Methocha strigosa, Kimsey, 2011

Kimsey, Lynn S., 2011, Tiphiidae wasps of Madagascar (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 22, pp. 45-68 : 59-61

Methocha strigosa sp. n. Figs 15, 30

Holotype male:

Fianarantsoa Prov., Ranomofana N.P. 21°16'S 47°27'E, 18/iv/1994, M. Wasbauer (DAVIS).

Paratypes

(91 males): 4 males: Belle Vue at Talatakely, 1020 m, 21°15.99'S, 47°25.21'E, R. Harin’Hala, Malaise trap, secondary tropical forest, 23-28/iv/2002, MA-02-09C-26; 1 male: 22-28/xi/2001, MA-02-09C-04; 1 male: 10-14/i/2002, MA-02-09C-11; 2 males: 23/v-3/vi/2002, MA-02-09C-30; 1 male: 12-19/ii/2002, MA-02-09C-16; 1 male: 24/vii-4/viii/2002, MA-02-09C-36; 1 male: 16-26/ii/2003, MA- 02-09C-54; 1 male: 12-23/iv/2003, MA-02-09C-58; 1 male: 14-21/i/2002, MA-02-09C-12; 3 males: 26/ii-4/iii/2002, MA-02-09C-18; 2 males: radio tower at forest edge, 1130 m, 21°15'05S, 47°24'43E, R. Harin’Hala, Malaise trap, mixed tropical forest, 9-20/iii/2003, MA-02-09B-55; 1 male: 6-17/vii/2003, MA-02-09B-66; 1 male: 4-12/ii/2002, MA-02-09B-15; 2 males: 15-21/xii/2001, MA-02-09B-07; 1 male: 12-19/iii/2002, MA-02-09B-20; 1 male: 14-24/vi/2002 21, MA-02-09B-32; 2 males: 24/v-4/vi/2002 t, MA-02-09B-30; 1 male: 15-25/vii/2002, MA-02-09B-35; 1 male: 9-20/iii/2003, MA-02-09B-55; 4 males: 29/vi-6/vii/2003, MA-02-09B-65; 1 male: 6-17/vii/2003, MA-02-09B-66; 6 males: Vohiparara, at broken bridge, 1110 m, 25/vii/-3/viii/2002, 21°13.57S, 47°22.19E, R. Harin’Hala, MT in high altitude rainforest, MA-02-09A-36; 1 male: 15-21/xii/2001, MA-02-09A-07; 2 males: 4-12/ii/2002, MA-02-09A-15; 1 male: 26-31/iii/2002, MA-02-09A-22; 2 males: radio tower at forest edge, 1130 m, 17-30/v/2003, 21°5.05S, 47°24.43E, R. Harin’Hala, malaise, mixed tropical forest, MA-02-09B-61; 4 males: 20/iii-3/iv/2003, MA-02-09B-56; 8 males: Montagne d’Anjanaharibe, 18.0 km 21° NNE Ambinanitelo, 470m, 8-12/iii/2003, 15°11'18"S 049°36'54"E, Fisher, Griswold et al., Malaise trap, in rainforest, BLF8011; 15 males: Toamasina Prov., Montagne d’Anjanaharibe, 19.5 km 27° nne Ambinanitelo 1100 m, 12-16/iii/2003, 15°10'42'S 049°38'06'E, Fisher, Griswold et al., Malaise trap, in montane rainforest, BLF8149; 3 males: botanic garden nr entrance to Andasibe Natl. Park, 24/x/-1/xi/2001, 18°55.58S, 48°4.47E, R. Harin’Hala, MT-tropical forest, 1025 m, MA-01-08B-17; 1 male: 1-7/xi/2001, MA001-08B-18; 2 males: Antsiranana Parc Natl. de Marojejy, Manantenina River, 28.0 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; 5 males: Toliara Prov., Rés. Spéciale d’Ambohijanahary, Forêt d’Ankazotsihitafototra, 35.2 km 312° nw Ambaravaranala, 1050m, 13-17/i/2003, 18°16'00S, 045°24'24E, Fisher, Griswold et al., MT-montane rainforest, BLF7023; 1 male: Forêt Classée d’Analavelona, 29.2 km 343° nnw Mahaboboka, 1100m, 18-22/ii/2003, 22°40'30S, 044°11'24E, Fisher, Griswold et al., MT, in montane rainforest, BLF7818; 4 males: Mahajanga Prov., Parc Natl. Tsingy de Bemaraha, 3.4 km 93° e Bekopaka, Tombeau Vazimba, 50m, 6-10/xi/2001, 19°8'31S, 44°49'41E, Fisher, Griswold et al., MT, in tropical dry forest, BLF4233; 3 males: Diego Suarez Prov., PN Montagne d’Ambre, 1125 m, 12°31'13S, 49°10'45E, 14-30/v/2001, R. Harin’Hala, MT, MA01-01D-11 (DAVIS, SAN FRANCISCO).

Diagnosis.

Methocha strigosa is one of three species, including Methocha nasiformis and Methocha flavipalpus with an acute to digitate medial clypeal projection as discussed under Methocha nasiformis . It can be distinguished from those species by the dark coloration and propodeum covered fine transverse ridges.

Description.

Male.

Body length. 6-11 mm.

Head. Clypeus forming obtuse angle medially ( Fig. 15 ), apex linear or shallowly emarginate; antennal lobes well-developed, with narrow, deep notch between; frons with /without medial projection or lobe above antennal sockets; frons and vertex punctures separated by 1-4 puncture diameters; scapal ridge two-thirds length of scape; flagellomere I 1.8 × as long as broad; flagellomere II 2.2 × as long as broad; flagellomere III 2.2 × as long as broad; flagellomeres III-X arcuate; flagellomere XI 5 × as long as broad.

Mesosoma. Pronotal disk transversely striatiform anteriorly, evenly convex medially, shoulders evenly rounded, punctures separated by 0.5-2.0 puncture diameters; scutal punctures separated by 0.5-1.0 puncture diameter, becoming less dense medially; scutellum and mesopleuron highly polished, punctation 4-5 puncture diameters apart or more; propodeum covered with dense fine, transverse ridges, becoming U-shaped dorsally.

Metasoma. Terga highly polished, punctures tiny separated by 4-5 puncture diameters; sterna highly polished, with smooth subapical transverse groove, punctures anterior to groove 1 puncture diameter apart, posterior to groove 4-5 puncture diameters.

Genitalia ( Fig. 30 ). Paramere breadth at medial angle 2.2-2.5 × breadth at halfway point between apex and medial angle, paramere length versus breadth at submedial angle 4.6 ×.

Color. Black, with red to brown mandibles; legs black to dark brown becoming paler brown on tarsi in some specimens; palpi yellow; parategula black, without transparent margin; wing membrane untinted or slightly brown tinted.

Vestiture. Sparse erect, silvery.

Checklist of Methocha Species

1. Methocha arcuata sp. n. Distribution: Fianarantsoa Province.

2. Methocha arnoldi Krombein 1949:72. Holotype male; Madagascar: near Rogez (Krombein, on loan to WASHINGTON). Distribution: Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toliara and Toamasina Provinces.

3. Methocha cambonini (Saussure) 1891:259. ( Methoca ). Holotype female; Madagascar (GENEVA).

4. Methocha depressa sp. n. Distribution: Fianarantsoa Province.

5. Methocha flavipalpus sp. n. Distribution: Mahajanga, Toliara Provinces.

6. Methocha impunctata sp. n. Distribution: Toamasina Province.

7. Methocha lambertoni Krombein 1949:73. Holotype male; Madagascar: near Rogez, (Krombein, on loan to WASHINGTON). Distribution: Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina and Toliara Provinces.

8. Methocha nasiformis sp. n. Distribution: Fianarantsoa, Antsiranana Provinces.

9. Methocha robusta sp. n. Distribution: Fianarantsoa, Toamasina Provinces.

10. Methocha strigosa sp. n. Distribution: Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara, Diego Suarez Provinces.

Figures

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.

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