Diaparsis (Diaparsis) evanescens ( Morley, 1912 )

Khalaim, Andrey I., 2013, Afrotropical species of Diaparsis Förster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae), African Invertebrates 54 (1), pp. 127-127 : 135-137

Diaparsis (Diaparsis) evanescens ( Morley, 1912)

Figs 13 , 14

Thersilochus evanescens: Morley 1912: 178 .

Diaparsis evanescens: Townes & Townes 1973: 167 .

Diagnosis: Diaparsis evanescens is very similar to D. minuscula sp. n. and D. moesta in respect of its small size as well as densely granulate, impunctate head and mesosoma, but differs from these and other Afrotropical species of the genus because of the very short basal keel of propodeum, weak foveate groove of mesopleuron and hind wing with nervellus strongly reclivous.

Description:

Female (based on holotype).

Small species with body length 3.0 mm and fore wing length 2.2 mm. Resembles species of Aneuclis but posterior abscissa of postnervulus developed. Head and mesosoma dark reddish brown, predominantly finely granulate and impunctate, but with shining, almost smooth temple and fine indistinct punctures on mesopleuron. Head rounded and moderately narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view; temple half as long as eye width. Antenna yellowish basally to fuscous apically. Flagellum 17-segmented, all flagellomeres 1.4–1.6× as long as broad. Malar space 0.72× as long as basal width of mandible. Mandible rather strongly narrowed, upper tooth longer than lower tooth. Clypeus small, smooth. Notaulus with longitudinal wrinkle anteriorly. Foveate groove of mesopleuron virtually absent, there being a very weakly impressed area with very weak, indistinct wrinkles. Distance between propodeal spiracle and pleural carina equal to almost one diameter of spiracle. Basal keel of propodeum very short, 0.1× as long as apical area. Apical area pointed anteriorly, almost flat, with apical longitudinal carinae developed in its posterior half, absent anteriorly. Fore wing with second recurrent vein postfurcal. Metacarp not reaching apex of fore wing. Pterostigma pale brown. Hind wing with nervellus strongly reclivous, slanted at about 45°. Legs slender, yellow, with hind coxa slightly brownish basally. Tergite 1 of metasoma very slender, with petiole round in cross-section; glymma situated near middle of the tergite, weak. Tergite 2 more than twice longer than broad anteriorly. Thyridial depression twice as long as broad. Ovipositor very long, upcurved, without obvious dorsal notch or depression, its sheath somewhat shorter than body.

Holotype (examined): ♀ “ Named by Claude Morley [printed text; further text is hand­written] Thersilochus evanescens, Morl. sp.n. TYPE... [illegible word] vii 1911 ”, “ Seychelles Islands. Pres. by Committee of the Percy Sladen Trust Fund. 1911–22. [printed label]”, “103a bred together with many Anobiid & other beetles (labelled also 103a) from a fungus found in damp jungle about 2000 feet, Silhouette 29.VII.1908 H.S. [hand­written label]“, “B.M. TYPE HYM. 3.b.1439.” ( BMNH).

Distribution: Seychelles.

Figures

Fig. 13. Diaparsis evanescens (Morley), ♀ holotype, habitus, lateral view.

Fig. 14. Diaparsis evanescens (Morley), ♀ holotype, propodeum and tergite 1, dorsolateral view (carinae of propodeum marked with black).