Xenomerus comatus Mikó & Masner, 2010

Mikó, I., Masner, L. & Deans, A. R., 2010, World revision of Xenomerus Walker (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea, Platygastridae) 2708, Zootaxa 2708, pp. 1-73 : 20-21

Xenomerus comatus Mikó & Masner , new species

Figures 60–63, 114

FEMALE (Holotype): Length= 1.26 mm.

Black; mandible, interantennal process, radicle, A5–6, legs, excluding apical tarsomeres, yellow; tegula, A1–A4, A7–A12 brown.

FCI =1.13; LCI =2.00; HW/IOS =1.61; head less than 1.5 times as wide as mesosoma (HW/TSL = 1.24); facial striae exceeding midlevel of eye along orbit; obscuring frontal patch; frons setae dense, setae thick, setal bases pustulate; central keel complete; toruli triangle shorter than clypeus height; POL less than 2 times as long as OOL (POL/OOL =1.56); OOL longer than LOL (OOL/LOL =1.33); hyperoccipital carina present, blunt, not extending to orbit; vertex without sculpture except vertex patch with diameter equal to lateral ocellus; vertex setae denser behind POL area, setal bases pustulate; genal patch absent; A1 less than 2.5 times as long as radicle (A1/r =2.36), shorter than clava (A1/cl =0.86).

Epomial carina present, diminishing medially; cervical pronotal area smooth, with scattered setae; lateral pronotal area dorsomedially reticulate, ventrolaterally smooth; netrion sulcus incomplete; pronotal suprahumeral sulcus diminishing medially, pronotal cervical sulcus complete; both sulci foveolate; mesoscutum more than 1.5 times as wide as long (TSL/ML =1.64); notaulus reaching transscutal line; mesoscutum sculpture extending to lateral and internotaular areas, not reaching posterior margin of mesoscutum; mesoscutellum more than 2.0 times as wide as long (SW/SL =2.20); scuto-scutellar sulcus 2 times as wide laterally as in the middle; mesoscutellum smooth, with dense setae, setal bases pustulate; posterior scutellar sulcus extending onto axillula; sternaulus not separated from anterior row of foveae of mesopleural carina; distance between postacetabular sulcus and anterior row of foveae of mesopleural carina nearly equal to foveae width of postacetabular sulcus; mesopleural carina complete, with complete rows of foveae, maximal distance between posterior row of foveae of mesopleural carina and mesepimeral sulcus as long as width of posterior row of foveae of mesopleural carina; sulcus along metapleural carina foveolate; metascutellum sharply pointed; propodeal lateral carinae inverted Y-shaped, shafts slightly curved outward; propodeal lateral and plical areas obscured by pale, thick dense setae, setal bases pustulate; marginal striation extending medially; posterior propodeal projection indistinct; fore wing as wide as mesoscutum (TSL/ WW =1.05); marginal vein about 3 times as long as stigmal vein (m/st =3.10; hind wing more than 2 times as wide as marginal ciliae length (HWW/HWS =2.20).

T1 about 2 times as wide as T1+T2 length (T1W/T1+T2L =2.13); T3 slightly wider than mesoscutum (T3W/TSL =1,12); T3 longitudinally rugoso punctate; lateral patch distinct; two times as long as wide; diameter of posterior patch of T3 nearly equal to width of one basal depression, indistinct; anterior 2/3 of T4 entirely reticulate, with a narrow smooth area medially.

Variability (n=18): Length= 1.08–1.30 mm (m=1.21, SD =0.07); in smaller specimens pronotum, meso-, metapleuron, propodeum and metasoma brown; sometimes A5–6 concolorous with clava; FCI =1.00–1.17 (m=1.12, SD =0.01); LCI =1.80–2.00 (m=1.85, SD =0.08); HW/IOS =1.54–1.63 (m=1.6, SD =0.02); HW/ TSL =1.20–1.38 (m=1.30, SD =0.04); POL/OOL =1.4–1.68 (m=1.54, SD =0.07); OOL/LOL =1.30–1.45 (m=1.36, SD =0.05); A1/r =2.3–2.8 (m=2.58, SD =0.12); A1/cl =0.85–0.90 (m=0.88, SD =0.20); TSL/ ML =1.60–1.82 (m=1.66, SD =0.065); SW/SL ==2.00–2.28 (m=2.14, SD =0.09); sometimes maximal distance between posterior row of foveae of mesopleural carina and mesepimeral sulcus 2–3 times as wide as width of posterior row of foveae of mesopleural carina; TSL/WW =0.94–1.17 (m=1.12, SD =0.06); m/st =3.00–3.30 (m=3.12, SD =0.07); HWW/HWS =2.20–2.71 (m=2.44, SD =0.14); T1W/T1+T2L =1.92–2.14 (m=2.06, SD =0.07); T3W/TSL =1.00–1.14 (m=1.04, SD =0.04).

MALE (n=12): length=1.15–1.29 (m=1.22, SD =0.05); A1–2 yellow to light brown, A3–A12 light brown to dark brown; head wider (FCI =1.14–1.25, m=1.18, SD =0.03) and longer (LCI =1.59–1.60, m=1.69, SD =0.04); HW/IOS =1.47–1.57 (m=1.52., SD =0.03); HW/TSL =1.30–1.53 (m=1.37, SD =0.06); OOL longer (POL/OOL =1.20–1.35, m=1.30, SD =0.04); OOL/LOL =1.58–1.70, m=1.64, SD =0.04); A1/r =3.00–3.28 (m=3.12, SD =0.10); A3–A6 unibottled, A5 modified; A7–A11 double bottled, with distinct constrictions; flagellomeres with few ventral microcilia; TSL/ML =1.44–1.59 (m=1.50, SD =0.04); SW/SL =2.00–2.20 (m=2.04, SD =0.07); TSL/WW =0.76–0.92 (m=0.85, SD =0.05); m/st =3.14–3.41 (m=3.25, SD =0.09); HWW/ HWS =2.25–2.66 (m=2.39, SD =0.15); metasoma longer (T1W/T1+T2L =1.50–1.71, m=1.62, SD =0.07); T3W/TSL =0.90–1.15 (m=0.97, SD =0.06); longitudinally rugulose sculpture less distinct.

Diagnosis. Differs from all other species of Xenomerus by the dense, thick setae on frons with setal bases pustulate. Most closely related to X. aureipes and X. watshami , differing by absence of netrion sulcus, few ventral microcilia on male flagellomeres, more dense and thick setae on frons and mesosoma, POL/OOL ratio and longitudinally rugoso-punctate sculpture on T3.

Etymology. From the Latin coma, meaning hair of the head, referring the dense whitish setae located on the frons.

Material examined. Holotype female: BENIN: Atlantique Department, Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi , XII.1988, J.S.Noyes, MT [ CNCI:23914] . Paratypes: BENIN: Atlantique Department, Cotonou, Abomey- Calavi , XII.1988, J.S.Noyes, MT, 2♀ [ BMNH], 2♂ [ BMNH], 2♀, 32♂ ; Atlantique Department, Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi , 1–31.X.1994, G.Georgen, MT, 1♀ . BURKINA FASO: Eats Region, Gourma Province / Kompiegna Province (20 km south to Pama ) 01–16.VI.1988, Sanborne, Landry & Tou, Savane, lit de riviére, p.á intercept, 1♀ . CAMEROON: South Province, Ebolowa, Nkoemvon , 10–30.XI.1979, D.Jackson, MT, 1♀ [ BMNH]; South Province, Ebolowa, Nkoemvon , VIII.1980, D.Jackson, MT, 1♀ [ BMNH], 1♀ ; North West Province, Bambili , 19.XII.1981, S.Compton, 1♀ [ BMNH]; Centre Province, Mbalmayou , VII.1993, P.Eggleton, MT, 1♂ [ BMNH]. CENTRAL AFRICA: Prefecture Sangha-Mbaéré, Dzanga Ndoki National Park, Mabea Bai , 21.4km, 53˚ NE Bayanga , -03.333, 16.4158, 510m. 07.V.2001, S. van Noort, marshland, 1♀ (OSUC 0180718) [ SAMC], 1♀ (OSUC 0180937) . CÔTE D'IVOIRE ( IVORY COAST): Vallé du Bandama, Boukaé , III.1980, 6♀ , P.Cocherau; Vallé du Bandama, Boukaé , IV. 1980, P.Cocherau, 1♀ ; Vallé du Bandama, Boukaé , 01.X.1981, P.Cocherau, 3♀, 1♂ ; Vallé du Bandama, Boukaé , XII. 1980, P.Cocherau, 1♀ ; Abidjan, Lamto Ecological Research Station , 06.21, 05.003, 05.IV.1988, MT, 1♀ ; Abidjan, Lamto Ecological Research Station , 06.21, 05.003, XII.1988, MT, 1♂ ; Abidjan, Lamto Ecological Research Station (160km NW of Abijan), 06.21, 05.003, XI.1988, J.S.Noyes MT, PT, 1♀ [ BMNH]. KENYA: Nyanza, Lake Victoria, Mbita , Ungoye ICIPE Station , -0.615, 34.092, 1145m, 17–26.VII.1998, S.Miller, MT, 1♀ [ USNM], 2♀ ; Nyanza, Ruma National Park , 1240m, -0.6521, 34.3237, 08.XII.2005 – 01.I.2006, R.Copeland, mixed grassland, MT, 1♂ ; Rift Valley, Saia swamp, 1882m, 1.0941, 39.1183, 12–26.III.2006, swamp edge, R.Copeland, MT, 1♀ [ USNM]. MALAWI: Central Region, Kasungu District, Mtunthama , 9.I.–16.II.1983, J.Feehan, MT, 1♂ [ CNMH]. MALI: Sikasson Region, Yanfolia , VIII–IX.1986, J.Durham, MT, 1♂ ; Koulikoro, Katibougou , VIII.2008, Sommaggio, MT, 1♀, 1♂ . NIGERIA: Oyo State, Ibadan , IITA compound, IX.1987, J.S.Noyes, PT, MT, 1♀ [ BMNH], 1♂ . SOMALIA: Benadir Region, Mogadishu, Afgoi-Shabelli Valley , 12.V.1977, F.Bin, MT, 1♀ . SOUTH AFRICA: Kwazulu-Natal, Richardsbay , 24.X.1994, M.Söderlund, 1♂ ; Kwazulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Hilton , 28.X–12.XI.2003, M.Mostowski, MT, 1♀ ; Kwazulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Hilton , 24.XI–9.XII.2003, M.Mostowski, MT, 1♀ [ NMSA]. UGANDA: Toro Kingdom , Kabarole District, Kibale Forest near Fort Portal , XII.1972, H.Falke, 1♂ ; Masindi District, Budongo Forest near Sonso , 1.75, 31.5833, 21–31.VII.1995, T.Wagner, 1♀ . ZIMBABWE (RHODESIA): Harare (Salisbury), Chishawasha , V–VII. 1975, A.Watsham, 1♀ ; Harare (Salisbury), Chishawasha , V.1990, A.Watsham, 1♀ . Holotype is deposited in SANC, 18 paratypes in CNCI, 10 in BMNH, 5 in SAMC, 5 in NMSA . Holotype is deposited in CNCI. Paratypes are deposited in BMNH (10) , CNCI (66), CNMH (1), NMSA (1), SAMC (1) , USNM (2).