New species of Solierella from western North America (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae)

During an examination of several thousand specimens of the miscophine genus Solierella, a few undescribed species have been noted. Characteristics of this genus are the three submarginal cells of the forewing (rare exceptions) with the second cell petiolate, the frons bulging V-like, and a rounded female pygidium (no plate). The undescribed species are in the plenoculoides and albipes groups, which are briefly characterized below. Most of the material studied has come from the following individuals and institutions: M. S. Wasbauer, Sacramento State Department of Agriculture (SACRAMENTO); W. J. Pulawski, California Academy of Sciences (SAN FRANCISCO); A. S. Menke, U.S. National Museum (WASHINGTON); T. Griswold, Utah State University (LOGAN); R. R. Snelling, Los Angeles County Museum (LOS ANGELES); and R. L. Schuster, University of California, Davis (DAVIS). Abbreviations used in descriptions are: F-I, F-II, etc., flagellomeres; MOD, median ocellus diameter; LID, least interocular distance.

Discussion. S. flagella appears to range widely from Idaho and Wyoming to southern California and east to Nebraska and Texas.
Although males are readily differentiated from kansensis Williams by the shorter F-XI of the latter (about as in fig. 24), females seem practically identical. S. flagella averages smaller than kansensis (length mostly 3.0-3.5 mm versus 4.0-5.0 mm), but exceptions may occur. It has seemed best to restrict paratypes to males and associated females from Borrego Valley. Incidentally, no kansensis are known to occur there.

Solierella lateris Bohart, new species
Holotypefemale. Length 6 mm, black, mandible partly reddish; whitish on pronotal lobe, fore and midtibial apicolateral spots, posterior medial one-third of hindtibia. Pubescence silvery, appressed,  20); fine with close ridging on propodeal side and enclosure. Antennae absent; clypeus with sharp median ridge ending anteriorly in narrow polished spot, apex of clypeus smooth; frontal V prominent; ocellar triangle slightly broader than long, LID 5 MOD, ocellocular distance MOD, lateral ocelli bordered inwardly with strong ridges; pronotal corners distinct but obtuse in dorsal view; propodeal enclosure angled at 45 degrees, with a median carinule; foretarsus without a rake; forewing second submarginal cell equilateral, receiving second recurrent near its apex, first recurrent ending a short way behind second cell ( Solierella albipes (Ashmead) species group Twenty-one North American species belong in this group including the six described here. Distinguishing characters, taken together, are as follows" mandible whitish or light red toward base; other features as given for the plenoculoides group except that second submarginal cell is sometimes absent. The placement of levis Williams in this group is explained in the plenoculoides group diagnosis. Solierella argentea Bohart, new species Holotype female. Length 3 mm, black, yellowish white are: basal two-thirds of mandible, transverse spots on pronotal ridge, pronotal lobe, tegula and basal wing veins, large apicoventral femoral spots, tibiae outwardly, tarsi mostly. Pubescence exten-sively appressed silvery, dense on face, mesopleuron, and propodeal angles, extending over all but a narrowed central strip of propodeal dorsum ( fig. 8), extensive on terga I-V. Punctation fine and close, scutum somewhat shiny. F-I-II each about 1.2X as long as broad, clypeal midlobe small, a transverse swelling before truncate apex ( fig. 10), mandible with small but definite step at basal two-fifths beneath, frontal V weakly developed; ocellar triangle equilateral, Solierella nitidula Bohart, new species Holotype male. Length 2.5 mm, black, mandible reddish toward apex, pale reddish toward base, thin whitish spots on pronotum and metanotum, mid and hindtibiae with dull whitish basal spots, pronotal lobe reddish, legs mostly brownish. Pubescence silvery, moderate on lower frons, rather sparse but even on mesopleuron including hypoepimeron. Punctation mostly fine, propodeum distinctly ridged laterally, enclosure rough. Antenna with F-I-II each a little longer than broad, F-XI 1.6 as long as broad, and as long as X ( fig. 23); clypeus not ridged, midlobe somewhat bulging, apex with a small lip; mandible with a small ventral tooth at basal one-third; frontal V bulging but weakly outlined; ocellar Psyche [Vol. 97 triangle equilateral, LID 6.5 MOD, ocellocular distance 1.4 MOD; pronotal corners rounded, propodeal enclosure U-shaped, furrowed medially; forewing submarginal cells II and III unusually small, cellular area about as in fig. 1.
Female. Length 2.6 mm, characters much as in male. Clypeal median lobe with two tiny punctures, apex reddish and broadly rounded, with a thin but broad lip. Scutum more polished, punctation not as impressed. Propodeal enclosure less rough ( fig. 6). Foretarsal rake absent. Pygidial area polished, narrow.
Discussion. This small species has reddish-based and ventrally toothed mandibles, simple clypeus, bulging frons, punctate hypoepimeron, distinctly ridged propodeal side, and mostly brownish legs. A somewhat similar species is levis Williams which has F-XI longer in the male (as long as three preceding articles rather than two), and more extensive whitish on the legs. In the female of levis the foretarsal rake is evident, but not in nitidula.

Solierella pimorum Bohart, new species
Holotypefemale. Length 6.5 mm, black, whitish are: basal onehalf of mandible, transverse spots on pronotal ridge, pronotal lobe, large apicoventral spots on fore and midfemora, tibial spots on apical half of fore and midtibiae, long spot on hindtibia. Pubescence appressed silvery, most prominent on lower face, propodeum dorsolaterally, as tergal spots on basal three abdominal segments, widely but thinly dispersed over mesopleuron. Punctation close on face, punctures 1-2 diameters apart on rather shiny notum and mesopleuron. F-I-II each 2 as long as broad; clypeal midlobe with a strong carina, in profile slightly convex and ending bluntly; mandible simple beneath; frontal V strongly developed, subcarinate, almost diamond shaped; ocellar triangle slightly acute, LID 4.5 MOD, ocellocular distance 0.9 MOD; pronotal ridge low, rather smooth, corners rounded; forewing venation ( fig. 4) with second submarginal cell broader than high, third submarginal reaching distally as far as apex of marginal cell; propodeal side with fine ridges which become obsolete basad, dorsum with long, U-shaped enclosure which is finely ridged on either side of median groove ( fig. 7).
Discussion. Among species with basally white mandible, pimorum is probably closest to masoni which also has a strong clypeal carina and basal flagellar articles about 2 as long as broad. Differences in pimorum are the broader second submarginal cells, less closely punctate and less silvery mesopleuron, more bluntly pointed clypeus in profile, and black rather than red abdomen.
Discussion. Among the albipes group with strongly stepped mandible and rather well developed female foretarsal rake ( fig. 16), tarsata is remarkable for the encroaching silvery setae which cover most of the propodeal enclosure (as in fig. 7). Also, the simple male flagellum ( fig. 21) and the brilliantly white female hindtarsus are significant characters. The weakly developed frontal V approaches the situation in the related genus, Plenoculus, but the convex and ecarinate female pygidial area of tarsata clearly place it in Solierella.