Metopius (Metopius) palpoides, Riedel, 2016

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 : 1654-1655

Metopius (Metopius) palpoides nov.sp.

H o l o t y p u s (♀) Kenya Colony. Solai Dist. Sonje Valley. Laikipia Escarp. 14.IX.1919 T.J. Andersen (London).

T a x o n o m i c a l r e m a r k:Closelyrelatedto M. nigripalpis BENOIT , but differs by the color of second maxillary palpomere and mesosoma, and the slenderer hind femur. From M. hilaroides BENOIT , the new taxon can be distinguished by the black hind leg and club-shaped metasoma.

D e s c r i p t i o n of ♀:

Body length 14 mm. Flagellum with 54 segments, preapical segments square. Mandible with one tooth. Second maxillary palpomere globose, about 1.25x as long as wide. Eyes slightly convergent ventrally. Facial shield with parallel sides, densely punctate and finely aciculate centrally, with strong carinae, length 1.25x width, weakly pointed below ( fig. 21 ). Interantennal lamella high, with a strong subdistal impression and distinct distal tooth. Frons with fine transversal striation, partly punctate. Temple strongly narrowed behind eye, about 0.7x as long as eyes. Distance of lateral ocellus to eye 1.8x its diameter.

Mesosoma with long whitish hairs. Pronotum coarsely punctate, with coarse striation anteriorly. Epicnemial carina bent towards anterior margin of mesopleuron and running parallel to the margin up to subtegular ridge. Scutellum wide, lateral wings v parallel. Central area of propodeum narrow, length 1.5x width, with lateral carinae and distinct central longitudinal ridge, costula indistinct. Hind coxa length 1.8x width. Hind femur slender, length 3.3x height. Hind metatarsus about 0.45x as long as hind tibia. Outer apical spur of hind tibia 0.45x as long as hind metatarsus. Front and middle claws with few short basal teeth. Areolet stalked, 2x wider than long, second recurrent vein with one bulla, reaching areolet in the middle.

Metasoma club-shaped, tergites 5 and 6 widened. First tergite with parallel sides, with dorsal carinae in the basal 0.5. Its spiracle with small tooth-like ventral extension and strong lateral lamella behind spiracle. Second tergite 1.1x longer than wide and with denticular posterolateral edges, third and fourth tergites with obtuse posterolateral edges, following tergites with rounded edges ( fig. 9 ).

Color: Black. Metasoma with bluish shine. Flagellum black. Cream-yellow are second maxillary palp (blackish on inner side), sides of facial shield ( fig. 21 ), interantennal lamella, ventral third of frontal orbit, tip on lateral wings of scutellum, postscutellum, small posterolateral spot of propodeum, frontal femur apically and frontal tibia frontally, spurs of hind tibia, posterolateral spots on first tergite and narrow apical bands on second to fourth tergites ( fig. 9 ). Wings slightly infuscate, darker at apex.

6 unknown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Kenya.

Figures

Figs. 19-24: Face and facial shield of ♀♀: (19) Metopius femoralis HT; (20) M. gambiense HT; (21) M. palpoides HT; (22) M. nigrithorax HT; (23) M. rufofrontalis PT; (24) M. rufigaster ssp. rufigaster HT.

Figs. 9-12: Metasoma of ♀♀: (9) Metopius. palpoides nov.sp. HT; (10) M. rufigaster ssp. rufigaster nov.sp. HT; (11) M. rufigaster ssp. zambiense nov.ssp. HT; (12) M. rufofrontalis nov.sp.HT.