Tanyxiphium seychellense Huber

Huber, John T., 2015, World reclassification of the Gonatocerus group of genera (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), Zootaxa 3967 (1), pp. 1-184 : 60-61

Tanyxiphium seychellense Huber , sp. n.

( Figs 264–270 , 274 , 277–282 )

Type material. Holotype ♀ ( BMNH), on slide ( Fig. 267 ) labelled: 1. “ Seychelles: Cousin I. 24.vi.1999, M.J. Hill, Malaise trap, plot 24, birdlife GEF” 2. “ Tanyxiphium seychellense Huber Holotype ♀ dorsal”

Paratypes. 32 ♀, 19 ♂. MADAGASCAR. Fianarantsoa. Ranomafana National Park, 1020m, 21°15.99'S 47°25.21'E, 23–28.iv.2002, R. Halin’Hala, MT (1 ♀, CAS), 1030m, 21°15.05'S 47°24.43'E, 15–21.xii.2001, R. Halin’Hala, MT (1 ♀, CAS). SEYCHELLES: same data as holotype (2 ♀, 1 ♂, BMNH, CNC); same data as holotype except some labels with M.J. Hill as the collector, and dates and plot numbers as follows: 10.iii, 18.vi, 21.vi, 5.xii, 8.xii; plots H5, H9, P5, 10, 12, 33, 41 (19 ♀, 15 ♂, BMNH, CNC, UCRC); Conception I., 20.ix, plot 10 (3 ♀, 1 ♂); Denis I., 8 and 11.x.1999, M.J. Hill, plots F4, B11 (2 ♀); Felicite I., 14.xi.1999, M. J. Hill, plot 6 (1 ♀); Grand Soeur I., 22.vii.1999, M.J. Hill, plot 8 (1 ♀); Marianne I., 10.iii.2000, M.J. Hill, plot E 4/1 (1 ♀); North I. 23.viii.1999, M. Hill, plot 1 (1 ♀, 2 ♂, CNC).

Diagnosis. Tanyxiphium seychellense females differ from those of T. longissimum by the yellow colour of metathorax and propodeum contrasting distinctly with the dark colour of the pro- and mesothorax ( Fig. 269 ), fl5 and fl6 without mps (exceptionally one on fl5) ( Fig. 266 ), and ovipositor sheaths at most slightly longer than entire body length.

Description. FEMALE. Body length 922–1100 (n=10). Colour. Head except mouthparts, antenna except scape–fl1, and pro- and mesothorax dark brown, gaster brown, sometimes lighter anteriorly and posteriorly; mouthparts, scape–fl1, metathorax and propodeum, and legs yellow ( Fig. 269 ). The dark brown parts may be lighter brown to almost yellow in some specimens. Head. Head ( Figs 264, 265 , 277, 279 ) width 355–385 (n=2), with mandibles small, barely meeting medially ( Figs 264 , 281 ). Antenna. Funicle segments fl7 and fl8 each with 2 mps ( Fig. 266 ), fl5 exceptionally with 1 mps on one antenna. Length/width measurements (n=4): scape 206–273/36–50, pedicel 68–80/36–42, fl1 48–56/22–25, fl2 38–53/22–23, fl3 48–59/20–23, fl4 45–56/22–24, fl5 65–76/24–25, fl6 52– 66/23–27, fl7 62–78/26–32, fl8 60–77/29–44, clava 171–230/53–66. Mesosoma. As in generic description ( Fig. 269 ). Wings. Fore wing ( Fig. 268 ) length (n=4) 998–1110, width 259–323, length/width 3.43–3.85, longest marginal setae 79–89. Hind wing (n=4) length 776–892, width 27–35, longest marginal setae 92–114. Metasoma. Gaster ( Fig. 270 ) at most about 2.0× as long as wide. Ovipositor sheath length 1373–1564 (n=4), 3.15–3.60× metatibia length (386–462), with exserted part shorter (0.75x) to slightly longer than entire body length.

MALE. Body length 947–1126 (n=5). Colour. Body generally uniform, usually light brown to yellow, occasionally dark brown, except for longitudinal white median band on pronotum. Head. Head ( Figs 274 , 278, 280 ) with mandibles normal, crossing medially ( Fig. 282 ). Antenna. Measurements (n=3): scape 154–169, pedicel 61–62, fl1 48–58, fl2 53–72, fl3 61–72, fl4 63–77, fl5 64–77, fl6 61–77, fl7 62–75, fl8 68–76, fl9 74–79, fl10 74–82, fl11 84–96; total flagellar length 712–841; fl6 length/width 2.53–2.83, with 4 or 5 mps. Metasoma. Genitalia as in generic description.

Etymology. Named after the the Seychelles Islands, the country in which most specimens were collected.

Figures

FIGURES 264 – 268. Tanyxiphium seychellense, holotype: 264, head, anterior; 265, head, posterior; 266, antenna; 267, holotype slide; 268, wings. Scale bars = 100 Μm.

FIGURES 269, 270. Tanyxiphium seychellense, holotype: 269, mesosoma, dorsal; 220, metasoma (exserted part of ovipositor and sheaths not shown), dorsal. Scale bars = 100 Μm.

FIGURES 271 – 276. Tanyxiphium spp.: 271, T.? perforator, female head – mesoscutum, dorsal; 272, T. breviovipositor, male head + pronotum, dorsal; 273, T.? perforator, female head, anterior; 274, T. seychellense, male head, lateral; 275, T. breviovipositor, male, head – scutellum, lateral; 276, T.? perforator, female mouthparts. Scale bars: 271 – 275 = 100 Μm, 276 = 50 Μm.

FIGURES 277 – 282. Tanyxiphium seychellense, head: 277, female, posterior; 278, male, posterior; 279, female, ventral; 280, male, ventral; 281, female mouthparts, anterior; 282, male mouthparts, ventroanterior. Scale bars = 50 Μm.