Dinapsis planifrons 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 : 73-74

Dinapsis planifrons Mita & Shaw , n. sp.

Figs 2, 5 , 10 , 11–15

Materials examined. Holotype: ♀, “ MADAGASCAR: Antsiranana / Ambato forest, 26.6 km 33°/ NE Ambanja elev 150 m / 8 December 2004 ”, “ 13°27’52”S 048°33’06”E / California Acad. of Sciences / coll: B. L. Fisher, rainforest,/ yellow pan trap, BLF11517”, “CASLOT 014881”, “SEM”.

Paratypes: [ Madagascar] 1♀, Antsiranana Prov., Binara forest , 9.1 km 233° SW of Daraina, (650–800 m alt.), 13°15’48”S 049°36’12”E ”, 3. XII. 2003 (Sift), B.L.Fisher leg.; 1♀, Antsiranana Prov., Antsahabe forest, 11.4km 275° W of Daraina (550 m alt.), 13°12’42”S 049°33’24”E ”, 12 XII. 2003 (YPT), B.L.Fisher leg. ; 4♀, Mahajanga Prov., Namoroka National Park , 16.9 km 317° NW of Vilanandro (100 m alt.), 16°24’24”S 045°18’36”E, 12–16. IX. 2002 (YPT), Fisher, Griswold et al .; 3♀, Diego-Suarez Prov., Montagne d’Ambre National Park , (960 m alt.), 12°30’52”S, 49°10’53”E, 19. III – 5. IV. 2001 (MsT), R. Harin’Hala leg. ; 1♀, same data as above, but CASENT 2009721 ; 1♀, same data as above, but (1125 m alt.), 12°31’13”S, 49°10’45”E, 29. I – 11. II. 2001 ; 1♂, Antsiranana / Prov., Ankaranana Special Reserve , 13.6 km 192° SSW of Anivorano Nord (210 m alt.), 12°51’49”S 49°13’33”E, 16–20. II. 2001 (Sift), Fisher, Griswold et al. leg .; 1♀, Antsiranana Prov., Ambanitaza forest , 26.1 km 347° N of Antalaha, (240 m alt.), 14°40’45”S 050°11’01”E, 26. XI. 2004 (YPT), B.L.Fisher leg. ; 1♀, Toliara Prov., Ambohijanahary Special Reserve, Ankazotsihitafototra forest , 35.2 km 312° NW of Ambaravaranala (1050 m alt.), 18°16’00”S 045°24’24”E, 13–17. I. 2003 (Sift), Fisher, Griswold et al .; 1♀, 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 .; 2♂, Fianarantsoa Prov., Analalava forest , 29.6 km 280° W of Ranohira (700 m alt.), 22°35’30”S 045°07’42”E, 1–5. II. 2003 (YPT), Fisher, Griswold et al. leg .

Description. (Female) Head ( Figs 2 , 12, 13 ) covered with short scattered setae on frons and dorsal surface of vertex, long setae on posterior surface of vertex and gena; frons and dorsal part of vertex flat, sparsely covered with small punctures, rarely almost smooth; transversal elevation present on lower part of frons, but rarely absent; outer margin of each ocellus bearing crescent-shaped depression; row of punctures behind anterior ocellus present, rarely absent; vertex produced dorsally forming raised carina; posterior surface of vertex dorsally smooth, ventrally reticulate rugose; gena smooth, sometimes sparsely punctured; orbital carina present; suborbital irregular carina present, not reaching subocular suture; occipital carina without lateral collar; clypeus smooth; POL: OOL: OL: OPL = 1.0: 1.5–2.0: 1.1–1.2: 1.1–1.2.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 11 ): Mesonotum sparsely covered with erect setae; mesoscutum smooth, with deep median sulcus; anterior surface forming lateral carina; anterior margin not excavated; dorsal surface flat in lateral view; short parapsides indicated by row of small punctures; lateral lobe weakly present, not forming distinct corner; axilla smooth, flat, separate medially; scuto-scutellar sulcus forming deep continuous groove; scutellum smooth, flat; anterior margin of mesepisternum hairless, ventral surface hairy; metanotum hairy; propodeum with paired longitudinal and parallel median, submedian, and lateral carinae (as in Fig. 18 ); surface between longitudinal carinae transversely striated; posterior margin of median region producing dorsally; posterior transversal carina absent.

Forewing ( Fig. 11 ) entirely hyaline; vein M 1.9–2.4 × basal part of RS.

Hind coxa longitudinally striated on dorsal part, weakly shagreened on distal part; hind tibia smooth; distal prong weakly elongated; apex bearing two or rarely three spatulate setae ( Figs 5 , 10 ).

Metasoma smooth but anterior surface of 6th and entire 7–8th metasomal tergites shagreened. Ovipositor 1.47– 1.99 × mesosoma length, apex bearing small teeth and single knob.

Color. Head entirely brownish in holotype, paratypes reddish brown to brown, sometimes vertex and surface around occipital carina darkened; antenna testaceous with brown scape and apical four flagellomeres blackish in holotype, occasionally entirely reddish brown. Mesosoma brown, but metanotum, propodeum, furrows and carinae black. Legs testaceous but mid and hind coxae darkened, hind femur and tibia brown, rarely entirely testaceous. Metasoma testaceous to dark brown, dorsally darkened. Ovipositor brown. Ovipositor sheath brown.

Measurements (in mm). Head 0.86–1.10 long, 0.98–1.22 wide; mesosoma 1.34–1.48 long; mesoscutum 0.90– 1.00 wide; propodeal disc 0.52–0.56 long, 0.82–0.94 wide; forewing 2.70–3.05 long; metasoma 1.54–2.45 long, 0.90–1.16 wide; ovipositor 2.15–2.95 long; total body length excluding ovipositor 3.74–4.87.

(Male) Similar to female but different as follows: punctures on frons and vertex denser ( Figs 14, 15 ); mesoscutum and scutellum with small scattered punctures; distal prong of hind tibia stout, not distinctly elongate; mesopleuron darker, dark brown to black; metasoma darker, entirely dark brown.

Distribution. Known from northern and western Madagascar ( Fig. 42 ): Antsiranana Prov.; Mahajanga Prov.; Toliara Prov.; Fianarantsoa Prov.

Etymology. The specific epithet is formed from Latin words referring to the flat frons.

Notes. The modified setae on the distal prong of the hind tarsus are a distinctive apomorphy for this species ( Figs 5 , 10 ). Other morphological characters are most similar to Dinapsis scriptus n. sp. See the notes for D. scriptus for additional discussion on how to separate these two species. This species is distributed mainly in the western part of Madagascar ( Fig. 42 ).

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 11–13. Dinapsis planifrons, n. sp., holotype female. 11, lateral habitus; 12, head in dorsal view; 13, head in lateral view. Scale = 1.0 mm (11), 0.5 mm (12, 13).

FIGURES 14, 15. Dinapsis planifrons, n. sp., paratype male. 14, head in dorsal view; 15, head in lateral view. 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).