Epitranus torymoides (Risbec, 1953)

Gadallah, Neveen S., Soliman, Ahmed M. & Dhafer, Hathal M. Al, 2020, First record of the subfamily Epitraninae from Saudi Arabia (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Chalcididae), with the description of three new species, ZooKeys 979, pp. 35-86 : 35

Epitranus torymoides (Risbec, 1953) Figures 28 , 29 , 30

Chalcitella torymoïdes Risbec, 1953: 591. Original description ♂. Ivory Coast.

Epitranus torymoides Risbec, 1953: Delvare, 2017: 244.

Re-description.

Female (Figs 28 - 30 ). Body length 2.65-3.20 mm. Fore wing length 1.85-2.00 mm. Head, except reddish frontal lobe, and mesosoma black (Figs 28A, B , 29A ); metasoma dark brown with slight reddish tint laterally on tergites and on sternites (Fig. 28A, B ); fore and mid legs, metatrochanter, metatarsus, scape and tegula testaceous (Fig. 28A ); pedicel, flagellum and metafemur dark brown (Fig. 28A, B ). This species is recognized by the following combination of characters: frons laterally and dorsally, and dorsum of mesosoma, with moderately long, suberect and thin setae (Figs 28B , 29A ); interantennal projection absent (Fig. 29A ); frontal lobe moderately protruding, with subantennal distance ca. 1.3 × as long as interantennal distance, ventral edge of projection broadly rounded, entire (Fig. 29A ); supra antennal surface smooth, completely delimited by step-like margin, 1.7 × as high as wide; discal area reduced to a smooth crescentic surface above the supra antennal one; rest of the frons with moderately large setiferous punctures (Fig. 29A ); gena areolate (Fig. 28A ); preorbital, suborbital and postorbital grooves well impressed, the first one smooth, while the others areolate; postorbital carina joining genal carina at a level slightly below ventral edge of eye; outline of frons hardly and regularly convex in dorsal view; flagellum strongly clavate, 0.96 × as long as head width (Fig. 29B ); the two basal flagellomeres subquadrate, lacking MPS; clava bi-segmented (Fig. 29B ); pronotum and mesonotum densely and regularly punctured (Fig. 28B ); pronotal collar rounded on dorsum (Fig. 28B ); propodeal surface with numerous secondary rugae, with fusiform median areola not quite reaching the truncate adpetiolar areola (Fig. 28B ). Fore wing (Fig. 29C ) with strongly reduced venation, only base of SMV present; apical half of wing membrane with scattered setae on underside; metacoxa with nearly smooth and flattened outer dorsal side; metafemur with seven or eight widely spaced teeth following the stout basal one on ventral margin (Fig. 30B ); metatibial process only delimited on inner side along the short tarsal groove, the latter approximately one third, the rest of the process is visible as being sparsely and finely setose, the setation not concealing the integument surface there (Fig. 30A ); sub-basal prominence vestigial, hardly visible, with a single denticle (Fig. 30A ); metasomal petiole 2.8-3.0 × as long as wide, 0.6 × as long as dorsal length of Gt1, and 0.40-0.45 × as long as gaster (Fig. 28B ); the area between sublateral ridges on petiole flat and rough, with hardly indicated longitudinal median carina at base and apex, absent medially (Fig. 28A, B ); Gaster 1.8 × as long as high (Fig. 28A ).

Male. Differs from female in the following: flagellum and metasomal petiole darker, dark brown to black, the latter reddish brown posteriorly; metasoma with black tint dorsally; anellus transverse; flagellum slender, F1 ca. 2 × as long as wide, 1.28-1.30 × as long as each of F2 and F7; petiole with a complete median carina.

Hosts.

Unknown.

Material examined.

1♀: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Al-Baha, Al Mikhwa, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve [19°50'34.87"N, 41°18'40.04"E, 1686 m], sweeping net, 5.V.2015, leg. Ahmed M. Soliman [EFC]; 1♂: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Asir, Muhayil, Wadi Sabean [18°17'53"N, 42°07'39"E, 775 m], Sucking device, 10.II.2016, leg. A. Al-Ansi [KSMA]; 7♀&1♂: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Asir, Muhayil, Wadi Heli [18°30'10.66"N, 42°01'56.07"E, 450 m], sweeping net, 23.X.2016, leg. Ahmed M. Soliman [KSMA]; 1♂: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jazan, Damad, Al Shuqayri [17°07'39.50"N, 42°48'44.88"E, 90 m], Sucking device, 12.V.2018, leg. Ahmed M. Soliman [KSMA]; 1♀: Saudi Arabia, Asir, Abha, Garf Raydah Natural Reserve [18°11'40.98"N, 42°23'45.66"E, 1861 m], sweeping net, 12.IV.2019, leg. Ahmed M. Soliman [KSMA].

Distribution.

Côte d’Ivoire ( Risbec 1953), Saudi Arabia (Al-Baha, Asir, and Jazan regions) (new record).

Figures

Figure 28. Epitranus torymoides (Risbec) (female) A, B habitus (lateral and dorsal views respectively).

Figure 29. Epitranus torymoides (Risbec) (female) A head (frontal view) B antennal pedicel and flagellum C fore wing (part of wing membrane magnified).

Figure 30. Epitranus torymoides (Risbec) (female) A, B hind leg, excluding coxa (outer and ventral views respectively).