Zambion hirtum Delobel

Bennett, Andrew M. R. & Barnes, Diana I., 2011, Revision of the world species of Zambion (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Tryphoninae), ZooKeys 159, pp. 19-48 : 28-32

Zambion hirtum Delobel Figs 4101622 –243034– 35, 3840, 43-44

Zambion hirtum Delobel, 1993: 267.

Diagnosis.

Zambion hirtum can be distinguished from all other Zambion spp. in that the supraclypeal area dorsomedially has a short, longitudinal lamella between the an tennae (Fig. 23) (lamella absent in all other species). In addition, Zambion hirtum is the only species that has the following colour combination: mesosoma and metasoma completely light coloured (yellow or orange) (Fig. 4) AND head yellow with black markings dorsally (Fig. 16).

Description.

Adult. Female (only holotype known). Fore wing length 7.1 mm. Clypeus separated from supraclypeal area by a weak groove (Fig. 10). Malar space 0.5 times basal width of mandible. Supraclypeal area 1.7 times as wide as high (Fig. 10), dorsomedially with a short, narrow, longitudinal lamella between the antenna (Fig. 23). Supra-antennal horn triangular in dorsal view (Fig. 16), 1.0 times as long as width of pedicel at midheight in lateral view (Fig. 24). Ocello-ocular distance 1.6 times ocellar diameter. Gena 0.7 times transverse diameter of the eye. Antennal flagellum with 40 segments.

Notaulus absent. Epicnemial carina mostly straight medially (similar to Zambion rogeri shown in Fig. 32), not curving away from anterior edge of mesopleuron near ventral corner of pronotum. Scutellum with lateral carinae at base only. Medial longitudinal carinae of propodeum strong and complete anterior to posterior transverse carina (Fig. 34). Carina extending from pleural carina to spiracle absent. Posterior transverse carina of propodeum with lateral abscissa roughly straight (Fig. 34), point of union with pleural carina at about 0.2 distance from posterior end of pleural carina to propodeal spiracle. Ventral transverse carina extending from metasomal foramen to pleural carina present (Fig. 35). Fore tibia with a weak apical point on dorsal surface. Hind femur 3.2 times as long as medial width (original description = 3.8). Hind tarsal claw pectinate to 0.6 times length of claw. Angulation of fore wing vein 2m-cu strong (Fig. 38).

Tergite 1 of metasoma 1.6 times as long as apical width. Dorsal longitudinal carinae of T1 extending close to spiracles (about 0.4 times length of tergite), dorsolateral longitudinal carina extending just over half way to spiracles (similar to Fig. 40 of male Zambion hirtum ).

Yellow. Pedicel, medial 0.5 of supra-antennal area except dorsomedial part of horn (Fig. 16) and medial 0.3 of occiput black to dark brown. Flagellum and dorsomedial area of supra-antennal horn brown. Medial 0.5 of vertex posterior to ocelli, mesoscutum and apical 2 tarsomeres of fore and mid legs and apical 3 tarsomeres of hind leg brownish yellow. Membrane of fore wing hyaline, except slightly infumate in apical 0.3 (Fig. 38). Body covered with dense golden setae.

Male: as female except fore wing length 4.9 to 7.1 mm. Malar space 0.4 times basal width of mandible. Width of supraclypeal area 1.7 to 2.0 times height. Ocello-ocular distance 1.7 to 1.9 times ocellar diameter. Gena 0.6 times transverse diameter of eye. Flagellum with 36 to 40 segments. Notaulus weak anteriorly in some specimens. Lateral abscissa of posterior transverse carina of propodeum slightly sinuous (Fig. 35) or completely straight (Fig. 34), joining pleural carina at 0.2 to 0.4 distance from posterior end of pleural carina. Hind femur length 3.0 to 3.4 times medial width. Hind tarsal claw pectinate in basal 0.4 to 0.5 of claw. Tergite 1 1.3 to 1.7 times as long as apical width. Dorsolateral longitudinal carina of T1 extending less than half way to spiracle (Fig. 40) or a little bit more than half. Colour as female except, in some specimens medial 0.5 of vertex light brown to dark brown and occiput more extensively brown (up to medial 0.5). Supra-antennal horn completely black to dark brown in some specimens.

Material examined.

Holotype: ♀, Label 1: CONGO, Brazzaville, Centre ORSTOM, 8 novembre 1986, A. DELOBEL coll. Label 2: Holotype. Label 3: Zambion hirtum A. DELOBEL det 1993. Label 4: Muséum Paris EY6006. [MNHN]. Condition: intact except left antenna missing distal 12 flagellomeres and right mid leg missing distal tarsomere. Paratypes: 3 ♂, same data as holotype except: 18.i.1987 [EY 6008]; 17-24.v.1987 [EY6009] and 21.xii.1986 [EY6011] [MNHN]; ♂ same data as holotype except: 17-24.v.1987 [EY 6012] [CNC]. Non-type material: ♂, ANGOLA: Quirimbo. v.1934. K. Jordan. B.M. 1934-1935 [NHM].

Comments.

Zambion hirtum is a mostly pale-coloured species, most similar in colour to Zambion kasparyani , although the latter species is completely yellow to orange dorsomedially on the head (Fig. 47), whereas Zambion hirtum is extensively black in this area (Fig. 16). Zambion hirtum is the species with the most known specimens (eight) and is the only species known from two countries. Note that only six of the eight specimens were examined in this study. Also note that the supraclypeal longitudinal lamella of Zambion hirtum is not homologous with the supra-antennal lamella of Ibornia . The latter is positioned much more dorsally on the head (extending nearly to the medial ocellus) and its dorsal margin is strongly thickened with a longitudinal groove (Townes, 1969).