Phanerotoma witchelinaensis sp. nov.

(Figures 14a – d, 16)

Description

Body measurements. Length of body 2.9 – 3.5 mm females, 3.0 – 3.5 mm males; ratio of length of fore wing to body 0.88; ratio of length of metasoma to mesosoma 1.2.

Head. Ratio of length of third antennomere to fourth 1.2; ratio of length of third and fourth antennomere 2.4 and 2 their width, respectively; ratio of length of eye in dorsal view to length of temple 2.2; ratio of width of face in anterior view to its height 1.7; ratio of width of clypeus to height 1.3; clypeus with two teeth, ratio of length malar space to base of mandible 0.6; face fine rugose; vertex and frons rugose; ratio posterior ocelli:LOL: POL:OOL 1.0:1:0.8:2.4

Mesosoma. Middle lobe of mesoscutum rugose; notauli present; mesoscutellum fine punctate; mesopleuron punctate; precoxal sulcus present; ratio of height of mesosoma to length 1.9; propodeal tubercles absent; blister on mid tibia present; ratio length of hind tibia to hind tarsus 1.0; ratio of length of posterior spur to length of basal tarsus 0.4; ratio hind coxa, hind femur, hind tibia and hind tarsus 1.7, 4.3, 5.7 and 20.0 times their width, respectively; fore wing: 2-R1 absent; ratio of length of 1-R1 to length of pterostigma 1.4; ratio of width of pterostigma to its length 2.6; ratio r:3-SR:SR-1:r-m 1.0:1.3:7.7:1.15; 1-SR+M emanating from parastigma; 2-SR+M postfurcal.

Metasoma. Shape of metasoma oval in dorsal view, narrows down to posterior end; ratio of width of metasoma to its length 0.5; carapace flat in lateral view; ratio of keel to length of metasoma 0.17; carapace longitudinal strigose; both sutures straight; third tergite without lobes or teeth; ratio of the three metasomal tergites 1.0:1.2:1.9.

Colour. Head orange; antenna light brown; mesosoma reddish-brown except mesoscutum and mesosternum orange; legs light brown; first and second tergites beige, gradually darker (reddish-brown) towards posterior end; wing venation dark brown.

Diagnosis

This species differs from all other species by the shape of the carapace. The last tergite of the carapace has a long triangular shape.

Specimens examined

Holotype, Australia (South Australia): 1 ♀, “ 14 October 2010, Witchelina Station 30° 05 ʹ 44 ″ S, 138°08 ʹ 09 ″ E, R. Kittel, sweeping; Bush Blitz survey RK035 on Acacia sp. ” (SAM) . Other material, Australia (Queensland): 1 ♀, Eurimbula, Miriam Vale distr . Site 4, 27 March 1975, D.K. McAlpine, MV light (AMS K358188); 1 ♀, S .E. Queensland Beerwak, 26.51°S, 152.57°E, 28 September – 29 October 86, B .K. Cantrell, M.T. (WINC); 1 ♂, Bertiehaugh Creek, 12.12°S, 142.22°E, 13 August 1993, P . Zborowski and J. Balderson, LT (ANIC); 1 ♂, Heathlands, 11.45°S, 142.35°E, 15 – 26 January 1992, I .D. Naumann and T. Weir, LT (ANIC) ; Western Australia: 1 ♀, Pilganoova Well, 25 May 1953, T .B. Tindale (SAM); 1 ♀, Kanjini NP, Mt Bruce Rd, Hamersley, 22°37 ʹ 27 ″ S, 118°20 ʹ 47 ″ E, 25 April – 1 May 2003 Lambkin and Weir, MT, 755 m, dry rocky creekbed (ANIC); 2 ♀♀, Leeuwin Naturaliste NP, Gnarabug Cave, 34°03.014'S, 115°01.501'E, 5 November 2011, Kittel and Krieger, sweep (WAM SF008307-18, 19) .

Biology

Unknown.

Etymology

Named after the type locality Witchelina Station .

Distribution

Found in South Australia ( Witchelina Station), Queensland, and Western Australia (Figure 16) .

CO1 sequence

Genbank accession number for this species is KJ438593.