Megaprosternum aka, Colombo & Azevedo, 2024

Colombo, Wesley D. & Azevedo, Celso O., 2024, Revision of the strongly flattened Megaprosternum Azevedo (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 958 (1), pp. 1-47 : 7-9

Megaprosternum aka sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0A988782-ABA8-4534-B791-0DE1595F9D90

Fig. 2

Differential diagnosis

The females of this species are morphologically similar to those of M. norfolcensis and M. cleonarovorum by having the head at most 1.20 × as long as wide, the antennae with 11 flagellomeres, and the wings fully developed. However, M. aka sp. nov. has the mesoscutum almost as long as mesoscutellum, and the mesoscuto-scutellar foveae present, whereas M. norfolcensis and M. cleonarovorum have the mesoscutum distinctly longer than mesoscutellum, and the mesoscuto-scutellar foveae absent.

Etymology

The epithet aka is derived from the Aka, a nomadic Mbenga Pygmy people who live in the southwestern Central African Republic.

Material examined

Holotype

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – Prefecture Sangha-Mbaéré • ♀; “Prefecture Sangha-Mbaéré, Parc National de Dzanga-Ndoki , Mabéa Bai, 21.4 km, 53° NE [of] Bayanga, 3°02.01’N 16°24.57’E, 510m, 7.v.2001, S. van Noort, Sweep, CAR01-S87, lowland rainforest, marsh clearing”; SAMC, SAM-HYM P103665 .

Description

Female

MEASUREMENTS (mm). Body length 1.90; LH 0.40; WH 0.40; WF 0.36; WOT 0.13; surface of median clypeal lobe 0.06; HE 0.23; OOL 0.20; LFW 1.04

COLOR ( Fig. 2A–B ). Head and mesosoma dark castaneous, metasoma castaneous.

HEAD ( Fig. 2C ). Rectangular, in lateral view; sides converging posterad, in dorsal view; malar space 0.3× HE; median clypeal lobe outcurved, longer than lateral ones, with pair of lateral carinae, converging posteriorly, lobe delimitation distinct; mandible with three apical teeth; hypostoma almost straight medially; antenna with 11 flagellomeres, pedicel longer than flagellomere I; eye glabrous, contour protruding; frons coriaceous; ocellar triangle with anterior angle obtuse, postocellar line almost as long as DAO.

MESOSOMA ( Fig. 2D–E ). Pronotal flange coriaceous, with posterior margin at least 1.6 × as wide as anterior one; dorsal pronotal area mostly polished, posterior margin almost straight; probasisternum with anterior margin weakly angulated, posterior margin curved; epicnemium with anterior margin weakly incurved. mesoscutum almost as long as mesoscutellum medially; parapsidal signum absent; transscutal fissure conspicuous; mesoscuto-scutellar suture present, not sulcate; mesepimeral lobe not evident; mesopleuron with anterior mesopleural fovea present, mesopleural epicoxal lobe not evident, mesopleural pit present, upper mesopleural fovea present; metapectal-propodeal disc longer than wide medially, without evident constriction at propodeal spiracle; transverse anterior carina present; lateral marginal carina present; paraspiracular sulcus present; paraspiracular carina present; metapostnotal median carina present, incomplete posteriorly, straight; propodeal spiracle circular, on lateral surface of metapectal-propodeal complex; metadiscrimen absent; metafurcal pit absent; forewing with prestigmal abscissa of radial 1 subrectangular, 3.0× as long as pterostigma, 3.0× as wide as than Sc+R vein; prestigmal flexion line present; pterostigma small and circular; hind wing slender with three equidistant distal hamuli.

METASOMA. S2aa with anterior margin straight; S2pa wider than long medially, widening posterad; second abdominal spiracle oval; third abdominal sternum with anterior margin straight; abdominal tergum narrowing apicad.

Male

Unknown.

Host

Unknown.

Distribution

Central African Republic (Prefecture Sangha-Mbaéré).

Figures

Fig. 2. Megaprosternum aka sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (SAMC, SAM-HYM P103665). A–B. Habitus. A. Lateral view. B. Dorsal view. C. Head, dorsal view. D–E. Mesosoma. D. Dorsal view. E. Ventral view. Scale bars: A–B = 500 μm; C–E = 125 μm.