Metopius (Metopius) latibalteatus CAMERON , 1906: 134

Riedel, Matthias, 2016, Contribution to the genus Metopius PANZER (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Metopiinae) from Africa South of Sahara, Linzer biologische Beiträge 48 (2), pp. 1635-1675 : 1650-1651

Metopius (Metopius) latibalteatus CAMERON, 1906: 134

H o l o t y p u s:(6) Stellenb L. F. 12.89 (Cape Town), type studied.

syn. Metopius capicola BENOIT, 1965: 60

H o l o t y p u s:(♀) Moordenaars Karoo Lammersfontein C.P., Metopius capicola n.sp. Holotype ♀ P.L.S. Benoit det., 1963 (Cape Town ), type studied.

F u r t h e r m a t e r i a l RSA. Karoo Nat. Park , 5♀♀ 14.XI.1993, 3219´S/2230´E, leg. F. Koch (Berlin) ; RSA, W Cape, N NE of Clanwilliam, Doringbos, 1♀ 11.X1999, leg. M. Halada (Linz) ; RSA, CP, Olifantshoek , 1♀ 24.III.1990, leg. M. Schwarz (Munich) ; Namibia, Gobabis , 40 km W Witvlei, 16 16.II.1990, leg. M. Schwarz (Coll. Riedel) ; Het Kruis C.P. Mus. Exp,. 16 1947 ( Cape Town ) ; Zimbabwe, Hope Fountain , 1♀ 2.I.1923 (London) .

D e s c r i p t i o n of ♀:

Body length 13-17 mm. Flagellum with 45-47 segments, widest segments about 2x as wide as long. Mandible with one or two teeth. Second segment of maxillary palp clubshaped, 1.9-2.2x as long as wide (fig. 37). Compound eyes distinctly narrowed ventrally (minimal distance below about 0.75x as maximal distance above). Facial shield with strongly narrowed sides, with dense and centrally almost confluent puncture and strong carinae, length 1.2-1.25x width, rounded below. Interantennal lamella high, with a weak subdistal impression and without a distinct distal tooth. Frons (rugulo-) punctate, vertex finely punctate. Temple strongly and almost linearly narrowed behind eye (as fig. 28). Distance of lateral ocellus to eye 1.4-1.8x its diameter.

Mesosoma with long whitish hairs. Side of pronotum coarsely punctate, with striation or ±smooth anteriorly. Epicnemial carina obsolete above sternaulus. Mesoscutum slightly impressed in front of prescutellar groove. Central area of propodeum wide, strongly narrowed apically, about as long as wide, sometimes with a distinct central longitudinal ridge, apical carina usually present, costula shortly distinct. Hind coxa with strong but scattered puncture. Hind femur length 2.6x height. Hind metatarsus about 0.5x as long as the hind tibia. Outer apical spur of hind tibia very short, about 0.25-0.3x as long as the hind metatarsus. Front and middle claws without visible teeth. Areolet 2x wider than long, second recurrent vein in the middle, with one bulla.

First tergite with dorsal carinae only in the basal half. Spiracles ventrally without distinct extension (fig. 31). Second tergite with pointed posterolateral edges, third and fourth tergites with rounded edges.

Color: Black (rarely mainly dark reddish-brown). Reddish are mandible, labrum, clypeus, flagellum, tegula, basal parts of front and middle femora, hind tibia and tarsus. Yellow are palps (sometimes reddish), malar space, face, frontal orbit up to the lateral ocellus, upper margin of pronotum, subtegular ridge usually confluent with a large spot at upper part of mesopleuron, prescutellar carina, scutellum in the apical 2/3, postscutellum, large posterolateral spot on propodeum, sometimes spot on central area of propodeum, front and middle legs including coxae and trochanters (sometimes reddish), all tergites with wide apical bands (about half as long as the tergites), centrally slightly narrowed. Hind coxa yellow with large anteroventral black spot, hind trochanter yellow, hind femur yellow, with black ring medially. Front wing slightly darkened at apex, pterostigma yellowish.

D e s c r i p t i o n of 6:

Body length 18 mm. Mandible with one or two teeth. Flagellum with 46 segments. Interantennal lamella without distal impression and tooth. Facial shield length 1.25-1.3x width, strongly narrowed ventrally, densely punctate. Sides of pronotum smooth anteriorly. Epicnemium ends at sternaulus. Area centralis of propodeum with median carina, lateral carina indistinct. Areolet 2.1x as wide as long, 2mcu apical of middle, and with one bulla. First tergite with dorsal carina in the basal half. Spiracle ventrally without tooth-like extension (fig. 31).

Color: Black. Yellow are sides of labrum, malar space (clypeus black), face, frontal orbit to lateral ocellus, scape and Pedicel below, upper pronotal margin, large mesopleural spot confluent with subtegular ridge, prescutellar carina, complete scutellum and postscutellum, large posterolateral spot of propodeum, apical half of tergites, front and middle legsI. Hind coxa black, yellow dorsally. Hind femur black, at base and apex widely yellow. Hind tibia and tarsus red. Pterostigma yellowish. Wings slightly infuscate apically.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: South Africa, new for Namibia and Zimbabwe.