Afrocampe gen. nov.

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Figs 1–4

Type species

Afrocampe prinslooi gen. et sp. nov., by present designation and monotypy.

Diagnosis

Foretibial spur (calcar) short and evenly acute, tarsi 5-segmented in female (Fig. 2A), 4-segmented in male (Fig. 4D), antennal funicle 5-segmented in both sexes (Figs 2B, 3A, D–E, 4E), head lacking facial grooves (Fig. 2B) and occipital carina (Fig. 2D), mesoscutum with complete notauli (Fig. 2D, F), mesoscutellum with two pairs of setae (Figs 2F, 3B), fore wing poorly setose basally, its disc and speculum distinctly delimited, admarginal row of setae distinct and situated on underside of bare area along MV, PMV about 3.0× as long as short STV, with 3 hair rows radiating from it (Figs 2A, C, E, 4A, C); Gt1 not swollen (Figs 1B, 2A, 4A).

Etymology

The specific epithet is a combination of Afro- (reflecting the Afrotropical distribution of the genus) and - campe (from Tetracampe). Gender feminine.

Description

Body with ovoid head (Fig. 2B), robust mesosoma (Fig. 3A, D) and relatively short metasoma (Figs 2A, 4A); eyes sparsely setose (Figs 2B, D, 3E); flagellum with one anellus (bearing a short seta in the holotype: Fig. 3G, arrow), 5-segmented funicle and 3-segmented club, apex of which evenly rounded (Figs 2B, 3A, E); face with light sculpture, nearly smooth, with scrobal area sunken into median margined cavity, without facial grooves (Fig. 2B); anterior margin of clypeus slightly produced and weakly notched medially (Fig. 3F). Occiput not margined, occipital carina missing (Fig. 2D, F). Pronotum large, conical, its collum evenly sloping (Figs 2D, 3A). Vertex and pronotum with sparse bristles (Fig. 2D, F), midlobe of mesoscutum with distinct straight notauli and three pairs of strong bristles (Fig. 2D); mesoscutellum with two pairs of strong bristles, frenal area not distinctly marked off (but somewhat smoother than rest of scutellum in A. prinslooi gen. et sp. nov., Fig. 2F). Propodeum relatively transverse, its submedian areas entirely smooth and bare; spiracles small and round, closely adjacent to metanotal margin (Figs 2F; 3B–C). Tarsi of all legs 5-segmented in female (Figs 2A, 4A), 4-segmented in male (Fig. 4D). Each leg with one evenly acute spur. Basic part of fore wing poorly setose, with some strong bristles, SMV not broken; with 5 dorsal bristles, wing disc and speculum distinctly delimited by membrane folds and hair rows; admarginal area bare, with a row of setae at underside; PMV long, about 3.0 × as long as short STV, from which 3 hair rows radiate (Fig. 4C). Petiole rather transverse (Fig. 3C). Metasoma about as long as mesosoma, female gaster ovate (Figs 2E, 3B–C, 4A); Gt1 not swollen, not more convex than following tergites (Figs 1B, 4A), posterior margins of Gt2–5 straight (Fig. 3B–C); syntergum short, with membranous apical tip (Figs 3C, 4B); ovipositor sheaths short, but protruding (Figs 3C, 4B); hypopygium not reaching apex of metasoma, mucro short.

Comparative notes

The new genus is very different from all known chalcidoids, but may be assigned to the subfamily Tetracampinae of the family Tetracampidae as judged chiefly from the combination of the 5-segmented tarsi in females, the 4-segmented tarsi of males and the short straight calcar (see Discussion). Afrocampe gen. nov. has some characters in common with Niticampe Bouček, 1988: the reduced occipital carina, the missing frontal grooves, the evenly acute calcar, the flat Gt1, the poorly setose base of the fore wing and the distinct forewing speculum. However, Afrocampe gen. nov. differs from Niticampe in general habitus, with a large convex mesosoma (slender in Niticampe), the 5-segmented antennal funicle (6-segmented in Niticampe) and by the setation of the forewing disc (see Discussion).

Biology

Not known.

Distribution

Afrotropical realm (Cape floristic region).