Traumatomutilla sancta ( Gerstaecker, 1874 )

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 : 58-62

Traumatomutilla sancta ( Gerstaecker, 1874)

Fig. 17

Mutilla parallela Burmeister, 1854: 24 (nec Klug, 1821)

Mutilla sancta Gerstaecker, 1874: 303 .

Mutilla solemnis Cresson, 1902: 49 . Syn. nov.

Mutilla sodalis Cresson, 1902: 52 .

Ephuta (Traumatomutilla) sancta – André 1902: 55.

Ephuta (Traumatomutilla) solemnis – André 1902: 56.

Traumatomutilla sancta – André 1904: 40.

Traumatomutilla solemnis – André 1904: 40.

Diagnosis

Female

Occipital carina equally wide throughout; anterolateral carinae absent in scutellar area; lateral surface of propodeum densely but unevenly sculptured, with conspicuous unsculptured areas; T2 with four pairs of linear to subrectangular narrow yellowish integumental spots.

Female

Unknown.

Type material

Holotype of Mutilla sancta

BRAZIL • ♀; [Minas Gerais], Lagoa Santa; ZMB.

Holotype of Mutilla solemnis

BRAZIL • ♀; Minas [Minas Gerais] Car. [sic]; CM.

Lectotype of Mutilla sodalis

BRAZIL • ♀; [Mato Grosso], Chapada [dos Guimarães] ; CM.

Additional material examined (109 ♀♀)

BOLIVIA – Beni • 1 ♀; Cavinas ; Jan. 1922; W.M. Mann leg.; USNM • 1 ♀; Guayaramerín ; Dec. 1956; M.A. Fritz leg.; AMNH . – Santa Cruz • 4 ♀♀; Buena Vista ; 1928; J. Steinbach leg.; CUIC • 1 ♀; Provincia Chiquitos , Santiago; Dec. 1959; MIUP • 2 ♀♀; La Junta ; Feb. 1947; Peredo leg.; USNM .

BRAZIL • Bahia • 1 ♀; R. [Rio] de Contos [Contas] ; 1 May 1993; A.J.S: Argolo leg.; CPDC • 2 ♀♀; Encruzilhada ; 12 Dec. 2007; Grossi, Rafael and Parizotto leg.; DZUP • 1 ♀; Lençois; 28 Feb. 2001; J.R. Maia leg.; CPDC . – Goiás • 2 ♀♀; 1914; MNHN • 3 ♀♀; MZSP • 1 ♀; Jataí; 1914; MNHN • 3 ♀♀; Serra da Mesa, Campinaçu ; 13°52′ S, 48°23′ W; 18 Feb.–2 Mar. 1996; Silvestre, Brandão and Yamamoto leg.; MZSP . – Maranhão • 1 ♀; Mirador, Parque Estadual do Mirador, Base da Geraldina ; 27 Oct.– 1 Nov. 2008; M.B. Aguiar-Neto and A.L. Costa leg.; CZMA • 1 ♀; Mirador, E14 [sic]; INPA • 1 ♀; Codó , E13 [sic]; INPA . – Mato Grosso • 1 ♀; 1886; P. Germain leg.; MNHN • 1 ♀; Diamantina; Nov.–Dec. 1973; MZSP • 1 ♀; Chapada dos Guimarães ; 8 Feb. 1986; Exp. Dept. Zoo. [Expedição Departamento de Zoologia] UFPR [Univerisdade Federal do Paraná]; DZUP • 1 ♀; Chapada dos Guimarães ; 26 Mar. 2001; W.O. Sousa leg.; DZUP • 1 ♀; Chapada dos Guimarães ; 18 Nov. 2013; G.A.R. Melo, D.R. Luz and K.A. Williams leg.; DZUP • 1 ♀; Chapada dos Guimarães ; Oct.; ANSP • 1 ♀; Chapada dos Guimarães ; Nov.; ANSP • 1 ♀; Chapada dos Guimarães ; Jan.; ANSP • 4 ♀♀; P.N. [Parque Nacional] do Xingu, Jacaré ; 30 Feb. 1965; Alvarenga and Werne leg.; DZUP • 1 ♀; P.N. [Parque Nacional] do Xingu, Jacaré ; Nov. 1961; Alvarenga and Werner leg.; MPEG • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; MNCN • 1 ♀; Cáceres ; 27 Mar. 1985; C. Elias leg.; DZUP • 5 ♀♀; Utiariti ; MZSP • 1 ♀; Rio Papagaios, Utiariti ; 1–12 Nov. 1966; Lenko and Pereira leg.; MZSP • 3 ♀♀; Rosario Oeste ; MZSP • 1 ♀; Andradinha ; Aug. 1971; F.M. Oliveira leg.; DZUP • 1 ♀; 30 km N [north of] Uirapuru, Usine Alcomat, Chapada dos Parecis ; 14°15′50.80″ S, 59°14′02.05″ W; 1–15 Dec. 2002; A. Foucart leg.; USU . – Minas Gerais • 2 ♀♀; MZSP • 1 ♀; ZMUC • 1 ♀; Pirapora ; Nov. 1975; MNRJ • 1 ♀; Lagoa Santa ; Reinhardt leg.; ZMUC • 3 ♀♀; 15 km SE [sudeste] de Riacho dos Machados ; 12 Apr. 1998; G.A.R. Melo leg.; DZUP • 1 ♀; Rio Pardo de Minas ; 10 Jan. 1952; MNRJ • 2 ♀♀; Pedra Azul , 700 m [above sea level]; Nov. 1972; MNRJ • 1 ♀; Barro Alto ; Nov. 1931; DGMC • 1 ♀; Lassance ; Mar. 1935; D.M. Cochran leg.; USNM • 1 ♀; Ponto dos Volantes, 14 km S [sul] of Ponto dos Volantes ; 12 Feb. 2010; G.A.R. Melo, D. Parizotto and P. Grossi leg.; DZUP • 1 ♀; Sertão de Diamantina, Fazenda das Melancias ; Oct.–Nov. 1902; E. Gounelle leg.; MNCN • 3 ♀♀; Três Lagôas; MZSP . – Rio de Janeiro • 1 ♀; Reinhardt leg.; ZMUC . – Rondônia • 5 ♀♀; MZSP . – São Paulo • 13 ♀♀; MZSP • 1 ♀; Ainores [sic]; Oct. 1947; J. Bras leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀; Rio Claro; Feb. 1971; B. Dias leg.; AMNH. – Locality unknown • 1 ♀; ANSP .

PARAGUAY – Amambay • 1 ♀; Parque Nacional Cerro Corá ; 4 Feb. 2006; B. Garcete leg.; MIUP . – Boquerón • 1 ♀; El Solitario ; 22°50′ S, 61°59′ W; 10 Nov. 2002; U. Dreschel leg.; FSCA • 1 ♀; El Solitario ; 22°50′ S, 61°59′ W; 10 Nov. 2002; U. Dreschel leg.; FSCA . – Concepción • 2 ♀♀; Cororo ; Feb. 1993; L.K. Arriagada leg.; AMNH • 4 ♀♀; Cororo ; 25 Feb.–1 Mar. 1997; B. Garcete leg.; MIUP . – Cordillera • 1 ♀; San Bernardino ; May 1918; K. Fiebrig S.V. leg.; ZMB . – Paraguarí • 1 ♀; 3–8 Feb. 1996; B. Garcete leg.; MIUP . – Presidente Hayes • 1 ♀; Lolita, Yaragui ; 10 Jan. 2002; U. Dreschel leg.; FSCA • 1 ♀; Lolita, Yaragui ; 25 Jan. 2005; U. Dreschel leg.; FSCA . – San Pedro • 1 ♀; Río Ypane, Cororo ; Feb. 1991; Arriagada leg.; USU • 1 ♀; 26 Jan. 1965; Williner leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀; Río Ypane, Cororo ; Nov. 1983; M.A. Fritz leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀; Río Ypane, Cororo ; Feb. 1991; Arriagada leg.; AMNH .

VENEZUELA • 1 ♀; Baixo Sarare [sic], 33 96 [sic]; F. Gray leg.; MNHN .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 21–23 mm.

HEAD. Posterior margin almost straight. Occipital carina evenly arched and equally wide throughout. Vertex width 0.8 × pronotal width. Eye almost circular, its length in frontal view 1.1 × the distance from its ventral margin to mandibular condyle. Head densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to areolate-punctate. Genal carina well defined. Mandible oblique, tapering slightly towards apex with small subapical tooth. Dorsal scrobal carina present, well defined, separated from antennal tubercles, narrowly connected to lateral scrobal carina. Antennal tubercle coarsely and irregularly rugose. Flagellomere 1 1.9× pedicel length; flagellomere 2 1.4× pedicel length.

MESOSOMA. Dorsal thoracic length 0.85 × its 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, as long as 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 projected from lateral margin of pronotum, bulging. Lateral surface of pronotum sparsely punctate with dense micropunctures except at smooth, conspicuous, subacute tubercle anteroventral in relation to pronotal spiracle; mesopleuron partially concealed by dense setation, densely micropunctate anteriorly, and dense vestigial foveolate-punctate on mesopleural ridge; metapleuron unsculptured, smooth shining on dorsal fourth, densely, coarsely and confusedly areolate-punctate on basal fourth, and concealed by dense setation elsewhere. Lateral surface of propodeum densely and coarsely areolate-punctate throughout with blunt vestigially rugose intervals. Ratios of width of humeral angles, pronotal spiracles, widest point of mesonotum, narrowest point of mesonotum and propodeum posterior to propodeal spiracles, 52: 59:63: 46: 45. Lateral margin of mesonotum conspicuously constricted anterior to propodeal spiracle, strongly diverging anterad, medially projected, into blunt process; with small conspicuous blunt post-mesonotal tubercle. Propodeal spiracle strongly projected from lateral margin of mesosoma; post-spiracular area absent. Scutellar scale present, reduced, as narrow as surrounding sculpture; anterolateral carinae absent; scabrous intervals present on scutellar area. Propodeum convex, dorsal surface shorter than and poorly distinguished from posterior surface.

METASOMA. Ratios of width of T1, width of T2 and length of T2, 34: 75: 76. 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, with equally high irregular edges; S2 densely foveolate-punctate, sculpture conspicuously sparser posteromediad; anteromedial crest-fold present. S3–4 sculpture mostly concealed by dense setation, densely and finely foveolate-punctate with sparse micropunctures where visible; S5–6 densely foveolate-punctate. Pygidial plate subpyriform, defined by lateral carinae at apical fourth of plate; surface irregularly rugose; interstice apparently granulose.

Coloration and variations

Female

Integument black, except mandible and antennal flagellomeres partially reddish-brown, and T2 with four large yellow integumental spots; anterior pair always longitudinal linear, posterior pair transverse subrectangular and broadly separated to transverse linear narrowly interrupted medially. Body setae predominantly silvery-white varying in density, except the following areas with black setae varying in density: head, except vertex frequently with transverse line of silvery-white setae which can be absent or reduced to few scattered setae; pronotum, mesopleuron anteriorly, anterior half of mesoscutum, posterior half of mesoscutum medially, lateral surface of propodeum partially, propodeal dorsum medially; legs, except dorsal surface of tibiae and apicodorsal surface of femora; T1 and disc of T2 medially (except integumental spots), fringe of T2–5 sublaterally, T6 laterally (except pygidial plate), Fringe of S5, and S6.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Venezuela (Apure?), Brazil (Maranhão, Rondônia, Bahia, Goiás. Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro), Bolivia (Santa Cruz and Beni), and Paraguay (Boquerón, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro, Concepción, Amambay, Paraguarí, and Cordillera).

Remarks

Based on distribution T. sancta is another species that could potentially be associated with T. pompiliformis or T. infernalis , though we refrain from doing so at this point due to the lack of any other putative males for T. austera , T. funebris , or T. ursina (see also remarks of T. infernalis ). These also partly overlap in distribution with T. pompiliformis . The color pattern and distribution of T. sancta is typical of the dry savannah like areas of Cerrado and Caatinga in Midwestern and Northeastern Brazil, which is why the record from Venezuela is likely to be mislabeled. Aside from the integumental spots of T2, there are no differences between T. sancta and T. solemnis . There are, however, no obvious intermediate forms between the relatively short and subrectangular spots of T. sancta and the elongate linear spots of T. solemnis . We have, however, seen examples of similar patterns forming a continuum between various species of Traumatomutilla , such as T. parallela ( Klug, 1821) from the T. indica species-group (PRB & KAW pers. obs.).

Figures

Fig. 17. A–C. Traumatomutilla sancta (Gerstaecker, 1874), holotype, ♀ (ZMB). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Lateral habitus. C. Type labels. D–F. Traumatomutilla solemnis (Cresson, 1902), holotype, ♀ (CM). D. Dorsal habiuts. E. Lateral habitus. F. Type labels. Scale bars = 2 mm.