Dinapsis scriptus Mita & Shaw, 2020

Mita, Toshiharu & Shaw, Scott Richard, 2020, A taxonomic study of Dinapsis Waterson, 1922 from Madagascar (Hymenoptera Megalyridae, Dinapsini): crested wasps of the hirtipes species-group, Zootaxa 4858 (1), pp. 71-84 : 75-76

Dinapsis scriptus Mita & Shaw n. sp.

Figs 3, 4 , 8, 9 , 16–23

Materials examined. Holotype: ♀, “CASLOT 016972”, “ MADAGASCAR: Province / Fianarantsoa, near Isalo / National Park , at stream/ east of Interpretive Center / 17–24 March 2004 ”, “ 22°37.60’S, 45°21.49’E / collector: R. Harin’Hala / California Acad of Sciences / malaise trap in open area/ elev 750 m, MA-02-11A-16”.

Paratypes: [ Madagascar] 1♂, Antsiranana Prov., Binara forest , 9.1 km 233° SW of Deraina (650–800 m alt.), 13°14’48”S 049°36’12”E, 3. XII. 2003 (YPT), B.L. Fisher leg. ; 1♂, Antsiranana Prov., Andavakorea forest, 21.4km 75° ENE of Ambilobe, 4.6km 356° N of Betsiaka (425 m alt.), 13°07’06”S 049°13’48”E, 15. XII. 2003 (Sift), B.L.Fisher leg. ; 1♂, Antsiranana Prov., Ambanitaza forest, 26.1 km 347° from Antalaha (240 m alt.), 26. XI. 2004 (YPT), 14°40’46’’ S 050°11’01’’ E, B.L.Fisher leg. ; 1♂, Antsiranana Prov., Manongarivo , 10.8 km 229° SW of Antanambao (400 m alt.), 13°57.7’S 48°26.0’E, 8. XI. 1998 (Sift), B.L.Fisher leg. ; 1♀, Antananarivo Prov., 46 km NE of Ankazobe, Ambohitantely (700 m alt.), 18°11.88’S, 47°16.89’E, 17–26 IV. 2005 (MsT), M. Irwin & R. Harin’Hala leg. ; 1♀, Fianarantsoa Prov., near Isalo National Park , E of Interpretive Center (750 m alt.), 22°37.60’S, 45°21.49’E, 26. I – 3. II. 2002 (MsT), R. Harin’Hala leg. ; 1♀, same data as above, but (850 m alt.) ; 1♀, same as above, but (750 m alt.), 15–22. IV. 2002; 1♀, same data as above, but 17–24. III. 2004 ; 1♀, same data as above, but (885 m alt.), 22. IX – 3. X. 2002 ; 2♂, Toliara Prov., Analavelona Classified Forest , 29.2 km 343° NNW of Mahaboboka (1100 m alt.), 22°40’30”S 044°11’24”E, 18–22. II. 2003 (YPT), Fisher, Griswold et al. leg .

Description. (Female) Head ( Figs 3, 4 , 18, 19 ) sparsely covered with short setae on frons and dorsal surface of vertex, long setae on posterior surface of vertex and gena; frons and dorsal surface of vertex weakly rounded, smooth; transverse elevation present on lower part of frons; outer margin of each ocellus bearing crescent-shaped depression; row of punctures behind anterior ocellus present, occasionally indistinct or absent; vertex produced dorsally forming raised carina, sometimes posterior margin excavated; posterior surface of vertex smooth, except transversely rugose surface near occipital carina; gena with small scattered punctures; orbital carina present around outer margin of eye; irregular suborbital carina present; clypeus smooth; POL: OOL: OL: OPL = 1.0: 1.1–1.7: 0.8–1.1: 0.8–1.2.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 17 ): Mesonotum sparsely covered with long erect setae; mesoscutum smooth, with deep median sulcus; anterior surface forming lateral carina; anterior margin not excavated; dorsal surface flat in lateral view; short depression of parapsides present but indistinct; lateral lobe absent; axilla smooth, flat, separated medially ( Fig. 17 ); scuto-scutellar sulcus forming deep continuous groove; scutellum smooth, weakly rounded; ventral part of mesepisternum bearing sparsely located setae; metanotum densely covered with minute punctures, hairy; propodeum with paired longitudinal median, submedian and lateral carinae; carinae parallel, rarely slightly diverging anteriorly; surface between longitudinal carinae transversely rugose; posterior margin of median region not produced; posterior transversal carina absent.

Forewing ( Fig. 16 ) hyaline; vein M 1.62.3 × basal part of RS.

Hind coxa bearing longitudinal carina, faintly striated on dorsal part; hind tibia smooth; distal prong present, elongated, occasionally stout; apex bearing simple setae ( Figs 6 , 8 ).

Metasoma smooth but anterior surface of 6th and entire 7–8th metasomal tergites shagreened. Ovipositor 1.41– 1.80 × mesosoma length, apex bearing small teeth and single knob.

Color. Head black but surface around antennal insertion, malar space, clypeus and mandible brown. Antenna testaceous, apically darkened, with brown scape. Mesosoma black but prosternum brownish. Legs testaceous to brown with fore and mid coxae brown, hind coxa and hind femur dark brown to black, trochanters whitish to pale testaceous, and tarsi paler. Metasoma brown to dark brown. Ovipositor brown. Ovipositor sheath testaceous, apically darkened.

Measurements (in mm). Head 0.80–1.10 long, 1.00–1.20 wide; mesosoma 1.28–1.58 long; mesoscutum 0.80– 0.98 wide; propodeal disc 0.54–0.64 long, 0.70–0.88 wide; forewing 2.60–3.05 long; metasoma 1.20–1.96 long, 0.78–1.02 wide; ovipositor 1.80–2.85 long; total body length excluding ovipositor 3.40–4.63.

(Male) Different from female as follows: body sometimes densely covered by small punctures ( Figs 21, 22 ): distance between punctures as long as diameter of puncture; elevation of vertex less developed in smaller specimens; antenna entirely testaceous to brown; head and mesosoma sometimes reddish brown ( Figs 20–23 ) with median mesoscutal sulcus, scuto-scutellar sulcus and propodeum black; sometimes body entirely testaceous.

Distribution. Known from northern, central, and southwestern Madagascar ( Fig. 42 ): Antsiranana Prov.; Toliara Prov.; Fianarantsoa Prov.

Etymology. The specific epithet is formed from the Latin word for writing, referring to the letter-like deep furrows on the mesoscutum ( Fig. 17 ).

Notes. This species is easily distinguished from the other Dinapsis species by the distal prong of the hind tibia bearing only simple setae ( Figs 6 , 8 ). The prong on the hind tibia is also present in D. planifrons Mita & Shaw , n. sp., but the latter species has spatulate setae ( Figs 5 , 10 ) on the distal prong (although the setae are occasionally broken (as in Fig. 9 ). The coloration of the female of D. scriptus Mita & Shaw , n. sp. is mostly blackish but D. planifrons is mostly brownish.

Figures

FIGURE 42. Distribution of Dinapsis hirtipes species-group.

FIGURES 1–6. SEM images of Dinapsis spp. 1, head in lateral view, D. luteus, n. sp., paratype male; 2, ditto, D. planifrons, n. sp., paratype female; 3, ditto, D. scriptus, n. sp., paratype female; 4, head in dorsal view, D. scriptus, n. sp., paratype female; 5, distal prong of hind tarsus with spatulate setae, D. planifrons, n. sp., paratype female; 6, ditto, simple setae, D. scriptus, n. sp., paratype female. Scale = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 7–10. Hind tibiae of Dinapsis spp., female. 7, D. luteus, n. sp., holotype; 8, D. scriptus, n. sp., holotype (setae present on distal prong); 9, D. scriptus, paratype (seta lacking); 10, D. planifrons, n. sp., holotype. Scale = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 16–19. Dinapsis scriptus, n. sp., holotype female. 16, lateral habitus; 17, mesosoma in dorsal view; 18, head in dorsal view; 19, head in lateral view. Scale = 1.0 mm (16), 0.5 mm (17–19).

FIGURES 20–23. Dinapsis scriptus, paratype male. 20, lateral habitus; 21, mesosoma in dorsal view; 22, head in dorsal view; 23, head in lateral view. Scale = 1.0 mm (20), 0.5 mm (21–23).