Masona wow Dal Pos & Martens, 2024

Pos, Davide Dal, Broad, Gavin R. & Martens, Abigail P., 2024, Small jewels: two new species of the rare genus Masona van Achterberg (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea, Braconidae), with a catalogue of world species and comments on the peculiar morphology of the genus, European Journal of Taxonomy 925 (1), pp. 135-160 : 152-156

Masona wow Dal Pos & Martens sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0897F552-3922-49E3-9AEE-ED5DFE687419

Figs 11–13

Differential diagnosis

Masona wow sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from all the other species of the genus by the presence of two processes on the dorsal side of the head (absent in all the other species). Other morphological features are: (1) scutellum absent (present in M. bulbofemoralis , M. neon sp. nov., and M. popeye ); (2) antenna as long as metasoma and head combined (longer in M. similis and M. infuscata ); (3) precoxal sulcus present (absent in M. similis and M. infuscata ); (4) occipital carina short, not reaching the ventral margin of the gena (well-developed in M. similis and M. infuscata ).

Etymology

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition based on the common English expression ʻwowʼ, that means astonishment and/ or admiration. The name refers to the first author (DDP)’s reaction when he first noticed the two unmistakable protuberances on the holotype’s head as well as the surprise in discovering a new unmistakable species of this rare genus in the USA.

Type material

Holotype

UNITED STATE OF AMERICA • ♀; “[White label] CA: Los Angeles Co. / 32° 58’ 33.47’’ N / San Clemente Island / Northwest terrace flar / MDS boxthorn // [White label] 118° 34’ 15.74’’ W / 6/28/10 / U.S. Navy// [White label] Hymenoptera / Bethylidae / Bethylid wasp // [Blue label] SBMNH / ENT0117604 // [White label] Masona / det. M. Gimmel 2020 // [Orange label] PHOTO // [Red label] HOLOTYPE / Masona / wow / Dal Pos & Martens, des. 2023”; SBMNH. The specimen is in very good condition.

Description

Female

MEASUREMENT. Body length: 1.5 mm.

HEAD. Prognathous, 1.3× as long as wide (measured dorsally, across the eyes), overall smooth and shiny; mandibles strongly twisted and blade-like; clypeus distinct, clearly separated form face, with small tentorial pits; face extremely reduced; occipital carina strong dorsally, gradually dissipating laterally; antenna with 14 flagellomeres, all of which longer than wide, with apical flagellomere 2.2 × as long as medially wide; scape and pedicel about as long as wide; area between antennal sockets not elevated; dorsal side of head with two processes beyond middle.

MESOSOMA.Overall smooth and shiny; 2.3× as long as maximally wide. Pronotum shorter than mesoscutum and with a well-developed, lamelliform carina anteriorly; antescutal depression present. Propleuron convex ventrally, its posterior margin projecting into a point between fore coxae. Mesoscutum 0.9 × as long as wide, notauli absent. Scutellum distinct, approximately as long as medially wide. Mesopleuron smooth and shiny, with sternaulus distinct and reaching mid coxae. Scutellum absent. Metanotum indistinct. Propodeum smooth and shiny, widest at midlength, wider than mesoscutum, flat in lateral view, and produced into two blunt apophyses posteriorly; propodeal spiracle round. Metapleuron smooth and shiny, with juxtaocoxal indistinct.

LEGS. Femora extremely expanded, bulbous. Tibiae gradually expanded.

WINGS. Absent.

METASOMA. Overall smooth and shiny. T1 not medio-anteriorly concave, with developed dorso-lateral carinae, without laterope, narrow anteriorly, 0.9 × as long as posteriorly wide; T1 spiracle situated in anterior 0.3 of segment. T2 laterally more sclerotized, with a distinct articulation with T3. T1–T4 clearly discernible, T5–T8 retracted and indiscernible. Ovipositor barely protruding beyond apex of metasoma, strongly upcurved.

COLORATION. Entire body yellow.

Male

Unknown.

Host

Unknown.

Distribution

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: California ( Fig. 13 ).

Remarks

Masona wow sp. nov. marks the first record for the species of the genus from the western USA, and it is the first species recorded with two processes on the head, the function of which is unknown.

Figures

Fig. 11. Masona wow Dal Pos & Martens sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (SBMNH). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, lateral view.

Fig. 12. Masona wow Dal Pos & Martens sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (SBMNH). A. Head, dorso-lateral view. B. Head and propleuron, ventral view.

Fig. 13. Distribution of Masona wow Dal Pos & Martens sp. nov., in the southwestern USA.