Crusopimpla violina, Klopfstein, 2022

Klopfstein, Seraina, 2022, High diversity of pimpline parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae) from the lowermost Eocene Fur Formation (Denmark), Geodiversitas 44 (23), pp. 645-664 : 654-655

Crusopimpla violina n. sp.

( Fig. 6 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F090B462-A1A1-49B2-A64C-17866C820255

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype female: FUR-13061 (part and counterpart; leg. E. Rettig) . Paratypes (all females): FUR-11212 , 11269 , 11216 (leg. E. Rettig) , FUR-13817 , 16633 (leg. O. Burholt) .

ETYMOLOGY. — This species is named for the elegant curves of the dorsomedian carinae on the first tergite, which remind of the shape of a violin.

TYPE HORIZON AND LOCALITY. — Denmark, Jutland, Limfjord region, MorsØ Kommune , Svalklit (holotype), Klinten ved Klitgård (FUR-11212, 11216, 11269), unknown (FUR-13817, 16633). Cement stone.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — The following specimens are tentatively placed in this species: FUR-10048 , 10049 , 10248 , 11211 , 11266 , 11549 , 13070 , 16638 .

DIAGNOSIS. — Taxonomic placement: Subfamily placement of this species is somewhat less certain than in some of the other taxa ( Table 1 ), as the ovipositor is somewhat more slender here. However, the remaining characters firmly point to this subfamily nevertheless. It shares its colour pattern (dark head and entire mesosoma, almost entirely orange metasoma and legs) with numerous extant ichneumonid species across many different subfamilies, including many Pimplinae , and with Theronia ? furensis , Crusopimpla minuta and C. rettigi described here-in. From the T. furensis , it differs by the nervellus being broken clearly below the middle, a character not present in any species of the Theronia group nor the tribe Pimplini . The pronounced carination on the propodeum, even though not as clearly preserved as in C. minuta and C. collina , once more points to Crusopimpla as the most likely genus for this species, and it indeed shares many characters with C. collina as well as with the two species formerly included in this genus.

Species diagnosis: From the otherwise similar C. rettigi , this species can be distinguished by its longer tergites and at least partly dark brown antenna (paratype FUR-13817) and from C. minuta by its much larger size. The colouration, especially the orange colouration of the metasoma distinguishes this species from all other Crusopimpla species.

DESCRIPTION

Preservation

Holotype and paratypes all in dorsal view. Head in all cases partially preserved, in one paratype (FUR-13817) including a few of the median flagellomeres. Mesosoma rather well preserved, including part of propodeal carination; fore wings in all four fossils complete or nearly complete, hind wings indicated but with carination only weakly preserved, somewhat difficult to interpret. Metasoma in all four types almost complete, in holotype and paratype FUR-11269 including ovipositor sheaths and base of ovipositor.

Body 8.6-11.4 (8.6) mm. Head and mesosoma black or dark brown, wing venation dark brown in forewing, with light base of pterostigma, and light brownish in hind wings. Antennae dark brown dorsally, lighter ventrally. T1 dark at base, orange at apex, remaining tergites entirely orange, legs orange; ovipositor sheaths dark brown.

Head. Not well preserved, not much wider than long, antennae missing except in paratype FUR-13817 which features some of the median flagellomeres, which are all at least twice as long as wide.

Mesosoma. Rather elongate compared to other pimplines; notauli converging on basal ¼, then parallel; scutellum of normal dimensions; propodeum with distinct carination, corresponding to nearly complete basal and probably also apical transverse, lateromedian and maybe lateral longitudinal and pleural carinae. Fore wing 7-8.8 (7) mm; areolet closed, quadrate, with uneven sides, 4-M very short, 2r-m a bit shorter than 3r-m; 2m-cu with two bullae, bent outwards; pterostigma 2.8-3.4 × longer than wide; 1cu-a meeting M + Cu opposite 1-M or a little distal from it (in holotype); 3-Cu clearly longer than 2cu-a; radial cell 2.5-3.1 × longer than wide.Hind wing w ith 1-Rs about 1.4-1.6 (1.5) × longer than 1rs-m, 1-Cu about 1.5 × as long as cu-a. Hind legs not well preserved, but rather stout.

Metasoma. With T1 about 1.0-1.2 (1.2) × longer than wide, with strong median longitudinal carina converging at least on basal half, then diverging; T2 0.5-0.7 (0.7) × as long as wide. Ovipositor sheaths 0.30-0.33 × as long as fore wing, rather robust.

Figures

FIG. 6. — Holotype of Crusopimpla violina n. sp. (FUR-13061), photograph (A) and interpretative drawing (B), where dotted lines represent uncertain and/or interpolated interpretations. Scale bar: 2 mm.