Trigonalys natalensis (Kriechbaumer)

Smith, David R. & Tripotin, Pierre, 2012, Trigonalidae (Hymenoptera) of Madagascar, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 24, pp. 1-25 : 16

Trigonalys natalensis (Kriechbaumer) Fig. 40

Trigonalis Natalensis Kriechbaumer, 1894:318.

Trigonalys natalensis : Carmean and Kimsey 1998: 70.

Discenea natalensis madegassa Bischoff, 1933: 485.- Bischoff 1938: 9.- Benoit 1951: 141.- Paulian 1961: 207.- Weinstein and Austin 1991: 413.

Type material.

Not examined. Kriechbaumer described this species from a female from "Port Natal 24.4.93", now Durban, South Africa. The holotype of Discenea natalensis madegassa Bischoff is in MNHU "8 ♀♀ liegen vor von Madagaskar, Bekily, I., III, IV. 1932 und Ihosy, II.-III.1933 (Seyrig S.)" "Als Typus bezeichne ich ein Stück von Bekily, IV.1932." Three paratypes are in MNHN.

Specimen examined.

PROVINCE FIANARANTSOA: Parc National Ranomafana, Belle Vue at Talatakely, elev. 1020 m, 5-13 May 2002, 21°15.99'S, 47°25.21'E, coll. M. Irwin, R. Harin’Hala, California Acad. of Sciences, Malaise, secondary tropical forest, MA-02-09C-28 (1 ♂, CAS)

Description.

Female ( Fig. 40 ). Length, 10.0 mm. Black with clypeus, area below antennal sockets, lower inner orbits, malar area, genae, large spots on 2nd metasomal tergite, small lateral spots on 3rd metasomal tergite, and posterior part of 2nd metasomal sternite white. Wings evenly lightly infuscated.

Male.

Not seen.

Distribution.

Madagascar: Fianarantsoa, Toliara (type locality of Discenea natalensis madegassa ). Angola, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe ( Carmean and Kimsey 1998).

Host.

Schultz (1910) stated that this was reared from an unidentified lepidopteran pupa.

Remarks.

We have seen only one specimen and do not characterize this species further. It is readily separated from the Orthogonalys species by its black antennae, mostly black body, and infuscated wings. Two subspecies may occur in Madagascar, the typical subspecies from Madagascar, without locality, and Trigonalys natalensis madegassa from only the two localities given by Bischoff (1933). We see no reason to distinguish subspecies at present.

Figures

Figure 40. Trigonalys natalensis, lateral view.