Platyplectrus striolatus ( Ferrière, 1941 ) Yefremova & Copeland, 2023

Yefremova, Zoya A. & Copeland, Robert S., 2023, African Platyplectrus Ferrière (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) from Kenya, with description of nine new species, Zootaxa 5360 (3), pp. 355-384 : 378-382

18. Platyplectrus striolatus ( Ferrière, 1941) , comb. nov.

Figs 72–75

Euplectromorpha striolata Ferrière, 1941: 28 .

Holotype: Female , South Africa, Zululand, Eshowe, 1 ♀, v.1926; (E. Turner (BMNH, examined)).

Diagnosis. Body colour mostly black ( Figs 72–73 ). Pronotum large, rounded posteriorly. Occipital and postoccipital carinae present. Scutellum strongly transversely strigose and with wide grooves on both sides and posterior ( Fig. 75 ). Propodeum smooth with median carina. POL 2.0× as long as OOL. Eyes densely setose ( Fig. 74 ). Vertex with scattered punctures. F1 1.33× as long as F2, F2=F3=F4, clava 1.8× as long as wide and 1.66× as long as F4. F1 1.5× as long as pedicel and 1.3× as long as F2. Petiole transverse. Face, clypeus and genae black, mandibles yellow. Hind coxae brownish-black, femora brownish in middle, fore and mid legs yellow ( Fig. 72 ). Body size 1.7–1.8 mm.

Host. Unknown.

Distribution. * Kenya, South Africa.

Material examined: Kenya, 1 ♀, Coast Prov. , Muhaka forest, 39 m, 4.32471° S, 39.52326° E, Migration trap, insects flying into forest, 9–23 Mar 2018, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, Coast Prov. , Muhaka forest, 41 m, 4.32664° S, 39.52462° E, Malaise trap, indigenous forest, 14–27 Mar 2016, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, same data except 29 Jun–12 Jul 2015, R. Copeland ( SMNH-TAU) .

Species richness and geographical and temporal distribution of Platyplectrus species in Kenya

We collected eight of the Platyplectrus species previously recorded from the Afrotropical region. Additionally, although we did not sample P. kiambuensis , it is a Kenyan endemic. Only P. nitidiceps and P. ausensis were absent from our collections. Counting the new species Kenya now accounts for 18 of the 20 species (90%) known from sub-Saharan Africa and appears to be the center of speciation for this genus. Table 1 and figures 76 and 77 provide information on the geographical and temporal distributions of Kenyan Platyplectrus . Seventeen (17) Platyplectrus species were collected in 91 samples from 37 different sites ranging from coastal to western Kenya and from northern to southern Kenya ( Figs 76–77 ). Most commonly, these samples were from Malaise traps set in or alongside wet forest, 56/91 (62%), woodland 15/91 (16%) and seasonal riverine forest 11/91 (12%). Platyplectrus were rarely collected in traps set in dry Acacia / Commiphora spp. habitats although these were sampled extensively over several years.

Platyplectrus meruensis was by far the most commonly collected species, both geographically and temporally. It was the only species collected during all months of the year ( Table 1 ). Three others, P. albiclavatus , P. nigroflaveatus , and P. obscuratus were captured in six or seven months of the year. Although P. meruensis was sampled from 20 of the 37 (54%) sites in which Platyplectrus was collected, it was curiously absent from all the coastal forests collection sites (n=6), perhaps having failed to successfully cross the wide band of dry inland thicket and Acacia / Commiphora savannah (Nyika) that separates the Kenya highlands from the network of coastal forests. In contrast, seven other Platyplectrus species were collected in this habitat type, producing four of the nine undescribed species collected during our project.

Along with P. pyrrhomaculatus and P. obscuratus , P. meruensis was the only other species found both east and west of the Gregory Rift Valley. Most species (72%) were collected only in sites east of the rift. Despite its widespread distribution P. meruensis did not have the greatest range of elevation among Platyplectrus . It was collected at elevations from 689 to 2126 m ASL (range of 1437 m), while P. brevicornis , although collected from only two sites, had a wider range, from 2–1848 m (range of 1846 m).

Figures

FIGURE 76. Map of collection sites in which P. meruensis was collected.

FIGURE 77. Map showing the distribution among collection sites of all Kenyan Platyplectrus species except P. meruensis. The approximate type location of P. kiambuensis, which we did not sample during the current project, is indicated by the dark green circle. Besides being a town, the place name “Kiambu” may also refer more broadly to the area previously known as Kiambu district (later elevated to county status). More precise information is not present on the labels accompanying the holotype (Fig. 24).

FIGURES 70–75. 70–71 P. pyrrhomaculatus sp. nov. Holotype. Female. 70. Dorsal habitus. 71. Head+antennae, frontal. 72–75. P. striolatus (Ferrière). 72. Lateral habitus. 73. Dorsal habitus. 74. Head, frontal. 75. Scutellum, dorsal, close-up of strigose scutellum (red arrow).