Diaparsis (Diaparsis) abstata, Khalaim, 2013

Khalaim, Andrey I., 2013, Afrotropical species of Diaparsis Förster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae), African Invertebrates 54 (1), pp. 127-127 : 130-133

Diaparsis (Diaparsis) abstata sp. n.

Figs 1–6

Etymology: From the Latin abstatus (armed with a spear), after the spear-shaped apex of its ovipositor.

Diagnosis: The new species is readily distinguished from other Afrotropical species of the genus as it has a propodeum with basal keel equal to the apical area in length, widely rounded anterior apical area (similar to that in the subgenus Nanodiaparsis Horstmann, 1971 ) and very long distance between propodeal spiracle and pleural carina. It also possesses a hypostomal carina, which is absent in most (probably all) other Afrotropical species of the genus.

Description:

Female.

Body length 3.8 mm.

Head very strongly and roundly narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view; temple 0.75× as long as eye width. Flagellum of antenna weakly tapered towards apex, with 26 segments; flagellomeres 2 and 3 about 1.6, mid­ and subapical flagellomeres 1.2–1.3× as long as broad. Mandible slender, rather strongly tapered towards apex, with upper tooth much longer than lower tooth. Malar space 0.8× as long as basal width of mandible. Clypeus 2.3× as broad as long, convex in lateral view, mostly smooth, finely punctate in upper half and very finely granulate in upper 0.3. Face, frons, vertex and temple granulate, dull, with very indistinct, fine punctures. Occipital carina complete. Hypostomal carina present, not evident near its junction with occipital carina.

Mesosoma with mesoscutum granulate, dull, with fine punctures (mostly indistinct). Notaulus substituted by a short tubercle or wrinkle somewhat distad of anterolateral margin of mesoscutum. Mesopleuron granulate (granulation is shallower centrally), dull, finely punctate centrally (punctures are stronger in the female paratype). Foveate groove more or less in centre of mesopleuron, weakly upcurved anteriorly, wide and with transverse wrinkles. Propodeal spiracle very small, separated from pleural carina by 4.0–5.0 diameters of spiracle. Propodeum with basal keel almost as long as apical area; dorsolateral area finely granulate, dull, finely and sparsely punctate; apical area widely rounded anteriorly, granulate or uneven, impunctate; apical longitudinal carinae anteriorly reaching transverse carina.

Fore wing length 3.1 mm. First abscissa of radius straight, longer than width of pterostigma. Metacarp ending somewhat before apex of fore wing. Second recurrent vein postfurcal. Intercubitus longer than abscissa of cubitus between intercubitus and second recurrent vein in holotype, and subequal to or slightly shorter in paratype. Hind wing with nervellus reclivous, slanted at 10–15°.

Legs slender. Hind femur 4.5× as long as broad and 0.84× as long as tibia. Spurs of hind tibia straight. Tarsal claws weakly curved, not pectinate.

Tergite 1 of metasoma slender, round in cross-section, 3.9× as long as broad posteriorly, with petiole striate dorsally and laterally in holotype and only laterally in paratype; glymma situated near centre of the tergite in holotype and in apical 0.6 of the tergite in paratype. Second tergite about 1.8× as long as anteriorly broad; thyridial depression 1.6–1.8× as long as broad. Ovipositor very short, very weakly upcurved, conspicuously thickened at apex (spear-shaped in holotype); sheath 0.19× as long as hind tibia (0.45× in paratype) and 0.24× as long as first tergite (0.55× in paratype).

Head, mesosoma and tergite 1 of metasoma black. Palpi, mandible (except for blackish teeth), scape and pedicel of antenna, lower half of clypeus, tegula and legs yellow. Flagellum brownish yellow basally to fuscous apically. Pterostigma brown. Metasoma behind tergite 1 yellow, dorsal surface of tergites 2+ anteriorly brownish.

Male. Similar to female but flagellum somewhat more slender, with 24 segments, mesopleuron rather densely punctate, nervellus of hind wing slanted at about 20° and metasomal tergites longer. Malar space 0.8× as long as basal width of mandible. Mesosoma dark brown to black. Metasoma dark brown.

Holotype: ♀ SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu­Natal: Louwsberg , iGwala-Gwala private nature reserve, 27°34'S 31°17.9'E, 1090 m, 2–3.vi.2005, M. Mostovski, yellow pan trap ( SAMC).

Paratypes: GABON: Ogoové­Maritime Prov. : 1♀ Réserve de la Moukalaba­Dougoua , 12.2 km 305° Doussala , 2°17.00'S 10°29.83'E, 110 m, coastal lowland rainforest, forest margin in large clearing, 1–2.iii.2000, S. van Noort, Malaise trap, GA00-M27, SAM-HYM-P 0024919 (head absent; ZISP) . UGANDA: Central Region : 1♂ Mulange , xi.1922, R. Dummet, SAM­HYM­P 006177 ( SAMC).

Figures

Figs 1–6.Diaparsis abstata sp.n.: (1–3, 5, 6) ♀ holotype:(1) habitus, lateral view,(2) head, dorsal view, (3) antenna,lateral view, (5) propodeum and tergite 1, dorsal view,(6) apex ofmetasoma with ovipositor, lateral view; (4) ♂ paratype, mesosoma, lateral view.