Messatoporus elektor Santos, 2013

Aguiar, Alexandre P., Supeleto, Fernanda A., Mendonça Jr, Milton S. & Negrello, Henrique, 2024, New Species, Host Record, and Male Discovery for Three Messatoporus Cushman (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae) from Brazil, Zootaxa 5471 (1), pp. 83-98 : 93-94

Messatoporus elektor Santos, 2013

( Figs 13–14 )

Messatoporus elektor Santos, 2013 in Santos & Aguiar (2013:116) . ♀. Described from the holotype only (UFES, examined).

Variation (Female). Antenna with 27–28 flagellomeres, f7–15 entirely white, f6–9 and f15–16 partially white. Fore wing length 6.90–8.50 mm. Orbital band briefly interrupted dorso-posteriorly. Mesopleuron dorso-posteriorly with a large dark brown area. Propodeum anteriorly lighter than on the holotype; tergites brown or dark brown, except for the apical yellow stripes.

Male ( Figs 13–14 ). Generally similar to female, except as follows. Fore wing 7.36 mm (vs. 6.90–8.50); antenna with 29 flagellomeres (vs. 27–28); white band at least on f9–15 (f16–18 dirty, not visible); pronotum entirely yellowish; mesopleuron mostly yellowish, including centrally, ventrally and all of the prepectal region; dorsally with some orange brown changing to dark brown at the wing base, thus similar to the female holotype; paraocular yellow stripe dorso-posteriorly briefly interrupted.

Comments (Male). Previously known only from the female holotype. The following features, observed on both sexes, are unique or uncommon in Messatoporus , helping to confirm the association of the studied male specimen with the present species: (1) In the female, the yellow spot in the central lobe of the mesonotum diverges from the common rounded shape, resembling a full cup with stirring liquid; the male exhibits a similar shape, with a slightly diffuse anterior edge; (2) Both sexes display a yellow wall covering the entire scutellar carina, forming a scale-like structure on each side; this is unlike most species where only the dorsal edge of the carina is yellow; (3) In both sexes, the axillary trough of the metanotum features orange edges and a black interior, an unusual trait; (4) The postscutelum is yellow in both female and male, an uncommon occurrence since this yellow typically fades in the male; (5) The male’s petiole color matches that of the holotype and the respective new female: yellow before the spiracles, transitioning to a diffuse light brown band, and returning to yellow at the apex; (6) Tegulae in the holotype, female, and male are of a very faint pale yellow, almost translucent.

The following features of the male, while notable differences from the female, appear to be variations within the species: (a) The pronotum lacks dark markings and is entirely yellowish; (b) The mesopleuron is predominantly light yellow, with a little orange-brown dorsally transitioning to dark brown at the base of the wings, resembling the pattern of the holotype; (c) The ocular band is interrupted dorsally, differing from the narrow band in the holotype and very narrow band in the new female, which are uninterrupted.

Biology. Reared from a few nests of Auplopus subaurarius ( Pompilidae ), from where emerged, predominantly, specimens of M. bisignatus sp. nov.

Material examined. Total of 2 specimens, 1♀, 1♂. Non-type: BRAZIL, 1♂, RS, Porto Alegre, Parque Natural Morro do Osso,?, Secondary Atlantic Forest, 30°07’02.808”S, 51°14’07.284”W, 88m, 2022-12-27, H.Negrello, Trap nest, T.128.2, ex. Auplopus subaurarius [ Pompilidae ], first described male,?, UFES • ib, 1♀, 5ib, 30°07’00.096”S, 51°14’02.754”W, 81m, 2023-02-11, 2ib, T.366.3, ib,?, ib, UFRGS.

Distribution. Brazil (MG, RSNewRecord)

Figures

FIGURES 13–14. Messatoporus elektor Santos, 2013. Male T.128.2. 13, Habitus. 14, Body, dorsal. Scale = 1 mm.