Paramblynotus behara van Noort & Buffington, 2013

Noort, Simon van & Buffington, Matthew L., 2013, Revision of the Afrotropical Mayrellinae (Cynipoidea, Liopteridae), with the first record of Paramblynotus from Madagascar, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 31, pp. 1-64 : 14-17

Paramblynotus behara van Noort & Buffington sp. n. Figures 4 , 5

Type material.

HOLOTYPE: Male: Madagascar, Behara, Museum Paris, XI·38, A. Seyrig (MNHN). PARATYPES: 1M: same data as holotype, except for I·38 (SAMC); 1M: Madagascar, Bekily, Reg. Sud. de L’ile, Museum Paris, I·39, A. Seyrig (MNHN); 1M: Antsiranana: Orangea, 3km E of Ramena, near fort, 65m, 12°14'49"S, 49°22'17"E, 21-23.I.2001, MT, Irwin, Schlinger & Harin’Hala, littoral forest on sand. MA-01-05-02 (USNM).

Distribution.

Madagascar.

Etymology.

Named after the type locality. Noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

Belongs to the Paramblynotus yangambicolus species-group. Male with elongate 14-segmented antenna ( Fig. 4A ). Forewing with RS+M vein arising at base of basal vein ( Fig. 5B ), a character state shared with the other Madagascan species in this species-group, Paramblynotus zohy , and separating these two species from the African species. Uniquely, Paramblynotus behara has spectral Rs+M and basal veins ( Fig. 5B ). Both veins are defined in Paramblynotus zohy ; however, this character may be sex-linked and not diagnostic at species level. Males are not known for any of the other species in this species-group.

Comments.

There is the possibility that this species may be the male of, and hence conspecific, with Paramblynotus zohy sp. n. This is unlikely given the marked sexual dimorphism in overall appearance, a trait that is not characteristic of the genus and one that would need to be invoked if they were conspecific. This species, along with Paramblynotus seyrigi sp. n. and Paramblynotus zohy sp. n., represent the first records of Paramblynotus from Madagascar.

Note.

See note under Paramblynotus seyrigi concerning André Seyrig’s collecting.

Description.

MALE. Length 2.7 mm. Head and mesosoma black; metasoma reddish-brown; antennae (except for three terminal segments which are darker), are orangish-brown ( Fig. 4A ). Wings transparent ( Fig. 5B ). Entire head punctate-rugose, strongly pubescent ( Fig. 5A ). Eyes small, not laterally extended beyond outer margin of genae in frontal view; 1.17 × length of malar space. ( Fig. 5A ). Antenna 14-segmented; F1 subequal (0.95 ×) in length to F2; flagellum equally wide throughout length. Vertex areolet-rugose, ocellar plate raised, not delimited by carinae; ocelli small, median ocellus diameter equal to distance between lateral and median ocellus; large areolet positioned laterad of each lateral ocellus ( Figs 4D , 5A ). Face areolet-rugose; antennal scrobe rugose. Vertex evenly rugose; no carinae present between toruli and lateral ocelli; strongly keeled medial carina present between toruli; extending from median ocellus (originating as v-shaped smooth area at ocellus) to level of ventral margin of toruli ( Fig. 5A ). Occiput concave in dorsal view, rugose except for smooth, glabrous medial area. Genal carinae extend to mid posterior eye region. Lower face with two weak excavations at upper clypeal margin, containing anterior tentorial pits. Clypeus dorsally rugose, ventrally with horizontal carina, above smooth lighter area bordering straight margin. Genae large.

Mesosoma dorsally with scattered long pubescent. Anterior flange and plate of pronotum uniformly areolete-rugulose and pubescent. Pronotum dorsomedially distinctly raised, in lateral view distinctly higher than anterior margin of mesoscutum ( Fig. 4C ). Pronotal crest prominent, raised into a sharp lighter medial tooth ( Fig. 4C ). Lateral pronotal carina distinct, fading well before pronotal crest. Lateral sur face of pronotum foveate. Mesoscutum foveate-reticulate with foveae set in irregular rows between transverse costae irregularly raised into strong backward pointing teeth ( Figs 4C-D ). The two scutellar foveae each subdivided by two very weak sub-lateral longitudinal carinae. Mesoscutellum foveate-reticulate; posteriorly with truncate lamella with a straight edge in dorsal view. Mesopleural triangle ventrally defined by a smoothly curved carina; upper mesopleuron foveate-reticulate; median impression vertically carinate; speculum finely longitudinally carinate ( Fig. 4C ). Metanotum laterally longitudinally excavated with fine pubescence. Dorsellum with three medial foveae. Propodeum coarsely areolet-rugose, laterally pubescent. Lateral propodeal carinae indistinct and inseparable from the longitudinal carinae; median propodeal area areolate-rugose, with elongate cells posteriorly forming parallel longitudinal carinae.

Rs+M of forewing nebulous, arising from the base of basal vein ( Fig. 5B ). Marginal cell 2.8 times as long as wide. Abdominal petiole narrow, laterally longitudinally carinate ( Fig. 4E ), dorsally sparsely variolate with confused, weak, longitudinal carinulation, twice as wide as long in dorsal view ( Fig. 4F ). Posterior ventral margin of metasomal T6 straight and T7 weakly sinuate in lateral view. T7 largely concealed behind T6 in lateral view, with strong setate medially. T8 strongly setose, visible in lateral view. Relative dorsal length of T3-T8: 7:3.4:3:2:2:3.5. Tergites 5-8 finely punctate; T3-4 polished ( Fig. 4F ). Legs strongly pubescent; coxae, femora smooth, shiny; tibiae and tarsi densely punctate ( Figs 4A, 4E ). Mesotibial and metatibial outer spur longer than inner spur. First metatarsomere half as long as the remaining 4 metatarsomeres.

FEMALE. Unknown.

Figures

Figure 4. Paramblynotus behara sp. n., holotype female. A lateral habitus B dorsal habitus C head and mesosoma, lateral view D head and mesosoma, dorsal view E metasoma, lateral view F metasoma, dorsal view.

Figure 5. Paramblynotus behara sp. n., holotype female. A face, anterior view B forewing C labels. Paratype female (Bekily) D habitus, lateral view.