Nanocthulhu Buffington, 2012

Noort, Simon van, Buffington, Matthew L. & Forshage, Mattias, 2015, Afrotropical Cynipoidea (Hymenoptera), ZooKeys 493, pp. 1-176 : 105-106

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Figitidae

Nanocthulhu Buffington, 2012

Remarks.

Rare. Possibly an apomorphic ingroup of Rhoptromeris .

Diagnosis.

Species of this genus possess a three-pronged protrusion (fuscina) atop a dorsally elongate clypeus. Superficially, this taxon is similar to Stentorceps , since both genera have species with extensive projections from the head region. However, Stentorceps has a corniculum protruding from the face, and lacks a modified clypeus. The rest of the body is similar to that of the smallest Rhoptromeris . Some Rhoptromeris and Hexacola also have protrusions from the clypeal region, but they are merely points or small conical projections.

Distribution.

Endemic to the Afrotropical region: South Africa ( Buffington 2012), Mozambique (L. Masner pers. comm.).

Biology.

Host unknown.

Species richness.

Nanocthulhu lovecrafti Buffington, 2012 (South Africa)

An additional undescribed species is known from Mozambique.