Traumatomutilla quadripustulata ( Klug, 1821 )

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 : 50-58

Traumatomutilla quadripustulata ( Klug, 1821)

Figs 14–16

Mutilla quadripustulata Klug, 1821: 316 , pl. 23 fig. 2.

Mutilla pruinosa Smith, 1855: 43 . Syn. nov.

Mutilla maraca Cresson, 1902: 78 . Syn. nov.

Ephuta (Traumatomutilla) quadripustulata – André 1902: 55.

Ephuta (Traumatomutilla) maraca – André 1902: 55.

Mutilla pruinosa – André 1902: 74.

Traumatomutilla quadripustula – André 1904: 40.

Traumatomutilla maraca – André 1904: 40.

Diagnosis

Female

Occiptial carina equally wide throughout; anterolateral carinae absent on scutellar scale; postmesonotal tubercle conspicuously; body setae predominantly black with inconspicuous silvery-white areas on metasoma; T2 usually with two pairs of small yellowish integumental spots.

Male

Apex of cuspis with longe setae; pronotal sculpture not at all concealed by dense setation; T2 entirely covered with silvery-white setae, less densely so on posterior half.

Type material

Lectotype of Mutilla quadripustulata

BRAZIL • ♀; Para [Pará]; ZMB.

Holotype of Mutilla pruinosa

BRAZIL • ♂; Para [Pará]; NHMUK.

Lectotype of Mutilla maraca BRAZIL • ♂; [Pará], Santarém; CM.

Additional material examined (46 ♀♀, 48 ♂♂)

BOLIVIA • 1 ♀; Chuquisaca, 5 mi S [miles south of] Camarga ; 19 Feb. 1951; AMNH .

BRAZIL – Maranhão • 1 ♀; Bom Jardim, Reserva Biológica do Gurupi ; 17–27 Jan. 2010; CZMA . – Mato Grosso • 5 ♂♂; Sinop; Feb. 1976; M. Alvarenga leg.; AEIC • 1 ♂; Sinop; 12°31′ S, 55°37′ W; Oct. 1974; M. Alvarenga leg.; USU • 2 specs; Tangará da Serra, Fazenda Promissão ; 14°30′01″ S, 57°17′30″ W; 346 m a.s.l. [above sea level]; 1 Oct. 2017; J.V.A. Ferreira leg.; floresta semidecidual; TANG. – Pará • 1 ♀; Medicilândia; 5–11 Aug. 1992; A. Argolo leg.; MIUP • 4 ♀♀; MZSP • 1 ♀; 24 Oct. 1901; MPEG • 1 ♀; 13 Jan. 1902; MPEG • 1 ♀; 16 Aug. 1900; MPEG • 1 ♀; BR 014, Km 92 ; Dec. 1960; MNCN • 4 ♀♀, 1 ♂; Santarém; ANSP • 1 ♀; FSCA • 3 ♀♀; CM • 4 ♀♀; Jun. 1919; S.M. Klages leg.; CM • 1 ♀; Amazonas drainage ; CSCA • 1 ♀; Fazenda Taperinha ; 1–11 Feb. 1968; MPEG • 2 ♀♀; Mararu ; CM • 2 ♀♀; Mangabaira, Mocajuba ; Aug. 1953; O. Rego leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀; Mangabaira, Mocajuba ; Mar. 1953; O. Rego leg.; LACM • 3 ♀♀; Mangabaira, Mocajuba ; Oct. 1953; O. Rego leg.; USNM • 1 ♀; Mangabaira, Mocajuba ; Aug. 1953; MNCN • 1 ♀; Mangabaira, Mocajuba ; Nov. 1952; O. Rego leg.; FSCA • 5 ♀♀; Mangabaira, Mocajuba ; MNRJ • 1 ♀; Benevides; PA-408 Km 6 ; 26 Jul. 1982; MPEG • 1 ♂; Benevides, Fazenda Morelândia ; 2 Jul. 1988; F.F. Ramos leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; Benevides, Fazenda Morelândia ; 11 Dec. 1983; Jarbas leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; Benevides, Fazenda Morelândia ; 20 Jun.–2 Jul. 1988; F.F. Ramos leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; Benevides, Fazenda Morelândia ; 4–6 Aug. 1988; F.F. Ramos leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; Benevides, Fazenda Morelândia ; 30 Jun.–2 Jul. 1988; F.F. Ramos leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; Benevides; CPDC • 1 ♂; 11 Aug. 1994; J.A. Pena leg.; MPEG • 1 ♀; Melgaço, ECFPn [Estação Científica Ferreira Pena] Caxiuanã ; 24 Apr. 1995; MPEG • 1 ♀; SMC1 [sic], Ig. [Igarapé] Curuazinho ; 28 Mar. 1998; MPEG • 1 ♂; Melgaço, ECFPn [Estação Científica Ferreira Pena] Caxiuanã, Mata da Sede ; 16 Nov. 1998; O. Silveira and J. Pena leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; Melgaço, ECFPn [Estação Científica Ferreira Pena] Caxiuanã, Percurso ; 26 Apr. 1999; O. Silveira and J. Dias leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; FLONA [Floresta Nacional] Tapajós ; 11–14 Sep. 1997; M. Henriques leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; 2–5 Sep. 1997; M. Henriques leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; Juruti, Alcoa, Área beneficiamento bauxite ; 2°29′32.10″ S, 56°9′20.04″ W; 21–24 Jun. 2008; E. Monteiro-Santos, R.L. Trindade, Domingos Guimarães and L.A. Quaresma leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 9–13 Dec. 2007; MPEG • 1 ♂; Jaratuba, Rio Mamuru, Área 2 ; 3°11′32,6″ S, 56°34′51,4″ W; 29 Sep. 2009; O.T. Silveira, S.S. Silva and J. Pena leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; Mosqueiro ; 12 Dec. 1988; L.B. Albuquerque leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 17 Dec. 1983; MPEG • 1 ♂; Serra Norte, Est. [Estrada] Manganês ; 10 Jun. 1983; F.F. Ramos leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 8 Jun. 1983; MPEG • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 9–12 Sep. 1985; MPEG • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 6–9 Sep. 1985; W. França leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; Serra Norte, Est. [Estrada] Manganês, N1 Mata [sic] ; 3–5 Nov. 1985; J. Dias leg.; MPEG • 1 ♀; Carajás, Est. [Estrada] Manganês ; 24 Apr. 1983; MPEG • 1 ♀; Pedras, Rio Cuminá ; 1 Nov. 1969; MPEG • 1 ♂; Marabá; Oct. 1974; J.F. Reinert leg.; FSCA • 1 ♂; Belém, Parque Ambiental, Sede ; 14–18 Jun. 2004; A.L. Nunes e equipe leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; Bujaru ; 27 Dec. 1985; MPEG • 1 ♂; Paragominas, Fazenda Cachoeira do Rio Vermelho ; 15–18 Jan. 1991; R.B. Neto leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; Vitória do Xingú, Margem direita Rio Xingú ; 22–24 Nov. 2000; R. Santos and J. Dias leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; Pacoval ; 7–17 Dec. 2008; USU • 1 ♂; Jacareacanga ; Nov. 1968; Moacir Alvarenga leg.; USU • 1 ♂; Mutum ; 1–6 Dec. 2008; USU • 1 ♂; Tucuruí ; Jan. 1979; M. Alvarenga leg.; USU . – Rondônia • 1 ♀; RBINS • 1 ♂; Ouro Preto D’Oeste, Linha 62, Km 16.11 ; 13 Nov. 1984; F.F. Ramos leg.; MPEG • 1 ♂; 62 km SE [southeast of] Ariquemes ; 8 Nov. 1994; W.J. Hanson leg.; USU • 1 ♂; Vilhena; 22 Dec. 1986; C. Elias leg.; DZUP • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 27 Dec. 1986; DZUP • 2 ♂; same data as for preceding; 4 Nov. 1986; DZUP • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 27 Nov. 1986; DZUP • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 17 Dec. 1986; DZUP • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 22 Dec. 1986; DZUP .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 16–18 mm.

HEAD. Posterior margin slightly and angularly concave. Occipital carina evenly arched and equally wide throughout. Vertex width 0.8 × pronotal width. Eye almost circular, its length in frontal view 1.3× the distance from its ventral margin to mandibular condyle. Head densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to areolate-punctate. Genal carina present, well defined. Mandible oblique, tapering slightly towards with small subapical tooth. Dorsal scrobal carina present, reaching antennal tubercles and disconnected from lateral scrobal carina. Antennal tubercle coarsely and irregularly rugose. Flagellomere 1 1.9 × pedicel length; flagellomere 2 1.6× pedicel length.

MESOSOMA. Length 0.85 × width. Mesosomal dorsum densely and coarsely areolate-punctate throughout, intervals sharper posteromediad and blunt laterad; with vestigial irregular longitudinal carina anteromedially. Anterior surface of propodeum defined, short, slightly shorter than pronotal collar, vestigial coarse striae longitudinally basomedially, and sparse coarse punctures dorsomedially; micropunctate anterior to epaulets; dorsal surface roundly angulate into anterior surface in lateral view. Humeral carina well defined, slightly projected dorsally, broadly separated from conspicuously projected subangulate epaulet, anterolateral corners of pronotum sharply angulate in dorsal view. Pronotal spiracle slightly projected from lateral margin of pronotum, rounded, bulging. Lateral surface of pronotum sparsely punctate with dense, interspersed micropunctures except at smooth conspicuous subacute tubercle anterior to pronotal spiracle; mesopleuron densely micropunctate anteriorly, sparsely punctate to foveolate-punctate to areolate-punctate ventrad on mesopleural ridge; metapleuron unsculptured, smooth shining on dorsal fourth, densely and coarsely areolate on basal fourth, and with dense micropunctures elsewhere. Lateral surface of propodeum densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate anterad; sparsely foveolate-punctate posterad; conspicuous smooth shining, somewhat granulose areas along posterior margin. Ratios of width of humeral angles, pronotal spiracles, widest point of mesonotum, narrowest point of mesonotum and propodeum posterior to propodeal spiracles, 69: 79: 83: 60:61. Lateral margin of mesonotum conspicuously constricted anterior to propodeal spiracle, strongly diverging anterad, medially projected, into blunt tooth-like process; with very small conspicuous tubercle posterior to lateral process. 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 vestigial on scutellar area. Propodeum gibbose, dorsal surface much shorter than and poorly distinguished from posterior surface.

METASOMA. Ratios of width of T1, width of T2 and length of T2, 42: 99: 98. Disc of T2 densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to punctate with dense, interspersed micropunctures; foveolations sparser and micropunctures absent laterally and over integumental spots. T3–6 sculpture, except pygidial plate, predominantly concealed by dense setation, densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to simply punctate with interspersed micropunctures where visible. S1 sparsely, coarsely and confusedly foveolate-punctate, surface cuneiform, ending in short blunt longitudinal carina, slightly higher medially. S2 sparsely 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 fourth of plate; surface irregularly rugose; interstice apparently granulose; rugae vestigial to absent apicad.

Male

BODY LENGTH. 9–15 mm.

HEAD. Transversely subrectangular with posterolateral angles rounded in dorsal view; convergent immediately behind eyes. Width 0.9× pronotal width. Eye almost circular. Ocelli small; OOD 3.6× DLO, IOD 1.25 × DLO. Occipital carina distinct. Head surface sparsely and finely punctate, with sparse interspersed micropunctures along posterior margin of vertex; sculpture sparser and finer posterad, denser and coarser anterad. 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 1.7 × pedicel length; flagellomere 2 2.1× 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 angles of pronotum angulate.Anterior surface of pronotum mostly unsculptured, with sparse punctures and interspersed micropunctures laterally. Tegula convex, mostly glabrous and impunctate except for dense coarse punctures on along inner and anterior margin. Dorsum of pronotum densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate. Mesoscutum densely and finely foveolate-punctate, parapsis practically absent, notaulus reduced to posterior half of scutum; with medial longitudinal carina on posterior half. Scutellum globose to gibbose, densely and coarsely areolate-punctate to foveolate-punctate, with well-defined dorsal and posterior surfaces; dorsal surface broader than long, with intervals aligned so as to form irregular longitudinal carina extending medially from anterior margin of dorsal surface into middle of posterior surface. Axilla produced posterolaterally as obliquely truncate projection, with inner margin conspicuously curve inward apically; projection coarsely and densely foveolate-punctate except at apical third unsculptured. Metanotum wider laterally, its surface obscured by dense setation. Propodeal dorsum convex, slightly depressed dorsolaterally, surface mostly concealed by dense setation, densely areolate where visible; sculpture of lateral face gradually less defined to vestigial anteroventrad; dorsal surface indistinguishable from posterior surface. Lateral surface of pronotum sparsely finely punctate with sparse interspersed micropunctures; mesopleura with conspicuous subacute spine-like projection on dorsal half; sculpture densely and coarsely areolate with interspersed micropunctures to simply micropunctate anterad. Metapleuron sparsely micropunctate to smooth 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 almost 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 micropunctate, somewhat granulose, sculpture coarser apicad. S1 longitudinally elevated medially, terminating in slightly concave low longitudinal carina terminating. S2 sparsely and finely foveolate-punctate to punctate; sculpture slightly sparser mediad; S2 with reduced anteromedial crest-fold, 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 apically, subacute. Ratios of free length of paramere, cuspis and digitus, 69: 48: 20. Paramere almost straight in dorsal view, upcurved posteriorly in lateral view, almost asetose except for sparse scattered inconspicuous setae throughout, setae more evident on ventral surface. Cuspis slender, elongate, slightly curved inward and tapered posterad in dorsal view, upcurved posterad and slightly broader posterad in lateral view, with tuft of conspicuous long setae at apex and sparse scattered inconspicuous short setae elsewhere. Paracuspis poorly developed, sessile, lobe-like, wider than long with subangulately concave and vestigially setose posterior margin, setae shorter than paracuspis. Digitus short, strongly curved inward in dorsal view, somewhat dorsoventrally flattened, evenly upcurved in lateral view, apex more abruptly curved and subcapitate, setose anterodorsally. Penis valve strongly concave on inner surface, with well-defined pair of short acute teeth posteroventrally, without well-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 surface, setae on posterior margin longer ventrad.

Colorations and variations

Female

Integument black except for mandibles and antennal flagellomeres partially reddish-brown, and T2 with four usually small and yellowish integumental spots. Spots of T2 highly variable in size, shape and color: separated by more than spots width to separated by hald a spot width; subcircular to subquadrate; yellowish to orange or reddish. Body setae almost exclusively black, except for the following areas vestigially and sparsely clothed with silvery-white setae often with interspersed black setae: mesopleuron posteromedially, coxae, ventral surface of femora and tibiae, inner surface of basitari, lateral areas of T2, lateral felt lines of T2, lateral margins of T2, fringe of T2–5 medially and laterally (usually absent medially on fringe of T3), T6 medially (except pygidial plate), and S1–5. Tibial spurs reddish-brown.

Male

Head and mesosomal integument black; legs and metasoma brownish-black; antennae and mandibles partially reddish-brown. Body setae predominantly silvery-white varying in density, except following areas predominantly or with interspersed black to brownish-black setae: vertex and front partially, dorsum of pronotum, mesonotum, axillar projections, scutellum, fringe of T3 medially, T4–7, fringe of S5–6, and S7. Wings hyaline-brown, slightly infuscated on apical third and small costal patch basal in relation to pterostigma. Certain specimens might have the pronotal dorsum completely black or with interspersed black and silvery-white setae and/or the posterior half of T2 with sparse black setae. Wings infuscated-brown on apical third, hyaline-brown elsewhere, without any noticeable reflections. Tibial spurs white.

Distribution

Brazil (Pará, Maranhão, Rondônia, and Mato Grosso) and Bolivia (Chuquisaca).

Remarks

After the sex association and synonymies of T. incerta were recognized, the only species found in the Amazon, particularly the Southeastern Amazonian areas were T. quadripustulata , Mutilla pruinosa and T. maraca . The types of M. pruinosa and T. maraca are identical in external and genitalic morphology. They have been repeatedly collected in the same areas as females of T. quadripustulata .

As the two largest Traumatomutilla females with almost entirely black setal coloration, T. chrysozona (formerly T. lugubrina ) and T. quadripustulata were easily mistaken for one another. Previous researchers separated T. chrysozona from T. quadripustulata mainly using T2 spot color: yellow in T. quadripustulata and reddish in T. chrysozona . The T2 integumental spots in T. quadripustulata , however, vary greatly in size and color. Various easily overlooked features are now recognized to differentiate these forms. First, T. quadripustulata females have a post-mesonotal tubercle that is usually associated with a slenderer and more elongate mesosoma than females of T. chrysozona . The most consistent setal features are the always present, though often inconspicuous, silvery-white setae patches on the metasoma of T. quadripustulata , compared against the rarely present and usually reduced coppery setae patches on the fringes of T 2–3 in T. chrysozona . Finally, true T. quadripustulata specimens have been found only in southeastern Amazonian areas, while T. chrysozona has a more southern distribution predominantly in eastern Cerrado areas of Brazil.

In both of these species, T. chrysozona and T. quadripustulata , females are much darker in coloration than males, and they possess fewer pale setal markings than any other females in the T. quadrinotata species-group. Counter-intuitively, males of these species often have more extensive and distinct pale colored species than most other males in this species-group, with some males of T. quadripustulata almost completely lacking any black setae on the body. Sexual dimorphism in setal color patterns is common in velvet ants but, in most cases, the female pattern is the one with more extensive pale setal markings.

Figures

Fig. 14. Traumatomutilla quadripustulata (Klug, 1821), lectotype, ♀ (ZMB). A. Dorsal habitus.B. Type labels. C. Lateral habitus. Scale bars = 2 mm.

Fig. 15. A–B. Mutilla pruinosa (Smith, 1879), holotype, ♂ (NHMUK). A. Lateral habitus. B. Type labels. C–D. Traumatomutilla maraca (Cresson, 1902), holotype, ♂ (CM). C. Lateral habitus. D. Type labels. Scale bars: A = 5 mm; C = 3 mm.

Fig. 16. A. Mutilla pruinosa (Smith, 1879), holotype, ♂ (NHMUK), dorsal habitus. B. Traumatomutilla maraca (Cresson, 1902), holotype, ♂ (CM), dorsal habitus. C–G. Mutilla pruinosa (Smith, 1879), holotype, ♂ (NHMUK), genitalia. C. Dorsal view (halved). D. Ventral view (halved). E. Lateral view (halved, penis valve removed). F. Cuspis (removed, not to scale), lateral/inner view. G. Penis valve (removed, not to scale), lateral/outer view. Scale bars: A = 5 mm; B = 3 m.