Metopius (Metopius) rauschi, Riedel, 2016

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 : 1656-1657

Metopius (Metopius) rauschi nov.sp.

H o l o t y p u s (6) Namibia D, Grootfontein Tiegerschluicht, NE Kombat 1927´18´´S 1737´53´´E, 1600-1700 m, 9.ii.1994, leg. H. & R. Rausch (Linz).

T a x o n o m i c a l r e m a r k The 6 is related to Metopius latibalteatus

CAMERON, but differs by the short hind metatarsus ( fig. 34 ), smaller size and form and

structure of facial shield.

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

Body length 10 mm. Flagellum with 50 segments. Mandible with one tooth. Second maxillary palpomere club-shaped, about 1.8x as long as wide. Facial shield with rounded sides, coarsely punctate and centrally granulate, about as long as wide, pointed ventrally ( fig. 16 ). Interantennal lamella high, with a shallow subdistal impression. Apical margin of clypeus elevated from labrum. Frons with fine transverse striation. Vertex punctate. Temple strongly narrowed behind eye. Distance of lateral ocellus to eye 1.5x its diameter.

Mesosoma with long whitish hairs. Side of pronotum coarsely punctate, coarsely striate anteriorly. Epicnemial carina obsolete above sternaulus. Central area of propodeum moderately wide, with strong lateral carinae, length 1.4x width, its apical carina obsolete, costulae lacking. Hind femur length 2.3x height. Hind metatarsus very short, about 0.33x as long as the hind tibia ( fig. 34 ). Outer apical spur of hind tibia short, 0.5x as long as the hind metatarsus. Front and middle claws without teeth. Areolet 2.3x wider than long. Second recurrent vein reaching areolet lateral to middle, with one bulla.

First tergite with dorsal carinae in the basal 2/3, spiracle with spine-like extension ventrally. Second tergite with bluntly extended posterolateral edges, third and fourth tergites with rounded edges (fig. 4).

Color: Black. Flagellum reddish. Ivory are basal spot of mandible, palps, clypeus, malar space, face ( fig. 16 ), frontal orbit up to lateral ocellus, scape ventrally, hind half of pronotal upper margin, subtegular ridge, spot on dorsal mesopleuron, prescutellar ridge, hind half of scutellum, postscutellum, posterolateral spot on propodeum, posterolateral edge of first tergite, apical bands (about 0.2-0.3 length of tergites) of all following tergites (fig. 4), hypopygium, clasper, front and middle coxae and trochanters, spots on hind coxa and trochanter, front and middle legs (femora basally blackish). Hind femur black, with ivory spots basally and apically. Hind tibia and tarsus brownish. Pterostigma yellowish, front wing not distinctly infuscate apically.

♀ unknown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Namibia.

Figures

Fig. 34: Hind tibia and metatarsus of Metopius rauschi nov.sp. HT 6.

Figs. 13-18: Face and facial shield of 66: (13) Metopius alboornatus CAMERON; (14) M. brevicornis SEYRIG; (15) M. clathratus BENOIT; (16) M. rauschi nov.sp. HT; (17) M. ethiopicus nov.sp. PT; (18) M. rufigaster ssp. zambiense nov.ssp. HT.