Metopius (Metopius) hilaris TOSQUINET, 1896: 365

Riedel, Matthias, 2016, Contribution to the genus Metopius PANZER (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Metopiinae) from Africa South of Sahara, Linzer biologische Beiträge 48 (2), pp. 1635-1675 : 1648-1649

Metopius (Metopius) hilaris TOSQUINET, 1896: 365

H o l o t y p u s:(♀) [red] Type, ♀, 9036, [blue] Capland Krebs. (Berlin), type studied.

syn. Metopius apophua MORLEY, 1916: 390

H o l o t y p u s:(♀) Type C.M., Bushmanld. Jackals Water Lightfoot, Metopius apophua MORLEY (Cape Town), type studied.

F u r t h e r m a t e r i a l: RSA, N Cape, SW of Springbok , 1♀ 4.II.1999, 1♀ 4.XI.1999, leg. M. Halada (Linz) ; RSA, W Cape N EN of Clanwilliam, Doringsbos , 3♀♀ 16 11.X.1999, leg. M. Halada (Linz) ; RSA, N Cape, SW of Springbok Buffelswadi , 266 18.X.1999, 1♀ 4.XI.1999, leg. M. Halada (Linz) ; RSA, Karoo Nat. P., 3219´S/ 2230´E, 1♀ 20.X.1993, leg. F. Koch (Berlin) ; Namibia, 1♀ 16 8-30.XI.1929, leg. R. E. Turner (London) ; Zimbabwe, Salisbury , Mashonaland, 16 II.1900, leg. G.A.K. Marshall (London) .

D e s c r i p t i o n of ♀:

Body length 12-13.5 mm. Flagellum with 45-48 segments. Mandible with one tooth. Second maxillary palpomere club-shaped, about 1.7-1.8x as long as wide. Facial shield slightly to moderately narrowed below, with somewhat scattered puncture and strong carinae, length 1.2x width, pointed ventrally and with a ± distinct longitudinal carina reaching the apex of clypeus. Interantennal lamella high, with a very shallow subdistal impression and small distal tooth. Frons with fine transveral striation and/or punctate. Vertex punctate. Temple strongly but roundly narrowed behind eye, 0.75x as long as eye. Distance of lateral ocellus to eye 1.5-1.8x its diameter.

Mesosoma with long whitish hairs. Side of pronotum coarsely punctate, with striation anteriorly. Epicnemial carina above sternaulus curved to anterior margin of mesopleuron and running parallel to the mesopleural border up to subtegular ridge. Central area of propodeum length1.5-1.6x width, with strong lateral carinae, apical carina obsolete, costula short, in the middle. Hind coxa ventrally with scattered puncture in the apical half. Hind femur length 2.6x height. Hind metatarsus about 0.48x as long as hind tibia. Outer apical spur of hind tibia short, about 0.3-0.35x as long as hind metatarsus (as long as diameter of hind tibia). Front and middle claws with small basal teeth. Areolet 2x wider than long, second recurrent vein with one, rarely with two bullae, reaching areolet in its middle.

First tergite with dorsal carinae sometimes obsolete in the apical third. Spiracle ventrally with a rounded or small tooth-like extension and a strong apical lamella. Second tergite 0.9x as long as wide. Second and third tergites with spine-like posterolateral edges (weak in the third tergite), fourth tergite with rounded edges, tergites with coarse puncture, sometimes confluent to longitudinal rows.

Color: Black. Flagellum reddish-brown. Dark reddish are palps, mandibles, labrum, clypeus in part, face (shield darkened centrally), often only with the area of carinae reddish, frontal orbit up to the anterior ocellus. Prescutellar carina black to yellowish. Yellowish are large spot on upper mesopleuron confluent with subtegular ridge, hind half of scutellum, postscutellum, sometimes posterolateral spots of propodeum, posterolateral edges of first tergite, apical bands (about 1/3 of length) of tergites 2-5 (centrally narrower), last tergite some reddish apically. Legs except coxae (reddish)-brown, front tibia on anterior side and apical spots on front and middle femora yellowish-red. Hind tibia and hind tarsus darkened. Front wing with strongly darkened apex, pterostigma yellowish-brown.

D e s c r i p t i o n o f 6:

Body length 13-15 mm. Flagellum with 44-47 segments. Mandible with one tooth. Facial shield length 1.15-1.2x width. Distance of lateral ocellus to eye 1.5-1.6x its diameter. Second maxillary palpomere club-shaped, 1.7-2.0x as long as wide.

Side of pronotum punctate, anterior margin smooth, but striate in caudal parts. Area centralis of propodeum slightly longer than wide, with strong central carina, costula indistinct. Hind coxa ventrally with very scattered puncture in the apical half. Hind femur length 2.5-2.8x height.

First tergite with strong complete dorsal carina, spiracle with small tooth ventrally and moderately strong apical lamella. Second tergite about 1.0-1.1x as long as wide. Second and third tergites with spiniform posterolateral edges, fourth and fifth tergites with rounded edges.

Color: Black. Flagellum reddish. Yellow are palps, mandibles, labrum, clypeus in part, face completely, frontal orbits up to the anterior ocellus, large spot on upper mesopleuron confluent with subtegular ridge, prescutellar carinae, caudal half of scutellum, postscutellum, posterolateral spot on propodeum, posterolateral edge or apical band of first tergite, apical bands of following tergites, hind part of hypopygium, and parameres. Front and middle legs yellow, sometimes their coxae and femora with black stripes on inner side. Hind coxa black with anterodorsal yellow spot, hind trochanter and femur yellow, hind femur largely black on inner side, hind tibia and tarsus reddish, with some yellowish spots on outer side. Front wing with ± darkened apex. Pterostigma yellowish-brown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Guinea, RSA, Zimbabwe.