Metopius (Metopius) albipictus TOSQUINET, 1896: 366

Riedel, Matthias, 2016, Contribution to the genus Metopius PANZER (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Metopiinae) from Africa South of Sahara, Linzer biologische Beiträge 48 (2), pp. 1635-1675 : 1636-1637

Metopius (Metopius) albipictus TOSQUINET, 1896: 366

H o l o t y p u s:(6) [red] Type, 6, 26265, [blue] Delagoa bai. R. Monteiro ( Berlin ), type studied. syn. Metopius Sjöstedti SZÉPLIGETI, 1908: 88 , synonymy by BENOIT (1965), type not studied. F u r t h e r m a t e r i a l: Ethopia W, Kaffa prov. 1500 m, 40 km W Bonga, 1♀ 9.IV.2007, leg. J. Halada (Linz) ; Zambia, Copperbelt pr., 25 km W Chingola 1600 m, 16 16.I.2006, leg. R. Kneco (Linz) ; Tanzania NE, W of Kiberashi , kit wei plain, 16 16.III.2002, leg. Snizek (Linz) ; Namibia, Popa Falls Karango, 16 2.III.1994, 1807´S/2135´E, leg. H. Schumann (Berlin) ; RSA, Natal 16 19.II.1997, Hala Game Res. 2730´S/3120´E, Falle 9, leg. F. Koch (Berlin) ; M´fongosi Zululand, 1♀ (Cape Town), Zimbabwe, Salisbury Chishawaska , 2♀♀ II-III.1978, leg. A. Watsham ( London ), Zimbabwe, Salisbury , Chishawaska , 16 II.1981 A. Watsham ( London ), Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls , 1♀ 266 29-30.IV.1972 ( London ), Zambia, Lusaka, 1 6 I.1980, 16 IV. 1980, 16 XI.1979, 1♀ 16, XI-XII.1979, leg. R. A. Beaver @ (London), Nyasaland, Mlanje, 16 II.1913, leg. S.A. Neave (London) ; Brit. E Africa, Upper Kuja Valley, S. Kavirondo 4,200 ft. 1♀ V.1911, leg. S.A. Neave (London), Gambia, Keneba, Malaise trap, 3♀♀ 566 IX-X.1975, leg. M.C.D. Spreight ( Cape Town ) .

D e s c r i p t i o n of ♀:

Body length 8.5-11 mm. Flagellum with 41-42 segments. Mandible with one tooth. Second maxillary palpomere globose, length about 1.3x width (fig. 35). Facial shield punctate, centrally densely rugulose-punctate, with strong carinae, length 1.2x width, pointed below and with a more or less distinct longitudinal carina reaching the apex of clypeus. Interantennal lamella high, with a shallow subdistal impression and a distal tooth. Frons laterally with fine transversal striation. Temple ± strongly narrowed behind eye. Distance of lateral ocellus to eye 1.5-2.0x its diameter.

Mesosoma with long whitish hairs. Side of pronotum coarsely punctate, with striation in the ventral third. Epicnemial carina obsolete dorsal to sternaulus. Central area of propodeum narrow, with strong lateral carinae, length 1.8x width. Hind femur length 2.2- 2.7x height. Hind metatarsus about 0.4x as long as the hind tibia. Outer apical spur of hind tibia about 0.5x as long as the hind metatarsus. Front and middle claws without visible teeth. Areolet width 1.6x its length, second recurrent vein lateral to its middle, with one bulla.

First tergite with strong dorsal carinae almost reaching the apex. Its spiracle with a strong spiniform extension ventrally. Second and third tergites with spine-shaped posterolateral edges, the fourth tergite with rounded edges.

Color: Black. Metasoma with ± distinct violet shine. Flagellum reddish. Cream-yellow are palps, face (facial shield black centrally), frontal orbits in the lower half, subtegular ridge, sometimes mesopleuron and hind edge of pronotum, prescutellar ridge, hind margin of scutellum, sometimes postscutellum, posterolateral spots of propodeum, posterolateral edges of all tergites, confluent on hind margins of third/fourth to seventh tergites, spots on front and middle coxae and all trochanters, apical spots on all femora and tibiae and front and middle tarsi at outer side, spurs of hind tibia. Pterostigma brownish. Wings darkened apically.

D e s c r i p t i o n of 6:

Body length 8-14 mm. Flagellum with 42-47 segments. Second maxillary palpomere club-shaped, length about 1.7x width. Facial shield length 1.15x width. Frons with fine transveral striation. Temple strongly narrowed behind eye. Distance of lateral ocellus to eye 1.1-1.5x its diameter.

Central area of propodeum narrow, with strong lateral carinae and a more or less developed longitudinal central ridge. Hind femur length 2.0-2.6x height. Hind metatarsus about 0.33-0.45x as long as the hind tibia. Outer apical spur of hind tibia 0.5-0.6x as long as the hind metatarsus. Areolet only 1.3x wider than long, second recurrent vein with one or two bullae.

Color: Black. Flagellum reddish to reddish-brown. Ivory are palps, labrum in part, face (shield black centrally, frontal orbit in the lower half, subtegular ridge, sometimes small spot on upper mesopleuron, prescutellar ridge, apical third or apical margin of scutellum, sometimes postscutellum, posterolateral spots of propodeum, posterolateral edges of all tergites, confluent on hind margins of tergites 3/4-7, spots on front and middle coxae and all trochanters, often apical margin of hind coxa, stripes on front and middle femora, tibiae and front and middle tarsi almost completely, basal spot and apical fifth of hind femur, apical spurs of hind tibia. Pterostigma brownish. Wings darkened apically.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Central and Southern Africa, new for Ethiopia, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.