Exallonyx townesi Kolyada, 2004

Kolyada, Victor A., Mostovski, Mike B. & Brothers, Denis J., 2004, New data on proctotrupid wasp genus Exallonyx Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupidae) from South Africa, with description of a new species and new synonymy, African Invertebrates 45, pp. 237-248 : 242-243

Exallonyx townesi Kolyada , sp. n.

Figs 3, 8, 9, 16, 17, 21

Etymology. This species is named after Henry K. Townes, whose input to the study of proctotrupids cannot be overestimated.

Type material: Holotype: female, SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu­Natal: Pietermaritzburg, Hilton (29º32'30.7"S: 30º18'18.4"E), 1131m, 27.ix–13.x.2003, MT, M. Mostovski ( NMSA) . Paratypes: Western Cape: 1^, Brenton­on­Sea, 19–26.xi.1997, pitfall traps, H.G. Robertson ( SAMC) ; KwaZulu­Natal: 2^, Impendle, Nhlosane farm (2935'S: 29 58'E), 19.i–15.ii.1994, pitfall traps, J. Kotze; 1 ơ 6^, same data except 16.ii–29.iii.1994; 1ơ , same data except 30.iii–12.iv.1994; 1^, same data except 13.iv– 31.v.1994; 3ơ , same data except 1.vi–1.vii.1994; 1ơ, Pietermaritzburg , Hilton (29º32'30.7"S: 30º18'18.4"E), 1131m, 13–23.xi.2003, MT , M. Mostovski; 1^, same data except 24.xi–9.xii.2003; 1^, same data except 10–23.xii.2003; 1^, same data except 15–26.i.2004; 1^, same data except 29.ii–13.iii.2004; 1ơ 1^, Southern Drakensberg , Himeville, 3–5.iii.2004, YPT, V . Kolyada & M. Mostovski ( NMSA); 2ơ 1^, Grande 20.3 km 205 SW Underberg, 3–9.xii.2001, MT , S. van Noort; 1 ơ 9^, Hlogoma, 4.9 km 127 S Underberg, 4–10.xii.2001, MT , S. van Noort; 17ơ 4^, Triscombe, 18.1 km 203 SW Underberg, 2–8.xii.2001, MT , S. van Noort; 13ơ, Pineglades, 1.3 km 178 S Himeville, 3–9.xii.2001, MT , S. van Noort ( SAMC) .

Description: Female. Body black, antennae fuscous, base of scape fulvous below, pedicel, tegula, stigma, fore coxa, and legs yellowish brown; ovipositor sheath black with yellowish tint apically. Forewing length 2.0– 3.2 mm. Head noticeably compressed laterally, prognathous, laterally 1.4 times as long as high. Clypeus about 2.2 times as wide as long, convex, free margin thin, weakly depressed and truncated. Temple about 2.7 times as wide as eye. Ratios of antennomere lengths to widths 2:1, 1:1, 1.7:1, 1.4:1, 1.4:1, 1.4:1, 1.4:1, 1.4:1, 1.4:1, 1.4:1, 1.25:1, 2.5:1. Lateral side of pronotum with one pit in posteroventral corner. Setal strip along upper edge of pronotum comprising one or two setae. Epomia complete and distinct, with no setae behind it. Mesopleuron with horizontal groove complete, mesopleural furrow foveolate, area below horizontal groove smooth. Radial vein entering costal vein at 45º. Propodeum abruptly sloping in profile, propodeal sculpture smoothed and even, dorsally with two large shiny patches reaching upper posterior margin. Lateral smooth area of anterior part of propodeum large, occupying about half of propodeum. Base of syntergite with one median groove reaching half the distance to first pair of thyridia and with two small furrows on each side of this groove. Ovipositor sheath 0.5 times as long as hind tibia, with small longitudinal wrinkles. Male. Same as female but forewing length 2.0– 3.4 mm, head not laterally compressed, hypognathous, laterally 0.8 times as long as high. Clypeus about 3 times as wide as long, weakly convex. Gena very short, 0.2 times as wide as eye, with furrow running from lower corner of eye toward base of mandibles. Ratios of antennomere lengths to widths 1.75:1, 1:1, 1.3:1, 1.3:1, 3:1, 2.7:1, 2.3:1, 2.3:1, 2.3:1, 2.3:1, 2.3:1, 2:1, 3.7:1. Antennomeres 4–11 bearing small oval tyloids, visible in cleared preparations only. Propodeum gently sloping in profile.

Comparison: This species differs from its African congeners in the presence of only one pit in the posteroventral corner of the pronotum ( Figs 8, 9).

Remarks.Within the genus Exallonyx,Townes recognised formal species groups ( Townes & Townes 1981). It seems that all other Afrotropical members of this genus belong to the species­rich formicarius group on the basis of having two pits in the posteroventral corner of the pronotum. However, we have seen specimens of other undescribed species from Tanzania with only one pit, besides E. townesi , so recognition of another group of species may become necessary.

Distribution: South Africa.