Australian Journal of
Taxonomy
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Aulacus jamberoo Jennings & Parslow 2018: 52.—ABRS 2019 [on-line checklist].
Aulacus naumanni Jennings & Austin 2018: 64.—ABRS 2019 [on-line checklist]. syn. nov.
Figure 53. Aulacus jamberoo Jennings & Parslow, A, holotype female, lateral habitus; B, metasoma and ovipositor; C, male, lateral habitus. Scale bar = 1.00 mm.
Figure 54. Aulacus jamberoo Jennings & Parslow, holotype female, A, lateral head; B, frontal face; C, dorsal head; D, lateral mesosoma; E, dorsal mesosoma; F, ovipositor guide; G, fore wing. Scale bar = 1.00 mm.
Diagnostic description.
Aulacus jamberoo is a distinctive species that can be easily separated from other Australian species based on the combination of body colouration reddish-brown with black on the ventral propleuron, mesopleuron and metapleuron. This species has a distinctive anterior pronotum margin (Fig. 54D, arrow).
Female. Body size 6.7 mm, ovipositor length 6.0 mm, fore wing length 6.0 mm (Fig. 53A–B); colouration reddish-brown except ventral propleuron, mesopleuron and metapleuron black, ovipositor sheath dark brown; wings hyaline except indistinct infuscation of distal quarter of 1st marginal and 4th submarginal cell (Fig. 54G), hind wing veins spectral; head quadrate, width 1.4 × length, postocular space 0.5 × eye length in dorsal view (Fig. 54C), raised transverse carina above toruli absent, malar space 0.2 × height of eye (Fig. 54A); length of scape 1.4 × pedicel length, 1st flagellomere 1.3 × length of scape, 0.5 × 2nd flagellomere; mesosoma length 1.4 × height, mesoscutum in lateral view rounded antero-dorsally (Fig. 54D), length 0.9 × width in dorsal view (Fig. 54E); medial lobe with transverse carinae; ovipositor guide oblique, positioned medially (Fig. 54F); ovipositor sheath length 1.0 × fore wing length (Fig. 53A-B); fore wing vein 2-Rs+M 0.6 × 1-Rs+M, four hamuli equidistant (Fig. 54G); metasoma pyriform,T1+T2 length 2.4 × width in dorsal view.
Male. Body size (5.6) mm, similar to female but general colouration orangish-brown, head and propleuron black, more extensive black colouration on ventral propleuron, mesopleuron and metapleuron (Fig. 53C).
Material examined.
Holotype. AUSTRALIA – NSW • ♀, "Jamberoo, 16.Jan.[19]49” (AMS). Right flagellomeres 6–12 missing, metasoma mounted on card.
Other material examined.
AUSTRALIA – NSW • 1 ♀, Jamberoo, 16.Jan.1949 (AMS) (specimen not measured). – ACT • 1 ♂, Holotype of Aulacus naumanni, “Gibraltar Falls 27 Jan. 1984 ACT I.D. Naumann ex ethanol” (ANIC).
Figure 53. Aulacus jamberoo Jennings & Parslow, A, holotype female, lateral habitus; B, metasoma and ovipositor; C, male, lateral habitus. Scale bar = 1.00 mm.
Figure 54. Aulacus jamberoo Jennings & Parslow, holotype female, A, lateral head; B, frontal face; C, dorsal head; D, lateral mesosoma; E, dorsal mesosoma; F, ovipositor guide; G, fore wing. Scale bar = 1.00 mm.
Distribution.
This species is known from two close locations in NSW and ACT (Fig. 92).
Biology.
Unknown.
Notes.
The type specimens of A. jamberoo and A. naumanni can be distinguished by their general body coloration; A. jamberoo is reddish-brown with less extensive black on the head and pronotum, while A. naumanni is more orange in coloration with more extensive black markings. However, given that the black coloration on the ventral mesosoma occupies the same general area in both species and that they share identical morphology, these differences are likely attributed to sexual dimorphism rather than taxonomic distinction. Furthermore, considering that the distribution of these species is only separated by approximately 250 kilometers and no other distinguishing features have been identified, we hereby synonymise A. naumanni with A. jamberoo.