Tariqia stellaris Rousse et Villemant

Rousse, Pascal & Villemant, Claire, 2012, Ichneumons in Reunion Island: a catalogue of the local Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) species, including 15 new taxa and a key to species, Zootaxa 3278, pp. 1-57 : 46-47

Genotype. Tariqia stellaris Rousse et Villemant , sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The star-shaped carination of propodeum is unique.

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Fore wing length 3.8 mm.

Head. Entire head polished, clypeus and face with sparse long and thin silver setae; face larger than high with a distinct median longitudinal convexity, inner margin of eyes nearly parallel, ocellar triangle slightly obtuse anteriorly, OOi = 0.7, IOi = 1,1; frons flat; face with a sligh medio-longitudinal protruding; clypeus convex, its apical margin rounded, Ci = 1.5, MLMi = 3; mandible acute, its ventral tooth slightly twisted. Antenna almost as long as the body, flagellum with 23 flagellomeres bearing a secondary median constriction from the fourth one to apex.

Mesosoma. Whole mesosoma polished; epomia vertical, extending from mesocutum margin to almost the ventral margin of pronotum, its ventral extremity slightly twisted backwards; notaulus as a deep ovate impression with anterior carina ending laterally in a blunt point; mesopleuron with short, deep and smooth sternaulus and mesepisternal groove. Propodeum bare; propodeal carination strong; area basalis and superomedia fused in a long triangular area that forms a star with posterior transverse and median petiolar carinae; this star bears three acute apophyses: one in its centre and a pair at the apex of its latero-posterior arms. All tibia and tarsus covered with long oblique silver hairs. Wing hyaline, pterostigma brown.

Metasoma. Tergite I longitudinally striate, about 3x as long as apically wide, and gradually widening from base to apex; tergite II smooth, with short basal striation, the following tergites smooth with very fine and sparse punctuation; Ovipositor long and thin, upcurved, OTi = 1.4.

Color. Head and mesosoma black brown overall with lighter highlights; mouthparts ivory white; scape yellowish, flagellum light brown; propleuron and ventral part of pronotum yellowish; petiole brown, the following tergites reddish brown with a yellow transverse macula at apex of tergite II and base of tergite III; fore and mid legs yellow with coxae and trochanters whitish; hind leg yellow with base of coxa and femur, base and apex of tibia and all tarsi infuscate.

MALE (1 specimen). Fore wing length: 3.4 mm. Similar to female, coloration slightly darker.

Etymology. The species name refers to the peculiar aspect of the propodeal carination.

Distribution records. Reunion.

Type material. HOLOTYPE Ƥ ( MNHN EY 3893) Verbatim label data: Réunion, Bras Panon / La Caroline, alt. 230m, 12/2004, leg. Rousse; hind left tarsus lacking. PARATYPE ( MNHN EY 3892): 13 same locality, same date, leg. P. Rousse, complete.