Megaprosternum samburu, 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 : 35-37

Megaprosternum samburu sp. nov.

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Fig. 12

Differential diagnosis

The females of this species are morphologically similar to those of M. navatu sp. nov., by having the head at least 1.25× as long as wide, and the antennae with 11 flagellomeres. However, M. samburu sp. nov. has the probasisternum large with the anterior margin weakly angulated, whereas M. navatu has the probasisternum markedly large with the anterior margin strongly angulated.

Etymology

The epithet samburu is derived from the Samburu, a semi-nomadic pastoralist of north-central Kenya.

Material examined

Holotype

KENYA – Coast Province • ♀; “Coast Province, Kasigau Mountain , Indigenous Forest , - 3.82700S 38.64875E, 1065 m above sea level, Malaise trap, next to campsite in forest, 16–30 NOV 2011, R. Copeland ”; ICIPE 49458 .

Description

Female

MEASUREMENTS (mm). Body length 1.45; LH 0.34; WH 0.27; WF 0.17; WOT 0.07; surface of median clypeal lobe 0.05; HE 0.12; OOL 0.18; LFW 0.79.

COLOR ( Fig. 12A ). Head, mesosoma and metasoma castaneous.

HEAD ( Fig. 12B ). Rectangular, in lateral view; sides almost parallel, in dorsal view; malar space 0.3 × HE; median clypeal lobe outcurved, as long as lateral ones, with pair of lateral carinae, converging posteriorly, lobe delimitation distinct; mandible with three apical teeth; hypostoma angled medially; antenna with 11 flagellomeres, pedicel longer than flagellomere I; eye glabrous, contour protruding; frons weakly punctate; ocellar triangle with anterior angle obtuse, postocellar line shorter than DAO.

MESOSOMA ( Fig. 12C–D ). Pronotal flange polished, with posterior margin at most 1.5× as wide as anterior one; dorsal pronotal area coriaceous, posterior margin almost straight; probasisternum large, anterior margin weakly angulated, posterior margin almost straight; epicnemium with anterior margin weakly incurved; mesoscutum almost as long as mesoscutellum medially; parapsidal signum present; transscutal fissure conspicuous; mesoscuto-scutellar suture present, not sulcate; mesopleuron with mesepimeral lobe not evident, anterior mesopleural fovea present, mesopleural epicoxal lobe not evident, mesopleural pit present, upper mesopleural fovea absent; metapectal-propodeal disc longer than wide medially, without evident constriction at propodeal spiracle; transverse anterior carina absent; lateral marginal carina absent; paraspiracular sulcus absent; paraspiracular carina absent; metapostnotal median carina absent; propodeal spiracle circular, on lateral surface of the metapectal-propodeal complex; metadiscrimen present; metafurcal pit oval; forewing with prestigmal abscissa of radial 1 subrectangular; 3.0×as long as pterostigma; 6.0 × as wide as Sc+R vein; prestigmal flexion line present; pterostigma large and subrectangular, hind wing with three non-equidistant distal hamuli.

METASOMA. S2aa with anterior margin incurved, S2pa longer than wide medially, widening posterad; second abdominal spiracle circular; third abdominal sternum with anterior margin straight; abdominal tergum narrowing apicad.

Male

Unknown.

Host

Unknown.

Distribution

Kenya (Coast Province).

Figures

Fig. 12. Megaprosternum samburu sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (ICIPE 49458). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, dorsal view. C–D. Mesosoma. C. Dorsal view. D. Ventral view. Scale bars: A–B = 250 μm; C–D = 125 μm.