Ophion, Fabricius, 1798

Johansson, Niklas, Ameri, Ali, Riedel, Matthias, Talebi, Ali Asghar & Ebrahimi, Ebrahim, 2021, Contribution to the Ophioninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Iran with the description of 16 new species and an illustrated key to the Eremotylus of the Western Palaearctic, Zootaxa 5023 (2), pp. 151-206 : 168-170

Ophion al Johansson sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CCB675F3-A628-49AF-B859-78AE80463769

Figs 9A‒B, D‒E

Holotype: IRAN: ♀, Kohkiluyeh & Boyerahmad, Kakan, Hoseynkhani, 26 May 1995, 2100 m. a. s., Hash. / Badii / Safs. leg. ( HMIM).

Paratype: IRAN: 1♀, Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari Province , Kuhrang, Hiregan, 32˚20’31"N, 50˚26’56"E, 6 Jun. 2005, 2305 m. a. s., Ebra / Hai. leg. ( HMIM) .

Type depositories: The holotype is stored in HMIM and the paratype in NHRS

Etymology: The scientific name al refers to a nocturnal creature feeding on babies in ancient Persian mythology, hence expressing a similar ecology as Ophion al Johansson sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Most similar to Ophion bipictor Aubert, 1980 ( Figs 9C, F ) but with the pleurosternal angles more obtuse, less numerous flagellomeres, wider face ( Fig. 9B ) and temples ( Fig. 9E ). Ophion al Johansson sp. nov. also lacks the typical colouration of O. bipictor , which has two spots in front of the scutellum and the subalar prominence whitish ( Fig. 9F ). Also similar to the Western Palaearctic species Ophion slaviceki Kriechbaumer, 1892 and O. kevoensis Jussila, 1965 but distinguished by the stouter flagellomeres, the more distinct carination of propodeum and the black ovipositor sheath.

Description: Male unknown. Fore wing length 13‒14 mm. Body length 15‒16 mm. Antenna with 56 flagellomeres. Head buccate, temple in lateral view 0.8‒0.9 × as long as compound eye ( Fig. 9E ). Space between compound eye and lateral ocellus wide, about 0.2 × the diameter of ocellus. Face relatively wide ( Fig. 9B ). Occipital carina centrally very weakly angulate. Face below antennal sockets polished with distinct, but rather scarce punctures. Malar space about 0.1 × as long as mandibular base. Mandibular gape acute, but one female with indication of internal angles. Mandibles heavily worn in the two known specimens. First flagellomere 3.0 × as long as wide. Central flagellomeres stout, about 1.2‒1.3 × as long as wide. Apical flagellomeres approximately 1.5 × as long as wide. Mesoscutum and mesopleuron strongly polished with distinct punctures, space between punctures about three × their diameter. Epicnemial carina, in antero-ventral view, with pleurosternal angles right angled and distinct, anterior to sternal angles ( Fig. 9D ). Scutellum without lateral carinae. Propodeum with carination complete.Anterior transverse carina in one specimen becoming almost absent laterally. Sclerotised part of first sternite ending level to spiracle. Hind trochantellus as long as wide in dorsal view. Hind femur about 7.0 × as long as wide. Inner spur of hind tibia long, about 0.4 × as long as hind metatarsus. Wing membrane clear. Ramellus quite short, reaching 0.3 × the width of the discosubmarginal cell. Radius weakly sinuous, its inner part before junction with pterostigma straight. Nervellus broken slightly below the middle by the discoidella.

Colouration: Body brownish reddish, quite dark compared to other Ophion species. Inner and outer eye margins whitish, the outer widely, the inner narrow. Mandibular teeth black. Ovipositor sheath black, contrasting in colour with posterior metasomal segments.

Figures

FIGURE 9. A) Ophion al Johansson sp. nov., holotype ♀ (HMIM) in lateral view; B) Ophion al sp. nov. paratype female, head in anterior view; C) Ophion bipictor Aubert, female from Iran, head in anterior view; D) Ophion al sp. nov paratype female, mesopleuron and pleurosternal angles in lateroventral view; E) Ophion al sp. nov., paratype female, mesosoma and head in lateral view; F) Ophion bipictor Aubert, mesosoma and head in lateral view. Photos: Niklas Johansson.