Noyesaphytis lasallei Polaszek & Woolley, 2020

Polaszek, Andrew, Lahey, Zachary & Woolley, James B., 2020, Noyesaphytis (Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae) - an unusual new genus from Madagascar, and a reassessment of Aphelininae classification based on morphology, Journal of Natural History 54 (9), pp. 647-664 : 662-663

Noyesaphytis lasallei Polaszek & Woolley sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:46A980C5-5B13-45EB-AC20-698C4C207A6A

Description

In addition to the genus-level characters above, the following characters are likely to be of species-level significance if additional species of Noyesaphytis are discovered:

Length (female holotype): 1.1 mm (to ovipositor tip).

Colour: Head brown, pale areas between the toruli and compound eyes, and around the ocelli. Genae darker brown than remainder of head. Mesoscutum largely dark brown with the following pale: a narrow longitudinal streak from central pronotum to base of scutellum; sutures bordering mesoscutal mid and side lobes and axillae, axillulae, hind margin of scutellum, metanotum, central pronotum. Mesosoma setation pale ( Figure 1 ). Metasoma entirely dark brown. All femora and tibiae largely brown; femora pale for their distal 1/3-1/4; tibiae pale proximally and distally for 1/4–1/5 of their length. Tarsomeres pale, except all distal segments and fore and hind basitarsus brown. Fore wing distinctly infuscate below parastigma, along hind margin of marginal vein and below stigmal vein, the latter forming a faint cloud that reaches almost to the hind margin of the wing.

Sculpture: Frons with aciculate sculpture below the stemmaticum, transverse sculpture at the level of the lower compound eyes ( Figure 5 ); between the eyes and toruli the sculpture is diagonally elongate-reticulate. Mid lobe of mesoscutum and scutellum with fine aciculate sculpture; side lobes and axillae reticulate; axillulae each with 4–5 longitudinal striae. Propodeum reticulate centrally and at sides. Metasoma with longitudinally reticulate sculpture laterally.

Additional characters

Submarginal vein with five robust setae directed distally, i.e. towards the wing apex; ‘costal cell’ with a complete line of fine setae medially, and a row of five stronger setae in its distal upper corner. Mid tibial spur 0.7x corresponding basitarsus. Ovipositor projecting beyond metasoma; length 2.4x mid tibia. 2nd valvifers 2.9x 3rd valvulae.

Male ( Figures 10–13 ):

Length: 1.0 mm

Colour: Largely as in female, with the following differences: Pale longitudinal streak absent from mid lobe of mesoscutum; metanotum and propodeum uniformly brown; legs more evenly brown than in female, sharply contrasting pale and brown areas absent. Wing less strongly infuscated.

Sculpture: Largely as in female, but dorsal mesosomal sculpture tending more towards reticulate rather than aciculate.

Additional characters

Antennal formula 1,1,4,1,1. Four anelli present, followed by a single funicle and clava ( Figures 10–12 ). Mid tibial spur equal in length to corresponding basitarsus. Genitalia as in Figure 13 , phallobase elongate, with digiti and claspers present.

Material examined

Holotype female: MADAGASCAR: Tuléar (currently Toliara), Berenty 24º59 ʹ 53”S 46º19 ʹ 53”E v.1983 (JS Noyes ) BM 1983–201; NHMUK010370379 ; DNA1157 . Holotype dissected and slide-mounted in Canada balsam. Paratypes 2 males: MADAGASCAR: Tuléar (currently Toliara), Bereboka 19º59 ʹ 53”S 44º35 ʹ 59”E 18–23.v.1983 (JS Noyes) BM 1983–201 ( NHMUK); DNA1158-9 . Holotype and paratype specimens are deposited in NHM, London.

Etymology

The genus name Noyesaphytis is derived from the collector’s family name (Noyes) and the generic name Aphytis . The use of various prefixes before - aphytis for genera considered to be related to Aphytis has several precedents; e.g. Punkaphytis Kim and Heraty (2012) ; Wallaceaphytis Polaszek & Fusu, in Polaszek et al. (2013) .

The specific epithet lasallei is based on, and in memory of,our friend and colleague,Dr John La Salle.

Figures

Figure 1. Noyesaphytis lasallei holotype female; 1. Dorsal habitus, critical-point-dried, card-mount.

Figure 5. Noyesaphytis lasallei holotype female; 5. Head, facial aspect.

Figure 10. Noyesaphytis lasallei paratype male; 10. Scanning electron micrograph, dorsal head and mesosoma.

Figure 11. Noyesaphytis lasallei paratype male; 11. Antenna, internal aspect.

Figure 12. Noyesaphytis lasallei paratype male; 12. Antenna, external aspect.

Figure 13. Noyesaphytis lasallei paratype male; 13. Genitalia (note damage to left distal end).