Polynema (Polynema) markiza Triapitsyn, 2021

Triapitsyn, Serguei V., 2021, Taxonomic review of Polynema (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in Australia and New Zealand, with descriptions of eight new species, Zootaxa 4915 (2), pp. 151-200 : 191

Polynema (Polynema) markiza Triapitsyn , sp. n.

( Figs 117–123 )

Polynema sp.: Noyes & Valentine 1989: 46 (in part).

Type material. Holotype female [ NZAC] on slide ( Fig. 117 ) labeled: 1. “Stephens I, SD, NZ, 20.ii.71, G. W. Ramsay ”; 2. “E1272”; 3. [yellow] “ N.Z. Arthropod Collection, NZAC, Private Bag 92170, AUCKLAND, New Zealand ”; 4. “Mounted at UCR/ERM by V. V. Berezovskiy 2006 in Canada balsam”. The type locality is Stephens Island, New Zealand.

Paratypes: NEW ZEALAND. North Island , Lynfield (AK), Wattle Bay , iv.1977, A.K. Walker (litter under Scirpus grass) [4♀ on points, NZAC]. South Island , Banks Peninsula ( MC), Prices Valley, R . P. Macfarlane (Malaise trap, edge of native bush), xii.1980 [3♀ on cards, NZAC (2), UCRC (1), and 2♀ on slides, NZAC, UCRC], ii.1981 [7♀ on cards, NZAC]. Stephens Island (SD), G.W. Ramsay, 20.ii.1971 (E1272) [1♀ on point, NZAC], ii.1971 [1♀ on slide (E1272/1), 1Ƌ on slide (E1272/2), NZAC] .

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Head and gaster dark brown; mesosoma brown except pronotum light brown and propodeum dark brown laterally; petiole light brown; scape and pedicel light brown, funicle brown, clava dark brown; legs light brown except apical tarsomeres brown (as in Fig. 122 ). Head ( Fig. 121 ) about as high as wide. Antenna ( Fig. 118 ) with scape (including short radicle) 2.9× as long as wide and with inconspicuous cross-ridges; pedicel smooth, longer than any funicular and 2.0× as long as wide; F1 the shortest and F2 the longest funiculars, F4 as long as F5 and shorter than F3, length to width ratios of funiculars: F1—1.7, F2—3.2; F3—3.5; F4—2.2; F5—1.8; F6—1.8, all funiculars without mps; clava 2.5× as long as wide, slightly shorter than combined length of the 3 preceding flagellomeres, with 6 mps. Mesosoma ( Fig. 119 ) about 1.7× as long as wide; mesonotum mostly smooth except pronotum with mesh-like sculpture; pronotum entire, long; mesoscutum greatly reduced and much wider than long, without notauli and anterior pits; anterior scutellum wider than long and without campaniform sensilla, scutellum with frenal row of foveae, frenum very short ( Fig. 120 ); propodeum with a short, very thin median carina at posterior margin ( Fig. 120 ). Apterous. Metacoxa smooth, a little shorter than petiole. Petiole about 2.6× as long as wide, with anterolateral “wings” ( Fig. 120 ). Ovipositor occupying almost 0.9 length of gaster, exserted beyond gastral apex by about 0.04× total length of ovipositor, and 1.3× length of metatibia.

Measurements of the holotype (µm). Mesosoma: 279; petiole: 88; gaster: 333; ovipositor: 303. Scape: 79; pedicel: 60; F1: 24; F2: 48; F3: 46; F4: 33; F5: 33; F6: 38; clava: 106.

Variation (paratypes). Body length 560–690 µm (dry-mounted specimens, as in Fig. 122 ). In slide-mounted specimens, scape (including radicle) 2.7–3.1× as long as wide, clava 2.8–3.1× as long as wide, and ovipositor 1.4–1.7× length of metatibia.

MALE (paratype). Similar to female except for the normal sexually dimorphic features of antenna and genitalia. Antenna ( Fig. 123 ) with scape 3.4× as long as wide. Genitalia atypical for species of P. ( Polynema ) ( Triapitsyn & Fidalgo 2006) in having digiti not hooked, with only 1 small denticle at apex [unfortunately, the only male specimen of this species was greatly overcleared on a slide made by E.W. Valentine, so taking a good quality image of the genitalia was not possible].

Diagnosis. See the diagnosis of P. aristokratka , the only other known and described wingless Polynema s. l. in the world.

Etymology. The species name is a noun in apposition; it means marquise/marchioness in Russian.

Remarks. Noyes & Valentine (1989: 46) mentioned an unusual, apterous species “with an almost cylindrical thorax, elongate pronotum, and reduced mesoscutum and scutellum”—E.W. Valentine considered this species and what is described here as P. aristokratka to be conspecific and identified and labeled them both on 11.vi.1981 as a Barypolynema sp.

Figures

FIGURES 117–120. Polynema (Polynema) markiza, female (holotype): 117, slide; 118, antenna; 119, mesosoma; 120, frenum, metanotum, propodeum, and base of petiole.

FIGURES 121–123. Polynema (Polynema) markiza: 121, female head in frontal view (holotype); 122, female habitus in lateral view (paratype, Stephens Island, New Zealand); 123, male antenna (paratype).