Aulacophilinus tegularis Pulawski, species nova

Figures 49–51.

NAME DERIVATION.— Tegularis is an adjective derived from tegula, Latin for tile; with reference to the uniformly punctate tegula of this species.

RECOGNITION.— Aulacophilinus tegularis is an all black endemic of New Guinea with three submarginal cells. It differs from the other three New Guinean species with these characters, A. amblygnathus, A. solitarius, and A. carinatus, in having the tegula uniformly punctate throughout (Fig. 50) rather than impunctate or with evanescent, microscopic punctures posteriorly. Also, unlike A. amblygnathus, it has the frontal and scutal punctures less than one diameter apart (rather than more than one diameter apart), and the frontal setae about as long as 0.5 × midocellar diameter (rather than about one diameter long), It differs from A. carinatum in lacking the longitudinal carina separating the propodeal side from the dorsum and posterior surface and in lacking ridges on the side of the propodeal dorsum (longitudinal carina and transverse carinae present in A. carinatum).

DESCRIPTION.— Frons dull, markedly microsculptured, with well-defined punctures that are less than one diameter apart. Free margin of clypeal lobe obtusely angulate (Fig. 49). Width of labrum equal to 1.4 × midocellar diameter. Anteromedian pronotal pit transversely elongate, almost as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum minutely foveae along flange, with rudimentary longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures well defined, less than one diameter apart. Tegula uniformly punctate throughout (Fig. 50). Mesopleural punctures well defined, less than one diameter apart, interspaces merging posteriorly into small ridges. Propodeum without longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface; dorsum obliquely ridged, punctate between ridges; side irregularly ridged, punctate between ridges; posterior surface punctate, also transversely ridged in ventral half. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Posteroventral forefemoral surface microscopically, closely punctate. Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin sharply carinate. Outer surface of hindtibia with fine but well-defined spines. Tarsomeres with plantulae. Punctures of tergum I, on horizontal part, averaging slightly more than one diameter apart.

Setae silvery, suberect on frons and about 0.5 × as long as midocellar diameter, appressed on postocellar area, on scutum and tergum I suberect and about 0.3 × as long as midocellar diameter; on lower gena partly straight, partly curved, up to one midocellar diameter long; not concealing integument on clypeus. Apical depressions of terga with silvery, setal fasciae.

Body all black, mandible narrowly ferrugineus apicoventrally in paratype.

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.56–0.58 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 0.5–0.7 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 0.5–0.8 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 1.06–12.10 × distance between eye notches. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.3–2.5 × apical width. Length 9.4–9. 8 mm; head width 2.5 mm.

♂.– Unknown.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 51).— Known from two localities in the Madang Province of Papua New Guinea.

RECORDS.— HOLOTYPE: ♀, PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Madang Province: Bundi at 5º45′S 145º15′E, 20 May 1988, W.J. Pulawski (CAS). PARATYPE: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Madang Province: Sapi Forest Reserve 30 km W Madang at 5º12′S 145º30′E, 10 Feb 1987, W.J. Pulawski (1 ♀, CAS).