Chrysidea mendicalis (Cameron, 1897) stat. nov.

Figs 8–9

Chrysis mendicalis Cameron, 1897: 4.

Chrysis mendicalis – Bingham 1903: 436 (in key), 451; 1908: 347.

Chrysis (Trichrysis) mendicalis – Bischoff 1913: 45.

Chrysis (Pentachrysis) mendicalis – Bischoff 1913: 63.

Trichrysis mendicalis – Kimsey & Bohart 1991: 573. — nec Rosa et al. 2021a: 83 (fig. 83).

Material examined

Holotype INDIA • 1 ♀; “ Chrysis mendicalis Cam. Type; 1053”; “TYPE HYME 2002 Chrysis medicalis [!] Cameron, 1897 HOLOTYPE ♀ HOPE ENT COLL., OUMNH” [Barrakpore is the type locality given in the description]; OUMNH.

Other material INDIA • 1 ♀; Kerala, Kollam, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary; 8°55′ N, 77°02′ E; 19 Feb. 2022; P.R. Rinto; CCSERLC195; SERL.

Remarks

Chrysidea mendicalis (Cameron) has traditionally been included in the genus (or subgenus) Trichrysis. The specimen of Trichrysis mendicalis illustrated in the Indian species checklist (Rosa et al. 2021a) is a misidentified one from the Mocsáry collection (HNHM). In fact, Mocsáry acquired the chrysidid collection of C.T. Bingham (Mocsáry 1911, 1912; Rosa et al. 2017), including types of species described by Bingham and Nurse. The illustrated specimen was originally from the Bingham collection. Since Bingham studied Cameron’s collection, this identification has been considered reliable.

A recent examination of the holotype of Trichrysis mendicalis (Fig. 8) deposited at OUMNH revealed that this is a species of Chrysidea, closely related to Chrysidea falsa in particular. The main difference between these two species is found in the metasomal punctation (smaller and denser dorsally in C. falsa, Fig. 9C) and in the shape of the apical margin of the T3; in Chrysidea mendicalis the post-pit area is more extended and the intervals between the median and the lateral tooth are more concave to angulate (Fig. 9B). The Sri Lankan specimen illustrated in Rosa et al. (2021a) may be temporarily identified as Trichrysis triacantha.