Dinapsis albicauda Mita & Shaw, 2020

Mita, Toshiharu & Shaw, Scott Richard, 2020, A taxonomic study of Dinapsis Waterson, 1922 from Madagascar (Hymenoptera Megalyridae, Dinapsini): crested wasps of the hirtipes species-group, Zootaxa 4858 (1), pp. 71-84 : 80-81

Dinapsis albicauda Mita & Shaw , n. sp.

Figs 32–34

Materials examined. Holotype: ♀, “CASENT/ 2053398”, “ MADAGASCAR: Fianarantsoa / Prov., Forét d’Atsirakambiaty,/ 7.6 km 285° WNW Itremo / elev 1550m 22–26 Jan 2003 ”, “ 20°35’36”S 046°33’48”E / colls. Fisher, Griswold et al./ California Acad. of Sciences / yellow pan trap – in montane/ rainforest code: BLF7154”.

Description. (Female) Head ( Figs 33, 34 ) covered with short setae sparsely on frons and dorsal surface of vertex, long setae on posterior surface of vertex and gena; frons and dorsal surface of vertex weakly rounded, with small scattered punctures; transversal elevation present on lower part of frons; row of punctures behind anterior ocellus present; outer margin of each ocellus bearing crescent-shaped depression; vertex produced dorsally forming low carina; posterior surface of vertex reticulate; orbital carina present; gena smooth with suborbital irregular carina present, not reaching subocular suture; occipital carina with lateral collar less developed; clypeus smooth; POL: OOL: OL: OPL = 1.0: 1.3: 0.9: 0.7.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 32 ): Mesonotum sparsely covered with long erect setae; mesoscutum with small scattered punctures, with deep median sulcus; anterior surface forming lateral carina; anterior margin not excavated; dorsal surface flat in lateral view; short depression of parapsides present; lateral lobe absent; axilla smooth, flat, abutting medially; scuto-scutellar sulcus forming deep continuous groove; scutellum smooth, flat; metanotum hairy, with scattered minute punctures; propodeum with paired longitudinal median, submedian, and lateral carinae: carinae slightly diverging anteriorly; surface between longitudinal carinae transversely rugose; posterior margin of median region not producing; posterior strong transversal carina absent.

Forewing entirely hyaline; vein M 1.7 × basal part of RS.

Hind coxa with weak longitudinal carinae dorsally, weakly shagreened distally; distal apex of hind tibia ( Fig. 32 ) not produced, bearing simple setae.

Metasoma smooth but anterior surface of 6th and entire 7–8th metasomal tergites shagreened; ovipositor 1.73 × mesosoma length, apex with small teeth and single knob.

Color. Head dark brown but lower part of frons and gena brown; clypeus and mandible testaceous; antenna testaceous with 6–7th flagellomeres whitish, 8–12th flagellomeres blackish ( Fig. 32 ). Mesosoma brown. Legs testaceous but trochanters paler, hind femur brown. Metasoma testaceous but dorsally brownish. Ovipositor ( Fig. 32 ) white but distal 1/3 brown. Ovipositor sheath dark brown.

Measurements (in mm). Head 0.80 long, 1.02 wide; mesosoma 1.30 long; mesoscutum 0.80 wide; propodeal disc 0.50 long, 0.72 wide; forewing 2.95 long; metasoma 1.72 long, 0.94 wide; ovipositor 2.25 long; total body length excluding ovipositor 3.82.

(Male) Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from Fiananantosa Province, central Madagascar ( Fig. 41 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the white ovipositor color.

Notes. Dinapsis albicauda Mita & Shaw n. sp. is most similar to D. cresta Mita & Shaw n. sp. because both species have a less raised vertex when compared with other species in this group. However, D. albicauda can be distinguished from D. cresta by the more rounded head in lateral view (rather flattened in D. cresta ); the absence of propodeal crest (present in D. cresta ); whitish ovipositor sheath ( Fig. 32 ) excluding brown apex (entirely brown in D. cresta ).

Figures

FIGURES 32–34. Dinapsis albicauda, n. sp., holotype female. 32, lateral habitus; 33, head in dorsal view; 34, head in lateral view. Scale = 1.0 mm (32), 0.5 mm (33, 34).

FIGURES 39–41. Dinapsis hirtipes Hedqvist, 1967, holotype female. 39, dorsal habitus; 40, head in dorsal view; 41, head and mesothorax in dorsal view. Scale = 1.0 mm