Afrobethylus Ramos & Azevedo

Ramos, Magno S. & Azevedo, Celso O., 2016, Afrobethylus Ramos & Azevedo, gen. nov., a new remarkable Afrotropical genus of Bethylinae (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), Zootaxa 4097 (4), pp. 495-510 : 496

Afrobethylus Ramos & Azevedo , gen. nov.

( Figs 1 A–G)

Diagnosis. Antenna with 10 flagellomeres. Notaulus absent. Metapectal-propodeal complex without median longitudinal carina; metapostnotal-propodeal suture inconspicuous; posterior transverse carina absent. Fu Vshaped; 1vf large; 2vf large; vr2 broadly enlarged, bifid; pp2vf present, curved.

Description. Female. Head. Mandible with four sharpened apical teeth. Antenna with 10 flagellomeres. Mesosoma . Notaulus absent. Mesoscutellum with pair of elongate and inclined foveae. Metapectal-propodeal complex coriaceous-punctate; without median longitudinal carina; metapostnotal-propodeal suture inconspicuous; posterior transverse carina absent. Mesopleuron coriaceous-punctate; mesopleural pit shallow. Prosternum large, excavated medially. Forewing. Costal cell conspicuous only apically; second radial cell closed, long, triangular; Rs vein shorter than M vein; stigma well developed. Legs. Profemur expanded. Tarsal claws bifid, strongly curved. Genitalia. Fu V-shaped; 1vf large; vr1 large; 2vf large; vr2 broadly enlarged, bifid; d1vf thorn shaped; pp2vf present, curved; distal region of the sting tapering abruptly; 3vv wide, and long.

Male. unknown.

Type-species. Afrobethylus zulu Ramos & Azevedo , sp. nov.

Species included. Afrobethylus antankarana Ramos & Azevedo , sp. nov., A. antemoro Ramos & Azevedo , sp. nov., A. bapedi Ramos & Azevedo , sp. nov., A. swazi Ramos & Azevedo , sp. nov., A. vezo Ramos & Azevedo , sp. nov., A. zulu Ramos & Azevedo , sp. nov.

Remarks. This genus is easily recognizable among the other genera of Bethylinae by having the unique combination of antenna with ten flagellomeres and the forewing with second radial cell closed.

Etymology. The name Afrobethylus is an allusion to the names “Africa”, continent from the specimen was collected, and the name “ Bethylus ” the type genus of Bethylinae .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Afrobethylus Ramos & Azevedo gen. nov.. A. Antenna; B. Right forewing forming rectangular area; C. Right forewing not forming rectangular area; D – G. Main characters of female genitalia. (Scale bar: 100 µm for female genitalia; and 200 µm for antenna, and forewings.)