Piasites politus, Bordera & Santos, 2022

Bordera, Santiago & Santos, Bernardo F., 2022, A review of Piasites Seyrig (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae), with description of seven new species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 90, pp. 23-57 : 23

Piasites politus sp. nov.

Figs 1C , 9 , 15B

Diagnosis.

Piasites politus sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Piasites species by the combination of the following characters: mesoscutum evenly convex, mostly smooth and shiny (Fig. 9B ), with very fine punctures on anterior part of median lobe; propodeum from smooth to very shallowly rugulose granulate (Figs 1C , 9B ); areolet 0.7-0.9 × as high as abscissa of vein 2m-cu above bulla (Fig. 9E ).

Description.

Female. Fore wing length 4.1-5.7 mm.

Head. In dorsal view strongly narrowed behind eyes, about 0.55 × as long as wide. Gena in dorsal view rounded, moderately swollen. Posterior ocellus separated from eye 1.0-1.2 × its maximum diameter. Distance between posterior ocelli 0.75-0.85 × their diameter. Occipital carina complete, evenly curved dorsally. Face smooth and shiny, slightly convex in the central part with very fine setiferous punctures. Clypeal suture absent. Clypeus 1.6-1.8 × as broad as medially long, moderately convex, with relatively long setae in the central part, somewhat prominent in lateral view, ventral margin rounded with a median denticle. Malar space about 0.75 × as long as basal mandibular width. Mandible 1.45 × as long as basal width; dorsal tooth distinctly longer than ventral one. Antenna with 27 flagellomeres, strongly tapered towards apex; flagellomeres from f11(13) to apex conspicuously flattened ventrally; f1 about 7.1-7.25 × as long as its maximum width.

Mesosoma. Pronotum predominantly smooth and shiny, with very weak longitudinal striae at the dorsal lateral part, dorsal margin punctate; epomia strong and short, reaching just the anterior depression of pronotum. Mesoscutum 1.05 × as long as wide, evenly convex, predominantly smooth and shiny, with very fine and dense setiferous punctures on anterior part of median lobe, lateral parts completely smooth; middle part without any trace of wrinkles or rugulosities; notaulus very deep anteriorly, reaching about 0.5 length of mesoscutum, without transverse keels. Scutellum smooth and shiny, lateral carinae strong, reaching posterior rim. Mesopleuron predominantly smooth and shiny, with very weak and inconspicuous longitudinal striae dorsally, anterior part with shallow and fine puctures; sternaulus very deep and narrow, with very weak and inconspicuous transverse keels; epicnemial carina moderately strong, reaching the subtegular ridge. Metapleuron smooth and shiny; juxtacoxal carina weak, fading posteriorly; submetapleural carina strong and complete. Propodeum smooth to very shallowly rugulose granulate; anterior transverse carina complete, centrally angled towards anterior part; posterior transverse carina strong and complete without forming conspicuous lateral crests, central part curved, tending to be subparallel to anterior transverse carina. Hind leg with femur 5.3-6.2 × as long as high. Areolet pentagonal, 0.7-0.8 × as high as wide, relatively small, 0.7-0.9 × as high as abscissa of vein 2m-cu above bulla. Hind wing with vein cu-a about 0.5 × length of first abscissa of CU.

Metasoma. T1 2.35-2.5 × as long as posteriorly broad, shallowly and finely granulate, moderately curved dorsally in lateral view, dorso-lateral carina complete, something faded around the spiracle. T2 0.9-0.95 × as long as posteriorly broad, shallowly and finely granulate as the following tergites. Ovipositor sheath 0.5-0.65 × as long as hind tibia.

Colour. Body mostly orange. Head yellow cream; mandibular teeth, ocellar triangle and central part of occiput dark brown; scape, pedicel and f1-3 orange, following flagellomeres dark brown, distal part of f4(5) to f10(12), white, f10-12 only dorsally. Mesoscutum dark orange. T5 black dorsally, T6-7 yellow cream. Wings hyaline, slightly yellowish, pterostigma yellow.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology.

From the Latin politus, meaning “polished”, in reference to the mostly smooth and shiny surface of the body, particularly the mesoscutum and propodeum.

Material examined.

4 ♀♀. Holotype: Madagascar • ♀; Perinet, Forèt Cote Est; Museum Paris; II-39; A Seyrig; MNHN . Paratypes: Madagascar • 1♀; Fianarantsoa, Plateau Central; III-38; A. Seyrig • 1♀; Perinet, Forèt Cote Est; Museum Paris; II-39; A Seyrig • 1♀, Rogez, Foret Cote Est; Museum Paris; IV-37; A Seyrig (all them MNHN) .

Figures

Figure 1. Propodeum of Piasites, dorsal view, females (I): A P. carinatus Seyrig B P. quasimodus sp. nov. (paratype) C P. politus sp. nov. (paratype) D P. perinetensis sp. nov. (holotype). Scale bars: 0.3 mm.

Figure 9. Piasites politus sp. nov., female: A habitus, lateral view (holotype) B head, mesosoma and metasoma, dorsal view (paratype) C head and mesosoma, lateral view (holotype) D head, front view (holotype) E front wing, areolet and vein 2 m-cu (paratype). Scale bars: 2 mm (A); 0.5 mm (B, C); 0.3 mm (D); 0.2 mm (E).

Figure 15. Diagrams showing distribution records for species of Piasites A P. perinetensis sp. nov. B P. politus sp. nov. C P. quasimodus sp. nov. D P. seyrigi sp. nov.