Alfredella mephisto Lahey, 2021

Lahey, Zachary, Talamas, Elijah, Masner, Lubomir & Johnson, Norman F., 2021, Revision of the Australian genus Alfredella Masner & Huggert (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae, Sceliotrachelinae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 87, pp. 81-113 : 81

Alfredella mephisto Lahey sp. nov.

Figs 11-14 , 15-16 , 35 , 39 , 43

Description.

Setation of mandibles: present. Setation of clypeal area: dense. Shape of clypeus: truncate. Anterior tentorial pits: large. Facial and malar striae: present, dorsal striations confluent with concentric sculpture of antennal scrobe. Central keel: present; absent. Setation of interantennal area: surpassing dorsal margin of toruli. Sculpture of frons: reticulate dorsally and along inner orbits, smooth medially, with weak concentric striations of antennal scrobe, punctation absent near ocelli. Position of lateral ocellus: less than 1 OD from inner margin of compound eye. Interocular space: 1.25 × length of compound eye. Occiput directly anterior to anteromedial portion of occipital carina: densely reticulate. Sculpture of occiput: densely reticulate. Color of antennomeres: brown-light brown; concolorous with legs. Number of papillary sensilla on A6: 1. Number of papillary sensilla on A7: 2. Glabrous patch on lateral propodeal area adjacent to spiracle: absent. Shape of mesoscutellum in lateral view: convex. Shape of transepisternal line: arched. Shape of mesoscutellum in dorsal view: oval, 2 × wider than long. Sculpture of posterior mesoscutellar sulcus: striate. Posterior mesoscutellar sulcus: complete, medial portion sometimes hidden by overhang of mesoscutellum. Setation of mesoscutum: present. Setation of mesoscutellum: present throughout. Path of notauli: subparallel; diverging anteriorly. Shape of notauli: narrowing posteriorly. Setation of anteromedial T2: contiguous. Number of setae on lateral surface of T3: 3. Number of setae on lateral surface of T4: 3. Number of setae on lateral surface of T5: 6. Felt field on S2: approximately as long as lt2. Setation of laterotergites: present on lt2. Setation of dorsal surface of hind coxa: absent medially. Color of coxae: brown; lighter than mesosoma.

Diagnosis.

Alfredella mephisto is identifiable by the abbreviated notauli and complete posterior mesoscutellar sulcus.

Distribution.

Western Australia.

Inhabited ecoregions

(bioregions). Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub (Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, Warren).

Etymology.

Mephisto is one of the Prime Evils in the Diablo video game franchise. The epithet is treated as a noun in apposition.

Material examined.

Holotype, female: Australia: WA, 34°23.71'S, 117°53.09'E, Stirling Range National Park , 22.XI.2002, J. George, OSUC 697984 (deposited in ANIC) . Paratypes: Australia: 4 females, 4 males, OSUC 697985 (ANIC); OSUC 697986-697992 (CNCI) .

Comments.

Alfredella mephisto is the only species from Western Australia treated in this revision. We examined a single male of an undescribed species from the same state (OSUC 698016; collected near Yarragil Campground, Dwellingup) but have chosen not to describe it until additional material is collected.

Figures

Figures 11 - 14. Alfredella mephisto Lahey, female holotype (OSUC 697984) 11 head, mesosoma, metasoma, dorsal view 12 head, mesosoma, metasoma, lateral view 13 mesosoma, posterodorsal view 14 head, anterior view. Scale bars in millimeters.

Figures 15, 16. Alfredella mephisto Lahey, male paratype (OSUC 697985) 15 head, anterior view 16 head, mesosoma, metasoma, lateral view. Scale bars in millimeters.

Figures 34 - 37. Clava and claval formulae of female Alfredella Masner & Huggert 34 Alfredella auriel Lahey, holotype (OSUC 698019), ventral view 35 Alfredella mephisto Lahey, holotype (OSUC 697984), ventral view 36 Alfredella tasmanica Masner & Huggert, paratype (OSUC 697975), lateral view 37 Alfredella teres (Buhl), (OSUC 697995), posterolateral view. Each arrow indicates a papillary sensillum. Scale bars in micrometers.

Figures 38 - 41. Tyloid morphology of male Alfredella Masner & Huggert 38 Alfredella auriel Lahey, paratype (OSUC 698020), lateral view 39 Alfredella mephisto Lahey, paratype (OSUC 697985), lateral view (tyloid OSUC 697978), lateral view 41 Alfredella teres (Buhl), (OSUC 697999), lateral view. Scale bars in micrometers.

Figures 42 - 45. Clypeal morphology of female Alfredella Masner & Huggert 42 Alfredella auriel Lahey, holotype (OSUC 698019), anterior view 43 Alfredella mephisto Lahey, holotype (OSUC 697984), anterolateral view 44 Alfredella tasmanica Masner & Huggert, paratype (OSUC 697975), anterior view 45 Alfredella teres (Buhl), (OSUC 697995), anterolateral view. Scale bars in micrometers.