Emphytopsis flatoserrula Wei, 2011

Shinohara, Akihiko, Saito, Takeshi, Ibuki, Shin-Ichi & Hara, Hideho, 2014, Sawflies of the genus Emphytopsis (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae) associated with Stewartia (Theaceae) in Japan, Zootaxa 3884 (4), pp. 301-318 : 302

Emphytopsis flatoserrula Wei, 2011

( Fig. 3 F)

Emphytopsis flatoserrula Wei in Wei et al., 2011: 17 ; Wei & Zhou, 2012: 433; Wei & Niu, 2013: 137.

Female. Described in detail by Wei et al. (2011). Postocellar area length 1.05× width; clypeus with depth of ventral incision 0.58× its entire length ( Fig. 3 F).

Male. Unknown.

Specimen examined. Type material: Holotype: ♀, “Takachihonomine, Mt. Kirishima, 4. V. 1969, K. Takemura leg.” “H. Nagase collection” “ Holotype ” “ Emphytopsis flatoserrula Wei, Niu , ♀, Det. M. Wei, 2009”.

Distribution. Japan (Kyushu).

Host plant. Unknown.

Remarks. This species is known only from the holotype from southern Kyushu. It closely resembles E. nigromaculata and is barely separable from the latter by the subtle differences in coloration and the shape of the serrulae of the lancet as shown in the key. Wei et al. (2011) also used the shape of the postocellar area and the microsculpture of the mesepisternum for distinguishing the two species, but the “long” postocellar area of E. flatoserrula (1.05 times as long as broad) is well within the range of E. nigromaculata (0.94–1.20 times) and the difference in the mesepisternum microsculpture is actually very small, if not within the variation range of the latter species. Here we treat it as a good species but its validity should be ascertained by examining further material.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Heads (A – L) and apical ovipositor sheath (M), E. nigromaculata (A – E), E. flatoserrula (F), E. shinoharai (G) and E. vernalis (H – M). — A – C, Female, holotype; D, E, male, Nakagawa; F – J, M, females, holotypes; K, L, male, Nakagawa, paratype.