Cerceris chiriquensis Cameron 1890

Cerceris insolita chiriquensis Cameron

Cerceris chiriquensis Cameron, 1890:114, pl. VII: fig. 8 [Panama].—Ashmead 1899:296.—Cheesman 1929:151.

FEMALE.—Length 12 mm. Black with yellow markings; punctation average; pubescence short to average.

Head subequal in width to the thorax; black except large frontal eye patches, central part of the medial clypeal lobe, lateral clypeal lobes, small medial frontal patch, basal part of the mandibes, spot back of the eye, and a patch on the scape, all of which are yellow; black of the vertex extends through the antennal scrobes and continues as a wide line between the clypeal lobes; clypeal border with a blunt medial denticle flanked on each side by a bicuspidate broad denticle, dark fuliginous; medial clypeal lobe with a low, cone-shaped elevation with a truncate apex; mandibles with three denticles, the most apical one much the largest apicad of which there is a deep incision, the most basal denticle little more than a low, rounded carina; antennae normal in form, dark above and lighter below.

Thorax black except a broken band on the pronotum, the scutellum, the metanotum, two separated elongate patches on the propodeum, a large patch on the enclosure that may be divided along the meson, a patch on the pleuron and a spot on the tegulae, all of which are yellow; tegulae low and smooth; enclosure smooth medially but deeply punctate laterally; mesosternal tubercles absent; legs black to dark fuscous except elongate patches on the first and second femora and all tibiae, small patches on the third trochanter and femora, and most of the tarsal segments, all of which are yellow; wings subhyaline but clouded in the anterior area.

Abdomen black except most of the first abdominal segment, lateral border of tergum 2, band on tergum 3, narrow lines on terga 4 and 5, most of sternum 2 and narrow lines on sterna 3, 4, and 5, all of which are yellow; pygidium with sides convex, ends subequal in width and the apical end broadly rounded.

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

Head black except for most of the face, a small spot back of the eye and a patch on the scape, all of which are yellow; clypeal border with a small medial denticle and a low indistinct lateral denticle on the medial clypeal lobe; mandibles with a single denticle; antennae normal in form, dark above, lighter below.

Thorax black except for a solid band on the pronotum, the scutellum, the metanotum, two separated elongate patches on the pronotum, the enclosure, and a spot on the tegulae, all of which are yellow; tegulae low and smooth; enclosure smooth except for scattered lateral punctation; mesosternal tubercle absent; legs as on the female except the hind femora may have a patch of fulvous replacing the yellow; wings as on female.

Abdomen black except the entire first segment, lateral spots on tergum 2, bands on tergum 3, narrow lines on terga 4, 5, and 6, bands on sterna 2 and 3, and broken lines on sterna 4, 5 and 6, all of which are yellow; pygidium with sides slightly convex, both ends broad, the apical end broadly truncate, surface with a very few deep pits.

Some females taken in the area of Turrialba, Costa Rica, are darker than the typical form. In these the adbomen is black except for much of the first abdominal segment and an evanescent line on the apical border of tergum 3.

The male is described herein for the first time.

In some male specimens one or both yellow patches on the propodeum may be much reduced in size or even disappear completely. The amount of black on the face of the male is quite variable.

In some specimens it is difficult to separate the subspecies C. insolita chiriquensis Cameron from the subspecies C. i. otomia Saussure, which has creamy-white markings.

TYPE.—The type female of Cerceris chiriquensis Cameron, taken from Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, 2500 to 4000 feet elevation (Champion), is at the British Museum (21.1,370), where it was examined by the author in 1959.

DISTRIBUTION.—Southern Mexico, Central America south through Ecuador; several records from Trinidad:

COSTA RICA: ♂, “Costa Rica,” 1920 (PS); ♂, La Cata, 1920 (PS); 5♂, La Lola, near Matina, 130 ft, 19 July 1963 (S and B); ♀, La Trinite, Monte Tucucme, 1000 ft, 1914 (PS); ♀, Nevarro Farm, March 1924 (HA); 6♂, Pacvare, 1949 (KWC); ♀, Palmar, (BOA); ♀, Sarapique, La Virgen, 1920 (PS); 5♂, Turrialba, 1949 (KWC); 13♀, 76♂, same location, 2080 ft, 11–24 July 1963 (S and B); 18♀, 157♂, 6 mi E Turrialba, 3800 ft, 13–23 July 1963 (S and B). EL SALVADOR: 2♂, Quezaltepeque, 3 July 1963 (S and B); ♀, 2♂, 23 mi N San Salvador, 2100 ft, 4 July 1963 (S and B); ♂, 25 mi N San Salvador, 2100 ft, 4 July 1963 (S and B). GUATAMALA: ♂, Amatitlan, 4000 ft, 4 August 1963 (S and B). HONDURAS: ♂, Corocito, 3 April 1924; ♂, Minas de Ore Comay, 4000 ft, (JE); 4♂, Prieta, 5, 6 April 1924. MEXICO: ♂, 31 mi E Campeche, Campeche, 10 ft, 16 August 1963 (S and B); ♀, Escuintla, Chiapas (C); ♂, Kochimilo, 31 August 1947 (HEM); ♀, 16 mi S Mexico, D.F., 7400 ft, 3 August 1954; ♂, Orizaba, 1862 (LB). NICARAGUA: ♂, San Marcos (B). PANAMA: ♀, Ancon, Canal Zone, 6 August 1924 (NB); 3♀, Barro Colorado Island, 26 September 1928 (PR); ♂, Buena Ventura, 10 March 1911 (ABu); ♂, Changuinola District, Boc Toro, 21 April 1924 (JBr); ♀ Corozal, Canal Zone, 19 January 1929 (CHC); ♂, El Valle, January 1947 (NLK); ♂, Empire, Canal Zone, 22 August; ♂, on barge from Limon to Juan Mina, Canal Zone, 31 August 1918 (HFD); ♂, Porto Bello, 4 March 1911 (ABu); ♀, Potrecillos, February 1935. TRINIDAD: ♀, “Trinidad,” 27 October 1902 (HCh); ♀, “Trinidad,” X-33 [sic] (Fitz Gerald); 2♀, ♂, Caroni River, 12 October 1918 (HMo); ♀, Caura Valley, 17 March 1935 (NW); ♀, Montserrat, June 1929 (ABu); ♀, Rio Pan, 23 March 1915 (ABu). ECUADOR: ♂, San Domingo de las Colorados, 9 August 1930 (RB).

PREY RECORD.—None.

PLANT RECORD.—None.