Anachrysis arabica van Loon & Soliman, 2023

van Loon, Milo & Soliman, Ahmed M., 2023, An unexpected new species of Anachrysis Krombein, 1986 (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae, Amiseginae) from the Arabian Peninsula, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 96, pp. 835-846 : 835

Anachrysis arabica van Loon & Soliman sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 2 , 3 , 4

Type material.

Holotype ♂: Saudi Arabia / Jazan / Ahad Almasarhah / Alkhoms [16°46'14.42"N, 42°46'15.94"E, alt. 20 m] // 21.v.2022, MT / Leg. Ahmed M. Soliman [KSAM]; Paratypes: 2♂ and 3♀ same data as holotype [KSAM]; 1♂ and 1♀ same data as holotype [PRPC]; 1♂, Saudi Arabia / Jazan / Farasan Island / site 2, 14.iv.2016, MT / Leg. H. Dawah [KSMA]; 1♂, Yemen / Lahj, xi.2000, MT / no. 5202, Leg. A. v. Harten / & A. Sallam [RMNH]; 1♂ and 3♀, Yemen (7585) / 12 km NW Manakhah / 15.v-23.vi.2003, MT / Leg. A. v. Harten [RMNH].

Diagnosis.

Vertex with two large impunctate and polished swellings (Figs 1C , 2A , 3B ). Gena narrowing gradually from mandibular base to upper limit of eye (Figs 1D , 3A ). Scapal basin deep, transversally ridged (Figs 1C , 3C ). Lateral lobe of male clypeus lamellate, acute at apex and translucent white in color (Fig. 1C ). Pronotum and mesoscutum coarsely and densely setiferous foveate, interspaces polished (Figs 2A, B , 4A, B ). Pronotum posteromedially with deep short groove (Figs 2A , 4A ). Scutellum sparsely setiferous punctate, interspaces polished (Figs 2A , 4A ). Propodeum with longitudinal median fine carina (Figs 2A , 4A ). T1-4 densely punctate (punctures on T4 minute), interspaces polished (Figs 2D, E , 3B , 4C ). Body metallic blue, with reddish to reddish brown tint on mesepisternum, metasomal venter and legs (Figs 1A, B , 2F , 3A, B , 4E ).

Description.

Male (Figs 1 - 2 ): Body length 3-4 mm; forewing length 2.2-2.5 mm.

Head. In frontal view about as long as wide, distinctly narrowed ventrally, somewhat triangular (Fig. 1C ). Vertex with two large polished swellings directly behind posterior ocelli, posteriorly moderately declivous and setiferous foveate-subreticulate, foveae about 0.3 × AOD (Figs 1D , 2A ). Ocellar triangle equilateral (Fig. 1C ). OOL 1.5 × AOD; POL 2 × AOD; OPL about 5 × AOD (Figs 1C , 2A ). Occiput without occipital carina (Fig. 2A ). Temple evenly rounded behind eye, about 1.5 × AOD (Fig. 1D ). Frons setiferous foveate-subreticulate (foveae about 0.5 × AOD), bulging on either side of scapal basin; scapal basin relatively small but deeply depressed and transversally ridged, with longitudinal median ridge (Fig. 1C ). IOL 0.4 × as long as head width (Fig. 1C ). Eyes distinctly diverging ventrally, bare, about 1.25 × as high as wide (Fig. 1C, D ). Subantennal distance relatively long, 2.8-3.0 × AOD (Fig. 1C ). Clypeus broad, about 2 × as wide as long, slightly convex and punctulate on disc, depressed and polished along subapical rim, trilobate apically; median lobe acutely rounded apically; lateral lobe moderately large and thin (lamellate), broadly triangular and pointed towards apical end (Fig. 1C ). Malar space long, 4.5-5.0 × AOD, sparsely punctate, with well-developed vertical sulcus (Fig. 1D ). Gena gradually narrowed towards the temple, its width about 1.5 × AOD at its mid-length, densely foveate (Fig. 1D ). Flagellum long, filiform, flagellomeres cylindrical and gradually decreasing in length distally; F1 longest, 5.0-5.2 × as long as wide; F2 3.5-3.8 × as long as wide; F3 about 3.5 × as long as wide; F11 about 4.5 × as long as wide (Fig. 1E ). Mandible flattened, broad and incised near base, tapering and edentate apically (Fig. 1C, D ). Palpal formula 3/4.

Mesosoma. About 2.5 × as long as maximum width at the level of mesopleuron (Fig. 2A ), relatively flat in lateral view (Fig. 2B ). Pronotum wider than long, about 1.2 × (Fig. 2A ), with anterior shelf longitudinally ridged, dorsal face setiferous foveate-reticulate to subreticulate (foveae about 0.7 × AOD), humeral angles evenly rounded (Fig. 2A ) and lateral lobe not reaching tegula (Fig. 2B ), posteromedially with deep short groove (Fig. 2A ). Mesoscutum shorter than pronotum, about 0.7 ×, setiferous foveate-subreticulate (Fig. 2A ); notauli complete, anteriorly strongly diverging towards pronotal lobes (Fig. 2A ); parapsides reaching anterior fourth of mesoscutum (Fig. 2B ). Tegula oval and polished (Fig. 2A ). Scutellum about 0.7 × as long as mesoscutum, setiferous sparsely punctate (Fig. 2A ); interspaces between foveae and punctures on pronotum, scutum and scutellum polished (Fig. 2A, B ); metanotum about 0.3 × as long as scutellum, longitudinally ridged (Fig. 2A ). Propodeum areolate, posterolaterally evenly rounded (without lateral angle), with longitudinal median fine carina extended on both faces (Fig. 2A, D ), propodeal dorsal face about 0.9 × as long as scutellum and metanotum combined (Fig. 2A ), posterior face in lateral view rather abruptly declivitous (Fig. 2B ). Mesopleuron gradually differs from being foveate on dorsal face to sparsely punctate on ventral face (Fig. 2B, F ), with prepectal carina (Fig. 2B ).

Forewing (Fig. 2C ). R and 1Cu cells fully sclerotized. M1 cell delimited with faint veins except proximal M well sclerotized. Stub of Rs particularly well sclerotized (thick), about 0.7 × as long as pterostigma and R1 combined. M vein slightly curved, meets M+Cu before cu-a.

Hind leg (Figs 1A , 2F ). Femur 2.3-2.5 × as long as its maximum width, with dorsal margin basally strongly swollen then gradually narrowing towards apical end.

Metasoma. T1 about 0.5 × and 1.5 × as long as T2 and T3 respectively, anterolaterally gently rounded (Fig. 2D ). T1-4 punctulate (punctures on anterior half of T3 and T4 minute), interspaces polished (Fig. 2D, E ). T2 with posterior margin strongly convex (Fig. 2D ). T5 extremely small, greatly concealed (Fig. 2E ). S2 punctulate on disc, polished on edges, with posterior margin slightly emarginate medially (Fig. 2F ). S3-4 minutely punctate, S3 polished on anterior half (Fig. 2F ).

Genital capsule. As in Fig. 2G .

Pilosity. Body rather sparsely setose throughout, with erect to suberect white fine setae (about 1.5-2 × AOD in length) (Figs 1A, C, D , 2B, D ), except male antennal flagellomeres particularly with dense short reddish setae (Fig. 1E ) and male S2 with circular central area of dense recumbent setae (Fig. 2F ). Setae longest on fore coxa and femur and hind femur. Wings with brown macrotrichiae on both sides, denser on distal half than elsewhere (Fig. 2C ).

Color. Body metallic blue (Figs 1A, B , 2F ), except following parts: apical half of mandible (Fig. 1C ), labial and maxillary palps (Fig. 1D ), F7-11 (Fig. 1E ), small to large marking on mesepisternum and metasomal sternal borders reddish to reddish brown (Fig. 2F ); ventral aspect of tibiae, entire tarsi and F1-6 orange (Figs 1A, E , 2F ); lateral lamella of clypeus whitish and largely translucent (Fig. 1C ); anterior rim of T2, anterior half of T3 and T4 with black tint (Fig. 2D, E ). Wings hyaline, veins and pterostigma brown to dark brown (Fig. 2C ).

Female (Figs 3 , 4 ): Body length 3-3.5 mm; forewing length about 2.3 mm.

Similar to male, but differs as follows: Subantennal distance distinctly shorter, 0.9-1.0 × AOD (Fig. 3C ); clypeus without lateral lamella (apically not trilobate), with free margin truncate (Fig. 3D ); mandible simple, rather slender and subbasally entire (without incision) (Fig. 3D ); flagellum fusiform and distinctly shorter (F2-8 widened, at least as long as wide), ventral surface of F3-11 flattened, pedicel and F1 reddish brown, F2-11 dark brown to blackish (Fig. 3E ); frons in lateral view more strongly bulging (Fig. 3A ); reddish marking on mesepisternum extensive and lighter (Fig. 4E ); forewing slightly infumate, brown, on distal half (Fig. 3A ); distal veins, Cu, Rs+M and 1 m-cu of M1 cell extremely faint (nearly absent) (Fig. 3A ); S2 sparsely setose throughout (without central area of dense recumbent setae) (Fig. 4E ); metasoma with slender ovipositor (Fig. 4D ).

Distribution.

Southwestern Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Etymology.

The specific name Anachrysis arabica is a Latin adjective derived from Arabian Peninsula, referring to the subregion where the species has been found.

The following key can be used for differentiation between Anachrysis species: the new species A. arabica (Saudi Arabia and Yemen), A. paradoxa Krombein, 1986 (Botswana and South Africa) and A. spanglerorum Krombein, 1994 (South Africa).

Figures

Figure 1. Anachrysis arabica van Loon & Soliman, sp. nov., holotype ♂ A habitus, lateral view B habitus, dorsal view C head, frontal view (clypeal lateral lamella indicated) D head and pronotum, lateral view (mandible is magnified, mandibular subbasal incision indicated) E antenna (part of scape).

Figure 2. Anachrysis arabica van Loon & Soliman, sp. nov., holotype ♂ A head and mesosoma, dorsal view (pronotal posteromedian groove indicated) B mesosoma, lateral view C wings D propodeum and metasoma, dorsal view E metasomal T 2 - 5, dorsal view F habitus, ventral view G genitalia, ventral view.

Figure 3. Anachrysis arabica van Loon & Soliman, sp. nov., paratype ♀ from Saudi Arabia A habitus, lateral view B habitus, dorsal view C head, frontal view D mandibles and clypeus E antenna.

Figure 4. Anachrysis arabica van Loon & Soliman, sp. nov., paratype ♀ from Saudi Arabia A mesosoma, dorsal view (pronotal posteromedian groove indicated) B mesosoma, lateral view C metasomal T 2 - 5, dorsal view D T 4 and ovipositor E habitus, ventral view.