Ophion incarinatus, Johansson, 2021

Johansson, Niklas, 2021, Contribution to the subfamily Ophioninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Southern Europe with the description of one new genus and 15 new species, Zootaxa 5023 (3), pp. 301-334 : 320-321

Ophion incarinatus sp. nov.

Figs 13A–E urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0FBF3993-EC3D-45E9-8165-C047CC9129EB

Holotype: TURKEY: 1♀, Antalya, Aseki , 1500 m. a. s., 23 May–8 Jun. 1992, V. Nemec leg. ( OÖLM).

Paratype: 1♀, Same data as the holotype

Etymology: The name incarinatus (adjective) refers to the absence of carinae on the propodeum.

Diagnosis: Presumably related to O. turcomanicus , but distinguished by the smaller size, the less buccate head and the complete absence of propodeal carinae. Similar to the Northern African species Ophion geyri Habermehl , but with narrower temples and ramellus almost absent. Also similar to Ophion buchariensis Meyer (type collected in Uzbekistan) but with stouter basal flagellomeres and the inner orbits not distinctly diverging ventrally and the clypeus smaller.

Description: Male unknown. Fore wing length 10 mm. Body length 14 mm. Antenna with 50 flagellomeres. Temple slightly buccate behind compound eyes, in lateral view about 0.6 × as long as compound eye ( Figs 13B, D ). Malar space narrow, 0.1 × the width of the mandibular base. Space between compound eye and lateral ocellus narrow, about 0.2 × the diameter of ocellus. Face relatively wide ( Fig. 13C ). Occipital carina dorsally evenly curved. Face below antennal sockets polished with very weak and scarce punctures. Mandibular gape acute, without internal angles. First flagellomere 3.0 × as long as wide. Central flagellomeres stout, about 1.4 × as long as wide. Apical flagellomeres approximately 1.6 × as long as wide. Mesoscutum polished with very scarce and weak punctures, space between punctures about 5.0 × their diameter. Mesopleuron polished with very weak scarce punctures. Epicnemial carina, in antero-ventral view, with pleurosternal angles obtuse, distinctly anterior to sternal angles. Scutellum without lateral carinae. Propodeum polished without carinae ( Fig. 13E ). Sclerotised part of first sternite ending level to spiracle. Hind trochantellus as long as wide in dorsal view. Hind femur slender, about 7.0–8.0 × as long as wide. Inner spur of hind tibia about 0.3–0.4 × as long as hind metatarsus. Wing membrane clear. Ramellus short, reaching 0.1–0.2 of the width of the discosubmarginal cell. Outer part of radius very weakly sinuous, almost straight before junction with pterostigma. Nervellus broken slightly above the middle by the discoidella.

Colouration: Body pale yellow with typical coloration of desert species ( Fig. 13A–E ). Mandibular teeth black.

Remarks: Unfortunately, the type of the North African species Ophion geyri Habermehl , housed in Berlin was not accessible for study due to a loan. I have studied several specimens of this species collected in North Africa (NHMUK), which fits very well with the original description. The type of Ophion buchariensis Meyer is lost, but with the kind help of Dr Andrey Khalaim at ZIN, a female of the species determined by Meyer was found in ZIN, upon which the here presented interpretation and comparison is based.

Figures

FIGURE 13. Ophion incarinatus sp. nov. holotype female (OÖLM). A) Habitus, lateral view; B) head, dorsal view; C) head, anterior view; D) head, lateral view; E) scutellum and propodeum, dorsal view.