Allophrys calculator Khalaim

Khalaim, A. I., 2013, Discovery of the South African fauna of Allophrys Förster (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersicochinae), Zootaxa 3701 (3), pp. 329-343 : 334-335

Allophrys calculator Khalaim , sp. nov.

Figs 17–20 .

Comparison. Similar to A. astafurovae sp. nov. and A. granulata sp. nov. in structure and coloration but differs by the unusually wide clypeus ( Fig. 17 ), lack of the fore wing second recurrent vein ( Fig. 20 ) and slightly longer ovipositor. It also differs from A. astafurovae sp. nov. by the fore wing with brachial cell open posteriorly ( Fig. 20 ), and from A. granulata sp. nov. by the almost smooth vertex and longer foveate groove of mesopleuron.

Description. Female. Body length almost 2.7 mm. Fore wing length almost 1.85 mm.

Mandible with upper tooth slightly longer than lower tooth ( Fig. 18 ). Clypeus unusually wide, 4.5× as broad as long ( Fig. 17 ), mostly smooth and shining, with extreme upper margin dull, with some punctures on upper and lower margins. Malar space 0.8× as long as basal width of mandible. Bases of antennae conspicuously displaced ventrally (distinctly below level of centre of head in lateral view); flagellum basally slender, second flagellomere almost 3.5× and subapical flagellomeres about 1.3× as long as broad ( Fig. 19 ). Face and frons impunctate, very weakly granulate, weakly shining to dull. Temple and vertex smooth and shining, with very fine and very sparse punctures. Occipital carina mediodorsally absent.

Mesosoma very finely granulate, without distinct punctures, dull to weakly shining. Foveate groove rather strong, extending across anterior 0.7 of mesopleuron, slightly upcurved anteriorly, with transverse wrinkles ventrally. Propodeum with basal area weakly widened anteriorly (indistinct in paratype), 0.4× as long as apical area. Apical area flat.

Fore wing with second recurrent vein absent, sometimes represented as very small protuberance posteriorly ( Fig. 20 ). Brachial cell posteriorly widely open ( Fig. 20 ). Hind wing with nervellus slanted about 30° from horizontal. Legs slender; hind femur 4.8× as long as broad.

First tergite 5.4× as long as posteriorly broad, its upper margin in lateral view weakly rounded basally and stronger rounded apically. Second tergite 3.0× as long as anteriorly broad. Ovipositor sheath 1.3× as long as first tergite.

Head, mesosoma and first metasomal segment brownish black to black. Clypeus (except upper margin), palpi and mandible (teeth reddish black) brownish yellow to yellow-brown. Antenna with scape and pedicel yellowbrown, flagellum pale brown basally to black apically ( Fig. 19 ). Tegula yellow. Pterostigma brown. Legs brownish yellow, hind coxa brownish basally; hind femur and apical half of hind tibia brownish. Metasoma behind first tergite dark brown.

Male. Unknown.

Variation. The paratype female is somewhat smaller with body length 2.5 mm and fore wing length 1.7 mm. Otherwise it is almost identical to the holotype.

Etymology. From the Latin calculatio (computation, calculation).

Material examined. Holotype female (SAMC), South Africa, Kwazulu-Natal, Muden, Mhlopeni Natural Reserve, S 29°00′, E 30°25′, 850 m, Malaise trap, 16–18.XII.2005, coll. M. Mostovski.

Paratype. South Africa. Gauteng: 1 ♀ (ZISP) Pretoria, yellow pan trap, 8–11.II.2005, coll. V.A. Kolyada.

Distribution. South Africa (Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal).

Figures

FIGURES 14 – 20. Allophrys broadi sp. nov., ♀: 14 — head, ventral (paratype); 15 — head and mesoscutum, lateral (paratype); 16 — propodeum, dorso-lateral (holotype). Allophrys calculator sp. nov., paratype, ♀: 17 — head, frontal; 18 — head, ventral; 19 — head with antennae, antero-lateral; 20 — fore wings.