Helenanomalon ashmolei, Broad, 2014

Broad, Gavin R., 2014, A new, endemic genus of Anomaloninae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) from St Helena, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 41, pp. 31-45 : 34-38

Helenanomalon ashmolei sp. n.

Figs 2 , 3b , 4b , 5b , 6 , 7 , 9b, c

Description.

Female. Fore wing length 3.6-3.7 mm. Antenna with 16-17 flagellomeres, apical two flagellomeres of partly fused but still with obvious division between them, apical flagellomere 3.7 × penultimate flagellomere, penultimate 6 flagellomeres of antenna as wide as or wider than long, apical flagellomere at widest 1.8 × as wide as first flagellomere; antennal flagellum 0.6 × fore wing (Fig. 2 ); scape 1.4 × pedicel; distance between eyes ventrally c.0.7 × distance dorsally (Fig. 3b ); mandible more strongly twisted than in H. bonapartei sp. n., upper tooth 2.6 × lower tooth. Head and mesosoma covered in closely spaced, silvery setae, denser than in H. bonapartei sp. n. (Fig. 4b ); metasoma, beyond first tergite, covered in slightly sparser setae; notauli absent (Fig. 4b ), no rugose area on mesoscutum. Head and mesosoma predominantly of granulate appearance, rugose, matt, impunctate. Hind trochanter dorsally 2.0 × as long as trochantellus, ventrally 1.0 ×; hind tarsal claws weakly curved with only basal pecten (Fig. 5b ). First metasomal sternite with marked convexity sub-basally. Fore wing (Fig. 9b ) with cu-a slightly proximal to Rs&M; hind wing (Fig. 9c ) with 6 hamuli on vein R 1; distal abscissa of Cu 1 absent but with slight angulation on nervellus (cu-a+ Cu 1). Petiolar index 2.19; fore wing indices: CI 1.27; BI 1.13; DBI 0.51; ICI 0.60; MI 1.89; hind wing index: RI 1.38.

Colour. Basically dark red; fore and mid legs and hind femur paler red; extreme base of hind femur, apex of hind trochanter, yellow; antenna basally paler red; inner orbits from antennal sockets to hind ocelli dull yellow; metasoma extensively orange-red in holotype ♀, darker red in paratype ♀.

Male: unknown.

Material examined.

Holotype ♀ ‘Sainte-Hélène: Est Prosperous Bay Plain 800-900 ft. 5.II.1967', 'Coll. Mus. Tervuren Seconde Mission Zoologique à Sainte-Hélène J. Decelle, N. et J. Leleup’ (RMCA).

Paratype ♀ same data except 1000-1100 ft, 29.IV.1967, specimen number BMNH(E) #1022369 (BMNH).

Etymology.

Named after Philip and Myrtle Ashmole, who have done so much to encourage the study and conservation of the unique fauna of St Helena.

Figures

Figure 2. Holotype ♀ of Helenanomalon ashmolei sp. n.

Figure 3. Face of a holotype ♂ of H. bonapartei sp. n. and b holotype ♀ of H. ashmolei sp. n.

Figure 4. Mesoscutum of a holotype ♂ of H. bonapartei sp. n. and b holotype ♀ of H. ashmolei sp. n.

Figure 5. Hind tarsal claw of a holotype ♂ of H. bonapartei sp. n. and b holotype ♀ of H. ashmolei sp. n.

Figure 6. Antenna of holotype ♀ of H. ashmolei sp. n.

Figure 7. Ovipositor of holotype ♀ (RMCA) of H. ashmolei sp. n.

Figure 9. Wings of Helenanomalon species a fore and hind wings of paratype ♂ (BMNH) of H. bonapartei sp. n. b fore wing of holotype ♀ of H. ashmolei sp. n. c hind wing of H. ashmolei sp. n.