Diaparsis (Diaparsis) phobos Khalaim, 2021

Khalaim, Andrey I., 2021, Diaparsis phobos sp. nov. and D. deimos sp. nov., two amazing new species of Tersilochinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from Madagascar, Zootaxa 4985 (1), pp. 118-124 : 121-124

Diaparsis (Diaparsis) phobos Khalaim , sp. nov.

( Figs 8–20)

Material examined. Holotype female ( MNHN) Madagascar, Vakinankaratra Region , Ankaratra [Peak?], “ALT. 1800 [m]”, II.1939, [coll.] A. Seyrig; “Teleocrypta trifoliata Srg. TYPE” (handwritten label).

Paratypes. Madagascar: 1 ♀ ( CAS) “ Antsiranana ” [former province], Diana Region, Montagne d’Ambre National Park , 12°30’52.0”S, 49°10’53.0”E, 960 m, Malaise trap, 7–27.I.2007, coll. M. Irwin, F. Parker & R. Harin’Hala, MA-01-01A-16 . 1 ♂ ( MNHN) Diana Region , “Montagne d’Ambre”, “I.[19]34”, [coll.] A. Seyrig . 1 ♂ ( ZISP) Perinet [ Special Reserve ], “forêt cote est”, “0.[19]39”, [coll.] A. Seyrig .

Description. Female. Body length almost 10.5 mm. Fore wing length about 7.5 mm.

Head strongly and roundly constricted behind eyes in dorsal view ( Fig. 14); gena 0.7× as long as eye width. Clypeus 2.8× as broad as long, lenticular, separated from face by shallow and broad impression ( Fig. 18), smooth in lower 0.3–0.4, densely punctate on upper 0.6–0.7; clypeus slightly convex in lateral view. Mandible moderately robust, very weakly constricted basally; upper tooth twice longer than lower tooth. Malar space 0.8–0.9× as long as basal mandibular width. Antennal flagellum ( Fig. 9) slightly clavate apically, with 24 flagellomeres in paratype and 28 flagellomeres in holotype; subbasal flagellomeres 1.3–1.4× as long as broad, subapical flagellomeres distinctly transverse, 0.7–0.8× as long as broad; flagellomeres 4 to 8 bearing distinct subapical finger-shaped structures on outer surface ( Fig. 10). Face with rather strong median prominence. Face and frons with fine and very dense punctures, subpolished and weakly shining between punctures; frons between antennal sockets with coarse punctures, and in holotype also with longitudinal wrinkle; frons below ocelli prominent and punctato-rugulose ( Figs 16–18). Ocelli with conspicuous deep impressions on outer sides ( Figs 14–17). Vertex and gena distinctly and densely punctate, smooth between punctures. Occipital carina complete. Hypostomal carina absent.

Mesoscutum finely and densely punctate, shallowly granulate to nearly smooth between punctures. Notaulus distinctly impressed, with longitudinal wrinkle in holotype and irregular wrinkles in paratype. Scutellum with lateral longitudinal carinae present in basal 0.3–0.4. Upper end of epicnemial carina curved abruptly forward to anterior margin of mesopleuron ( Fig. 12). Foveate groove of mesopleuron deep and broad, S-curved, extending over entire length of mesopleuron, with distinct transverse wrinkles ( Fig. 12). Mesopleuron distinctly punctate centrally (above foveate groove) and ventrally, smooth and shining between punctures, peripherally with punctures mostly smaller and denser, and partly with irregular wrinkles. Propodeum almost entirely with irregular wrinkles, all carinae distinct; basal keel about 0.4× as long as apical area ( Fig. 13). Propodeal spiracle separated from pleural carina by about 1.5× diameter of spiracle. Apical area flat, pointed anteriorly; apical longitudinal carinae reaching transverse carina anteriorly ( Fig. 13).

Fore wing ( Fig. 19) with second recurrent vein (2m-cu) interstitial or very weakly postfurcal. First abscissa of radius (Rs+2r) straight, much longer than width of pterostigma. First and second sections of radius (Rs+2r and Rs) meeting at very obtuse angle ( Fig. 19). Intercubitus (2rs-m) slender and very long. Metacarpus (R1) not reaching tip of the wing. Second abscissa of postnervulus (Cu&2cu-a) present, thus brachial cell is closed posteriorly. Hind wing with nervellus (cu1&cu-a) weakly inclivous. Legs slender, tarsal claws not pectinate.

First tergite 4.6× as long as posteriorly broad, slightly trapeziform or round in cross-section centrally, entirely smooth, with small but distinct glymma in apical 0.55; in dorsal view, petiole with lateral margins subparallel, postpetiole distinctly and evenly widened; upper margin of tergite, in lateral view, slightly arcuate in basal 0.7 and distinctly arcuate in apical 0.3 ( Fig. 8). Second tergite 2.2× as long as anteriorly broad. Thyridial depression distinct, twice as long as broad, with posterior end round. Ovipositor slender and very long, upcurved, with shallow dorsal subapical depression, without teeth ventrally ( Fig. 20); sheath over 3.0× as long as first tergite ( Fig. 8).

Head and mesosoma black; clypeus brownish yellow in lower 0.4 and brownish black in upper 0.6. Mouthparts yellowish brown. Mandible yellowish brown to yellow-brown, darkened basally and with teeth dark reddish brown. Scape and pedicel of antenna dark brown; flagellum dark brown basally, evenly darkening towards apex. Tegula dark brown to brownish black. Pterostigma brown. Wings slightly infumate with brown. Legs predominantly brownish yellow, all coxae and hind trochanters and femur reddish brown. Metasoma brownish yellow, paler ventrally ( Fig. 8).

Male. Flagellum distinctly tapered towards apex, with 26–28 flagellomeres; flagellomeres 4 to 10 bearing distinct subapical finger-shaped structures on outer surface. Malar space 0.6–0.8× as long as basal mandibular width. Legs brownish yellow with only coxae reddish brown. Otherwise similar to female.

Etymology. The species is named after Phobos (noun), the Ancient Greek god of fear and panic, the twin brother of Deimos, and the floating SpaceX launch platform for the heavy-lift Starship system.

Distribution. North and Central Madagascar.

Comparison. Diaparsis phobos sp. nov. is immediately distinguished from all congeners by conspicuous deep impressions on outer sides of ocelli ( Figs 11–13) and fore wing with first and second sections of radius (Rs+2r and Rs) meeting at very obtuse angle ( Fig. 19). The former feature is recorded and described for the subfamily Tersilochinae for the first time, and the latter feature (broad radial cell) is typical for the Neotropical genus Stethantyx Townes and the endemic New Zealand genus Barycnellus Khalaim & Ward , but occurs very rarely in other tersilochine genera.