Palaeoneura interrupta Waterhouse 1915

TRIAPITSYN, SERGUEI V. & BEREZOVSKIY, VLADIMIR V., 2007, Review of the Oriental and Australasian species of Acmopolynema, with taxonomic notes on Palaeoneura and Xenopolynema stat. rev. and description of a new genus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), Zootaxa 1455 (1), pp. 1-68 : 42-43

Palaeoneura interrupta Waterhouse 1915

( Figs 81–83 )

Palaeoneura interrupta Waterhouse 1915: 538–539 , plate XCII. Type locality: Mount Wellington (2300 ft.), Tasmania, Australia.

Type material examined

Holotype female (on slide, BMNH), labeled: 1. " Palaeoneura interrupta female 5.1544 [ BMNH type number, in red ink] Waterh. Mt. Wellington, Tasmania 2300 ft. 12–21 March 1913 R. E. Turner "; 2. "Type"; 3. "Turner Coll. 1913-212". The specimen is in good condition but uncleared, mounted ventrodorsally (ventral side up, so it is better to observe it with the slide upside down; this is true for all slides made by C.O. Waterhouse and F. Enock) on a slide, and lacking F5, F6, and clava of the right antenna.

Additional material examined

AUSTRALIA, Tasmania: 1 km E by N of Herrick , 41°06'S, 147°53'E, 29–30.I.1983, I.D. Naumann, J.C. Cardale [1 female, ANIC]. The Lea, 42°56'S, 147°19'E, 5.ii.1983, I.D. Naumann, J.C. Cardale [1 female, ANIC]. 3 km NE by E of Wayatinah, 42°22'S, 146°29'E, 15.i.1983, I.D. Naumann, J.C. Cardale [1 female, ANIC] .

Redescription

FEMALE. Length 1250–1600. Body shining, dark brown; scape, pedicel, petiole, and most of leg segments slightly lighter.

Face with a small medial groove extending from transverse trabecula down to about level of toruli and fine sculpture perpendicular to and next to this groove ( Fig. 81 ).

Antenna ( Fig. 82 ). Inner surface of scape with cross-ridges, outer surface more or less smooth; pedicel shorter than F1, F2 the longest funicle segment; all funicle segments without longitudinal sensilla, clava with 8 longitudinal sensilla.

Mesosoma. Pronotum divided mediolongitudinally; each collar lobe with at least 5 setae; mesoscutum much longer than scutellum; axilla with one short seta; scutellum with placoid sensilla in the middle and with frenal row of foveae.

Wings. Forewing ( Fig. 83 ) about 3.6 x as long as wide, of typical shape and chaetotaxy for the genus; longest marginal cilia about 0.6 x greatest width of blade, several (5 or so) blunt marginal setae on anterior margin just beyond apex of venation; blade hyaline except for a slight but yet conspicuous darkening extending as a line along anterior margin, not reaching wing apex or apex of venation basally [hence the species name “ interrupta ”: the line is "interrupted" right beyond the venation, unlike in P. turneri Waterhouse ]. Hind wing hyaline, very narrow.

Metasoma. Petiole 4–5 x as long as wide. Ovipositor about 4/5 length of gaster, barely exserted beyond its apex; ovipositor length: metatibia length about 1.0:1.

MALE. Unknown.

Distribution Australia (Tasmania).

Comments

Palaeoneura interrupta belongs to a group of more or less similar looking, dark-colored, mostly Australian species with broad, densely setose forewings. These species may be smaller or larger, with or without a notably exserted ovipositor in females. The inner surface of the scape may be either ridged (as in P. interrupta ) or smooth. Several undescribed species occur in Australia (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia) and at least one species in New Zealand. The key by New (1976) may be somewhat helpful to identify certain described taxa, particularly from Queensland (if material is also compared with A.A. Girault's types) .

Figures

FIGURES 81–83. Palaeoneura interrupta (female, Australia). 81. Head (frontal view). 82. Antenna. 83. Forewing.