Pycnostigmus mastersonae, Noort, Van, 2007

Noort, Van, 2007, A world revision of the Pycnostigminae (Cynipoidea: Figitidae) with descriptions of seven new species, Zootaxa 1392, pp. 1-30 : 7-9

Pycnostigmus mastersonae n. sp. Buffington & van Noort

( Fig. 3 )

Description. FEMALE. Head. Metallic yellow/green luster over entire head ( Figs 3 A & 3B), shagreened, weakly setose ( Fig. 3 E). Scape and radicle dark brown-black, flagellomeres orange, scape 1.2x length of radicle, 16 flagellomeres present, moniliform.

Mesosoma. Entire mesosoma with yellow/green luster. Lateral aspect of pronotum smooth, glabrous; anterior half of mesopleuron as well as area below mesopleural carina weakly striate; area under mesopleural triangle smooth; dorsal and ventral margins of mesopleural triangle clearly visible, center of triangle setose ( Figs 3 A & 3B). Mesoscutum weakly shagreened anteriorly, becoming progressively smoother posteriorly; notaulices complete, originating at anterior end of parascutal impression; at convergence, notaulices parallel a narrow impression ( Fig. 3 C). Center of scutellar disk slightly rugulose, all sides distinctly crenulate, posterior margin rounded to slightly squared off ( Fig. 3 C).

Metapleural-propodeal complex. Dorsal portion of metapleuron covered in long setae; ventral section completely shiny, glabrous ( Fig. 3 B). Propodeum rugulose, evenly covered by long setae; section between propodeal carinae glabrous, crenulate ( Fig. 3 C). Nucha extended posteriorly, deeply striate ( Fig. 3 B).

Metasoma. Petiole striate with a few, long setae; obscured anteriorly by syntergum. Syntergum smooth and shiny; posterior portion lacking setae. Entire metasoma, in lateral view, about as long as deep.

Wings. Pseudostigma weakly pigmented (marginal cell visible) ( Fig. 3 D).

Legs. Coxae setose and metallic, remaining portion of legs orange, non-metallic, evenly setose entirely to claws ( Figs 3 A & 3B).

MALE. As in female, except entire antenna (scape, radicle and flagellomeres) dark brown/black, 18 antennal flagellomeres present and femora dark brown/black, tibiae slightly lighter (to orange), tarsomeres orange-brown, length of metasoma 1.67x depth.

Diagnosis. Separated from all other species of Pycnostigmus by having head and mesosoma (including coxae) metallic green-gold.

Etymology. Jill Masterson was murdered by Auric Goldfinger in the Fleming (1959) based United Artists movie Goldfinger. Masterson supposedly died by dermal asphyxiation when she was completely covered in gold paint. Her name is used since this species of Pycnostigmus is the only known metallic cynipoid (Ronquist pers. comm.; Buffington pers. obsv.).

Distribution. South Africa: Western Cape ( Fig. 13 ).

Material examined. Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape Province. [first label] Langberg Farm, (3 km 280° W Langebaanweg) 32°58.045'S 18°07.418'E, [second label] 4–11 Sept 2002, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-N1-M01, Sand Plain Fynbos. The holotype is a female mounted on a black card point. Deposited in SAMC.

Additional material. PARATYPES. SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape Province. Koeberg Nature Reserve, 33°37.622'S 18°24.259'E, 8 Aug–5 Sept 1997, S van Noort, Malaise trap KO97-M08, West Coast Strandveld (2 females, 17 males) [ CASC, SAMC, ULMZ, USNM]; Koeberg Nature Reserve, 33°37.622'S 18°24.259'E, 5 Sept–3 Oct 1997, S van Noort, Malaise trap KO97-M09, West Coast Strandveld (2 females) [ SAMC]; Koeberg Nature Reserve, 33°37.622'S 18°24.259'E, 5 Sept–3 Oct 1997, S van Noort, Malaise trap KO97-M10, West Coast Strandveld (1 female); Koeberg Nature Reserve, 33°37.622'S 18°24.259'E, 5 Sep–3 Oct 1997, S van Noort& HG Robertson, Pitfall trap KO97-P47, West Coast Strandveld (1 female) [ SAMC]; West Coast Fossil Park, (5.5 km 290° W Langebaanweg), 32°57.402'S 18°05.438'E, 4–11 Sept 2002, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-R5-M12, Rehabilitated mine dump (1female, 1 male) [ SAMC]; West Coast Fossil Park, (5.5 km 270° W Langebaanweg), 32°58.117'S 18°05.789'E, 11–18 Sept 2002, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-U1-M27, Acacia cyclops on slimes dam (2 females) [ SAMC]; Langberg Farm, (3 km 280° W Langebaanweg) 32°58.045'S 18°07.418'E, 18–25 Sept 2002, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-N1-M35, Sand Plain Fynbos (3 females, 1 male) [1 male, 1 female in USNM; 2 females in CASC]; West Coast Fossil Park, (3 km 280° W Langebaanweg) 32°58.098'S 18°07.244'E, 25.ix–2.x 2002, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-R2-M54, Rehabilitated mine dump (3 males) [ SAMC]; Langberg Farm, (3 km 280° W Langebaanweg) 32°58.045'S 18°07.418'E, 4–11 Sept 2002, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-N1-M01, Sand Plain Fynbos (9 females and 7 males) [ CASC, SAMC, ULMZ, USNM].

Image deposition. A MorphBank collection of images of P. mastersonae can be accessed via http://morphbank.net/Show/?id= 110336.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Pycnostigmus mastersonae Buffington & van Noort, holotype specimen, female. A, habitus. B, head and mesosoma, lateral view. C, head and mesosoma, dorsal view. D, left forewing. E, head, anterior view.

FIGURE 13. Distribution map of South African Pycnostigmus and Tylosema species. Solid dots: Pycnostigmus; open squares: Tylosema.