Traumatomutilla tetratrauma Bartholomay & Williams, 2025

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 : 62-68

Traumatomutilla tetratrauma Bartholomay & Williams sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9F4A0B0E-1F68-4C95-BE39-BBBFC766CF01

Figs 18–19

Diagnosis

Female

Occipital carinae slightly swollen dorsolaterally; anterolateral carinae present on scutellar area; lateral surface of propodeum with dense micropunctures in between sparse foveolations; frons clothed with golden setae.

Male

Apex of cuspis with short setae; lateral surface of propodeum and metapleuron with conspicuous patches of appressed golden setae.

Etymology

From the greek ‘ tetra ’ ‘four’ and ‘ trauma ’ ‘wounded’, in reference to the four large orange spots on T2 of this species and the fact it has basically the same color pattern as T. quadrinotata but differs in structure.

Type material

Holotype BRAZIL • ♀; Espírito Santo, Linhares; Apr. 1973; P.C. Elias leg.; MZSP.

Allotype BRAZIL • ♂; Espírito Santo, Linhares; Oct. 1972; M. Alvarenga leg.; CM.

Paratypes (15 ♀♀) BRAZIL • Bahia • 1 ♀; Padro, Cumuruxatiba ; 20 Mar. 1985; N.A. Menezez leg.; MZSP . – Espírito Santo • 1 ♀; Conc. [Conceição da] Barra ; Jul. 1969; P.C. Elias leg.; MZSP • 1 ♀; Aracruz, Comboios , mata; Jun. 1993; M.M.A. de Oliveira leg.; MZSP • 1 ♀; Linhares; Mar. 1973; P.C. Elias leg.; MZSP • 1 ♀; Linhares, A1 estrada solo arenoso ; Apr. 2022; R.E. Vicente leg.; MBML, MBML-INV 4983 • 1 ♀; São Roque do Canãa; Aug. 2023; F.G. Chaves leg.; coleta manual; MBML MBML-INV 4932 . – Minas Gerais • 1 ♀; MG [Minas Gerais], Ataleia; 27 Jan. 1994; I. Cardoso leg.; MIUP . – Pernambuco • 1 spec.; Recife, Parque dos Dois Irmãos ; 8°00′33″ S, 34°56′31″ W; 21 Jul. 2002; STP Amarante e eq. [equipe] leg.; MZSP . – Rio de Janeiro • 1 ♀; Distrito Federal [Rio de Janeiro]; Sep. 1928; MZSP • 1 ♀; Nova Iguaçu, Reserva Biológica do Tinguá ; 22°34′43″ S, 43°26′08″ W; 9–12 Mar. 2002; S.T.P. Amarante e eq [equipe] leg.; MZSP . – São Paulo • 1 ♀; Ilha São Sebastião; 31 Aug. 1963; H. Hzban leg.; MZSP • 3 ♀♀; Caraguatatuba, R. Flo [Reserva Florestal] ; Jul. 1962; Exp. Dep. Zoo. [Expedição do Departamento de Zoologia]; MZSP • 1 ♀; Jan. 1938; “ E. schw.” leg.; MZSP .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 15 mm.

HEAD. Posterior margin almost straight. Occipital carina evenly arched and slightly swollen laterally. Vertex width 0.75× pronotal width. Eye almost circular, its length in frontal view almost equal to 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. Lateral scrobal carina absent. Antennal tubercle coarsely and irregularly rugose. Flagellomere 1 2.6× pedicel length; flagellomere 2 1.9× pedicel length.

MESOSOMA. Length 0.8 × 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 dorsad; dorsal surface rounded into anterior surface in lateral view. Humeral carina well defined, slightly projected dorsally, broadly separated from conspicuously projected angulate 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 micropunctures except at smooth conspicuous subacute tubercle anterior to pronotal spiracle, distance between tubercles wider than distance between pronotal spiracles; mesopleuron mostly concealed by dense setation, densely micropunctate anteriorly, and densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate to areolate-punctate on mesopleural ridge where visible; metapleuron completely concealed by dense setation, except small posterior area on dorsal fourth unsculptured, smooth and shining. Lateral surface of propodeum mostly concealed by dense setation, densely and coarsely areolate-punctate throughout with interspersed micropunctures where visible; intervals dull and blunt where visible. 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 blunt process; post-mesonotal tubercle absent. Propodeal spiracle strongly projected from lateral margin of mesosoma; postspiracular area indistinguishable. Scutellar scale present, as wide or wider than surrounding sculpture; anterolateral carinae present, approximately twice as wide as scutellar scale; scabrous intervals vestigial on scutellar area. Propodeum simply convex, dorsal surface indistinguishable 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 coarse micropunctures where visible; sculpture 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, almost concealed by dense setation, densely foveolate-punctate where visible. 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 present. S3–5 sculpture mostly concealed by dense setation, densely and finely foveolate-punctate with sparse micropunctures where visible; S6 sparsely foveolate-punctate. Pygidial plate subpyriform, defined by lateral carinae at apical fourth of plate; surface irregularly rugose; interstice apparently granulose.

Female

BODY LENGTH. 14–16 mm.

HEAD. Transversely subrectangular with posterolateral angles rounded in dorsal view; lateral margins of head convergent immediately behind eyes, but not contiguous with eye outline in dorsal view. Vertex width 0.8× pronotal width. Eye almost circular. Ocelli small; OOD 5.3 × DLO, IOD 1.0× DLO. Occipital carina distinct. Head surface sparsely and finely punctate; 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; densely and coarsely foveolate-punctate medially and along apical/ventral margin laterally; apical/ ventral margin with a pair of medial short subacute free teeth medially. Scape bicarinate. Flagellomere 1 1.95 × pedicel length; flagellomere 2 2.6× pedicel length. Mandible obliquely tridentate apically, medial tooth smaller than inner tooth; lacking dorsal or ventral projections.

MESOSOMA. Epaulets well defined, sharply projected from anterior margin of pronotum, separated from well-defined humeral carina, anterolateral corners of pronotum not angulate.Anterior surface of pronotum, with sparse fine punctures laterad with interspersed micropunctures, 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 areolate-punctate with somewhat sharp intervals. Mesoscutum densely and finely foveolate-punctate, parapsis reduced to posterior half of mesoscutum, notaulus absent. Scutellum sloping throughout, somewhat depressed medially, without defined dorsal and posterior surfaces, densely and coarsely areolate-punctate to foveolate-punctate; anterior intervals somewhat aligned so as to form vestigial irregular longitudinal carina medially. Axilla produced posterolaterally as obliquely truncate projection, with inner margin slightly curved inward apicad in dorsal view; projection coarsely foveolate-punctate basad, unsculptured, smooth, shining apicad. Metanotum slightly wider laterad, its surface obscured by dense setation. Propodeal dorsum convex, mostly concealed, densely areolate; sculpture of lateral surface absent along most of anterior margin; dorsal surface indistinguishable from posterior surface. Lateral surface of pronotum sparsely and vestigially punctate with sparse interspersed micropunctures; mesopleura with conspicuous blunt projection on dorsal half; sculpture densely and coarsely areolate with interspersed micropunctures to simply micropunctate anterad. Metapleuron partially concealed by dense setation, micropunctate where visible, 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 pygidial plate, partially concealed by dense setation, densely and finely punctate with sparse interspersed micropunctures where visible; sculpture sparser and less defined in apical segments; pygidial plate slightly broader than long, weakly defined by parallel carinae laterally; surface densely micropunctate throughout. 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 slightly pronounced posteriorl, acute. Ratios of free length of paramere, cuspis and digitus, 83: 58: 18. Paramere almost straight in dorsal view, upcurved posteriorly in lateral view, asetose except for sparse scattered inconspicuous setae throughout, setae more evident on ventral surface. Cuspis slender, elongate, almost straight and equally wide throughout in dorsal view, slightly upcurved posterad and somewhat subcaptitate on apex, with inconspicuous short setae on apex, scattered inconspicuous short setae elsewhere. Paracuspis poorly developed, sessile, lobe-like, wider than long with almost flate and asetose posterior margin. Digitus short, slightly curved inward in dorsal view, evenly upcurved and tapered posterad 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, with poorly-defined lateral pocket on outer margin, apical distance between teeth 0.1× length of valve, dense setae present along flat posterior margin and inconspicuous setae present at base of anterior tooth on outer surface, setae on posterior margin longer ventrad, posterior margin slightly sloping dorsad.

Coloration and variations

Female

Integument black to brownish black, except mandibles and antennal flagellomeres partially reddish-brown, and T2 with four large orange integumental spots. Body setae predominantly golden varying in density, except the following areas with black setae varying in density: vertex, gena, malar space, and ventral surface of head; dorsum of propodeum, anterior half of mesoscutum, and propodeal dorsum medially; T1 medially, disc of T2 medially (except integumental spots), fringe of T2–3 sublaterally.

Male

Integument black. Body setae predominantly black varying in density, except the following areas with golden setae: antennal tubercles, lateral surface of pronotum, mesosomal pleurae, metanotum, propodeum, and legs; T1, posterior two thirds of T2, fringe of T2–3 laterally, S1–4, and fringe of S2–4. Wings dark brown throughout. Tibial spurs yellowish-white.

Distribution

Brazil (Pernambuco, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo).

Remarks

Initially, T. quadrinotata appeared to be an easily recognizable, but variable species. It was originally known from females only and there seemed to be variation in the head setae color and mesosomal setal length. The male was also apparently easily recognized, based on its large body size, overlapping distribution, and parallel coloration with the female and other Atlantic Forest species. After careful examination of numerous suspected T. quadrinotata males, however, we discovered that there were two species with identical coloration and remarkably similar external morphology, but distinct genitalia ( Figs 13A–F , 19A–F ). Since there were two distinct species among the putative males of T. quadrinotata , we re-evaluated the species limits of the females. Those individuals with golden setae on the frons and uniformly short mesosomal setae were found to differ from the typical T. quadrinotata by structural features as well, namely the occipital carina was swollen, the scutellar area was armed with distinct anterolateral transverse carinae, and T1 was slightly broader and shorter. We therefore recognized these females as belonging to a distinct new species, named here as T. tetratrauma sp. nov. The next step was to determine which of the males (short cuspis setae or long cuspis setae) belonged to each species. Both of these males and females overlap in distribution in the Atlantic Forest, so distribution couldn’t solve the association. Among the members of the species-group, only two males have short cuspis setae: T. incerta and one of these males. Therefore, the female of the short cuspis male should be similar to T. incerta . Traumatomutilla incerta and T. tetratrauma are the only species in this group with the occipital carina swollen and T1 comparatively short and broad. We therefore hypothesize that the male of T. tetratrauma is the one with short cuspis setae. The male with longer cuspis setae is associated with T. quadrinotata .

Given the similarities between these two species, various collections will likely have numerous specimens of T. tetratrauma sp. nov. misidentified as T. quadrinotata . Perhaps when these specimens are re-evaluated, patterns about their distribution will become clearer. At this moment, it appears that T. tetratrauma is a Northern species, with most records focused in Espírito Santo State. Conversely, T. quadrinotata seems more widespread with many records from São Paulo and Santa Catarina states.

Figures

Fig. 18. Traumatomutilla tetratrauma Bartholomay & Williams sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (MZSP). A. Dorsal habitus. B. Lateral habitus. Scale bars = 2 mm.

Fig. 19. Traumatomutilla tetratrauma Bartholomay & Williams sp. nov., allotype, ♂ (MZSP). 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 = 2 mm.

Fig. 13. Traumatomutilla quadrinotata (Klug, 1821), ♂ (non-type specimen). A. Lateral habitus. B. Lateral habitus. C. Genitalia (halved), dorsal view. D. Genitalia, (halved), ventral view. E. Genitalia (halved, penis valve removed), lateral/inner view. F. Cuspis (removed, not to scale), lateral/inner view. G. Penis valve (removed, not to scale), lateral/outer view. Scale bar = 5 mm.