ore JHR 31: 79-95 (2013) JOURNAL OF ren soar At fete erarer (4) Hymenoptera www.pensoft.net/journals/jhr The iernaonl Sociey of Hymenoptarins, RESEARCH Description of Celonites andreasmuelleri sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) from the Middle East with a key to the Palaearctic species of the C. abbreviatus-complex of the subgenus Celonites s. str. Volker Mauss!* I Staatliches Museum fiir Naturkunde, Abt. Entomologie, Rosenstein 1, D-70191 Stuttgart, Germany T urn:lsid:zoobank. org:author:7E658D33-927 1-4A3E-BOEA-49EBA1515BD8 Corresponding author: Volker Mauss (volker.mauss@gmx.de) Academic editor: W. Pulawski| Received 2 November 2012 | Accepted 2 January2013 | Published 20 March 2013 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8D2BE583-3D62-4483-BE5E-44019F 773745 Citation: Mauss V (2013) Description of Celonites andreasmuelleri sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) from the Middle East with a key to the Palaearctic species of the C. abbreviatus-complex of the subgenus Celonites s. str. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 31: 79-95. doi: 10.3897/JHR.31.4235 Abstract Celonites andreasmuelleri, a new species of pollen wasp from Israel and Jordan is described. It belongs to the Celonites abbreviatus-complex as indicated by a pollen-collecting apparatus consisting of knobbed se- tae on clypeus and frons and a corresponding pollen comb on the forelegs. Females of C. andreasmuelleri were recorded at nototribic flowers of Ballota sp. (Lamiaceae). Keywords Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae, Celonites, taxonomy, Palaearctic, Near East, Jordan, Israel Introduction Within the pollen wasps (Masarinae) the genus Celonites constitutes a well defined monophylum (Carpenter 1993, Krenn et al. 2002). Species of Celonites have been recorded from the Afrotropical and Palaearctic region. About two third of the species belong to the Palaearctic from which 45 species have been described (according to the Copyright Volker Mauss. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0 (CC-BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. 80 Volker Mauss / Journal of Hymenoptera Research 31: 79-95 (2013) list of Carpenter 2001, combined with newly described species by Gusenleitner 2002, 2007, 2012). In his world monograph on pollen wasps Richards (1962) revised most of the Palaearctic species of Celonites with the exception of eight eastern taxa that he had not seen. Additional species from Asia Minor and the Near East were described by Gusenleitner (1966, 1973, 2002, 2012) who also prepared a key to the European species (Gusenleitner 1997). However, the knowledge of Ce/onites in the Palaearctic in particular in North Africa and Asia, from which the majority of the Palaearctic species have been described, is still limited. A series of six females of a so far unknown species of Celonites was recently collect- ed in Jordan by A. Miller, C. Praz and C. Sedivy and handed to me for identification by A. Miiller. A corresponding male was captured by A. Dorchin in Israel. The aim of this study is to describe the new species, to characterize its taxonomic position within the genus Celonites and to provide a key to the new species and its close relatives. Systematics Celonites andreasmuelleri sp. n. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8A992D5 1-AC3F-444C-B388-294DE682BFA7 http://species-id.net/wiki/Celonites_andreasmuelleri Bigsh, 3.67 let, Lael 7519, Da 5, 26 Holotype. 19 (dbM No. 3072) coll. ETH-Ziirich, Jordan, Wadi al Hasa S Al-Karak, 30°54'N, 35°41'E, 20.04.2007 leg. C. Praz, C. Sedivy, A. Miiller, visiting Ballota sp. (Lamiaceae). Paratypes. 12 (dbM No. 3070) coll. Tel-Aviv University, 12 (dbM No. 3071) coll. Oberésterreichisches Landesmuseum Linz, 329 (dbM No. 3073, 3074, 3075) coll. V. Mauss, all data as holotype. 16 (dbM No. 3454), Israel, 16km SE Mizpe Ramon, 30°32.833'N, 34°39.15'E, 815 ma.s.L., 03.05.2011 leg. A. Dorchin, coll. V. Mauss. Diagnosis. Axilla of mesoscutellum with short blunt lateral projection that only slightly projects over adjacent posterior part of tegula. Frons and clypeus covered with pale, stiff pollen collecting setae, about as long as diameter of median ocellus. In fe- males most of these setae with tiny spherical enlargement at tip (,.knob“), in males setae with distal enlargement only present on frons. Coloration of body black with extensive whitish-yellow markings, mostly bordered with reddish-brown tinge. Terga richly marked posteriorly with a median and two lateral whitish-yellow markings, interrupted on each side of middle by a broad reddish- brown area, while anterior part is blackish (Figs 1, 7). In females cuticula on central area of frons densely and strongly shagreened lead- ing to a conspicuous semi-circular dull region covered with knobbed pollen-collecting setae, contrasting distinctly to the adjacent smooth, shiny cuticula on vertex and lateral parts of frons and also with the less densely shagreened cuticula on clypeus (Fig 6, 19). Description of Celonites andreasmuelleri sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) from... Celonites mayeti female Celonites abbreviatus female Celonites spinosus female is male female male Celonites persicus 5mm female 81 Figure |. Palaearctic species of the Celonites abbreviatus-group with knobbed setae on clypeus and frons that represent the Celonites abbreviatus-complex in lateral view (C. mayeti female dbM No. 3462, male dbM No. 3457; C. abbreviatus female dbM No. 3458, male dbM No. 3459, C. spinosus female dbM No. 3428, male dbM No. 3430; C. andreasmuelleri female dbM No. 3072, male dbM No. 3454; C. persicus female dbM No. 3455). 82 Volker Mauss / Journal of Hymenoptera Research 31: 79-95 (2013) Males with only two oval-shaped tyloids situated ventrally on segments A9 and A10 of club-shaped antennae. Midcoxa of males with a small but distinct spine at distal end, on anterior side of midcoxa close to its antero-medial angle. Tergum VII markedly lobed posteriorly, with undivided medial projection leading to trilobed ap- pearance of posterior margin (Fig. 21). Posterior margin of sternum VIII emarginate. Emargination medially angled, continuing laterally directly into sides of sternum VII, without postero-lateral transverse section or small spine at lateral corner of emargina- tion (Fig. 14). Description. Female. Colour: Black. The following are yellowish-white mostly bordered with reddish-brown tinge: central spot on clypeus; two triangular marks on frons; small median spot on vertex posterior to median ocellus; narrow streak on oc- ciput and gena along occipital carina at dorso-lateral corner of head; large spot on an- tero-dorsal angle of pronotum (humeral spot); broad stripe along dorso-medial (inner) margin of pronotum; large spot on dorsal mesopleura; tip of axilla; large median spot on scutellum; median third of metanotum; propodeal lamella; median and two lateral markings posteriorly on terga I-V; median and two small lateral spots on tergum VI that do not extend over posterior margin; small spots on postero-lateral edges of sterna II-IV. Reddish-brown are: distal two third of mandible; labrum; narrow stripe along ventral margin of clypeus; pronotal lobe; tegula; large marking between median and lateral spot posteriorly on each side of middle of terga I-V; tergum VI; distal part of femora, tibiae and tarsi. Blackish-brown are: sterna; coxae; trochanters and basal third of femora. Antenna with Al—2 black. A3 proximally black and distally reddish-brown. A4—11 reddish-brown. A11 distally blackish dorsally but distinctly lighter with nearly whitish-yellow spot ventrally that contrasts to distally adjacent black marking of tip of club on Al2. Wings translucent blackish-brown. Structure. Head in front view as long as broad (Fig. 6). Clypeus a little broader than long; shiny with shallow moderately spaced macropunctation (interstices a little larger than diameter of punctures) becoming more distinct towards dorsal margin; slightly shagreened especially dorso-laterally; covered with pale, stiff setae arising from macropunctures; setae about as long as diameter of median ocellus; most with tiny spherical enlargement at tip (“knob”) (Fig. 3); lateral setae with distal ends curved towards centre of clypeus. Frons with shallow moderately spaced macropunctation; cuticula on central area densely and strongly shagreened leading to a conspicuous semi-circular dull area, contrasting distinctly to adjacent smooth shiny cuticula on vertex and lateral parts of frons (Fig. 19); obliquely striated from ventromedial to dorsolateral on both sides of median axis; covered with pale outstanding knobbed setae arising from macropunctures. Frontal line raised to form small carina in cen- tre of frons. Vertex with moderately spaced macropunctation becoming denser, more distinct and somewhat reticulate posterior to ocelli; cuticula smooth shiny with only very few micropunctures; covered with short, thin setae arising from macropunctures. Compound eye sparsely covered with small setae. Gena very narrow; preoccipital ca- rina sharp. Antennal segments A8—12 forming ventrally flattened club nearly 2 times as long as broad (viewed dorsally). Description of Celonites andreasmuelleri sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) from... 83 Figures 2-8. 2-4 Head of female in lateral view showing pilosity on frons and clypeus 2 C. fischeri (dbM No. 3065) 3 C. andreasmuelleri (dbM No. 3072) 4 C. spinosus (dbM No. 3428). 5=6 Head of female in frontal view 5 C. mayeti (dbM No. 3462) 6 C. andreasmuelleri (dbM No. 3072). 7-8 Cuticle structure of metasomal terga II and II of female in dorsal view 7 C. andreasmuelleri (dbM No. 3073) 8 C. spinosus (dbM No. 3428). 84 Volker Mauss / Journal of Hymenoptera Research 31: 79-95 (2013) Anterior pronotal carina low but distinctly present along anterior margin of pro- notum, especially sharp medially. Posterior pronotal carina forms narrow translucent sinuate crest on humeral angle of pronotum. Dorso-medially pronotum slopes down towards mesoscutum resulting in slight depression along the dorso-medial margin of pronotum; posterior margin raised to carina dorsally in front of tegula; cuticula shiny, with close, reticulate macropunctation, interstices smooth, rounded, nearly without micropunctures; postero-lateral cuticula horizontally striated due to more sharply raised interstices. Cuticula of mesoscutum and mesoscutellum shiny, with close, retic- ulate macropunctation; interstices slightly raised but rounded and somewhat longitu- dinally arranged leading to striated appearance especially laterally (Fig. 17); interstices weakly shagreened along median axis and laterally smooth nearly without microsculp- ture. Mesoscutellum and metanotum medially with small tooth-like projections along posterior margin. Axilla with short blunt lateral projection only slightly projecting over adjacent, somewhat emarginated, posterior part of tegula. Tegula shiny, closely covered by macropunctures except completely smooth central convex area. Mesepisternum with pronounced epicnemial carina deflexed backwards to run transversely in front of mid coxa; cuticula shiny, with close macropunctation; hori- zontally striated by raised interstices; area ventral to scrobal groove coarsely punc- tured with some interstices strongly raised to knife-like edges forming coarse hon- eycomb-like sculpture. Process at mesepisternal scrobal groove of moderate size; cu- ticula posteriorly faintly shiny, finely but densely shagreened. Horizontal propodeal triangle laterally delimited by a perpendicular declivity, somewhat laterally produced at postero-lateral edge of propodeal triangle, posteriorly bordered by serrated carina; cuticula shiny, coarsely punctured, interstices almost knife-like. Posterior surface of propodeum striated by strong vertical cuticula-folds; cuticula shiny, without punctua- tion, weakly coriaceous and covered with short fine pale setae. Cuticula of sides of propodeum and metepisternum shiny, densely horizontally wrinkled. Lateral lamella broad and somewhat convex; lateral margin almost straight; posterior margin straight, not crenate; medially where lamella joins central part of propodeum with a rounded emargination, ventro-medial edge of which produced to a small blunt point; dorsal cuticula of lamella shiny, smooth, with moderately spaced macropunctation. Claws ventrally with small tooth. Metasomal terga with dark anterior part continuing into posterior pale part by slight declivity especially laterally; postero-lateral corners slightly produced; posterior margins weakly crenulated medially, becoming more pronounced postero-laterally on terga II-IV but crenulation not produced into distinct spines and not projecting over smooth translucent lower posterior margin of terga (Fig. 7); cuticula with silken sheen, densely covered with moderately coarse macropunctation, diameter of punctures and distance between them increasing towards posterior and lateral margins of terga, with about 15 macropunctures along median axis of tergum III; single thin seta arises from bottom of each macropuncture, only slightly protruding over rim of puncture; inter- stices finely shagreened, moderately covered with very tiny, decumbent, pale setae, all setae orientated towards caudal end. Tergum VI with sides converging almost as Description of Celonites andreasmuelleri sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) from... 85 Figures 9-16. 9-12 Head of female in dorsal view 9 C. mayeti (dbM No. 3456) 10 C. persicus (dbM No. 3455) II C. andreasmuelleri (dbM No. 3072) 12 C. spinosus (dbM No. 3428). 13 Head of C. persicus female (dbM No. 3455) in frontal view. 14-16 Tip of metasoma from ventral 14 C. andreasmuelleri male (dbM No. 3454) 15 C. mayeti female (dbM No. 3456) 16 C. persicus female (dbM No. 3455). 86 Volker Mauss / Journal of Hymenoptera Research 31: 79-95 (2013) straight lines; posterior margin with curved protrusion over central two-thirds, later- ally transverse, forming a distinct angle to side. Metasomal sternum I shiny, with tiny setae but without punctures. Sterna II-V posteriorly with broad strip of asetose, translucent cuticula adjacent to posterior mar- gin of more strongly sclerotized cuticula (Fig. 14); cuticula shiny, finely shagreened, with sparse punctation of shallow, moderate to small macropunctures from which short pale setae arise, becoming denser laterally; small sparse band of setae along pos- terior sclerotized margin somewhat projecting over anterior part of translucent strip of cuticula. Margin of sternum VI laterally raised to rim; posteriorly protruded into little blunt spine; cuticula shiny, with rather narrow smooth mid-line and at sides strong macropunctures from which short pale setae arise. Male. Colour: Resembles female, except as follows. Whitish-yellow: large basal spot on mandible; labrum; clypeus except small margin; sinuate band at front of frons, shortly interrupted medially on the supra-antennal area, laterally extending towards upper inner margin of eye where it bends ventrally into ventral half of ocular sinus; large spot on each side of sternum II in addition to small spot on each postero-lateral corner. Vertex completely black. Tip of axilla reddish-brown. Terga I-VI anteriorly blackish, posteriorly with a median and two lateral whitish-yellow markings inter- rupted on each side of mid-line by a broad reddish-brown area. Tergum VII anteriorly blackish, posteriorly reddish-brown with whitish-yellow median spot. Antenna with A1-2 black; A3-6 anteriorly with whitish-yellow stripe otherwise blackish to reddish- brown; A7—12 reddish-brown running into blackish-brown dorso-posteriorly and at distal end of the club. On ventral side the black tip contrasts to the adjacent light reddish-brown surface of Al1. Structure. Resembles female, except as follows. Clypeus shiny; cuticula smooth with moderately spaced, shallow macropunctation; pale stiff setae arising from macro- punctures without distal “knob”; lateral setae with distal ends curved towards centre of clypeus. Frons with semi-circular dull central area smaller and less densely shagreened; bearing at least some knobbed setae. Antenna with two oval-shaped, perhaps sensory, depressions (tyloids) on concave, ventral side of club, situated within antennal seg- ments A9 and A10 and a very small circular cuticula-plate on A8. (Tyloid plate-like structure, distinctly delimited from adjacent cuticula by small rim, diameter about a quarter of width of antennal segment). Midcoxa with small but distinct spine at distal end on anterior side close to anterio-medial angle. Macropunctures posteriorly and laterally on terga somewhat larger and crenulation on terga II-VI more pronounced but also not projecting over the smooth translucent lower posterior margin of terga. Tergum VII with medial projection of posterior margin truncated and undivided, ap- pearing trilobed (Figs 14, 21). Posterior emargination of sternum VII medially angled laterally continuing directly into sides of sternum, so that a postero-lateral transverse section is lacking (Fig. 14). Male genitalia as in Figs 25-26. Dorso-medial shovel-like lobe of harpide very large, densely covered ventrally with long setae. Posterior margin of stipes with dorso- medial concavity angled. Sides of stipites mostly parallel along their posterior half, Description of Celonites andreasmuelleri sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) from... 87 ENE “yy te indy) Hit eghk 8: Figures 17-24. 17-18. Cuticle structure of pronotum and mesoscutum of female in dorsal view 17 C. andreasmuelleri (dbM No. 3073) 18 C. abbreviatus (dbM No. 3461). 19=20 Cuticle structure of frons and clypeus of female in frontal view 19 C. andreasmuelleri (dbM No. 3072) 20 C. spinosus (dbM No. 3428). 21-24 Tip of metasoma of male in dorsal view 21 C. andreasmuelleri (dbM No. 3454) 22 C. mayeti (dbM No. 3457) 23 C. abbreviatus (dbM No. 3459) 24 C. spinosus (dbM No. 3430). 88 Volker Mauss / Journal of Hymenoptera Research 31: 79-95 (2013) converging slightly anteriorly towards the cupula. Volsella large and broad, extending over antero-medial margin of dorso-medial lobe of harpide; dorsal area with strongly sclerotized, large, dark tubercles; distances between tubercles comparatively large; me- dial process broad with approximately rectangular distal apex, continuing posteriorly into posterior process at very blunt angle. Sides of thyrsoi converge straight towards posterior end of aedoeagus. Ventral margin of cupula medially barely protruded to- wards anterior end so that whole dorsal margin of cupula remains visible in ventral view of genital capsule. Measurements. Measurements of the exoskeleton are summarized in Table 1. Floral association. All females from the Jordanian locality were recorded visiting flowers of Ballota sp. (Lamiaceae). Distribution. The species is known only from two localities in Jordan and Israel, 90 km apart. Both sites are associated with the drainage system of the Wadi al Jayb. Table |. Measurements of the exoskeleton of imagines of Celonites andreasmuelleri sp. n. (x = median; min = minimum, max = maximum; measurements were made with a Wild M3 stereomicroscope with maximum magnification 80x, maximum accuracy 0.011 mm, all distances in mm). Parameter Male / x | min | max | on | x | lateral ocelli distance front./lat. ocellus distance O15 a OF S2 || DEL. 6 0.12 compound eyes distance L242) e229 || oS 6 17 Al length 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.19 [| 6 | 0.15 A3 length A3 width A4-—5 length 0.19 Olt e020 6 O22 A8—12 length 0.72 | 0.70 | 0.76 6 0.95 A8-12 width 0.38 0.36 | 0.40 6 0.43 antennal sockets distance clypeus max. width £035 | EO" |eleOy 6 0.87 clypeus apical width 0-51 | 050. |-0.61 6 0.47 clypeus length 0.83 | 0.79 | 0.86 6 0.72 mesonotum width mesoscutum length wing length 5.47 5.25 5.75 6 BD ise: R+Sc length 299% | DEG. ||\e3:08 6 2°81 number of hamuli 11.0 10 12 6 12.0 femur I length tibia I length metatarsus I length 0.51 0.47 | 0.55 5 0.42 tergum I width 209" )| 2569: all 2 69 1 2.49 tergum I length O91 eee" || POSOT 1 0.79 tergum II width total length mee ep rp Pr PRP ep PR PR PR PR TR TR TR LR TR JR |S Description of Celonites andreasmuelleri sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) from... 89 Celonites mayeti Celonites abbreviatus Celonites spinosus Celonites andreasmuelleri 0,5 mm 0,5 mm Figure 25. Male genitalia of Palaearctic species of the Celonites abbreviatus-complex in dorsal (left) and ventral view (middle) and metasomal sternum VIII of male in ventral view (right) (C. mayeti dbM No. 3452; C. abbreviatus dbM No. 3451, C. spinosus dbM No. 3431; C. andreasmuelleri dbM No. 3454). 90 Volker Mauss / Journal of Hymenoptera Research 31: 79-95 (2013) —— ~ Ny ===N y ey ==SN : MZ 0.5 mm Figure 26. Male genital of C. andreasmuelleri (dbM No. 3454) in dorsal (left) and ventral view (right). (Setae only shown on one side of each drawing; Nomenclature follows that of Birket-Smith (1981): ad, aedoeagus; cu, cupula; dc, dorso-medial concavity of the posterior margin of the stipes; ha, harpide; mp, medial process of volsella; pp, posterior process of volsella; sl, shovel-like dorso-medial lobe of harpide; sp, stipes; ty, thyrsos; vo, volsella). Etymology. Named for Dr. Andreas Miiller (Ziirich, Switzerland) in appreciation of his valuable support and contribution to research into Mediterranean Masarinae. Key to separate Celonites andreasmuelleri from other members of the C. abbreviatus group of the subgenus Celonites s. str. 1 Frons and clypeus covered with especially long setae, 2—5 times as long as diameter of median ocellus. Males with three oval-shaped tyloids ventrally on anireirialt ely sss415.. Settee Celonites phlomis-group (see Gusenleitner 1973) Frons and clypeus covered with distinctly shorter setae, at most about as long as diameter of median ocellus. Males with two oval-shaped tyloids ventrally Olsanitermtral Clulye ete mee leer ee eee Celonites abbreviatus-group (2) Pubescence of frons and to lesser extent also clypeus less dense, consisting of finer setae without knob-like distal swellings, not forming a pollen brush. Setae only 0.5 times as long as diameter of median ocellus (Fig. 2) .............. HA. Miia ticta. Mamsaninael aimee Celonites fischeri-complex (see Richards 1962) Description of Celonites andreasmuelleri sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) from... 91 Pubescence of frons and clypeus denser, consisting of long, stiff setae bear- ing at least a small, knob-like, spherical swelling at the distal end, forming a pollen brush. Knobbed setae about as long as diameter of median ocellus CRG: 9-4): [i t.cicbhvonuteeteadienttesiaehiliod Celonites abbreviatus-complex (3) Frei Aletae ye sane ele rede eee eum BAAN, ha A Oe Bd 4 1. BeBe o Pene cs aA. Piney oe SaR ee an eee SR Ce EERE TR en ee Re A Se SRE 8 Head appears in front view broader in relation to its length (Fig. 5, 13). Cly- peus broad with nearly parallel lateral margins on ventral half. Ocelli smaller, forniing- antobtusertriang le WP igs 91 yt ceca. teesme go daeder ence mvepathosecomiencesPvsndtaes 5 Head appears in front view more elongated in relation to its length (Fig. 6). Cly- peus with lateral margins more continuously rounded leading to an elongated appearance. Ocelli larger, forming a more acute triangle (Figs 11-12) .......... 6 Frons rather shiny, moderately shagreened (Fig.13). Posterior margin of ster- num V deeply concave (Fig. 16). Sternum VI medially with a broad lon- gitudinal area of unpunctured cuticula widening towards the anterior end (Fig. 16). Pale markings whitish yellow, antennae mainly orange-yellow with a little dark spot at the distal end, wings less darkened (Fig. 1)... eee cet kellie ie Coe NO eee oe Uae ne wih 2 Celonites persicus Richards, 1962 Frons dull, densely shagreened (Fig. 5). Posterior margin of sternum V only slightly concave (Fig. 15). Sternum VI medially only with a small diffuse zone of unpunctured cuticula (Fig. 15). Pale markings whitish yellow with extensive red tinges, antennae mainly dark brown, wings somewhat darker CET MERA ii ta Se Suen edaa tas ane achie mca Celonites mayeti Richards, 1962 Crenulation at the posterior end of terga II-IV produced into small spines that project over the lower, smooth posterior margin of the tergum (Fig. 8). Terga coarsely punctured, with macropunctures nearly two times as large as in the remaining species, leading to a number of about eight macropunctures alone the medianaxis-of cereus dll (Big iB). el, sec sreedue nesvs eee uroserioouns AG, Cie unten Weer: may ha tel Mere Oe ore, Celonites spinosus Gusenleitner, 1966 Crenulation at the posterior ends of terga I-IV not produced into spines and not projecting over the smooth lower posterior margin of the tergum (Fig. 7). Terga are distinctly less coarsely punctured, leading to a number of about fifteen macropunctures along the median axis of tergum III (Fig. 7) ........... ai Clypeus, vertex and frons dull and densely shagreened (Fig. 20). Mesoscutum less shiny with dense, moderately coarse punctures separated by knife-like interstices, especially anteriorly resulting in a comb-like appearance (Fig. 18). Pale markings mainly yellow (Fig. 1), except in one rare variety from Switzer- land in which they are white. In east Mediterranean specimens yellow mark- ines iayshave SOMeWwHAt TeddISh CHGS aaron eh et eeteon aes -ntencton cca tesscrpeasert Celonites abbreviatus (Villers, 1789) (Celonites hermon Gusenleitner, 2002) Clypeus and vertex much more shiny (Fig. 6). Frons with a dull, semi-circu- lar central area of densely shagreened cuticula, contrasting distinctly to the adjacent smooth, shiny cuticula (Fig. 19). Mesoscutum shiny with dense, 92 10 Volker Mauss / Journal of Hymenoptera Research 31: 79-95 (2013) moderately coarse punctures separated by rounded, not knife-like interstices (Fig. 17). Pale markings whitish yellow mostly bordered with reddish tinges CET MI od coven ceracsuarcercevreccteveccesit Celonites andreasmuelleri Mauss, sp. n. Tergum VII trilobed (Fig. 14, 21). Posterior emargination of sternite VII medially bent at an angle of about 135°. Laterally the posterior, angled mar- gin of sternite VIII continues directly into the lateral surface of the sternite without a prominent edge or a distinct spine, so that even a small postero- lateral transverse section is lacking (Fig. 14). Genital as in Fig. 25.0... dhol entitled ceded liebe merlite Celonites andreasmuelleri Mauss, sp. n. Tergum VII quadrilobed, since the median lobe is medially distinctly emar- ginated (Figs 22—24). Sternum VIII different, with a distinct little spine on each side of the posterior margin (Fig. 25). Genital different ...0..... eee 9 Sternum VII deeply angularly emarginated, surface deeply sunk in towards emateinacony(Rio-25) sGemital astiyBie. 2 5 cure eacns sche sencehesadonnseudodaketsdtles Rei et ro ol Pe aries erhchoes TOe et O ra Celonites mayeti Richards, 1962 Sternum VIII shallow angularly or even concavely emarginated, surface not much sunk in towards emargination (Fig. 25). Genital different ............... 10 Clypeus yellow, except in one rare variety from Switzerland in which it is nearly white. Terga denser but less coarsely punctured (Fig. 23), leading to a number of about 13 macropunctures along the median axis of tergum II]. Emargination of sternum VII medially angled (Fig. 25), laterally with a transverse section well set off by a protruded edge. Genital less broad. Volsella less sclerotized, with a smaller distal-median process (Fig. 25).......ceeeseseeees dah tee hance Ne he Ay ENE Bim ae or Celonites abbreviatus (Villers, 1789) Clypeus whitish-yellow. Terga less densely but more coarsely punctured, lead- ing to a number of about 9 macropunctures along the median axis of tergum III. Emargination of sternum VIII more evenly concave (Fig. 25). Genital broader. Volsella strongly sclerotized, with a large distal-median process ge as an aes ounce Senet sheen Hau Celonites spinosus Gusenleitner, 1966 Remarks As the sexes of Celonites andreasmuelleri are recorded from different localities they are only associated on the basis of general similarity, allowance being made for secondary sexual differences. The association of the sexes should be confirmed by the study of material of both sexes found flying together in one or more localities. Celonites andreasmuelleri differs from its near relatives in colour, in the structure of the cuticula of the clypeus, frons and vertex associated with the pollen collecting apparatus, and in the shape of sternum VIII and tergum VII that form the walls of the genital chamber of the male and in the morphology of male genitalia. These differences are probably the result of reproductive isolation so that it can be hypothesized that C. andreasmuelleri constitutes a distinct biospecies (sensu Mayr 1967). Description of Celonites andreasmuelleri sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) from... 93 The taxonomic position of C. andreasmuelleri within the genus Celonites can be deduced from its morphological characters. In Celonites andreasmuelleri the lateral projection of the axilla is short and blunt and projects only slightly over the tegula. This is similar to the morphology of the axilla in members of the subgenus Celonites s.str (Richards 1962). Therefore C. andreasmuelleri belongs to this taxon. Within this subgenus C. andreasmuelleri can be assigned to the Celonites abbreviatus-group (sensu Richards 1962) as indicated by four characters that males of C. andreasmuelleri have in common with males of other species of this group. Firstly, they have only two oval- shaped tyloids, situated on antennal segments A9 and A10. The very small cuticula- plate on antennal segment A8 is presumably homologous with the third tyloid that still exists in other species of Ce/onites and that has probably been reduced within the stem-line of the C. abbreviatus-group. Secondly, males from this species-group bear a small spine at the distal end of the midcoxa. Furthermore, tergum VII of the males is markedly lobed posteriorly and the posterior margin of sternum VIII is specifically emarginate. Females of C. andreasmuelleri bear characteristically knobbed setae on frons and clypeus, where they form a distinct pollen brush. A comparable pollen collecting ap- paratus composed of knobbed setae at the front of the head is known only from Ce- lonites abbreviatus, C. hermon, C. mayeti, C. persicus and C. spinosus (Schremmer 1959, Miller 1996, pers. obs.), though the spherical enlargement at the distal end of the knobbed setae is smaller in C. andreasmuelleri than in the other species (Figs 3, 4). It is an adaptation to pollen uptake from nototribic flowers (Schremmer 1959, Miller 1996). I suggest naming the subtaxon of the C. abbreviatus-group that is characterized by the existence of knobbed setae at the front of the head the C. abbreviatus-com- plex. All members of this species-complex for which flower visits have been recorded were observed to visit flowers of Lamiaceae (C. mayeti: Bequaert 1940, C. abbreviatus: Schremmer 1959, Miiller 1996, Mauss 2006). This is in accord with all females of C. andreasmuelleri having been collected at the nototribic flowers of Ballota (Lamiaceae). The key to the species of the C. abbreviatus-complex does not include the male of Celonites persicus, because it is unknown. Celonites hermon is not included in the key, because the status of this taxon is unclear to me, although I have studied the type. Celonites hermon is very similar to C. abbreviatus from which it has been separated because of its extremely long proboscis that reaches the distal end of the abdomen (Gusenleitner 2002). However, proboscis length can not be measured in most Ce- lonites specimens, since the mouthparts are usually retracted. This may have misled Gusenleitner (2002) into believing, that the length of the proboscis is outstanding in C. hermon, only known from the type, a single female with protruded mouthparts. In fact even the investigation by Schremmer (1959) has already demonstrated that the proboscis of C. abbreviatus clearly exceeds the tip of the metasoma. Moreover the pro- boscis of the only female of C. abbreviatus with protruded mouthparts in my collection (dbM No. 3460) extends beyond the end of the metasoma. Therefore C. hermon does not differ from C. abbreviatus in the character that mainly substantiated its descrip- tion and it may be a junior synonym of C. abbreviatus. However, the situation is more 94 Volker Mauss / Journal of Hymenoptera Research 31: 79-95 (2013) complicated, since the flagellum of C. Hermon is conspicuously orange. ‘This is also the case in specimens of C. abbreviatus from the East Mediterranean whereas the antennae of Central and West European specimens of C. abbreviatus are much darker. Therefore the status of C. /ermon should be reinvestigated with care. Acknowledgements I am very much indebted to Leopoldo Castro, Achik Dorchin, Fritz Gusenleitner, Josef Gusenleitner, Christophe Praz, Maximilian Schwarz, Claudio Sedivy, and Claire Villemant for providing specimens. Microphotos were prepared with the kind and indispensable help of Rainer Prosi. Friedrich and Sarah Gess made valuable comments on the manuscript and improved my English. References Bequaert J (1940) Notes on the distribution of Pseudomasaris and the food plants of Masa- ridinae and Gayellinae (Hymenoptera Vespidae). Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 35: 37-45. Birket-Smith SJR (1981) The male genitalia of Hymenoptera - a review based on morphology in Dorylidae (Formicidae). Entomologica scandinavica Supplement 15: 377-397. Carpenter JM (1993) Biogeographic Patterns in the Vespidae (Hymenoptera): Two Views of Africa and South America. In: Goldblatt P (Ed) Biological Relationships Between Africa and South America. Proceedings of the 37th Annual Systematics Symposium, held at Mis- souri Botanical Gardens, 4—6 October 1990. Yale University Press, NewHaven and Lon- don, 139-155. doi: 10.1206/0003-0082(2001)325<0001:COSOTS>2.0.CO;2 Carpenter JM (2001) Checklist of species of the subfamily Masarinae (Hymenoptera: Vespi- dae). American Museum Novitates 3325: 1—40. Gusenleitner J (1966) Vespidae, Eumenidae und Masaridae aus der Tiirkei. Teil I. Polskie Pis- mo Entomologiczne 36: 343-363. Gusenleitner J (1973) Uber Masaridae aus dem nahen Osten (Vespoidea, Hymenoptera). Bol- letino della Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Venezia 24: 55-69. Gusenleitner J (1997) Die europdischen Arten der Gattung Celonites Latreille 1802 (Hymeno- ptera, Masaridae). Linzer Biologische Beitrage 29: 109-115. Gusenleitner J (2002) Neue oder bemerkenswerte Vespoidea aus dem Nahen Osten (Hymeno- ptera: Eumenidae, Masaridae). Linzer biologische Beitrage 34: 335-343. Gusenleitner J (2007) Eine neue Ce/onites-Art aus Sibirien (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Masari- nae). Linzer Biologische Beitrage 39: 133-135. Gusenleitner J (2012) Neue Masarinae aus der palaarktischen Region (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Masarinae). Linzer Biologische Beitrage 44: 319-326. Description of Celonites andreasmuelleri sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) from... 95 Krenn HW, Mauss V, Plant J (2002) Evolution of the suctorial proboscis in pollen wasps (Masarinae, Vespidae). Arthropod structure & development 31: 103-120. doi: 10.1016/ S1467-8039(02)00025-7 Mauss V (2006) Observations on flower association and mating behaviour of the pollen wasp species Celonites abbreviatus (Villers, 1789) in Greece (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Masari- nae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 15: 266-269. Mayr E (1967) Artbegriff und Evolution. Paul Parey, Hamburg, 617 pp. Miller A (1996) Convergent evolution of morphological specializations in Central European bee and honey wasp species as an adaptation to the uptake of pollen from nototribic flow- ers (Hymenoptera, Apoidea and Masaridae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 57: 235-252. Richards OW (1962) A revisional study of the masarid wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespoidea). Bri- tish Museum (Natural History), London, 294 pp. Schremmer F (1959) Der bisher unbekannte Pollensammelapparat der Honigwespe Celoni- tes abbreviatus Vill. (Vespidae, Masarinae). Zeitschrift ftir Morphologie und Okologie der Tiere 48: 424-438. doi: 10.1007/BF00408580