Signiphora ensifera Woolley & Dal Molin, 2017

Woolley, J. B. & Dal Molin, A., 2017, Taxonomic revision of the flavopalliata species group of Signiphora (Hymenoptera: Signiphoridae), Zootaxa 4315 (1), pp. 1-150 : 47-49

Signiphora ensifera Woolley & Dal Molin , n. sp.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8F5F342F-1471-447F-B832-56AC359DBEB9 Figures 153–164

Diagnosis. Ovipositor and ovipositor sheaths very long, exerted approximately 1/3× length of the metasoma, fore wing with a discal seta, pedicel long relative to scape and clava, medial sclerite of the propodeum yellow, contrasting with the brown lateral sclerites, and Mt8 transverse and thick.

Signiphora ensifera is most similar to S. renuncula as both species share a discal seta in the fore wing and elongate ovipositors, but it can be distinguished from S. renuncula by the transversely striate sculpture on the vertex (minutely reticulate in S. renuncula ); a bilobed Mt1 with medial portion rounded (bilobed with medial portion transverse in S. renuncula ); and Mt8 lacking medial incision (rounded medial incision in S. renuncula ).

Description. Female. Length, anterior margin of pronotum to epiproct apex, 0.57–0.74 mm (n=3). Coloration based on specimens cleared and mounted in Canada balsam. Head pale yellow with pale brown on occiput, scape pale tan, remainder of antenna uniformly tan or light brown. Medial 1/3 of pronotum and anterior 1/3 of mesonotum brown, remainder of mesosoma and medial propodeal sclerite pale yellow, lateral sclerites of propodeum and entire metasoma, including ovipositor sheaths, brown. Fore wing infuscated from base to apex of stigma vein, two hyaline areas under submarginal vein, infuscation even under marginal vein.

Head. Vertex and frons very finely and transversely imbricate, with a few scattered punctations. Mandible with two teeth, mandibular ducts enlarged apically. Pedicel length:scape length 0.80–0.86; 3 anelli, second anellus 2.0– 2.5× the length of first, third anellus 2.5–3.5× the length of first; clava length:scape length 0.74–1.83.

Mesosoma. Pronotum, mesonotum, scutellum and medial sclerite of propodeum finely and transversely imbricate. Scutellum with 4 setae and 2 campaniform sensilla; medial propodeal sclerite rounded, process on medial sclerite narrowly rounded. Fore wing with discal seta, length:width 3.4–3.5; fore wing LMS:width 2.5–2.6; marginal vein:stigmal vein 2.8; marginal vein with 6 dorsal and 0–2 ventral setae; seta M3 length:marginal vein length 0.48–0.65, apical end of costal cell at seta M2 or between seta M2 and M3. Hind wing margins subparallel, hind wing length:width 7.0–7.7; hind wing width:fore wing width 0.45–0.48; hind wing LMS:hind wing width 2.5–2.6. Mesofemur with one long and one short spine on posteroapical margin, mesotibial spur with 6–7 teeth, mesotibial spur:basitarsus 0.91–1.0, basitarsus:mesotibia 0.71–0.74.

Metasoma. Mt1 bilobed with medial portion rounded or almost transverse, length Mt1:length Mt2 1.0–3.0; anterior-most portion of ovipositor lying under propodeum or Mt1; ovipositor length:metasoma length 1.2–1.3; ovipositor sheaths:ovipositor 0.32–0.38; Ms3–Ms6 with anterior projections medium to long; Ms6 at midpoint or between midpoint and ¾ length metasoma and with 6 long setae, Mt8 with anterodorsal margin absolutely transverse, Mt8 relatively wide.

Male. Unknown.

Discussion. Four female specimens from St. Vincent, W.I. reared by F. Bennett from an unidentified scale (BMNH(E) 990323) may belong to this species as the ovipositor is fully the length of the metasoma, but the ovipositor sheaths are not as elongate and exerted as in the type series. The specimens are in poor condition and many of the other diagnostic features cannot be observed.

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♀: mounted in balsam ( BMNH (E) 990243); Brazil, Nova Teutonia , 18.v.1943, F. Plaumann, B.M. 1957-341. Deposited in BMNH . PARATYPES: two ♀, same data as holotype except 19.xii.1943 and 19.v.1943, BMNH (E) 990244 and BMNH (E) 990245 . Paratypes deposited in BMNH and TAMU, with permission of BMNH(E).

Biology is unknown for this species.

Etymology. From Latin ensifer = sword, referring to the long ovipositor characteristic of this species. The species name is an adjective.

Figures

FIGURES 153 – 156. Signiphora ensifera n. sp.: 153, head (BMNH (E) 990243); 154, female antenna (BMNH (E) 990243); 155, mandibles (BMNH (E) 990243); 156, middle leg, female (BMNH (E) 990243).

FIGURES 157 – 160. Signiphora ensifera n. sp.: 157, fore wing, female (BMNH (E) 990243); 158, venation of fore wing (BMNH (E) 990243); 159, hind wing, female (BMNH (E) 990243); 160, venation of hind wing (BMNH (E) 990243).

FIGURES 161 – 164. Signiphora ensifera n. sp.: 161, female habitus (BMNH (E) 990243); 162, mesosoma of female (BMNH (E) 990243); 163, metasoma of female (BMNH (E) 990243); 164, Mt 8 of metasoma, female (BMNH (E) 990243).