Methocha nasiformis, Kimsey, 2011

Kimsey, Lynn S., 2011, Tiphiidae wasps of Madagascar (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 22, pp. 45-68 : 58-59

Methocha nasiformis sp. n. Figs 13 16, 21, 28

Holotype male:

Fianarantsoa, Parc Natl. Ranomafana, radio tower at forest edge, 1130 m, 4-12/ii/2002, 21°15.05'S, 47°24.43'E, R. Harin’Hala, Malaise trap, mixed tropical forest, MA-02-09B-15 (SAN FRANCISCO).

Paratypes

(5 males): 1 male: same data as holotype; 1 male: 29/vi/- 6/vii/2003, MA-02-09B-65; 1 male: 4-12/ii/2002, 21°15'05S, 47°24'43E, R. Harin’Hala, malaise, mixed tropical forest, MA-02-09B-15; 1 male: Belle Vue at Talatakely, 1020 m, 28/iv/-5/v/2002, 21°15.99S, 47°25'21E, R. Harin’Hala, malaise, secondary tropical forest, MA-02-09C-27; 1 male: Antsiranana Prov., Parc Natl. de Marojejy, Manantenina River, 28 km 38° ne Andapa, 8.2 km 333° nnw Manantenina, 450m, 12-25/xi/2003, 14°26'12S, 049°46'30E, B. L. Fisher et al, MT in rainforest, BLF8723; 1 male: Parc Natl Montagne d’Ambre, 1125m, 14-30/v/2001 12°31'13S, 49°10'45E, R. Harin’Hala, MT, MA-01-01D-11 (DAVIS, SAN FRANCISCO).

Diagnosis.

Methocha nasiformis is one of three species with an acute or even digitate medial clypeal projection. It can be distinguished from Methocha flavipalpus by the black, concolorous parategula, dark legs and nearly straight apical clypeal margin (features shared with Methocha strigosa ). It can be distinguished from Methocha strigosa by the coarsely punctate, not finely ridged propodeum.

Description.

Male.

Body length. 7-13 mm.

Head. Clypeus projecting into acute sometimes digitate medial projection ( Fig. 13 ), apex subtruncate ( Fig. 16 ); antennal lobes rounded; frons without medial projection or lobe above antennal sockets ( Fig. 21 ); frons and vertex punctures separated by 1-2 puncture diameters; scapal ridge more than half length of scape; flagellomere I 1.8 × as long as broad; flagellomere II 2.2 × as long as broad; flagellomeres II and III 2.5-2.6 × as long as broad; flagellomere XI 5 × as long as broad.

Mesosoma. Pronotal disk gently convex medially, shoulders evenly rounded; scutal punctures separated by 1 puncture diameter, except for less dense medial area; scutellum with punctuates 1 puncture diameter apart; mesopleuron highly polished with punctures 2-4 puncture diameters apart; propodeum covered with dense, contiguous punctures, becoming striatiform dorsally, dorsally with transverse ridges becoming U-shaped basally.

Metasoma. Terga polished, punctures separated by 2-4 or more puncture diameters; sternum I punctures 1-4 puncture diameters apart; sterna II-VI basal part with punctures 0.5-1.0 puncture diameters apart, separated from posterior convex part by small transverse groove, posterior part with punctures 2-4 puncture diameters apart.

Genitalia ( Fig. 28 ). Paramere breadth at medial angle 4.5 × breadth at halfway point between apex and medial angle, paramere length versus breadth at submedial angle 5 ×.

Color. Black, with dark red mandibles, scapal carina yellow legs black to dark brown, trochanters sometimes paler; palpi reddish; wing membrane brown-tinted.

Vestiture. Sparse erect, silvery.

Figures

Figures 7 - 15. Front view of face. 8 Lateral view genital capsule 9 - 15 Lateral view of head and pronotum.

Figures 16 - 30. Methocha species. 16, 17 Front view of face 18, 21 Dorsal view of head 19, 20 Dorsal view of pronotum 22, 23, 26 - 30 Lateral view of genital capsule 24, 25 Posterior view of propodeum.