Metopius (Metopius) nigripalpis BENOIT, 1965: 56

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 : 1653

Metopius (Metopius) nigripalpis BENOIT, 1965: 56

M a t e r i a l: Rwanda, Prov. Cyangugu, Nyakabuye, 1♀ 5.v.1983, leg. H. Mühle (Munich).

T a x o n o m i c a l r e m a r k: The taxon is characterized by the club-shaped metasoma and reduced pale markings. I have not studied the type, the available specimen differs slightly from the original description given by BENOIT (1965): Palps dark brown, without ivory stripes, metasoma blackish, apical tergites with slightly violet shine, tergites 2-3 with posterolateral cream-yellow spots, tergite 4 with yellowish apical margin.

D e s c r i p t i o n o f ♀:

Body length 9 mm. Flagellum short, with 34 segments. Mandible with one tooth. Second maxillary palpomere semi-globose, length 1.5x width. Facial shield length 1.15x width, sides slightly narrowed ventrally and slightly pointed below, with coarse puncture and some longitudinal rugae centrally. Inner margins of eyes narrowed ventrally. Interantennal lamella high, but without distinct indentation or tooth. Frons finely punctate, in the lower part with fine transverse striation. Temples strongly narrowed, its length 0.6x eye length (seen from dorsal). Distance of lateral ocellus to eye 1.6x its diameter.

Mesosoma with whitish hairs. Side of pronotum coarsely punctate, strongly striate anteriorly. Epicnemial carina above sternaulus weak, curved to anterior margin of mesopleuron running parallel of the margin up to subtegular ridge. Mesoscutum in front of prescutellar groove not distinctly impressed. Scutellum with long lateral wing-like extensions. Central propodeal area wide, length 1.2x width, completely carinate. Costula distinct. Basal parts of propodeum smoothened. Hind femur length 2.7x height. Hind metatarsus about 0.5x as long as the hind tibia. Outer apical spur of hind tibia 0.5x as long as the hind metatarsus. Areolet stalked, only 1.6x as long as wide, very oblique. Second recurrent vein reaching areolet lateral of its middle, with one bulla. Nervulus of front wing almost interstitial.

First tergite with dorsal carina reaching the apical third, spiracle with strong tooth-like ventral extension and lateral lamella distinct in the basal half. Metasoma club-shaped: Basal tergites narrow, second tergite about 1.25x as long as wide, tergites 5 and 6 distinctly swollen. Second and third tergites with tooth-like posterolateral extensions, fourth tergite with rounded extensions.

Color: Black. Flagellum reddish-brown. Palps completely brown. Head blackish except ivory margins of facial shield. Mesosoma completely blackish. Metasoma blackish, apical tergites with slightly violet shine, second and third tergites with cream-yellow posterolateral spots, fourth tergite with narrow yellowish apical margin (1/6 of tergite length). Legs dark brownish-black. Hind tibia with subbasal reddish-brown ring. Wings slightly darkened, infuscate apically.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Known from D.R. Congo, new for Rwanda.