Methocha depressa, Kimsey, 2011

Kimsey, Lynn S., 2011, Tiphiidae wasps of Madagascar (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 22, pp. 45-68 : 56

Methocha depressa sp. n. Figs 10 18, 20, 21, 23

Holotype male:

Fianarantsoa Prov., Parc Natl. Ranomafana, Belle Vue at Talatakely, 1020 m, 12-19/ii/2002, 21°15'99S, 47°25'21E, R. Harin’Hala, Malaise trap, secondary tropical forest, MA-02-09C-16 (SAN FRANCISCO).

Paratypes

(12 males): 9 males: same data as holotype; 1 male: 12-23/iv/2003, MA-02-09C-58; 4 males: 16/x-8/xi/2001, MA-02-09C-01; 1 male: 22-28/xi/2001 MA-02-09C-04; 1 male: 10-14/i/2002, MA-02-09C-11; 1 male: 23-28/iv/2002, MA-02-09C-26; 1 male: 28/iv-5/v/2002, MA-02-09C-27; 4 males: 23/v-3/vi/2002, MA-02-09C-30; 1 male: 13-23/vi/2002, MA-02-09C-32; 1 male: 10-21/iii/2003, MA-02-09C-56; 1 male: 21/iii-12/iv/2003, MA-02-09C-57; 1 male: 28/v-6/vi/2003, MA-02-09C-62; 2 males: JIRAMA water works, 21-24/xii/2001, 21° 14.91'S, 47° 27.13'E colr. R. Harin’Hala CAS MT nr river 690 m, MA-02-09D-08; 1 male: 2-10/i/2002, MA-02-09D-10; 3 males: radio tower at forest edge, 1130 m, 14-21/i/2002 21°15'05S, 47°24'43E, R. Harin’Hala, Malaise trap, mixed tropical forest, MA-02-09B-12; 2 males: 12-19/ii/2002, MA-02-09B-16; 1 male: 12-19/iii/2002, MA-02-09B-20; 3 males: 24/v-4/vi/2002, MA-02-09B-30; 1 male: 27/ii-9/iii/2003, MA-02-09B-54; 1 male: 9-20/iii/2003, MA-02-09B-55; 1 male: 29/vi/-6/vii/2003 2,1 MA-02-09B-65; 2 males: 6-17/vii/2003, MA-02-09B-66; 1 male: Vohiparara, at broken bridge, 1110 m, 21°13'57S, 47°22'19E, R. Harin’Hala, Malaise trap in high altitude rainforest, 25/vii-3/viii/2002, MA-02-09A-36; 3 males: 6-15/xii/2001, MA-02-09A-061 male: 15-21/xii/2001, MA-02-09A-07; 3 males: 21-28/i/2002, MA-02-09A-13; 2 males: 26-31/iii/2002 21, MA-02-09A-22; 7 males: 1 male: Antsiranana Prov., Parc Natl Montagne d’Ambre, 1125m, 14-30/v/2001 12°31'13S, 49°10'45E, R. Harin’Hala, MT MA-01-01D-11; 1 male: Forêt de Binara, 7.5 km 230° sw Daraina, 375m, 1/xii/2003, 13°15'18S, 049°37'00E, B. L. Fisher, MT tropical dry forest, BLF9557 (DAVIS, SAN FRANCISCO).

Diagnosis.

The most distinctive features of Methocha depressa are the coarsely areolate propodeum, the shape of the frontal projection above and between the antennal lobes and the sublaterally impressed pronotal disk. This species does not closely resemble any of the other Malagasy Methocha species, although the depressed pronotum resembles that of Methocha robusta , which differs in having the pronotal depression interrupted medially.

Description.

Male.

Body length. 5-7 mm.

Head. Clypeus with obtuse medial projection ( Fig. 10 ), apex linear or shallowly emarginate; antennal lobes rounded; frons with strong medial projection or lobe above antennal sockets ( Fig. 18 ); frons and vertex punctures separated by 1-2 puncture diameters; scapal carina less than half length of scape; flagellomere I 1.7 × as long as broad; flagellomere II 2.5 × as long as broad; flagellomere III 2.8 × as long as broad; flagellomeres IV-X arcuate; flagellomere XI 5 × as long as broad.

Mesosoma. Pronotal disk strongly depressed on either side of elevated midline posterior to anterior margin, shoulders evenly rounded ( Fig. 18 ); scutal punctures separated by 1 puncture diameter, except for less densely punctate medial area; scutellum nearly impunctate; mesopleural punctures 1-2 puncture diameters apart; propodeum with coarse, contiguous areolae ( Fig. 24 ).

Metasoma. Terga highly polished, punctures tiny and separated by 4 or more puncture diameters; sternum I punctures 1 puncture diameter apart; sterna II-V anteriorly with contiguous punctures, separated from posterior part by punctulate transverse groove, posteriorly strongly convex, punctures 1-2 puncture diameters apart.

Genitalia ( Fig. 23 ). Paramere breadth at medial angle 1.5 × breadth at halfway point between apex and medial angle, paramere length versus breadth at submedial angle is 6 ×.

Color. black; clypeus sometimes partly reddish brown; mandibles reddish; palpi yellow to pale brown; parategula black; legs dark brown to black; palpi whitish; wing membrane untinted apically.

Vestiture. Sparse erect, silvery.

Figures

Figures 7 - 15. Front view of face. 8 Lateral view genital capsule 9 - 15 Lateral view of head and pronotum.

Figures 16 - 30. Methocha species. 16, 17 Front view of face 18, 21 Dorsal view of head 19, 20 Dorsal view of pronotum 22, 23, 26 - 30 Lateral view of genital capsule 24, 25 Posterior view of propodeum.