Metopius (Metopius) discolor TOSQUINET, 1896: 361

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 : 1642-1644

Metopius (Metopius) discolor TOSQUINET, 1896: 361

L e c t o t y p u s:(♀) [red] Type, ♀, 9034, [blue] Capland Krebs. (Berlin), type studied.

syn. Metopius erythropus CAMERON, 1904: 148

syn. Metopius erythrospilus CAMERON, 1906: 132

L e c t o t y p u s:(♀) B.M. Type Hym 3b1004, Metopius erythrospilus CAM Type Cape (London), studied and herewith designated. The other specimen (B.M. Typ Hym. 3b1015) is designated as paralectotype.

syn. Metopius (Peltocarus) apertus BENOIT, 1965: 44

F u r t h e r m a t e r i a l RSA, Itala Game Reserve , 666 (Cape Town) ; RSA, W Cape, Barrydale , 1♀ 16.XII.2002, leg. M. Snizek (Linz) ; RSA, W Cape, S of Lamberts Bay 17♀♀ 7.X.1999, 1♀ 7-9.X.1999, 1♀ 10.x.1999, leg. M. Halada (Linz) ; RSA, 1♀ 15-16.XI.1993, 3404´S 2027´E, Cape Province, Bontebok NP, leg. F. Koch (Berlin) ; RSA, Pretoria City , 16 12.II.2000, leg. J. Halada (Linz) ; RSA, Kw Natal N, Louwsburg, Itala , 1♀ 9.II.2000, leg. J. Halada (Linz) ; RSA, Transvaal Wolkbg , 2402´S 3000´E, 12-16.II.1997, 16 Falle 2, 266 Falle 4, 36 Falle 8, 266 Falle 10, 16 Falle 17, 266 Falle 18, 266 Falle 21, leg. Koch (Berlin) ; RSA, Itala Game Res. , 2730´S 3120´E, 266 28-30.I.1995, leg. Koch (Berlin) ; RSA, Natal, Dragon Peak Park , 29 02´S 2926´E, 266 9.XI.1993, leg. Koch (Berlin) ; RSA, Pretoria, Botanical Garden , 1♀ 1.IV.1990, leg. M. Schwarz (Munich) ; RSA, N´dumu Game Reserve , 2655´S 3219´E, 1♀ 2.II.1995, leg. Koch (Berlin) ; Tanzania, Mombo or., 1♀ 9-11.I.1996, leg. Snizek (Linz) ; Kenya, Atbi River , 1076, 1♀ 28. V.1965, leg. E.S. Brown (London) ; Tanzania, Arusha, 16 ex Spondoptera exempta ( WALKER, 1856) ( Lep. Noctuidae ), 17.III.1965 (London) ; Kenya, Nairobi, 1974, 16 ex Spondoptera exempta ( WALKER, 1856) (Lep. Noctuidae ) (London) ; Zambia, Lusaka, 1♀ IV.1980, leg. R.A. Beaver (London) ; Zimbabwe, nr Kwekwe Iwaba 1200m, 1♀ 26.XI.- 5.XII.1999, leg. K.M. Guichard (London) ; Zimbabwe, Salisbury Chishawasha , 1♀ IV.1978, 1♀ XI.1978, 3♀♀ II.1981, leg. A. Watsham (London) ; Sierra Leone, Rokupr , 2♀♀ 1977 light trap rice field (London) ; Nigeria N, Sokoto Prov., Lake Natu , 466 29.XI.1975, leg. J.C. Deeming (London) ; Nigeria N, Niger Prov., Mokwa , leg. S.S. Chhadha, 16 parasite in pest of tomato (London) ; Nigeria N, Bwn Shendam & R. Benme , rice field, 1♀ 18.XI.1977, leg. J.C. Deeming (London ; Nigeria, Ibadan , 16 25. V.1955, leg. J. T. Davey (London) ; Nigeria, Ibadan on rice, 16 31.VII.1964, 16 18.VIII.1964 (London) ; RSA, Natal Nat. Park , 16 III.1932, leg. J. Ogilvie (London) ; Zambia, Lusaka 266 IV.1980, leg. R.A. Beaver (London) ; Kenya, Karava vill., 16 ex Spodoptera. exempta (London) ; Uganda, Molt Near Tororo, 16 24. V.1963, ex larva of Spodoptera, leg. E.S. Brun (London) ; Zimbabwe, Salisbury 1♀ 22. V.1954, ex Laphyrgina exempta, leg. D.J.W. Rose (London) ; RSA, Transvaal, Rustenburg , 1♀ 18.IV.1928 (London) ; RSA, Natal, Durban , 1♀ 4.XII.1918, leg. C.N. Backer (London) ; RSA, Natal, Weenen , 1♀ II.1925, leg. H.P. Thomasset (London) ; Kenya, Karura forest, Nairobi , 5500 feet, 1♀ 9- 13.XII.1970, leg. A.E. Stubbs (London) ; Uganda, Mt. Kokanjero , SW of Elgon, 6400 feet, 1♀ 7- 9.VIII.1911, leg. S.A. Neave (London) ; Zimbabwe, Matetsi , 1♀ 30.III.1937, leg. R.H. R. Stevenson (London) .

T a x o n o m i c a l r e m a r k: The synonymy of this common and widespread Afrotropical species has long been questionable. After the original description of M. discolor by TOSQUINET (1896), CAMERON (1904, 1906) had described several South African species (e.g. Metopius erythropus , M. erythrospilus , M. nigroornatus and M. alboornatus as new. However, all of them were synonymized with M. discolor TOSQUINET by BENOIT (1965). Later, TOWNES & TOWNES (1973) correctly synonymized M. apertus BENOIT, 1965 with M. discolor .

In my opinion, the 66 of Metopius alboornatus CAMERON differ slightly but constantly from Metopius discolor TOSQUINET by a less narrowed temple, yellow spot on hind coxa, and mesopleural yellow spot not confluent with subtegular spot. The type of Metopius nigroornatus CAMERON belongs to Metopius audens TOSQUINET (nov.syn.).

D e s c r i p t i o n o f ♀:

Body length 13-15 mm. Flagellum with 52-62 segments. Mandible with one tooth. Second maxillary palpomere club-shaped, about 1.6-1.7x as long as wide (fig. 38). Facial shield with slightly narrowed sides, with dense puncture and strong carinae, about 1.1- 1.2x as long as wide, pointed below and with a more or less distinct longitudinal carina reaching the apex of clypeus. Interantennal lamella high, with distinct subdistal impression and strong distal tooth. Second maxillary palpomere club-shaped, about 1.7x as long as wide. Frons with fine transveral striation, sometimes punctate. Vertex punctate. Temple roundly narrowed behind eye, about 0.8x as long as eyes (fig. 26). Distance of lateral ocellus to eye 1.4x its diameter.

Mesosoma with long whitish hairs. Pronotum coarsely punctate, with striation ventrally (fig. 41), smooth only at narrow anterior margin. Epicnemial carina obsolete above sternaulus. Central area of propodeum wide, with lateral carina (sometimes faint) and ± distinct central longitudinal ridge, apical carina obsolete, costula indistinct. Hind femur length 2.4-2.7x height. Hind metatarsus 0.45x as long as hind tibia. Outer apical spur of hind tibia 0.35-0.5x as long as hind metatarsus. Front and middle claws with small basal teeth. Areolet 2.5x wider than long, second recurrent vein with one bulla (rarely with two), reaching areolet in its middle.

First tergite with dorsal carinae only in basal third to half. Its spiracle with strong spiniform ventral extension, lateral lamella behind spiracle obsolete or narrow (fig. 29). Second tergite 0.9-1.0x as long as wide, with slightly pointed posterolateral edges, third and fourth tergites with rounded edges (sometimes third tergite with pointed edge).

Color (color form I as the lectotype): Body mainly reddish. Yellow are facial shield, facial and frontal orbits, ventral spot on scape, upper margin of pronotum, large anterodorsal spot of mesopleuron, prescutellar ridge, apical half of scutellum, postscutellum, two spots on propodeum at dentiparal edge, posterolateral spots on first tergite, apical bands on tergites 2-6 (about 1/5 of length), front femur frontally, middle femur apically, front and middle tibiae and tarsi reddish apically, wings darkened at apex.

(Color form II): Black. Red are palps, mandible except tooth, labrum, clypeus centrally, often malar space, face (facial shield often with dark spot centrally), frontal orbit up to the lateral ocellus, upper margin of pronotum at least in hind part, tegula, subtegular ridge confluent with a large spot at upper part of mesopleuron, prescutellar carina, scutellum completely or apically, postscutellum, usually posterolateral spot on propodeum, legs including coxae and trochanters (rarely hind femur more reddish), sometimes first tergite apically, sometimes fifth tergite, usually sixth tergite. First to fifth tergites with yellowish apical margins, centrally narrowed. Front wing darkened at apex, pterostigma yellowish.

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

Body length 11-15 mm. Flagellum with 51-58 segments. Eyes slightly narrowed ventrally. Facial shield with rounded sides, slightly narrowed ventrally, length 1.2-1.25x width, densely punctate, pointed below. Second maxillary palpomere 2.0-2.1x longer than wide. Distance of lateral ocellus to eye 1.3-1.4x its diameter. Interantennal lamella high, with strong subdistal indentation and strong distal tooth. Temple strongly but roundly narrowed behind eye (fig. 26). Frons with transverse striation.

Side of pronotum punctate, smooth with some striation on anterior border. Area centralis of propodeum bottle-shaped, lateral carina concavely narrowed apically, usually reaching apex of propodeum. Hind femur length 2.7-2.8x height. Hind metatarsus 0.45x as long as hind tibia. Outer tibial spur 0.5x as long as hind metatarsus. Areolet 2.3x wider than long, second recurrent vein in its middle, with one bulla.

First tergite with dorsal carina in the basal 0.5-0.7, spiracle ventrally with strong tooth and strong apical lamella. Second tergite about as long as wide. Second and third tergites with pointed posterolateral edges, tergites 4-5 with rounded edges.

Color: Black. Yellow are palps, mandible except tooth, labrum, malar space, face and facial shield, frontal orbit up to anterior ocellus, scape and pedicel beneath, upper border of pronotum, anterior 2/3 of mesopleuron in the upper half confluent with subtegular ridge, prescutellar ridge, apical half or complete scutellum, postscutellum, posterolateral spot on propodeum, hind 0.5-0.7 of first tergite, apical bands of tergites 2-7, narrower on apical tergites, apical margin of hypopygium and parameres. Front and middle legs yellow, front and middle coxae and femora with brownish spots posteriorly. Hind coxa black, sometimes partly reddish. Hind leg otherwise red, but hind femur usually with basal and apical yellow spots on outer side. Pterostigma yellowish, wings only slightly darkened apically.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Widespread in Afrotropical Africa, new for Sierra Leone.