Platyplectrus ornatus Ferrière, 1941

Yefremova, Zoya A. & Copeland, Robert S., 2023, African Platyplectrus Ferrière (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) from Kenya, with description of nine new species, Zootaxa 5360 (3), pp. 355-384 : 375-376

15. Platyplectrus ornatus Ferrière, 1941

Figs 59–62

Platyplectrus ornatus Ferrière, 1941 : 22.1 ♀, E. S. Africa, Tanganyika, viii.1932 (BMNH, examined).

Diagnosis. Pronotum largely covered by white setae, without carina. Occipital and post-occipital carinae present. Mesoscutum reticulate, with medial longitudinal furrow in which lies a carina-like process. POL 1.25× as long as OOL. Vertex with numerous setae. Forewing 2.4× as long as wide; F1 2.3× as long as pedicel and 1.3× as long as F2, Clava 2.4× as long as F4. Petiole transverse. Body mostly yellow with dark pattern. Legs yellow.

Redescription. Female. Body size 1.9 – 2.2 mm.

Colour. ( Figs 59–60 ): Body mostly yellow. Head dark in occiput, face yellow with small dark spot on frons, eyes light grey, ocelli light yellow; antennae yellow, pronotum with conspicuous black spot, wide basally, narrowing apically ( Fig. 62 ). Mesoscutum with medial dark-brown stripe overlaying furrow, with carina-like process within the furrow ( Fig. 61 ). Scutellum with brown stripe on anterior part, without furrow or carina. Propodeum completely dark (in holotype) or only dark laterally; wide, dark transverse band on gaster on Gt 3–4. Legs yellow.

Head: Malar sulcus present. Mandibles membranous. Eyes asetose. Vertex with numerous setae. POL 1.25× as long as OOL. Antennae inserted above the level of the lower margin the eyes. Scape 4.5× as long as wide. Pedicel 1.75× as long as wide. Flagellomeres 1 – 4. F1 1.3× as long as F2, F2=F3, F3 1.08× as long as F4. Clava 3-segmented 2.4× as long as wide and 1.5× as long as F4.

Mesosoma: Pronotum without carina. Mesoscutum reticulate with medial furrow. Carina-like process within furrow. Scutellum finely reticulate, axillae and propodeum smooth. Propodeum with median carina, callus with 6 long setae in marginal row. Fore wing 2.4× as long as wide. SMV with 6 long setae. Speculum small, narrow below pterostigma. SMV (40): MV (84): PMV (35): STV (21). Costal cell with numerous setae in three rows. Hind wing rounded apically. Hind tibiae with two spurs: TS1 1.75× as long as 1 st tarsomere and 2.0× as long as TS2. Petiole transverse.

Gaster 1.3× as long as wide.

Host. Larvae of Niphadolepis alianta Karsh ( Limacodidae : Lepidoptera ) ( Ferrière 1941).

Distribution. South Africa, Tanganyika; * Kenya.

Material examined. Kenya, 1 ♀, Eastern Prov. , Kasaala area, 733 m, 2.07836º S, 38.22517º E, Malaise trap, inside isolated woodland patch, 3–17 May 2016, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, same data except 3–17 Dec 2015, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 2 ♀, same data except 28 Nov–4 Dec 2013, J. Bukhebi ( SMNH-TAU) ; 1 ♀, Coast Prov. , Funzi Island, near sea level, 4.57749° S, 39.43825° E, Malaise trap, near Funzi workshop, 4–10 Jul 2012, R. Copeland ( NMK) .

Figures

FIGURES 54–61. 54. P. nyanzaensis sp. nov. Holotype. Female. 54. Head+antennae, frontal. 55–58. P. obscuratus Ferrière. Female. 55. Lateral habitus. 56. Dorsal habitus. 57. Head+antennae, frontal. 58. Scutellum, close-up of scutellum showing foveate grooves (arrows). 59–61. P. ornatus Ferrière. 59. Lateral habitus. 60. Dorsal habitus. 61. Dorsal mesothorax (not to scale).

FIGURES 62–69. 62. P. ornatus Ferrière. Head, frontal. 63–68. P. pseudoornatus sp. nov. Holotype. Female. 63. Lateral habitus. 64. Dorsal head and thorax. 65. Dorsal habitus. 66. Mesosoma, dorsal. 67. Habitus ventral, showing dark spots on underside of metafemur. 68. Head+antennae, frontal. 69. P. pyrrhomaculatus sp. nov. Holotype, Lateral habitus.