Tachysphex eucharistus Pulawski ex Krombein & Pulawski 1994

Tachysphex eucharistus Pulawski

NAME DERIVATION.—Eucharistus is derived from the Greek word eucharistos, meaning agreeable, pleasant, grateful.

DIAGNOSIS.—The female of eucharistus has the tarsomeres and claws of the brullii type; the apical tarsomeres lack ventral spines but have one or two spines at the midlength of each lateral margin (Figures 97–99, 101). This combination is unique among Sri Lankan species. Many females of aequalis (western North America) are similar, but in eucharistus the forefemoral venter is densely punctate (punctures two to three diameters apart), the gaster is black, and the wings are yellowish (in aequalis, the punctures of forefemoral venter are several to many diameters apart, the gaster is red basally, and the wings are hyaline).

The male of eucharistus differs from other Sri Lankan species by the combination of the black gaster and legs, microareolate propodeal dorsum, nonridged propodeal side, and setae of the propodeal dorsum oriented posterad (except basomedially). Several extralimital species are similar, but eucharistus can be recognized by the following: venter of mid-and hindtarsomeres V with one preapical spine, terga I–IV silvery fasciate, and sterna without graduli; the shape of the clypeus (Figure 94) and the yellowish wings also help identification. The posteriorly yellowish pronotal lobe is also distinctive, but this character is probably variable (yellow evanescent in one of the two specimens examined).

DESCRIPTION.—Scutal punctures about one to two diameters apart. Mesopleuron evenly, conspicuously microsculptured, with minute, evanescent punctures. Propodeal dorsum evenly microareolate; side finely ridged or microsculptured and minutely punctate. Apical tarsomeres without spines on venter or lateral margins.

Setae appressed on vertex and scutum; erect along hypostomal carina, about as long as midocellar diameter; on propodeal dorsum inclined posterad on sides and inclined anterad on median triangle.

Head, thorax, legs, and gaster black, mandible dark reddish mesally, pronotal lobe yellowish posteriorly in some specimens. Tegula and humeral plate yellowish brown. Wings yellowish. Terga I–IV silvery fasciate apically. Frontal vestiture silvery.

.—Labrum with small median notch. Clypeus (Figure 93): bevel about as long as basomedian area; lip with small, median notch (notch absent in a worn specimen), with two lateral incisions on each side. Vertex width 0.7–0.8 × length. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.0–2.2 × apical width. Forefemoral venter uniformly, minutely punctate, punctures about two to three diameters apart. Outer surface of foretibia with spines. Tarsi of brullii type, forebasitarsus with 12–15 rake spines. Tarsomeres IV slightly wider than long (length of hindtarsomere IV 0.9 × apical width); apical emargination broadly rounded (Figure 100); apicoventral margin concave. Tarsomeres V elongate (Figures 97–99), venter covered with erect setae, apicoventral margin markedly convex (Figure 101). Claws elongate (Figure 98). Pygidial plate shiny, with sparse punctures (punctures denser along margins) and a few setae. Length 9.7–10.5 mm.

.—Clypeus (Figure 94); bevel ill defined; lip sinuate, with well-defined corner; distance between corners 0.8–0.9 × distance between corner and orbit. Vertex width 0.8 × length. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.8 × apical width. Forefemoral notch: bottom minutely punctured, setose. Outer margin of forebasitarsus without preapical spines. Venter of tarsomeres IV and V with one preapical spine. Sternal punctures about one to two diameters apart (about two to three on sternum VI), sternal setae appressed. Volsella: Figure 95. Penis valve: Figure 96. Length 8.3–9.5 mm.

COLLECTING PERIOD.—1–20 March, 15 April, 22–25 May, 1–14 July.

HABITAT.—This species occurs uncommonly in the Dry and Intermediate Zones at low elevations with average annual rainfall of 1500 mm or less (Figure 102).

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—Sri Lanka.

RECORDS.—Holotype: , Sri Lanka, Mannar District: 0.5 mi (0.8 km) NE Kokmotte Bungalow in Wilpattu National Park, 22–25 May 1976, KVK, PBK, SK, DWB (USNM).

Paratypes: SRI LANKA: ANURADHAPURA DISTRICT: Anuradhapura, R.T. Simon Thomas (2, CAS, ITZA). MONARAGALA DISTRICT: Nilgala, 1–14 Jul 1968, PBK (1, CAS). PUTTALAM DISTRICT: Arukallu, Eluamkulam, 15 mi (24 km) N Puttalam, PBK (1, CNC).