Leptacis quadrilineata, Buhl, 2014

Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2014, New species and new records of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae from Togo (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), African Invertebrates 55 (1), pp. 68-68 : 85-86

Leptacis quadrilineata sp. n.

Figs 27–30

Etymology: From Latin quattuor and linea, “four lines”; in reference to the distinct four lines formed by setae on the mesoscutum.

Diagnosis: A small species with weak hyperoccipital carina; female A4 very slightly elongate, only slightly longer than A3 and shorter than A5; A9 1.2× as long as wide; mesoscutum with setae forming four distinct longitudinal lines; scutellum with a very small tooth; female metasoma 0.9× as long as rest of body.

Description:

Female.

Body length 0.55 mm. Blackish; A1, tegulae and legs including coxae light brown, mandibles and A2–A10 darker brown. Head from above ( Fig. 27 ) twice as wide as long, 1.25× as wide as mesosoma; occiput and hind part of vertex transversely reticulate-coriaceous, rest of vertex and frons weakly reticulate with rather large meshes (at most slightly transverse); hyperoccipital carina weak. Eyes bare. OOL slightly shorter than diameter of lateral ocellus. Head in frontal view 1.15× as wide as high. Antenna ( Fig. 28 ) with A1 0.75× as long as height of head, as long as distance between inner orbits; A9 1.2× as long as wide. Mesosoma 1.5× as long as wide, 1.3× as high as wide. Sides of pronotum faintly leathery in less than anterior half, rest smooth. Mesoscutum with setae forming four distinct longitudinal lines: two along imaginary notaulic courses and one along each side, otherwise bare, weakly reticulate-coriaceous, without notauli; hind margin narrowly brownish, very slightly convex, with three setae at each side. Scuto-scutellar grooves invisible. Mesopleuron smooth. Scutellum ( Fig. 29 ) rather densely setose, slightly smoother than mesoscutum, in dorsal view slightly elongate, Amblyaspis -like, in lateral view with a very small, brownish tooth behind, without lamella. Metapleuron smooth, with pilosity only posteriorly. Propodeal carinae moderately high, translucent, very close together. Fore wing 1.1× as long as entire body, 3.3× as long as wide, almost clear, with fine and dense microtrichia; marginal cilia fully 0.4× width of wing. Hind wing 12.5× as long as wide; marginal cilia 1.5× width of wing. Metasoma ( Fig. 30 ) 0.9× as long as head and mesosoma combined, nearly 1.1× as wide as mesosoma. T1 raised anteriorly, behind with two weak longitudinal carinae, inconspicuously setose. T2 with two very weak basal foveae which have a few inconspicuous setae at their base, T2 otherwise smooth. T3–T6 with reticulate sculpture, apex of T6 smooth; apical tergites at most with very few, inconspicuous setae.

Comparison: This species runs to L. microcera Buhl, 2003 , in Buhl’s (2011 b) key, but that species has more elongate basal flagellar segments, mesosoma 1.7× as long as wide, scattered setae on mesoscutum, a much stronger scutellar spine, and fore wing with scattered, long microtrichia.

Holotype: ♀ TOGO: Région des Plateaux, Ouwé NW of Gbadi Nkougna (SE of Badou), at creek Ouwé (07°29'32"N 00°41'56"E), 25.iv. 2008, 590 m, remains of secondary rainforest, swept, M. von Tschirnhaus.

Figures

Figs 27–30. Leptacis quadrilineata sp. n., female: (27) head in dorsal view; (28) antenna; (29) scutellum and propodeal carinae in lateral view; (30) metasoma in dorsal view.