Emphytopsis shinoharai Wei & Niu, 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 : 309

Emphytopsis shinoharai Wei & Niu, 2011

( Figs. 3 G, 6)

Emphytopsis shinoharai Wei & Niu in Wei et al., 2011: 16 ; Wei & Zhou, 2012: 434; Wei & Niu, 2013: 137. Taxonus nigromaculatus: Togashi, 1992: 38 (in part); Nagase, 2004: 1252 (in part).

Female. Described in detail by Wei et al. (2011). Serrula of lancet subtriangular with narrowly rounded apex near middle, denticles on each serrula blunt and inconspicuous ( Fig. 6 )

Male. Unknown.

Variation. Female: The length ranges from 9 to 10.5 mm. The color pattern shows little variation. The length/ width ratio of the postocellar area ranges from 0.91 to 1.17 (average 1.03) and the ratio of the depth of ventral incision of the clypeus to the entire length of the clypeus ranges from 0.44 to 0.54 (average 0.5) ( Fig. 3 G).

Specimens examined. Type material: Holotype: ♀, “[ Japan: Shikoku], Nanokawagoe, 1450 m, 33°45’ N 133°09’ E, Ishizuchi-yama Mts., Ehime Pref., 8–10. V. 2005, A. Shinohara” “ Holotype ” “ Emphytopsis shinoharai Wei, Det. M. Wei ”. Paratype: 1♀, same data. Other material: HONSHU—Kanagawa Pref.: 1♀, Mt. Fudounomine, Tanzawa, 1614 m alt., 24. V. 1998, M. Kato; 1♀, Mikunitoge, Yamakita, 10. IV. 1999, H. Nagase (cited as Taxonus nigromaculatus in Nagase, 2004).

Distribution. Japan (Honshu, Shikoku).

Host plant. Unknown.

Remarks. This species is distinguished from E. nigromaculata by the subtriangular serrulae of the lancet ( Fig. 6 ) and the usually shallower anterior incision of the clypeus ( Fig. 3 G) (see the key below for details). Wei et al. (2011) employed the shape of the postocellar area (the length/width ratio) and the width of the sawsheath as diagnostic characters, but we were not able to recognize the differences after studying additional series of specimens. The length/width ratio of the postocellar area ranges from 0.94 to 1.20 (average 1.07) in E. nigromaculata and from 0.91 to 1.17 (average 1.03) in E. shinoharai .

As Wei et al. (2011) noted, the specimen having the lancet shown in figure 22 in Togashi (1992) (10th to 13th serrulae apparently from the lancet apex) should belong to E. shinoharai . Togashi (1992) studied three females, one each from Mt. Daisen, Hakone and Mt. Dainichi, but he did not note which female he illustrated in figure 22. In Togashi’s collection, we found two females, one from Hakone, whose ovipositor has been removed, and one undissected specimen from Mt. Dainichi. The female from Mt. Daisen has not been located and the specimen from Mt. Dainichi is E. nigromaculata . Therefore, the specimen illustrated ( E. shinoharai ) was from Hakone or Mt. Daisen, probably from Hakone because the ovipositor of the Hakone specimen has been removed apparently for examination.

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.

FIGURE 6. Emphytopsis shinoharai, lancets, Nanokawagoe, Shikoku, paratype (A – D) and Fudounomine, Honshu (E – H). — A, E, Whole lancets; B, F, 1 st to 5 th serrulae; C, 6 th to 10 th serrulae; D, apex of lancet, showing 10 th to terminal serrulae; G, 5 th to 10 th serrulae; H, apex of lancet, showing 11 th to terminal serrulae.