Anacharoides pallida Quinlan

Buffington, Matthew & van Noort, Simon, 2009, A revision of Anacharoides Cameron, 1904 (Hymenoptera, Figitidae) with a description of a new species, ZooKeys 20 (20), pp. 245-274 : 262-264

Anacharoides pallida Quinlan

Figs 1B, 2B and 7

Anacharoides pallida Quinlan, 1979: 100

Diagnosis. This is the only species of Anacharoides with a shagreened mesoscutum, entirely lacking rugae and/or strigae (Fig. 1A); all other species have much more substantial sculptural elements on the mesoscutum.

Redescription. Length = 3.10–3.80 mm, n=82; holotype length = 3.10 mm. F1 of female gradually expanded distally. F1 of male distinctly funicate, markedly kinked at midpoint, distinctly excavated. Length of F1 of female antenna 1.4–1.5 × F2. Ocellar groove present, simple ridge posterior to central ocellus. Lateral aspect of pronotum carinate antero-dorsally, smooth ventrally. Microsculpture of mesoscutum coriaceous over entire surface. Antero-admedial signum of mesoscutum present, antero-admedial signum struts absent. Inter antero-admedial signum ridges absent. Surface of mesoscutum shagreened over entire surface. Shape of posterior mesoscutellar fovea triangular to sub-triangular. Mesoscutal keel present, reduced anteriorly. Mesoscutellar fovea smooth with 1–3 carinae present anteriorly, smooth posteriorly. Mesoscutellum in lateral view evenly rounded. Length of posterior mesoscutellar fovea medium-long, reaching 1/4 to 1/3 length of mesoscutum. Lateral aspect of mesoscutum distal of notauli shagreened with faint carinae anteriorly. Sculpture of notauli smooth with transverse ridges posteriorly. Anterior margin of scutellar fovea rounded. Shape of notauli parallel sided across entire length of mesoscutum.

Distribution (Fig. 7). Sub-Saharan Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Palearctic region: Spain (Canary Islands).

Material examined. HOLOTYPE [first label, circular with red ring]; E. Cape Prov., Katberg, 11–18.II.1933 [second label]; S. Africa, R.E. Turner, Brit. Mus. 1933– 148 [third label]; Holotype, female, Anacharoides pallidus Quinlan , det. J. Quinlan, 1977 [fourth label]; nr. eurytergis sp. B [fifth label]; B.M. Type Hym 7–231 [sixth label]. The holotype is a point mounted female in good condition, deposited in BMNH. Note that on the holotype, the species epithet reads ‘ pallidus ’; the name was changed, presumably at the publication stage, to ‘ pallida ’ for gender agreement purposes.

Additional material. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Massif Ruwenzori riv. Kakalari, affl. Bombi, 1,725m, 9.VIII.1954, P. Vanschuytbroeck & H. Synave 9952–55 (1 female, MRAC; this specimen is a paratype of Anacharoides decellius ). KENYA: Rift Valley Province, Mt. Longonot, 5.X.1997, R. Wharton (1 female, TAMU); Nanyuki [00°01’00”N 037°04’00”E] A. Seyrig, VI. 1932 (2 males, MNHN). MADAGASCAR: Province Diego-Suarez, Parc National Montagne d’Ambre el 1125 m, 12–14.V.2001, 12°31’13”S, 49°10’45” E.R. Harin’Hala collector, malaise trap MA- 01-01D-10 (1 female, UCRC 56774). SOMALIA: Dabolak, 12.XII.1920, F.4980.b. [?], USNM ENT 00653529 (1 male, USNM). SOUTH AFRICA: KZN, Roadside, W Mooi River 29.12S 29.58E, c. 1500m, 24.VII.1998, Neser, Grobbelaar & Balciunas, DEL 4.25, collected by hand from Delairea odorata (Asteraceae) (1 male, SANCI); Cape Town, G Peringuey, IX.1913, SAM-HYM P002874 (1 female, SAM; NOTE: this specimen is a potential neotype for Coelonychia rufa Kieffer ); Cape Province, Constantiaberg, Donkerboskloof, 34°02.28’S 18°23.75’E, 370m, 10.III.1995, S van Noort, sweep, Kloof forest, SAM-HYM 24717 (19 females, SAMC); Western Cape, Cape Town, above Tokai Forest, Constantiaberg, first kloof south of Donkerboskloof, 320m, 34°02.18’S 18°23.5’E, 10.III.1995, S van Noort, Kloof forest, sweep, SAM- HYM P020867 (2 females, SAMC); Western Cape, Cape Town, above Tokai Forest, Constantiaberg, first kloof south of Donkerboskloof, 460m, 34°02’S 18°23.5’E, 6.XII.1994, S van Noort, mesic mountain fynbos, sweep, SAM-HYM P005482 (1 male, SAMC); Western Cape, Cape of Good Hope, Nat. Res. Olifantsbos, nr. Skaife Centre, 34°16’S 18°23’E, 18–19.IX.1993, S van Noort, Strandsveld on coast at sea level, SAM-HYM P005230 (1 male, SAMC); Pondoland, Port St. John, 15–31.V.1923, R.E. Turner, Brit. Mus. 1923–332 (1 male, BMNH; identified by J. Quinlan as A. eurytergis ); Cape Province, Knysna, I.1979, C.D. Eardley, malaise trap (1 male, SAN- CI); Transvaal, Barberton, XI.1979, C. Eardley (1 male, SANCI); Transvaal, Praetoria, X.1978, C.D. Eardley, Malaise trap (1 male, SANCI); Cape Province, Oudebosch, R. Sonder End, 1500ft., K.H. Barnard, XI-XII.1928, SAM-HYM P002877 (1 male, SAMC); Western Cape, Swellendam, Tradouw Pass, Mus. Exped. XI.1925, SAM- HYM P002877 (1 male, SAMC); Eastern Cape, Hogsback, nr. campsite, 32.36 S 26.56 E, 13.IV.1989, forest sweep, S. van Noort, SAM-HYM P002879 (1 female, SAMC); Stellenbosch, 17.IX.1925, R. I. Nel (1 female, BMNH); Mossel Bay, Cape Province, VIII.1921, R.E. Turner, Brit. Mus. 1921-353 (1 male, BMNH; identified by J. Quinlan as A. sanitas ); Mossel Bay, R Larner, 27-10-41 [27.X.1941], SAM-HYM P005231 (1 female, SAMC); Cape Province, Mossel Bay, X.1921, R.E. Turner, Brit Mus. 1921-450, USNM ENT 00653609 (1 female, USNM); Cape Province, Ceres, 1500 ft., 1–3.I.1921, Brit. Mus. 1921-39, USNM ENT 00653623 (1 male, USNM); Natal, Merrivale Nr. Howick, 2.VI.1980, P. Joubert (1 female, BMNH; identified by J. Quinlan as A. decellius ); Natal, Cathedral Peak area, Drakensberg III.1991, I. Pajor, ex syrphid pupa in psyllid gall on Protea dracontana (1 male, SANCI, no host remains); Transvaal, Bergvliet Forest Res. Sabie 25.058S 34.54E, 26–28.II.1986, JS Donaldson (1 female, SANCI). TANZANIA: Tanganyika Territory, Ngorongoro, Rest Camp, 2400–2500m, 6–19.VI.1957, Mission Zoolog. I.R.S.A.C. en Afrique orientale, P. Basilewsky and N Lelup (1 male, MRAC; this specimen is a paratype of Anacharoides astrida ). ZIMBABWE: Salisbury, Chishawasha IX.1979, A Watsham (37 females, BMNH). PALEARCTIC REGION. SPAIN: Canary Islands: Tenerife, Monte Aquirre, 1000m. env., VI Congress INT. d’Entomologie 1935 (2 females, NMHN); Tenerife, Orotava (Jardins de la ville), [28°46’00» N 017°45’00» W] VI Congress INT. d’Entomologie 1935 (1 female, NMHN).

Biology. Circumstantial evidence (host data lacking) suggests this species is a parasitoid of syrphids: one male deposited in SANCI (above) has label data stating “ex syrphid pupa in psyillid gall...”

Image collection: 465352

Comments. The SAMC has one specimen deposited in the collection that may bear Kieffer’s original determination of Coelonychia rufa Kieffer ; this specimen is conspecific with A. pallida . If it could be substantiated that Kieffer did indeed identify this specimen, it could be designated a neotype for Coelonychia rufa Kieffer (holotype of this species was reported lost by Quinlan (1979)) and A. pallida a potential junior synonym of A. rufa (Kieffer) . At this time, no such nomenclatural act is committed.

Quinlan (1979: figs 74–77) figured A. eurytergis Benoit , A. nigra Quinlan , A. decellius Quinlan and A. pallida as all lacking mesoscutal sculpturing; holotypes of the three former species were all examined and determined to belong to A. striaticeps (synonymy below). Further, none of these three former species have a shagreened mesoscutum as does A. pallida ; this observation further underscores how easily these characters can be misinterpreted if lighting is not carefully controlled.