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| Gasteruption mamburrumurl Parslow, Volpe & Kania, 2024 |
Abstract
Here we describe the distinctive new species Gasteruption mamburrumurl sp. nov. from Leliyn (Edith Falls), Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory, Australia and document a host association with the native resin bee, Megachile micrerythrura Cockerell, 1910 (Megachilidae: Apoidea). The common name for the species is the "Mam-Burrumurl wasp".
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| Live image of Gasteruption mamburrumurl sp. nov. photo by N. Volpe |
Taxonomy
Gasteruptiidae Ashmead, 1900
Gasteruptiinae Ashmead, 1900
Gasteruption Latreille, 1796
Gasteruption mamburrumurl sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Gasteruption mamburrumurl sp. nov. is a distinctive species that is easily distinguished from other described Australian species based on the combination of body colouration; head and metasoma black, mesosoma reddish-brown, metatibia without cream patch, and areolate-rugulose sculpturing on the mesoscutum.
Distribution. The species is known only from the holotype locality at Leliyn (Edith falls), Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory, Australia.
Etymology. In collaboration with First Nations elders and custodians of the Country in which this species was discovered, the species epithet mamburrumurl is derived from the Jawoyn language, combining the words mam meaning 'ghost' and burrumurl meaning 'wasp.' This name describes the distinctive floating searching flight pattern exhibited by these wasps. Hence, this species is commonly referred to as the “Mam-Burrumurl wasp”.
Ben A. Parslow, Nicholas J. Volpe and Lucyna I. Kania. 2024. A New Species of Gasteruption (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae) with A Host Association from Northern Australia. Australian Journal of Taxonomy. 70: 1–7. DOI: doi.org/10.54102/ajt.byysx
www.taxonomyaustralia.org.au/ajt/papers/j2iqgsdncv
