Megaprosternum navatu, Colombo & Azevedo, 2024

Colombo, Wesley D. & Azevedo, Celso O., 2024, Revision of the strongly flattened Megaprosternum Azevedo (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 958 (1), pp. 1-47 : 24-25

Megaprosternum navatu sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6547C706-45BD-435D-B99C-483063CE2731

Fig. 9

Differential diagnosis

The females of this species are morphologically similar to those of M. nuaulu sp. nov., by having the antennae with 11 flagellomeres, the probasisternum strongly large with anterior margin strongly angulated, and the wings fully developed. However, M. navatu sp. nov. has the head at least 1.50 × as long as wide with the sides diverging posterad, in dorsal view, and the probasisternum with posterior margin straight, whereas the M. nuaulu has the head at most 1.40 × as long as wide with the sides parallel, in dorsal view, and the probasisternum with posterior margin curved.

Etymology

The epithet navatu is derived from the Navatu, a Fijian tribe that migrated and currently resides in Cakaudrove.

Material examined

Holotype

FIJI – Taveuni Cakaudrove Prov. • ♀; “Taveuni Cakaudrove Prov[ince], 5.3 km SE Tavuki Vlg. , Mt. Devo, 1064m, 2–10.X.2002, Malaise 3, coll. E.I. Schlinger, M. Tokota A., 16.841°S 179.968°W, FBA 164695”; UFES.

Paratype

FIJI – Viti Levu • 1 ♀; “Viti Levu, Navai-Nasonga, Trail IX/12/[19]38, Tholo North , summit 3400’, In dead Cyathea fronds, EC Zimmerman collection”; BPBM.

Description

Female

MEASUREMENTS (mm). Body length 5.0–5.1; LH 0.92; WH 0.60; WF 0.30; WOT 0.05; surface of median clypeal lobe 0.26; HE 0.26; OOL 0.48; LFW 2.88.

COLOR ( Fig. 9A–B ). Head, mesosoma and metasoma castaneous.

HEAD ( Fig. 9C ). Rectangular, in lateral view; sides diverging posterad, in dorsal view; malar space 0.2× HE; median clypeal lobe straight, as long as lateral ones, with pair of lateral carinae, converging posteriorly, lobe delimitation distinct; mandible with three apical teeth; hypostoma rounded medially; antenna with 11 flagellomeres, pedicel as long as flagellomere I; eye glabrous, contour protruding; frons coriaceous; ocellar triangle with anterior angle obtuse, postocellar line shorter than DAO.

MESOSOMA ( Fig. 9D–E ). Pronotal flange polished, with posterior margin at least 1.6× as wide as anterior one; dorsal pronotal area coriaceous, posterior margin strongly outcurved medially, overlapping anterior area of mesoscutum; probasisternum with anterior margin strongly angulated, posterior margin almost straight; epicnemium with anterior margin almost straight; mesoscutum longer than mesoscutellum medially; parapsidal signum absent; transscutal fissure conspicuous; mesoscuto-scutellar suture absent; mesopleuron with mesepimeral lobe not evident, anterior mesopleural fovea absent, mesopleural epicoxal lobe not evident, mesopleural pit absent, upper mesopleural fovea absent; metapectal-propodeal disc longer than wide medially, with evident constriction at propodeal spiracle; transverse anterior carina present; lateral marginal carina absent; paraspiracular sulcus absent; paraspiracular carina absent; metapostnotal median carina absent; propodeal spiracle circular, on lateral surface of the metapectal-propodeal complex; metadiscrimen absent; metafurcal pit absent; forewing with prestigmal abscissa of radial 1 subrectangular, 1.5× as long as pterostigma, 2.0×as wide as Sc+R vein, prestigmal flexion line present, pterostigma small and circular; hind wing slender with four equidistant distal hamuli.

METASOMA. S2aa with anterior margin incurved; S2pa longer than wide medially, evenly wide; second abdominal spiracle oval; third abdominal sternum with anterior margin outcurved; abdominal tergum widening apicad.

Male

Unknown.

Variations

There are no morphological variations worthy of mention.

Host

Unknown.

Distribution

Fiji (Taveuni Cakaudrove Province and Viti Levu).

Figures

Fig. 9. Megaprosternum navatu sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (QSBG). A–B. Habitus. A. Lateral view. B. Dorsal view. C. Head, dorsal view. D–E. Mesosoma. D. Dorsal view. E. Ventral view. Scale bars: A–B = 250 μm; C–E = 125 μm.