Cerceris cooperi Scullen 1972

Cerceris cooperi

FEMALE.—Length 11 mm. Black with light yellow markings; punctation coarse and pubescence average except on the fifth and sixth abdominal terga, where punctations are smaller and pubescence more abundant.

Head slightly wider than the thorax; black except for a narrow frontal eye patch, an elongate patch on the frons, and a patch on the mandibles, all of which are light yellow; clypeal border with two pairs of subequal denticles at the margin between the lateral and medial lobes of the clypeus; clypeal process lunar shaped with two large separated lamella on its free margin; mandibles bidentate, the more distal denticle large and acute, the more basal one very small; antennae normal in form and immaculate.

Thorax black except for a small patch on the cervix, a narrow band on the prothorax, which may be divided, two patches on the scutellum, the metanotum, two triangular patches on the propodeum bordering the enclosure, all of which are light yellow; tegulae normal; enclosure rugose with the ridges at an angle to the base; mesotubercles small but conspicuous; legs immaculate except for dark fuscous areas near the distal ends of the femori; wings subhyaline but clouded along the anterior margins of the forewings.

Abdomen black except for a broad band on tergum 1, lateral patches on tergum 2, tergum 3 immaculate, narrow band on tergum 4, and two lateral patches on sternum 2, all of which are light yellow; terga 5 and 6 pubescent; pygidium as illustrated (Figure 1226).

MALE.—Length 10 mm. Black with light yellow markings; punctation and pubescence as on female.

Head subequal in width to thorax; black except for narrow frontal eye patches and a small patch on the irons, which are light yellow; clypeal margin with three subequal small denticles on the medial lobe; mandibles unidentate; hair lobes narrow; antennae immaculate and normal in form.

Thorax black except for evanescent small spots on the pronotum, two small spots on the scutellum; the metanotum; two triangular patches on the propodeum bordering the enclosure; two patches on the propodeum separated from the above triangular patches, all of which are light yellow; tegulae normal; enclosure smooth except for a slight medial groove; mesopleural tubercle absent; legs immaculate except for small stripes on the fore- and midtibiae and a small dark fuscous area on the distal end of the hind femori; wings subhyaline with a darkened area along the anterior border of the forewings.

Abdomen black except for a broad band on tergum 1, a broken narrow band on tergum 2, narrow bands on terga 4, 5, and 6, most of sternum 1 and a band on sterum 2, all of which are light yellow; pygidium as illustrated (Figure 122d).

The more lateral yellow patch on the propodeum of the male may disappear and may appear on some females. A yellow patch may appear on the pleuron below the wing attachment on the male. Cerceris cooperi is closely related to several other species of the compacta group. The bidentate mandibles will separate it from all other species of this group except C. veracruz veracruz, new subspecies, in which the mandibular denticles are subequal in size and the hind trochanter is yellow. In C. cooperi the more distal mandibular denticle is much larger than the more basal denticle and the hind trochanter is immaculate.

TYPES.—The type female and allotype male of C. cooperi, taken 6 miles west of Turrialba, Costa Rica, at 3800 feet elevation on 17 and 23 July 1963, respectively (H. A. Scullen and Duis Bolinger), are at the National Museum of Natural History (USNM 71060). Paratypes are as follows:

CENTRAL AMERICA: BRITISH HONDURAS: ♀, Augustine Mountain, Pine Ridge, 3–7 July 1963 (CCP). COSTA RICA: ♀, 4 km E Ignacio de Acosta, San José Province, 8 July 1963 (CDM); 4♂, Pacure, 6 July 1949 (KWC); 2♀, 6♂, Turrialba, 2080 ft, 18, 22, 24 July 1963 (S and B); 9♂, same locality, 14–15, 24, 28 June, 10 July 1949 (KWC); 41♀, 173♂, 6 mi W Turrialba, 3800 ft, 13–17, 21, 23 July 1963 (S and B). HONDURAS: ♀, Prieta, 4 June 1924; ♀, Tegucigalpa, 25 July 1917 (FJD). NICARAGUA: ♂, 28 mi S Somoto, 2000 ft, 31 July 1963 (S and B). SAN SALVADOR: 2♂, Quezaltepeque, 3 July 1963 (S and B).

MEXICO: CHIAPAS: ♀, 4 mi SW Simojovel, 18 March 1953 (RCB and EIS). OAXACA: ♀, Donaji, 17 April 1953 (RCB and EIS). VERACRUZ: ♀, ♂, 35 mi W Acayucan, 18 August 1959 (ASM and LAS); ♀, Jalapa (C).

DISTRIBUTION.—Largely a Central American species with limited records from southern Mexico.

PREY RECORD.—None.

PLANT RECORD.—None.

30a. Cerceris Costarica Costarica, new subspecies

FEMALE.—Length 13 mm. Black with yellow markings; punctation average; pubescence very short.

Head slightly wider than the thorax; black except for large frontal eye patches, upper surface of the clypeal process, the frons, and upper basal half of the mandibles, all of which are yellow; clypeal margin with four somewhat indistinct denticles; clypeal process very prominent with two separate oval lamellae (similar to C. compacta Cresson); mandibles with three denticles, the distal one broad and rounded, the two more basal denticles shorter, acute, and subequal in form and size; antennae immaculate and normal in form.

Thorax black except for a broken band on the pronotum, the scutellum, the metanotum, and small spots on the tegulae, all of which are yellow; tegulae normal; enclosure heavily ridged at a slight angle to the base and with a medial groove; mesopleural tubercle absent; legs black except for large yellow areas on the first two tibiae and the first two tarsi; wings subhyaline except the anterior margins of the forewings are clouded.

Abdomen black except for the following yellow markings: small spot on terga 1, a broad, slightly emarginate band on terga 2, narrow broadly emarginate bands on terga 3, 4, and 5; venter immaculate; pygidium as illustrated (Figure 123b).

MALE.—Length 11 mm. Black with yellow markings; punctation and pubescence average.

Head slightly wider than the thorax; black except for large frontal eye patches, the upper portion of the medial clypeal lobe, the irons, two small evanescent spots on the vertex (sometimes greatly expanded), and small spots on the mandibles, all of which are yellow; three low denticles on the medial clypeal margin; medial clypeal lobe very convex; mandibles unidentate; hair lobes confined to the lateral clypeal lobes; antennae normal in form.

Thorax black except for a broken band on the prothorax, the scutellum, the metanotum, and the tegulae, all of which are yellow; tegulae normal; enclosure ridged at an angle to the base; mesopleural tubercles absent; legs black to distal ends of all femori, all tibiae with more or less yellow, fore- and hind tarsi largely yellow, hind tarsi all dark; wings subhyaline with the anterior border of the forewing clouded.

Abdomen black except for an evanescent variable spot on tergum 1, a broad band on tergum 2, and narrow bands on terga 3–6, all of which are yellow; pygidium as illustrated (Figure 123d).

The yellow spots on the vertex of the male head may be enlarged to form converging patches, and yellow patches may appear back of the compound eyes. The hind trochanter may become more or less yellow. The taxonomic status of the males is sometimes uncertain except when associated with the females.

This species belongs to the compacta Cresson group. The female of C. Costarica Costarica is best distinguished by the broad plate-like distal denticle on the mandible.

TYPES.—The female type and male allotype of C. Costarica Scullen, taken from 3 miles northwest of Liberia, Costa Rica, 400 feet elevation, 28 July 1963 (H. A. Scullen and Duis Bolinger), are at the National Museum of Natural History (USNM 71061). Paratypes are as follows:

CENTRAL AMERICA: COSTA RICA: ♂, Heredia, Puerto Viejo, 100 m, 1 August 1964 (MGN); 2♂, Golfito, 11 July 1957 (ASM); 3♂, same locality, 20 July 1957 (T and ASM); 2♀, 48♂, Liberia, 400 ft, 28–29 July 1953 (S and B); ♀, 10♂, 3 mi NW Liberia, 400 ft, 28 July 1963 (S and B); 3♂, 12 mi NW Liberia, 400 ft, 28 July 1963 (S and B); 3♀, 132♂, 7 mi SE Liberia, 400 ft, 27, 29 July 1963 (S and B); 27♂, 16 mi SE Liberia, 300 ft, 26–27 July 1963 (S and B); ♀, Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, 5 August 1964 (RB and GR); ♂, same locality, 5 August 1964 (MGN); ♂, Rio Amarillo, 8 km SW Guapiles, Limon Province, 20 August 1964 (RB and GR); 4♀, 2♂, San José, 15 June, 7 July 1963 (CDM and DRM); ♀, same locality, 3 August 1964 (RB and GR); ♂, same locality, 26 June 1963 (CDM and K); ♂, same locality, 9 November 1963 (AEM). EL SALVADOR: 2♂, Quezaltepeque area, 3 July 1963 (S and B); 2♂, same locality, 21 June 1961, 16 July 1963 (MEI); ♂, 4 km W Quezaltepeque, 450 m, 16 December 1964 (MEI). NICARAGUA: ♂, Condega, 2050 ft, 7 July 1963 (S and B); ♀, ♂, 8 mi S Condega, 2200 ft, 7 July 1963 (S and B).

MEXICO: CHIAPAS: ♂, Finca Cucalhuitz, 19 km NE Bochil, 28 September 1961 (FMP); ♀, Tuxtla Gutierrez, 11 July 1952 (EEG and CDM). HIDALGO: ♀, Pachuca, 6 July 1937 (GEB). SAN LUIS POTOSÍ: ♀, 8 mi W Xilitla, 3200 ft, 22 July 1954 (UKE). VERACRUZ: 9, Orizaba, 12 August 1961 (R and KD).

SOUTH AMERICAS BRAZIL: ♀, Baixa Verde, Rio Grande Norte (WMM).

DISTRIBUTION.—This species is abundant in Costa Rica and nearby parts of Central America. Limited specimens have been taken in southeastern Mexico. One record from Brazil is of interest because it is so far beyond the known range.

PREY RECORD.—None.

PLANT RECORD.—None.

30b. Cerceris Costarica mitla, new subspecies

FEMALE.—Length 13 mm. Black with yellow markings; punctation average; pubescence very short.

Head in all respects like that of the nominate subspecies, C. Costarica Costarica, new subspecies, including the characteristic enlarged distal denticle on the mandible.

Thorax like that of the nominate subspecies except the scutellum is black and the hind trochanter is yellow.

The abdomen in all essential respects is like that of the nominate subspecies.

MALE.—Length 10 mm. Black with yellow markings; punctation and pubescence average.

Head in all respects like that of the nominate subspecies.

Thorax similar to that of the nominate subspecies except the scutellum is black and the hind trochanter is yellow.

The abdomen is similar in all respects to that of the nominate subspecies.

The males of this species are difficult to distinguish from closely related species except when associated with the females.

TYPES.—The type female and allotype male, taken from Mitla, Oaxaca, Mexico, 5600 feet elevation, 27 June and 20 August 1963 respectfully, are at the National Museum of Natural History (USNM 71062). Paratypes are as follows:

MEXICO: GUERRERO: ♂, Almolongo, 6000 ft, 29 July 1962 (HEE); 2♂, 3 mi N Taxco, 5500 ft, 1 June 1959 (HEE). MEXICO: ♂, 33 mi N of Taxco (Guerrero), 5700 ft, 29 August 1963 (S and B). MORELOS: ♀, 2♂, Cuemavaca, 12 July 1961 (R and KD); 3♂, 4 mi E Cuernavaca, 6000 ft, 2, 16, 29 June 1959 (HEE). OAXACA: 3♀, ♂, Mitla, 5600 ft, 27–28 June, 20 August 1963 (S and B); ♀, 5 mi S Oaxaca, 6150 ft, 21 August 1963 (S and B); ♂, 12 mi SE Oaxaca, 5350 ft, 21 August 1963 (S and B); ♂, 38 mi SE Oaxaca, 5600 ft, 19 August 1963 (S and B).

DISTRIBUTION.—South-central Mexico.

PREY RECORD.—None.

PLANT RECORD.—None.