Lithonecrus Nieves-Aldrey & Butterill, gen. n.

(Figs 1–5)

Type species. Lithonecrus papuanus Nieves-Aldrey & Butterill, sp. n., by present designation and monotype.

Etymology. A combination of two words: “ Litho” from the host tree species Lithocarpus and “ necrus” from the end word of the related genus Saphonecrus .

Description

Head. Rounded in females (Fig. 1 A), oval in males (Fig. 1 C). Slightly pubescent in females, more heavily in males; scattered long setae on the face medially, the lateral areas, and upper part of frons; in males the setation is dense and whitish, the setae being differentiated, longer and broader basally (Figs 1 C, 1D, 1E). Gena slightly expanded behind compound eyes. Clypeus indistinct, ventral margin sinuate, not projecting over mandibles. Anterior tentorial pits visible; epistomal sulcus and clypeo-pleurostomal lines indistinct. Face with wide, strong and blunt irradiating striae from clypeus, almost reaching ventral margin of eye and ventral margin of toruli; The facial striae extend dorsally branched in several rows on the lateral area of the frons, reaching the lateral ocelli, but absent medially (Fig. 1 A). Vertex abruptly limited at the occiput by an occipital carina situated just behind the lateral ocelli (Fig. 3 A); the occipital carina is well defined and complete, reaching ventral margin of face (Fig. 1 F). Occiput coriaceous dorsally. Gula relatively long; distance between occipital foramen and oral foramen clearly longer than the height of the occipital foramen. Hypostomal sulci well visible (Fig. 1 F).

Female antenna 13-segmented (Figs. 2 A, 2B); flagellum broadened towards apex; with relatively long, erect setae and placodeal sensilla visible on flagellar segments F6–F11. Last three flagellar segments presenting wide areas with basiconic setae (Figs 2 B, 2C). Pedicel 1.8 as long as wide, broader but shorter (0.7) than F1; F1 1.7 as long as F2 (Fig. 2 A). Male antenna 15-segmented, not broadened towards apex (Fig. 2 E). F1 dorsally curved, excavated in the middle and expanded apically (Figs 2 F, 2G). F1 more than 2x F2.

Mesosoma. Pronotum relatively broad medially, measuring nearly 1/5 of the length of the outer lateral margin. Pronotal plate (Fig. 3 E) relatively well developed, with lateral margins present posteriorly and only faint anteriorly; posterior part of pronotal plate with antero-lateral margins quite well extended to the sides of pronotum. Lateral margins of pronotum rounded, without lateral pronotal carinae (Fig. 3 C). In lateral view, pronotum very short. Mesoscutum with notauli broad, percurrent (Fig. 3 B). Median mesoscutal impression invisible. Anteroadmedian signae visible. Parapsidal signa deep, reaching posterior margin of pronotum. Transscutal fissure narrow. Scutellar foveae large, obliquely separated, with smooth sculpture but crossed by some strong carinae (Fig. 2 B). Mesopleural triangle subrectangular, ventral margin not straight and angulated in the posterior third (Figs 3 C, 3D). Mesopleuron with longitudinal striae and coriaceous sculpture between the striae (Figs 3 C, 3D).

Metapectal-propodeal complex. Metapleural sulcus meeting posterior margin of mesopectus at about the height of posterior subalar pit. Lateral propodeal carinae distinct, broad, slightly convergent posteriorly (Fig. 3 F). Median propodeal areas smooth and pubescent. Dorsally, on the lateral propodeal areas, a deep groove is present, extending from the propodeal spiracles to the dorsal part of the lateral propodeal carinae, the groove being limited posteriorly by a crest (Fig. 3 F). Nucha dorsally strongly sulcate longitudinally.

Legs. Metatarsal claw simple, without basal acute lobe or tooth (Fig. 4 A).

Forewing. Radial cell open along anterior margin; R1 and Rs stopping close to the anterior margin of wing (Fig. 5 C); R1 forming roughly a 90o angle with anterior margin of wing and R1+Sc; Medial and cubital veins virtually invisible; areolet not present. When visible, the M+Cu1 vein is situated rather higher than apical part of cubital vein (Cu1a). Apical margin of wing with a fringe of long setae (Fig. 5 C).

Metasoma (Fig. 4 B). T1 only half ring shaped dorsally; strongly sulcate. T2+3 covering almost the entire metasoma; smooth and shining, except for a narrow posterior band with micropunctures present (Figs 4 E, 4F). Projecting part of hypopygial spine short, 1.5 times as long as high in profile (Figs 4 C, 4D); hypopygial spine ventrally with two widely spaced rows of long setae.