Megacampsomeris funesta Castagnet & Cabon, 2025

Megacampsomeris funesta Castagnet & Cabon , sp. nov.

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( Figs 1–3 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 )

Type material. Holotype ( CCEC), ♂, [red label] ‘ PHILIPPINES / Mindanao Isl. / Surigao del Sur pr. / Tandag , IX.2017 / Local collector leg.’, [red label] ‘ HOLOTYPE ♂ / Megacampsomeris funesta / Castagnet & Cabon, 2025’. Paratypes: 1♀ ( CCEC), ‘ PHILIPPINES, Mindanao Isl., Davao Oriental pr., Governor Generoso , X.2017 / Local collector leg .’, ‘ PARATYPE ♀ / Megacampsomeris funesta / Castagnet & Cabon, 2025’; 1♀ ( CJBC) ‘ PHILIPPINES / Mindanao Isl. / Lanao del Sur pr. / Amai Manabilang , II.2024 / Local collector leg.’, second label same as the precedent ; 2♂ ( CJBC), ‘ PHILIPPINES / Mindanao Isl. / Surigao del Sur pr. / San Agustin , III.2023 / Local collector leg .’, ‘ PARATYPE / ♂ / Megacampsomeris funesta / Castagnet & Cabon, 2025’; 1♂ ( CFC), ‘ PHILIPPINES / Mindanao Isl. / Davao del Sur pr. / Tamayong , II.2021 / Local collector leg.’, second label same as the precedent .

Diagnosis. M. funesta sp. nov. is distinguished in females from all other species of Megacampsomeris by having the punctation of the frons and vertex dense, very fine, and largely coalescent; and the metanotum with extremely fine, dense, and coalescent punctation. In contrast, in other Megacampsomeris species, the punctation of the frons and/or vertex is always coarser, partly more widely spaced, or with more or less extensive impunctate areas; and the metanotum always has a coarser punctation than in M. funesta .

Moreover, most of Megacampsomeris female ( M. asiatica ( Saussure, 1858) , M. schultessi Betrem, 1928 , M. grossiformis Betrem, 1928 , M. farrenwithei Betrem, 1928 , M. grossa ( Fabricius, 1804) , M. mojiensis ( Uchida, 1933) , M. uchidai Betrem, 1928 , M. cochinensis Betrem, 1928 , M. binghami Betrem, 1928 , M. formosensis Betrem, 1928 , M. limbata ( Saussure & Sichel, 1864) , M. lindenii ( Lepeletier, 1845) , M. prismatica ( Smith, 1855) , M. ceylonica ( Kirby, 1889) , M. pulchrivestita ( Cameron, 1902) , M. acutinerva ( Cameron, 1902) , M. shillongensis Betrem, 1928 , M. dehraensis Betrem, 1928 , M. limbangensis Betrem, 1928 , M. montanum Gupta & Jonathan, 2003 , M. nilgirensis Gupta & Jonathan, 2003 , M. westermanni Betrem, 1928 ) have the first tergites covered with colored pubescence (whitish, yellowish, orange, or brownish); whereas in M. funesta sp. nov. the metasomal pubescence is entirely black. Only M. luzonensis ( Rohwer, 1921) , comb. nov., M. reticulata (Cameron, 1892) , M. vanoordti Betrem, 1928 , M. habrocoma , and M. bitschi Castagnet, 2021 also have the metasoma entirely covered with black pubescence.

The males of Megacampsomeris species are very similar, but M. funesta sp. nov. can be distinguished from those of other Megacampsomeris species by the following combination of characters: the mesosoma with brown pilosity; the metasoma entirely melanistic covered with black pilosity; and distinctly yellowish wings. In contrast, the other species never exhibit this exact combination: the mesosoma has whitish, yellowish, orangish, brownish or black pilosity; the metasoma often has yellowish markings; the basal tergites usually have colored pilosity (whitish, yellowish, orange, or brownish); and the wings may be either dark or yellowish. M. habrocoma may present a somewhat similar habitus; for further details, see the identification key and remarks.

Description of the male ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ). Length 25–29 mm.

Head ( Figs 1B, C View FIGURE 1 ). Inner margin of mandibles with three median teeth. Clypeus impunctate medially, with coarse to fine punctures laterally and basally. Frontal spatium with dense, fine, tight and coalescent punctures. Fissura frontalis weakly impressed, ending in frontal pit. Transversal groove delimiting frontal space weakly visible. Frons with more or less coarse and dense punctures, with a fine impunctate area behind median ocellus. Vertex almost impunctate between eye and posterior ocellus, with very dense and fine punctures behind posterior ocelli.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ). Pronotum with very dense, fine and tight punctures. Scutum with a medially elevated area; with coarse, dense and tight punctures, sparser punctures medially and with a V-shaped impunctate area. Scutellum with very dense and fine punctures, largely impunctate apically. Metanotum with very fine, tight and almost coalescent punctures. Mesopleuron with dense, fine and tight punctures, with a fine area impunctate or almost so along metapleuron. Upper plate of metapleuron with scattered, fine and shallow punctures medially. Lower plate of metapleuron largely punctate; with dense, coarse and deep punctures. Lateral area of propodeum with dense, coarse and deep punctures; at level of transition between lateral and dorso-lateral areas of propodeum with very dense and coalescent punctures. Lateral carina of propodeum weakly visible. Dorso-median area of propodeum with fine, dense, tight and almost coalescent punctures. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with fine, dense, tight and almost coalescent punctures, without distinct impunctate area basally (mirror). Postero-median and lateral areas of propodeum with fine, dense, tight and coalescent punctures.

Metasoma ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). T1 with dense, coarse and deep punctures. T2-T3 with dense, coarse and deep punctures; medially and apically in middle with sparser and shallower punctures. T4-T6 with similar punctation. S1 with a transverse groove crossing entire sternite; with dense, coarse and deep punctures, weakly impunctate apically. S2 with distinct tubercle; with dense and coarse punctures, sparser in middle. S3-S5 similarly punctate, with sparser punctures medially.

Genitalia. See Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 .

Coloration ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ). Head entirely black with brown/black pilosity. Mesosoma black with brown-black pilosity and tawny tomentosity mainly on pronotum, scutum and scutellum. Legs black with black pilosity. Metatibial spurs dark orangish. Wings yellowish subhyaline. Metasoma black with green/violet iridescence, with black pilosity.

Female ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ). Length 35–37 mm.

Head ( Figs 2B, C View FIGURE 2 ). Clypeus wrinkled apically, impunctate medially, basally and laterally with very dense and fine punctures. Frontal spatium with very dense, tight, fine and almost coalescent punctures. Fissura frontalis visible, reaching median ocelli. Frons with fine, dense, and tight punctures in eye notch and laterally; with dense but more widely spaced punctures in front of median ocellus; and with a group of dense, tight, and fine punctures in front of posterior ocelli. Along eye and eye notch, with a sharp raised and impunctate area.Vertex with a fine impunctate band behind posterior ocelli, and with dense, fine punctures on remaining surface. Declivous part of vertex bears very dense, tight, and fine punctures; area behind eyes largely impunctate. Temporal groove weakly visible.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ). Pronotum with very dense, tight, fine and coalescent punctures. Scutum with very dense, deep and coalescent punctures, a fine impunctate band laterally along tegula and medially with a large V-shaped impunctate area; with micropunctation over almost entire surface, except on impunctate area. Scutellum with very dense, fine, and coalescent punctures, except for a narrow impunctate band medially and apically. Metanotum very dense, tight, fine and coalescent punctures, except for a narrow impunctate band medially. Upper plate of mesopleuron without tubercle; with dense and fine punctures medially. Lower plate of mesopleuron with a weakly visible epicnemial carina; with dense and fine punctures along epicnemial carina. Upper plate of metapleuron with fine, dense, and tight punctures on upper quarter. Lateral area of propodeum largely impunctate along lower plate of metapleuron, with dense, deep and coarse punctures along dorso-lateral and postero-lateral areas of propodeum. Lateral carina of propodeum slightly exceeding spiracle. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with an impunctate area (mirror); with dense, tight and fine punctures on remaining surface. Dorso-median area of propodeum with dense, tight deep,coarse and coalescent punctures; transition zone between dorso-median and postero-median areas of propodeum with a raised crest projecting backward. Postero-median area of propodeum with dense; deep and coarse punctures. Postero-lateral area of propodeum with dense, shallow, tight and fine punctures. Metatibial spur dark orangish. Forewing with two recurrent veins.

Metasoma ( Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 ). T1 almost impunctate medially; with dense and fine punctures laterally and apically. T2- T3 with dense, shallow and fine punctures basally; largely impunctate medially; with pre-apical band impunctate or nearly so. T4-T5 similarly punctate with denser and coarser punctures. S1 with fine and dense punctures laterally, impunctate on remaining surface. S2 with coarse punctures basally; impunctate medially, with few scattered dots; a row of coarse and deep punctures largely interrupted apically in middle. S3-S4 similarly punctate.

Coloration ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ). Head black with brown/black pilosity, except declivous part of vertex with tawny tomentosity. Mesosoma black with brown-black pilosity and tawny tomentosity mainly on scutum. Legs black with black pilosity. Metatibial spurs orange-brownish. Wings yellowish subhyaline. Metasoma black and mat (mainly on T2-T3), with black pilosity.

Etymology. The name funesta refers to the dark color of the species.

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. The Philippines (Mindanao) ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ).

Comparative diagnosis. This taxon is assigned to the genus Megacampsomeris because it shares the following generic characteristics with Megacampsomeris : in females, posterior tibial spurs are whitish or orangish; frons without deep punctate cluster in front of the median ocellus; excavation of the pronotum short and weakly defined, sometimes partially limited by a sharp margin; first submarginal cell glabrous, except near the margin of the stigma and costal area, where the pilosity may extend medially. In males, the posterior tibial spurs are whitish or orangish, and the genitalia are characteristic of the genus Megacampsomeris : lamina volsellaris densely punctate, bearing long, erect setae; basal part of the volsellae with such dense and closely spaced punctures that the bases of the setae are almost invisible, with long and erect pilosity, forming a brush.

Three species are particularly close to M. funesta and can be distinguished from M. funesta as follows:

M. funesta sp. nov. is easily distinguished from M. luzonensis in females, by the dense punctation of the head and metasoma, whereas in M. luzonensis , both the head and metasoma exhibit large impunctate areas.

M. funesta sp. nov. can be distinguished from M. bitschi by the frons and vertex are covered with very dense, fine, tight, and almost coalescent punctures; the metanotum bears very dense, fine, and coalescent punctures; the dorso-median area of propodeum has a distinct and prominent apical ridge, with very dense, coarse, and coalescent punctures; and the postero-lateral and median areas of propodeum show dense, coarse, and deep punctures. In contrast, in M. bitschi , the frons and vertex are densely but more sparsely and coarsely punctate; the metanotum has dense, coarse punctures that are clearly not coalescent; the dorso-median area of propodeum lacks a distinct apical ridge, and is punctate with dense, coarse, but clearly non-coalescent punctures; the postero-lateral and median areas of propodeum are covered with scattered, minute, and shallow punctures.

M. habrocoma ( Smith, 1855) , recorded from Indonesia ( Betrem, 1928) (material examined: Indonesia: West Java province. 3♀ 3♂, Mount Halimun, IX.2017 (local collector leg.) [CJBC]), exhibits a habitus very similar to that of M. funesta sp. nov. in females: entirely melanistic, with black to brownish pilosity and clear wings that are not entirely dark. However, females of M. funesta sp. nov. can be distinguished from M. habrocoma by the following characters: the frons and vertex are covered with very dense, fine, tight, and almost coalescent punctures; the metanotum bears very dense, fine, and coalescent punctures; the dorso-median area of propodeum has a distinct and prominent apical ridge, with very dense, coarse, and coalescent punctures; and the postero-lateral and median areas of propodeum show dense, coarse, and deep punctures. In contrast, in M. habrocoma , the frons and vertex are densely but more sparsely and coarsely punctate; the metanotum has dense, coarse punctures that are clearly not coalescent; the dorso-median area of propodeum shows only a weakly visible apical ridge, and is punctate with dense, coarse, but clearly non-coalescent punctures; the postero-lateral and median areas of propodeum are covered with scattered, minute, and shallow punctures.

In males, M. funesta sp. nov. can be distinguished from M. luzonensis , M. habrocoma and M. bitschi by the dorso-median area of propodeum, which bears fine, dense, tight, and almost coalescent punctures; the lower plate similarly covered with dense, coarse, and deep punctures, and at the transition between the lateral and dorso-lateral areas, the punctures become very dense and coalescent. In contrast, in M. luzonensis , M. habrocoma and M. bitschi , the dorso-median area of propodeum has coarser and sparser punctures; the lower plate of the metapleuron is weakly punctate, with scattered, fine, and shallow punctures; the lateral area of propodeum shows sparse, fine, and shallow punctures, and at the transition between the lateral and dorso-lateral areas, the punctures are dense and almost coalescent.

Two other species known only by females, M. malaccensis and M. laevivertex from Indonesia (in the vicinity of Malacca), were reported to have a similar habitus to that of the new species. M. laevivertex differs from M. funesta sp. nov., according to Betrem’s (1928) description, by the punctation of the vertex, which is entirely impunctate, whereas in M. funesta sp. nov. the vertex is densely and finely punctate. M. malaccensis differs from the new species, according to Betrem’s (1928) description, by having the vertex with very coarse and deep punctures, the scutum being entirely densely punctate, the dorso-median area of propodeum punctate like the metanotum, and by a uniformly charcoal-black pilosity, almost lacking any tomentosity. In contrast, in M. funesta sp. nov., the vertex is densely and finely punctate, the scutum shows a large V-shaped impunctate area medially, the punctation of the dorso-median area of propodeum is much coarser than that of the metanotum, and the pilosity is brownish to black, with a dense tawny tomentosity. The holotype specimens of M. malaccensis and M. laevivertex were originally deposited in the Federated Malay States Museums (formerly the Selangor Museum and now Muzium Negara). Unfortunately, during World War II, part of the Federated Malay States Museums was destroyed by bombing carried out by the Allied Air Force on 10 March 1945. As a result, most of the collections were lost, and these two holotypes remain untraceable in the collections of Muzium Negara to this day (I. M. Abdullah & M. K. Jemangin com. pers.).