A revision of spider wasps of the genus Turneromyia (Hymenoptera : Pompilidae)

Abstract

The genus Turneromyia was proposed by Banks to include a single species, ahrimanes Turner. It is here redefined to include most of the Australian species traditionally included in the genus Pompilus. As so defined, it includes 29 known species, all confined to the Australian region. Keys are presented to the species and important structural features are illustrated. Records for five species suggest that these are ethologically generalized Pompilidae, preying upon spiders of the families Lycosidae, Clubionidae and Sparassidae, and making simple nests in the ground.

The following species are newly assigned to Turneromyia: atava Turner, bassiana Turner, belardoo Evans, frontalis Fabricius, labilis Smith, melancholica Smith, morio Fabricius, semiluctuosa Smith, senex Turner, and vassei Turner. Psammochares basilicus Turner is placed in the synonymy of T. morio (Fabricius) and P. berthoudi Turner is placed in the synonymy of T. semiluctuosa (Smith). The following 18 species are described as new: aranda, balladonia, citrimaculata, electa, hesperia, nigricans, nigropilosa, occidentalis, pumila, rapax, senicula, torosa, torrida, tristis, venator, wilpena, wilsoni, and wiluna.