Nixonia gigas, Johnson & Masner, 2006

Johnson, Norman F. & Masner, Lubomír, 2006, Revision of World Species of the Genus Nixonia Masner (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea, Scelionidae), American Museum Novitates 3518 (1), pp. 1-32 : 15-18

Nixonia gigas , new species

Figures 36–41

DESCRIPTION: Holotype female. Length 9.0 mm; body generally black; fore–, midfemora largely black, hindfemur dark red; tibiae, tarsi dark red; antenna entirely black; tegula black; palpi blackish; wings infuscate throughout, brownish.

Head (figs. 36–38, 40) transverse in dorsal view, width 2.1 times length; vertex rugulosepunctate, shining; OOL short, lateral ocellus separated from inner orbit by less than one ocellar diameter; POL 1.4 times LOL; occiput rugulose-punctate, shining; occipital carina present medially as low, crenulate carina; frons (fig. 37) rugulose-punctate, shining, above toruli with dense transverse wrinkles; frons somewhat narrow, IOS 0.9 times greatest length of eye; toruli separated by distance of approximately one-half diameter of torulus; frons between toruli not projecting, flat; rim of torulus raised dorsally; apical margin of clypeus straight; area below eye (in normal position of malar sulcus) with fine granulate microsculpture; cheeks laterad of malar area rugose-punctate, with distinct longitudinal sculpture; mandible short, bidentate, upper tooth only slightly longer than lower, without dense basal tuft of setae; maxillary palpal segment 4 distinctly expanded medially, subtriangular; A1 finely reticulate, greatest width in apical two-thirds of segment; length of A3 1.7 times length of A2.

Mesosoma (figs. 36, 38, 40) as high as wide, length 1.7 times height; pronotal shoulders coarsely punctate; lateral surface of pronotum coarsely punctate; netrion punctate-rugulose, with strong longitudinal sculpture; mesoscutum deeply punctate, with fine reticulate microsculpture; parapsidal lines present; scutellum: coarsely punctate, with reticulate microsculpture, with distinct fine longitudinal elements in posterior half; median propodeal tooth triangular, broad, length 1.2 times maximum width, rounded apically, longitudinally carinate; upper mesepisternum with strong longitudinal sculpture; fine foveae separating mesepisternum and mesepimeron extending from base of wing to coxal cavity; lower mesepisternum finely reticulate-punctate; mesepimeral hook longitudinally keeled; tegula finely punctate; R 1 in forewing distinctly separated from costal margin, extending only halfway from R to margin; apex of forewing extending near apex of T4; R in hindwing with tracheate section long, nearly reaching hamuli; outer surface of tibiae with numerous stout, erect spines (fig. 41).

Metasoma (figs. 38, 39) 4.2 times longer than greatest width; T1 distinctly wider than long; terga longitudinally rugose; female T6 with very narrow apical emargination, depth greater than width, T6 anteromedially without distinctive field of microsculpture.

DIAGNOSIS: This species is distinguished from other darkly colored species of Nixonia in southern Africa by its large size, the strong spines on the fore- and midtibiae, and the very narrow excision in the female T6.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet refers to the size of this species, the largest in the genus Nixonia .

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Holotype female: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape Prov., The Baths S. of Citrusdale [sic], 32 ° 44.044 9 S 19 ° 02.336 9 E, 12–14.II.2002, J. George, J. Kim, yellow pan trap, OSUC 146428 , deposited in SANC.

Nixonia krombeini , new species

Figures 5 , 11, 12 , 42–45

DESCRIPTION: Holotype female. Length 5.5 mm; body generally black; femora, tibiae, tarsi, antenna, tegula black; palpi yellowish; wings infuscate throughout, brownish.

Head (figs. 12, 42–44) moderately transverse in dorsal view, width 1.8 times length; vertex coarsely punctate, with granulate microsculpture; OOL short, lateral ocellus separated from inner orbit by distance less than one ocellar diameter; POL 1.2 times LOL; occiput coarsely punctate, with granulate microsculpture; occipital carina strongly raised, massive, crenulate; frons (fig. 43) rugulose-punctate, shining, above toruli with few transverse wrinkles medially; frons somewhat narrow, IOS 0.9 times greatest length of eye; toruli separated by distance of approximately one-half diameter of torulus; frons between toruli not projecting, flat; rim of torulus raised dorsally; apical margin of clypeus with blunt medial projection; area below eye (in normal position of malar suclus) with fine granulate microsculpture; cheeks laterad of malar area coarsely punctate, without longitudinal sculpture; mandible (fig. 11) short, bidentate, upper tooth only slightly longer than lower, without dense basal tuft of setae; maxillary palpal segment 4 distinctly expanded medially, subtriangular; A1 finely reticulate, greatest width in apical two-thirds of segment; length of A3 1.7 times length of A2 (fig. 5).

Mesosoma (figs. 42, 44) as high as wide, length 1.6 times height; pronotal shoulders coarsely punctate; lateral surface of pronotum coarsely punctate; netrion punctate-rugulose, with strong longitudinal sculpture; mesoscutum deeply punctate, with fine reticulate microsculpture; parapsidal lines present; scutellum coarsely punctate, with reticulate microsculpture, without longitudinal sculpture; median propodeal tooth rhomboidal, length 1.5 times greatest width, rounded apically, rugulose; upper mesepisternum with strong longitudinal sculpture; fine foveae separating mesepisternum and mesepimeron extending from base of wing to coxal cavity; lower mesepisternum finely reticulate-punctate; mesepimeral hook longitudinally keeled; tegula finely punctate; apex of R 1 reaching costal margin; apex of forewing slightly surpassing apex of T4; R in hindwing with tracheate section long, nearly reaching hamuli; tibiae with fine, semidecumbent spines on outer surface.

Metasoma (fig. 45) 4.6 times longer than greatest width; T1 distinctly wider than long; T1–T5 irregularly longitudinally rugose, T6 punctate; female T6 with moderately large apical emargination, width greater than depth, T6 anteromedially with field of granulate microsculpture.

DIAGNOSIS: This species shares with N. pecki the strongly developed occipital carina. It may be distinguished by the uniformly black body and the extensive reticulate microsculpture on the body.

ETYMOLOGY: Named in honor of Karl V. Krombein, king of aculeate researchers.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Holotype female: SRI LANKA: Antiquities Site, Padaviya, Anuradhapura Dist. , North Central Prov., 20–23.VII.1978, K. V. Krombein, T. Wijesinhe, L. Jayawickrema, V. Kulasekare, malaise trap, OSUC 146429 . Deposited in USNM . Paratypes: INDIA: Haldwani Dist. , Kumaon [Uttaranchal], India, H.G.C., 1 female, OSUC 151680 . LAOS: Wapikhamthong Prov., Wapi , 15.IV.1967, light trap, native collector, 1 female, OSUC 150672 . SRI LANKA: 1 male, 1 female with same data as holotype, OSUC 146433 , OSUC 146438 . China Bay, 0–30 m, Trincomalee, Trincomalee Distr. , North Eastern Prov. , 24.VII.1978, K. V. Krombein, female, OSUC 146432 . Mahaweli Ganga, Victoria–Randenigala-Rantambe Sanct., 7 ° 12 9 N 80 ° 57 9 E, Kandy Dist. Central Prov. , 25–29.VIII.1999, M. S. Wasbauer, J. Wasbauer, OSUC 146458 . Rajawaka, Ratnapura Dist. , Sabaragamuwa Prov., 20.VI.1976, K. V. Krombein, P. B. Karunaratne, S. Karunaratne, female, OSUC 146431 . Ritigala Strict Natural Reserve, Anuradhapura Dist. North Central Prov., 19.IX.1980, K. V. Krombein, P. B. Karunaratne, T. Wijesinhe, L. Jayawickrema, V. Gunawardane, 1 male, 1 female, OSUC 146430 , OSUC 146439 . Uggalkatota, 350 m, Ratnapura Dist. , Sabaragamuwa Prov., 24.VI. 1978, K. V. Krombein, female, OSUC 146434 . Victoria–Randenigala-Rantambe Sanctuary, 7 ° 12.624 9 N 80 ° 56.540 9 E, Kandy Dist., Central Prov. , 23–30.VIII.1999, M. S. Wasbauer, J. S. Wasbauer, malaise trap, 3 males, 3 females, OSUC 146435 , OSUC 146436 , OSUC 146437 , OSUC 146440 , OSUC 146441 , OSUC 146442 . THAILAND: Chiang Dao , Chiang Mai, 27.III.1993, G. R. Ballmer, at window, OSUC 146447 , OSUC 146448 . Doi Inthanon Nat. Park , 70 km SW Chiang Mai, 126 m, 31.I–7.II.1989, T. W. Thormin, malaise/ pan trap, OSUC 146445 . Doi Suthep , Chiang Mai, 1–2.V.1989, W. J. Pulawski, CASENT 2042618 . Khao Yai Nat. Park , 10–17.II.1989, T. W. Thormin, pan trap, OSUC 146443 , OSUC 146444 , OSUC 146446 . 60 km S Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Ratchasima, 2–4.III.1971, P. J. Spangler, P. Spangler, OSUC 149450 , 1 female. Sakhonakora Province, Phupamam National Park , GPS48 - Q0390822, UTM188 b394 273M, 12–16.III.- 2005, malaise trap, OSUC 168995 , 168996 , 1 male, 1 female. VIETNAM: 50 km SW Pleiku , 250 m, Gia Lai, 14.V.1960, S. Quate, L. W. Quate, 1 female, OSUC 150673 . Deposited in CNCI, USNM, CASC, UCDC, BMNH, BPBM .

Figures

Figs. 36–41. Nixonia gigas, n.sp., holotype female (OSUC 146428). 36. lateral habitus. 37. Head, frontal view. 38. Dorsal habitus. 39. Apex of metasoma, dorsal view. 40. Head and mesosoma, dorsal view. 41. Foretibia, frontal view. Scale in millimeters.

Figs. 2–6. 2. Nixonia pecki, n.sp., lateral habitus (OSUC 146419). 3. N. pecki, dorsal habitus (OSUC 146419). 4. N. flavocincta, n.sp., antennomeres 1–5 (OSUC 146461). 5. N. krombeini, n.sp., antennomeres 1– 5 (OSUC 146436). 6. N. atra Masner, antennomeres 1–5 (OSUC 146405).

Figs. 7–13. 7. Nixonia flavocincta, n.sp., head, frontal view (OSUC 146461); 8. N. atra Masner, maxillary palpomeres 2–5 (OSUC 146405). 9. N. watshami, n.sp., maxillary palpomeres 1–5 (OSUC 146418). 10. N. atra, mandible (OSUC 146405). 11. N. krombeini, n.sp., mandible (OSUC 146436). 12. N. krombeini, head, frontal view (OSUC 146436). 13. N. watshami, head, frontal view (OSUC 146418).

Figs. 42–45. Nixonia krombeini, n.sp. 42. Lateral habitus (CASENT 2042618). 43. Head, frontal view (CASENT 2042618). 44. Head and mesosoma, dorsal view (OSUC 149450). 45. Apex of metasoma, dorsal view (OSUC 149450). Scale in millimeters.