Platyplectrus kayaensis, 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 : 363

5. Platyplectrus kayaensis, Yefremova & Copeland sp. nov.

Figs 21–23

Diagnosis. Pronotum large, without carina. Occiput with short carina in middle. Scutellum strongly reticulate in anterior half. POL 1.3× as long as OOL. Vertex with numerous setae. Female. Antenna: F1 2.2× as long as wide, 1.3× as long as F2, clava 1.8× as long as F4. Gaster 2.5× as long as wide. Petiole conical with one spine laterally. Male. Antenna: F1 3.0× as long as wide, 1.5× as long as F2, clava 1.8× as long as F4. Gaster 2.3× as long as wide. Genitalia: Digitus with two spines. Body yellow, except scutellum with diffuse, light brown, narrow, anterior median band, continuing over medial lobe and ending at the apex of the pronotum. Legs yellow.

Description. Female. Body size 1.7 mm.

Colour: Body mostly yellow, head yellow-white including clypeus, scrobal grooves pale brown and not distinct, eyes pink, ocelli whitish; scape and pedicel yellow, funicle brownish, gaster yellow, fore and mid coxae whitish, otherwise legs yellow.

Head: Malar sulcus present. Eyes dorsally with sporadically distributed setae. POL 1.4× as long as OOL. Antennae inserted above the level of the lower margin of the eyes. Scape 5.9× as long as wide. Pedicel 1.4× as long as wide. Flagellomeres 1 – 4. F1 1.3× as long as F2, F2 1.15× as long as F3, F3=F4, clava 3-segmented, 3.0× as long as wide and 1.8× as long as F4.

Mesosoma. Pronotum smooth. Mesoscutum and scutellum smooth. Propodeum smooth with median carina, callus with 2 setae in first row and 4 in second. Fore wing 2.8× as long as wide. SMV with 5 setae. Speculum small along pterostigma. SMV (42): MV (75): PMV (40): STV (19). Costal cell with 3 rows; in first 6 long setae (near marginal vein), in second row 10 short setae and in third 4 short setae.

Metasoma. Petiole conical 1.4× as long as wide, with one spine laterally from both sides. Gaster 2.5× as long as wide.

Male. Body size 2.2 mm. Body mostly yellow ( Fig. 21 ), face and frons yellowish-white, with pale brown scrobes ( Fig. 23 ). Scutellum with diffuse, light brown, narrow, anterior median band, continuing over medial lobe of mesoscutum and ending at the apex of the pronotum ( Fig. 22 ). Basal half of gaster white. Antenna brownish with white placoid sensillae and white setae. Scape 3.7× as long as wide, sensory area in ventral anterior part and occupying 0.18 of the length of scape. Pedicel 3.4× shorter than F1. F1 1.5× as long as F2, F2 1.135× as long as F3, F3=F4. Clava 3-segmented 3.5× as long as wide and 1.8× as long as F4. Gaster 2.3× as long as wide. Genitalia. Digitus with two spines.

Host. Unknown.

Distribution. Currently known only from Kenya.

Etymology. The species name reflects the type of forest in which they were collected. Kayas are small isolated scared forests of the Digo people dotted along the Kenyan coast.

Holotype. Holotype. ♀, Kenya, Coast Prov. , Muhaka forest, 41 m, 4.32664° S, 39.52462° E, Malaise trap, indigenous forest, 4–17 Feb 2016, R. Copeland, ICIPE 64324, ( NMK). Condition of holotype; damaged after description but before photography. Abdomen and both hind legs glued on tip of point, head and thorax glued upside down on base of point, right foreleg missing tarsus, right mid leg missing tibia and tarsus, left mid leg missing tarsus.

Paratype. 1 ♁, Kenya, Coast Prov. , Mrima Hill forest, 212 m, 4.48576° S, 39.25845°E, Malaise trap, indigenous forest edge, 25 Dec 2011 – 8 Jan 2012, R. Copeland, ICIPE 64325 ( NMK). Condition of paratype excellent ( Figs 21–23 ) .

Figures

FIGURES 16–23. 16–18. P. capensis Ferrière. Male. 16. Lateral habitus. 17. Dorsal habitus, Female. 18. Face frontal. 19–20. P. desertus Yefremova. Female. 19. Lateral habitus. 20. Head +antennae+ mesosoma, fronto-lateral. 21–23. P. kayaensis sp. nov. Paratype. Male. 21. Lateral habitus. 22. Dorsal habitus. 23. Head +antennae+ mesosoma, fronto-lateral.