Mesa petiolata (Smith 1855)

Mesa petiolata (Smith)

Figure 12

Myzine peliolata Smith, 1855:72 [ India; two syntypes in Oxford University Museum].—Bingham, 1897:70 [Barrackpore, Bengal].—Dalla Torre, 1897:125.

Myzine ceylonica Cameron, 1900:18, 19 [ Trincomalee, Ceylon; type in British Museum (Natural History)].

Plesia (Mesa) petiolata (Smith).—Turner, 1908a:512 [synonymizes this and M. ceylonica based on pair taken in copula at Pusa, Bengal].

Plesia petiolata (Smith).—Turner, 1911:152 [, : Colombo, Ceylon].

Elis (Mesa) petiolata (Smith).—Turner: 1912:717, 718 [, ; Bengal, Bombay, Ceylon].

Smith's syntype series in Oxford University consists of two males, each bearing a hand-written label “Ind.” The genitalia are identical with specimens from Sri Lanka and South India except that the dorsal edge of the cuspis is a bit more strongly curved. The punctation of front and dorsum of propodeum, conformation of antenna, and coloration of forecoxa are similar except that one syntype has the apex of forecoxa with a tiny yellow spot. One syntype has a larger creamy area on forefemur than any other specimens; the other syntype has an apical band on the second tergum divided into three spots, and that on the sixth tergum is absent on the sides. I have selected as the lectotype the larger specimen (11 mm) with greater extent of creamy markings. Its genitalia were split to facilitate examination of the internal surface.

I have examined the type of M. ceylonica Cameron and, based on Ceylonese material, I agree with Turner's association of sexes in this species.

Both sexes of M. petiolata are easily distinguished from the other Ceylonese species of Mesa. The dark wings of the female separate it from all but the larger M. dimidiata (Guérin), which differs in having several of the abdominal segments red; also the punctures on dorsal surface of pronotum and posterior surface of propodeum are coarser and closer in M. petiolata. The males of M. petiolata and M. dimidiata are the only Ceylonese Mesa with black forecoxae; the larger size, infumated wings, and black abdomen readily separate the latter from the former species.

Mesa petiolata is widely distributed in Sri Lanka from sea level to at least 2100 ft and in both Dry and Wet Zone areas, although it is much more common in the Dry Zone. It occurs also in India. I have seen specimens from Karikal in Pondichery State, and Walayar Forests in Kerala State and Coimbatore, and it has been recorded from Pusa, Bombay, and Barrackpore. Dates of collection in Colombo suggest that the species may breed throughout the year.

FEMALE.—Length 7.8–10.2 mm, forewing 5.0–6.5 mm 20786 6.5 mm. Black, mandible except apex and tegula dark red. Forewing strongly yellow and with yellow veins on basal third, apical two-thirds strongly infuscated and with brown veins, hind wing clear on basal half, slightly infumated on apical half. Erect vestiture glittering white, slightly tinged with yellow on head.

Other details as noted for M. karunaratnei, new species, except as follows.

Median third of upper half of front smooth, the third adjacent to eye subcontiguously punctate; postocellar distance 0.8 times the ocellocular distance and 0.6 times the ocelloccipital distance; vertexal punctation denser, some punctures separated by half the diameter of a puncture, others more separated.

Pronotal disk with punctures somewhat larger and tending to be confluent in longitudinal rows, the central rows separated by about the diameter of a puncture, rows on sides by half the diameter of a puncture; scutum smooth anteriorly in middle, laterally and posteriorly with a few punctures separated by about the diameter of a puncture; scutellum with punctures in middle separated by the diameter of a puncture, laterally by half the diameter of a puncture; mesopleural disk with punctures separated by half the diameter of a puncture.

Narrow apical margin of pygidium shagreened.

MALE (Figure 12).—Length 10.0–14.0 mm, forewing 6.0–8.0 mm. Coloration, vestiture, and other details as noted for M. karunaratnei except as follows.

Pale markings creamy, base of clypeus black, lateral surface of pronotum not spotted, bands on abdominal terga narrower, that on first sometimes separated on midline, that on sixth occasionally separated into 3 spots, some spots on sterna occasionally lacking, coxae all black as is hind femur, fore and mid femora pale at extreme apex, and only basal third of hind tibia pale. Erect vestiture on abdominal dorsum denser.

Apical emargination of clypeal lobe a bit deeper, the teeth more prominent, separated from each other by 0.8 times the diameter of first flagellar segment; postocellar distance 0.8 times both ocellocular and ocelloccipital distances, hind ocelli margined behind by a shallow depression; punctures on vertex separated by half the diameter of a puncture.

Propodeal dorsum finely, irregularly and closely rugulose-reticulate, lateral and posterior surfaces more delicately so.

Petiole of first abdominal segment 0.4 times as long as nodose section of first tergum; second to fifth terga with small punctures separated by about the diameter of a puncture; pygidial area of seventh tergum flattened, ovoid, central ridge higher than lateral carinae, surface between these with a row of punctures, apex not emarginate; genitalia (Figure 12).

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—NORTHERN PROVINCE. Vavuniya District: 3, Parayanalankulam, irrigation canal, 25 mi NW Medawachchiya, 100 ft, 20–25 Mar, Davis et al. (USNM). Mannar District: 4, 0.5 mi NE Kokmotte bung., Wilpattu Natl. Pk., 22–23 Jan, 21–25 May, 5–8 Oct, 1 in Malaise trap, Krombein et al. (USNM).

NORTH CENTRAL PROVINCE. Anuradhapura District: 1, Anuradhapura, 29–30 Apr, Perera (Lawrence); 1, Maradan Maduwa, Wilpattu Natl. Pk., 23 mi W Anuradhapura, 2 Feb, Brinck et al. (Lund); 1, Padaviya, Irrigation bung., 180 ft, 27 Feb–9 Mar, Davis et al. (USNM); 1, Kekirawa, 26 Jan, Henry (Colombo); 38, Hunuwilagama, near Wilpattu Natl. Pk., 200 ft, in Malaise trap, 28 Oct–3 Nov, Hevel et al. (USNM).

EASTERN PROVINCE. Trincomalee District: 1, Trincomalee, China Bay Ridge bung., 0–30 m, 8–11 Oct, Krombein et al. (USNM); 1, Kanniyai, 15 m, 10 Oct, Krombein et al. (USNM). Batticaloa District: 2, Maduru Oya, Punani, 500 ft, 9–14 Jun, Karunaratne (Ottawa); 1, Pullumalai, 11 Mar (Colombo).

CENTRAL PROVINCE. Kandy District: 2, Kandy (includes Peak View Motel, Udawattakele Sanctuary), 1800–2100 ft, 15–24 Jan, 16–31 Aug, Davis et al., Karunaratne (USNM).

NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE. Kurunegala District: 2, 1, Kurunegala (includes near Elephant Rock, Badegamuwa Jungle), 27 Jan, 20 Sep, Krombein et al. (USNM).

WESTERN PROVINCE. Colombo District: 4, 41, Colombo (includes Colpetty, Museum Garden), 30 Mar, 3 Apr, 15 May, 30 Jun, 2 and 3 Jul, 11 Aug, 10–20 Oct, 2, 6, 26 Nov, Halstead, Henry, Karunaratne, Perera (USNM, Colombo, Lawrence, London, San Francisco); 1, Gampaha Botanic Garden, 8 Nov, Krombein et al. (USNM); 1, 2, Ratmalana, near airport, 50 ft, 6 Jun, Krombein et al. (USNM); 2, 2, Labugama Reservoir, 11 Jul, Krombein et al. (USNM); 2, Kalatuwawa, in Malaise trap, 10–12 Aug, Huang et al. (USNM); 1, Laxapathiya, 15 mi S Colombo, 15–30 Jan, Perera (Lawrence).

SABARAGAMUWA PROVINCE. Ratnapura District: 6, 9, Gilimale, Induruwa Jungle, 8 in Malaise trap, 5–7 Feb, 7–8 Mar, 16–19 Apr, 19–22 Jun, Krombein et al. (USNM); 1, Panamure, 500 ft, 15–21 Oct, Flint et al. (USNM); 1, Uggalkaltota, Irrigation bung., 350 ft, 31 Jan–8 Feb, Davis et al. (USNM); 1, Belihuloya Rest House, 9 Apr, in Malaise trap, Hubbard et al. (USNM).

UVA PROVINCE. Monaragala District: 1, Inginiyagala, 1 Nov, Keiser (Basel); 1, Mau Aru, 10 mi E Uda Walawe, 24–26 Sep, in Malaise trap, Krombein et al. (USNM); 1, 1, Angunakolapelessa, 27–28 Mar, 30 Sep–1 Oct, 1 in Malaise trap, Krombein et al. (USNM).

SOUTHERN PROVINCE. Galle District: 1, Hiniduma, 20–28 Feb, Perera (Lawrence). Hambantota District: 1, Ranna, 16 Jul, Henry (Colombo); 1, 3, Palatupana (includes tank and W.L.N.P.S. bung.), 3 in Malaise trap, 18–20 Jan, 3 Feb, Krombein et al. (USNM).

MISCELLANEOUS. 1, Ceylon, Nietner (Berlin).