983; Fritz leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀; Sumalao ; Mar. 1991; Fritz leg.; USU • 1 ♀; Alemania ; Feb. 1983; M.A. Fritz leg.; AMNH . – Santiago del Estero • 1 ♀; Chaco de Santiago del Estero, Rio Salado ; MNCN .

BOLIVIA – Santa Cruz • 1 ♀; 12 km N [kilometers north of] Camiri ; 19°56.67′ S, 63°31.34′ W; 27 Feb.–7 Mar. 1999; M.E. Irwin and F. Parker leg.; USU .

PARAGUAY – Boquerón • 1 ♀; E. [East] of La Patria ; 30 Mar. 2006; U. Dreschel leg.; FSCA • 2 ♀♀; Filadelfia, Chaco ; Jan. 1995; Arriagada leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀; Filadelfia; Jan. 1995; Arriagada leg.; USU • 2 ♀♀; Loma Plata ; Jan. 1956; Gerlach leg.; AMNH . – Presidente Hayes • 1 ♀; Lolita, Yaragui, 390’ ; 23°06′ S, 59°38′ W; 23–27 Nov. 2007; U. Dreschel leg.; FSCA .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 13–21 mm.

HEAD. Posterior margin almost straight. Occipital carina evenly arched and equally wide throughout. Vertex width 0.75 × pronotal width. Eye almost circular, its length in frontal view slightly longer than distance from its ventral margin to mandibular condyle. Head densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to areolate-punctate, less densely so on malar space. Genal carina well defined. Mandible oblique, tapering slightly towards apex with small subapical tooth. Dorsal scrobal carina present, well defined, narrowly disconnected from antennal tubercles, connected to lateral scrobal carina. Antennal tubercle coarsely and irregularly rugose. Flagellomere 1 1.9× pedicel length; flagellomere 2 1.4× pedicel length.

MESOSOMA. Length 0.85 × width. Mesosomal dorsum mostly concealed by dense setation, densely and coarsely areolate-punctate with apparent sharp to scabrous intervals where visible. Anterior surface of propodeum defined, short, slightly shorter than pronotal collar, coarsely striated longitudinally throughout with dense coarse punctures dorsomedially; dorsal surface rounded into anterior surface in lateral view. Humeral carina well defined, projected dorsally, broadly separated from conspicuously projected angulate epaulet; anterolateral corners of pronotum sharply angulate in dorsal view. Pronotal spiracle strongly projected from lateral margin of pronotum, rounded, bulging. Lateral surface of pronotum sparsely punctate with dense micropunctures except at smooth conspicuous subacute tubercle anterior to pronotal spiracle; mesopleuron densely micropunctate anteriorly, densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to areolate-punctate ventrad on mesopleural ridge; metapleuron unsculptured, smooth and shining on dorsal third, densely, coarsely and confusedly areolate on basal third, and concealed by dense setation elsewhere. Lateral surface of propodeum densely and coarsely areolate-punctate throughout with sharp intervals. Ratios of width of humeral angles, pronotal spiracles, widest point of mesonotum, narrowest point of mesonotum and propodeum posterior to propodeal spiracles, 70: 83: 87: 60:60. Lateral margin of mesonotum conspicuously constricted anterior to propodeal spiracle, strongly diverging anterad, medially projected, into sharp process; with very small conspicuous blunt post-mesonotal tubercle. Propodeal spiracle strongly projected from lateral margin of mesosoma; post-spiracular area vestigial. Scutellar scale present, reduced, as narrow as surrounding sculpture; anterolateral carinae absent; scabrous intervals absent on scutellar area. Propodeum somewhat gibbose, dorsal surface shorter than and poorly distinguished from posterior surface.

METASOMA. Ratios of width of T1, width of T2 and length of T2, 28: 64: 67. Disc of T2 mostly concealed by dense setation, densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to punctate with dense, interspersed micropunctures where visible; foveolations sparser and micropunctures absent laterally and over integumental spots. T3–5 sculpture predominantly concealed by dense setation, densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to simply punctate with interspersed micropunctures where visible; T6, except pygidial plate, densely foveolate-punctate. S1 sparsely, coarsely and confusedly foveolate-punctate, surface cuneiform, ending in short blunt longitudinal carina, slightly higher medially. S2 densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate, sculpture conspicuously sparser posteromediad; anteromedial crest-fold vestigial. S3–4 sculpture mostly concealed by dense setation, densely and finely foveolate-punctate with sparse micropunctures where visible; S4 densely foveolate-punctate; S6 sparsely foveolate-punctate. Pygidial plate subpyriform, defined by lateral carinae at apical third of plate; surface irregularly rugose; interstice apparently granulose.

Male (hitherto unknown)

BODY LENGTH. 13–18 mm.

HEAD. Transversely subrectangular with posterolateral angles rounded in dorsal view; lateral margins of head convergent immediately behind eyes, contiguous with eye outline in dorsal view. Width 0.8× pronotal width. Eye almost circular. Ocelli small; OOD 4.4× DLO, IOD 1.4× DLO. Occipital carina distinct. Head surface sparsely and finely punctate, with sparse interspersed micropunctures along posterior margin of vertex; sculpture sparser and finer posterad. Gena ecarinate. Antennal scrobe concave to eye margin, with well-defined transverse dorsal scrobal carina. Clypeus concave laterally immediately below antennal insertion, conspicuously convex medially; sculpture concealed by dense setation; apical/ ventral margin with a pair of medial short subacute free teeth. Scape bicarinate. Flagellomere 1 1.9× pedicel length; flagellomere 2 2.3× pedicel length. Mandible obliquely tridentate apically, medial tooth smaller than inner tooth; lacking dorsal or ventral projections.

MESOSOMA. Epaulets well defined, subangulately projected from anterior margin of pronotum, separated from well-defined pronounced humeral carina, anterolateral corners of pronotum angulate. Anterior surface of pronotum, with sparse fine to dense coarse punctures laterad, mostly unsculptured mediad; with medial longitudinal slightly concave smooth area. Tegula convex, mostly glabrous and impunctate except for dense coarse punctures along inner and anterior margin. Dorsum of pronotum densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to pucntate. Mesoscutum densely and finely foveolate-punctate, parapsis and notaulus reduced to posterior half of mesoscutum; with medial longitudinal carina on posterior half. Mesoscutellum somewhat gibbose, densely and coarsely areolate-punctate to foveolate-punctate, with well-defined dorsal and posterior surfaces; dorsal surface as broad as long, with intervals aligned basally so as to form irregular longitudinal carina restricted to dorsal surface. Axilla produced posterolaterally as obliquely truncate projection, with inner margin straigth; projection coarsely and densely foveolate-punctate except at unsculptured apical third. Metanotum wider laterally, its surface obscured by dense setation. Propodeal dorsum convex, mostly concealed by dense setation, densely areolate where visible; sculpture of lateral surface absent along anterior margin; dorsal surface indistinguishable from posterior surface. Lateral surface of pronotum sparsely and vestigially punctate with sparse interspersed micropunctures; mesopleura with conspicuous acute spine-like projection on dorsal half; sculpture densely and coarsely areolate with interspersed micropunctures to simply micropunctate anterad. Metapleuron micropunctate throughout, except basal third densely and coarsely areolate.

WINGS. Forewing with elongate sclerotized pterostigma; marginal cell elongated, roundly truncate apically; three submarginal cells.

LEGS. Simply setose, no strong spines discernible dorsally; spurs finely serrate on margins.

METASOMA. T1 0.5 × as wide as T2. T2 0.9× as long as wide. Dorsal metasomal sculpture, except pygidium, partially concealed by dense setation, densely and finely punctate with dense, interspersed micropunctures where visible; sculpture sparser and less defined in apical segments; pygidial plate slightly broader than long, weakly defined by somewhat arched carinae laterally; surface irregularly granulose to rugose with interspersed coarse punctures apicad. S1 longitudinally elevated medially, terminating in slightly concave low longitudinal carina. S2 sparsely and finely foveolate-punctate to punctate; sculpture sparser mediad; anteromedial crest-fold present, sternal pit absent. S3–7 sparsely and finely foveolate-punctate to punctate; S7 longer than broad, posterior margin projected medially into closely bidentate apex.

GENITALIA. Parapenial lobe not at all pronounced posteriorly, subacute. Ratios of free length of paramere, cuspis and digitus, 83: 58: 22. Paramere almost straight in dorsal view, upcurved posteriorly in lateral view; almost asetose except for sparse scattered inconspicuous setae throughout. Cuspis narrow, elongate, almost straight and slightly sinuous throughout in dorsal view, upcurved and slightly wider posterad in lateral view, with conspicuous tuft of long setae at apex, inconspicuous short setae elsewhere. Paracuspis poorly developed, sessile, lobe-like, slightly longer than wide, with subacute projection posteroventrally on posterior margin, projection with single setae, otherwise asetose. Digitus slightly incurved in dorsal view and upcurved in lateral view, apex subcapitate in lateral view, with short inconspicuous setae on dorsal surface. Penis valve strongly concave on inner surface, with well-defined pair of acute teeth posteroventrally, without defined lateral pocket on outer margin, apical distance between teeth 0.1× length of valve, dense setae present along convex posterior margin and inconspicuous setae present at base of anterior tooth on outer margin, setae longer ventrad, posterior margin sloping dorsad.

Coloration and variations

Female

Integument black, except mandible and antennal flagellomeres partially reddish-brown, and T2 with four large reddish integumental spots. Body setae predominantly black varying in density, except the following areas with silvery-white setae varying in density: coxae, ventral surface of meso and metafemora, mesopleuron posteroventrally, metapleuron, propodeal dorsum laterally, and lateral surface of propodeum; T1 entirely, integumental spots, lateral areas, lateral felt line and lateral margins of T2, fringe of T2– 4 medially and laterally, fringe of T5, and T6, except pygidial plate medially; S1–4, and fringes of S2–3.

Male

Integument black, except antennal flagellomeres partially reddish-brown. Body setae predominantly black varying in density except the following areas with silvery-white setae varying in density: propodeum, legs predominantly; T1, anterior half to anterior third of T2, lateral felt lines and lateral margins of T2, fringe of T2–5 medially and laterally (vestigial medially on T2–5 and laterally on T5); S1–5, except fringe of T5.

Distribution

Bolivia (Santa Cruz), Paraguay (Boquerón and Presidente Hayes), and Argentina (Salta, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán and Catamarca).

Remarks

The sex association of T. ameliae was based on distribution since both sexes were the southernmost records of the T. quadrinotata species-group and have been collected in the same areas across Argentina. Both sexes have consistent and apparently unvariable color and setae characters, typical of northern Argentinean mutillids. Based on structure, especially the lateral propodeal surface sculpture and lateral mesonotal expansions, females of T. ameliae are similar to T. sancta .

Figures

Fig. 1. Traumatomutilla ameliae Casal, 1969, holotype, ♀ (AMNH). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Type labels. C. Lateral habitus. Scale bars = 5 mm.

Fig. 2. Traumatomutilla ameliae Casal, 1969, ♂ (non-type specimen). A. Lateral habitus. B. Genitalia (halved), dorsal view. C. Genitalia (halved), ventral view. D. Genitalia (halved, penis valve removed), lateral/inner view. E. Cuspis (removed, not to scale), lateral/inner view. F. Penis valve (removed, not to scale), lateral/outer view. Scale bar = 3 mm.