Exova tunana Kimsey & Dewhurst, 2013

Kimsey, Lynn S., Dewhurst, Charles F. & Nyaure, Seno, 2013, New species of egg parasites from the Oil Palm Stick Insect (Eurycantha insularis) in Papua New Guinea (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae, Phasmatodea, Phasmatidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 30, pp. 19-28 : 23-25

Exova tunana Kimsey & Dewhurst sp. n. Figs 11 18

Holotype male.

Papua New Guinea, Northern (Oro) Province, Saiho Division (Tunana), ex Eurycantha insularis egg, emerged 27/vii/2007, died 30/vii/2007, C. F. Dewhurst, No. 828 (LONDON).

Paratypes: 1 male, emerged 5/ii/2008, died 13/ii/2008, C. F. Dewhurst, No. 831; 1 female, emerged 10/ii/2008, died 15/ii/2008, C. F. Dewhurst, No. 835; 1 female, Higaturu, 1st generation, coll. 2/vi/2008, died 12/vi/2008, C. F. Dewhurst, No. 841 (CANBERRA, DAVIS, KIMBE, PORT MORESBY).

Diagnosis.

This is the largest bodied species of Exova . Female tunana can be distinguished from fijiensis Kimsey by the long spine-like propodeal angle (a feature shared with tetraspina), which is conical in fijiensis. Female fijiensis can be distinguished from tetraspina by the more weakly produced medial propodeal projections and the highly polished and smooth metapleuron and propodeum. Male tunana can be distinguished from fijiensis by the shorter distance from the midocellus to ocular margin (2 midocellus diameters or less in tunana versus 2.5 midocellus diameters in fijiensis), flagel lomeres I and II equivalent versus I much longer than broad than II in fijiensis and the body with bluish green tints versus brassy in fijiensis.

Description.

Male ( Fig. 11 ). Body length. 5.0-5.5 mm.

Head ( Figs 14, 15, 17 ). Face 1.0-1.2 × as long as broad across the eyes; face between scapal basin and vertex with punctures separated by about 1 puncture diameter; scapal basin with cross-ridged medial zone occupying one-third of area between inner eye margins; midocellus 1.9 diameter from ocular margin; malar space 2.5 midocellus diameters; subantennal distance 1 midocellus diameter long; flagellomeres I-II 3.5-3.6 × as long as broad; flagellomere IX 6x as long as broad; flagellar setae short, 0.1 midocellus diameter long; ocular setulae minute or absent; postocular distance 0.4 midocellus diameter wide.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 18 ). Pronotum about as long as scutum; mesopleural punctures nearly contiguous, without scrobal sulcus or omaulus; metapleuron horizontally cross-ridged.

Metasoma. Tergum I polished, nearly impunctate with scattered tiny punctures; terga II-IV with small punctures separated by 2-3 puncture diameters.

Color. Head, meso- and metasoma black with metallic bluish green tints dorsally; antenna black, legs pale yellow; wing membrane brown-tinted, veins dark brown.

Female ( Fig. 12 ). Body length. 6-7 mm.

Head ( Fig. 16 ). Face 0.9 × as long as broad across the eyes in front view; scapal basin with medial one-half to one-third coarsely transversely striate, laterally with dense contiguous punctures; malar space 4.3 midocellus diameters; subantennal distance 1 midocellus diameter; flagellum fusiform, broadest medially, flattened ventrally; flagellomere I 2.8 × as long as broad; flagellomere II 0.7 × as long as broad; flagellomere IX 1.2 × as long as broad.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 13 ). Apterous; pronotum and scutum densely longitudinally striate, pronotum 0.7 × as broad as long, 1.4 × as long as length of scutum plus scutellum; scutellum transversely striate.

Metasoma. Polished; tergum I with fine dense scratches in two touching posteromedial patches, scratches parallel and curving laterally; tergum II with two anteromedial patches of dense curved scratches subtended by large medial patch of dense posteriorly curved fine scratches; terga III and IV smooth with scattered tiny punctures.

Color. Body dark reddish brown, paler on side of scapal basin, mesopleuron medially, propodeal spines, legs and metasomal apex; apical flagellar segments yellowish beneath; coxae whitish.

Etymology. The species is named after the collection site in Northern Province, PNG.

Figures

Figures 11 - 13. Exova tunana, side views 11 Male 12 Female 13 Dorsal view of female Mesosoma.

Figures 14 - 18. Exova tunana 14, 15, 18 Male head 14 Front view 15 Lateral view 18 Dorsal view 16 Female head front view. 17 Dorsal view of male mesosoma, wings removed.