Philoplitis masneri, Fernandez-Triana & Goulet, 2009

Fernandez-Triana, Jose & Goulet, Henri, 2009, Revision of the genus Philoplitis Nixon (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae), ZooKeys 20 (20), pp. 285-298 : 292-293

Philoplitis masneri sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E086ECD6-5039-49F0-8B49-4AC001D5AD5E

Diagnosis. The white color of the second mediotergite as well as of the metatibial spurs distinguishes it from all other species of Philoplitis . Also, this species has the shallowest notauli, the thickest metafemur, the longest r vein (compared to those forming the 2 nd submarginal cell) and the narrowest mediotergite 2 within the genus.

Description. Head densely rugosopunctate, frons transversely striated, small and impressed area (just behind posterior ocelli and extending to central part of occiput) smooth. Antenna long, length of 2nd flagellomere 2.4× its width, length of 15th flagellomere 2.7× its width. Mesosoma with rather dense and long pubescence. Mesoscutum punctate, without impressed surface posterolaterally, and notauli scarcely impressed and not outlined by coarse punctures (Fig. 4, 7 and 10). Scutellum coarsely punctate and with apex truncate, its length/width ratio 1.06×, and scutellar disc length 0.83× that of mesoscutum. Mesopleuron punctate except medial smooth area below the speculum and very fine striation marking the sternaulus. Propodeum rugose and with complete median longitudinal carina. Forewing ratios: r/3RSa: 3.30; r/r-m: 2.50; r/2RS: 1.00; 3RS/2M: 0.33; 2RS/2M: 1.11; r-m/2M: 0.44; r /(r-2M): 0.40; height of 2nd submarginal cell/(r-2M): 0.44. Tarsal claws with 3 teeth and with arolium enlarged, about twice as long as claw length; metafemur thick, its length 2.95× its maximum width; inner spur of metatibia 0.57× length of first tarsomere. Metasoma with apical half of mediotergite 1 finely sculptured, with smooth triangular area apically, its length 2.12× its width at apex; mediotergite 2 completely smooth, with medial zone outlined by sharp but hardly divergent carinae on each side, its median length 0.77 its width at apex (Fig. 14); tergum 3+ smooth.

Color. Head black with clypeus dark brown, mandibles yellowish-white and palpi brown with apical 3–5 maxillary palps white. Scape and pedicel light brown, rest of antenna brown. Mesosoma black with silver pubescence, tegula brown. First two pair of legs with coxa, trochanter and femur brown, tibiae and tarsi yellow (brown basally in mesotibia); hind legs completely brown (dark brown to almost black on metafemur and metatibia); tibial spurs whitish-yellow. Wing veins and stigma brown (Rs + M hyaline), with a brownish cloud beneath stigma that extends to 2M. Metasoma brown (darker in mediotergite 1, lighter in tergum 3+); mediotergite 2 completely, apical smooth area of mediotergite 1, laterotergites 1–2, and sterna 1–3, yellowish-white.

Etymology. We dedicate this species to our friend and colleague Lubomír Masner, an extraordinary example of a dedicated and passionate entomologist. He not only found the only known specimens of this species and P. punctatus when sorting different samples, but also encouraged us to study the genus.

Material examined. Holoytpe ♁ ( CNC type 23528). KENYA: Nyanza Ungoye , down 1147 m ; 0°36.91’S 34°05.52’E; 5–19.V.2006, Malaise Trap, R. Copeland .

Comments. Th is is the first recorded species of Philoplitis from the Afrotropical region.