Heterischnus mfongosi Rousse & van Noort, 2013

Pos, Davide Dal, Claridge, Brandon, Diller, Erich, Noort, Simon Van & Giovanni, Filippo Di, 2023, Still counting: new records, nomenclatural notes, and three new species of Phaeogenini (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae) from the Afrotropical region, European Journal of Taxonomy 868, pp. 1-71 : 39-42

Heterischnus mfongosi Rousse & van Noort, 2013

Figs 19–21

Heterischnus mfongosi Rousse & van Noort, 2013: 47–51 (original description, key).

Heterischnus mfongosi – Yu et al. 2016 (catalogue).

Original type series

Holotype: ♀, by original designation ( SAMC).

Paratypes: 1 ♀ ( ZMHB); 2 ♀♀ ( NHMUK) .

Type locality

South Africa: Mfongosi.

Material examined

KENYA • 1 ♀; Meru Park, Upper Imenti Forest ; Jun. 1967; H. Gonget leg.; D. Dal Pos det.; NHMD .

TANZANIA • 1 ♀; SW of Mt. Rungwe ; 1900 m a.s.l.; 20 Aug. 1980; M. Stoltza and N. Scharff leg.; D. Dal Pos det.; NHMD .

ZIMBABWE • 1 ♀; Salisbury , Chishawasha; Jan. 1981; A. Watsham leg.; D. Dal Pos det.; NHMUK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; May 1981; D. Dal Pos det.; NHMUK .

Distribution

Kenya (new record); South Africa ( Rousse et al. 2013); Tanzania (new record); Zimbabwe ( Rousse et al. 2013) ( Fig. 21A–B ).

Diagnosis (male)

For the first time, a male specimen of the species is hereby diagnosed, bearing the same label data as one of the female paratypes reported in the original description. Compared to the female, no major differences are reported. Body length is approximately 7.0– 7.5 mm, fore wing length is 4.2 mm. The coloration is identical, with the exception of: (1) absence of white annuli in the antennae, and (2) a slightly lighter coloration of the anterior part of 6 th tergite ( Fig. 19B ).

Remarks

In the original description, Rousse et al. (2013: 51) reported that the propodeum of the species is “ without carination ” and that the metasomal tergites are testaceous “ with median black maculae. ” However, the specimens examined by one of us (DDP) from Zimbabwe and matching the paratype locality, clearly showed the presence of a complete and well-defined posterior transverse carina ( Fig. 20A–B ), and no presence of black maculae on the metasoma. Based on the examination of the holotype, it seems clear that the reported black maculae are only an artifact due to the poor state of preservation of the specimen. When muscles and body fat tissue break up, the external coloration of the tergites becomes darker, creating the illusion of maculae. Similar situations are not rare in preserved specimens, and this has been briefly discussed for Genaemirum filipazzii Dal Pos & Rousse, 2018 ( Dal Pos & Rousse 2018). Based on the specimens examined here, the coloration is orangish-yellow for the entire metasoma, with only the apical tergites (6 th and 7 th) infuscated ( Fig. 19A ).

Before this contribution, the species was known only from the type series and recorded only from southern Africa. The additional examined material included here extends the distributional range of the species to East Africa ( Fig. 21A–B ).

Figures

Fig. 19. Heterischnus mfongosi Rousse & van Noort, 2013 (NHMUK). A. ♀, habitus, lateral view. B. ♂, habitus, lateral view.

Fig. 20. Heterischnus mfongosi Rousse & van Noort, 2013, ♀ (NHMUK). A. Head and mesosoma, lateral view. B. Propodeum, dorso-lateral view.

Fig. 21. Distribution of Heterischnus mfongosi Rousse & van Noort, 2013. A. Previous (blue dots) and new records (yellow stars). B. Previous (blue) and new (yellow) country records.