Megaprosternum chamorro, 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 : 11-13

Megaprosternum chamorro sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:93A5F5C5-D78A-40F6-A853-CC6A7E334E72

Fig. 4

Differential diagnosis

The females of this species are morphologically similar to those of M. longiceps , by having the antennae with 10 flagellomeres, the median clypeal lobe with lateral carinae, and the mandible with three apical teeth. However, M. chamorro sp. nov. has the median clypeal lobe with lateral carinae converging posteriorly, the postocellar line almost as long as DAO, and the transscutal fissure conspicuous, whereas M. longiceps has the median clypeal lobe with lateral carinae parallel, the postocellar line longer than DAO, and the transscutal fissure inconspicuous.

Etymology

The epithet chamorro is derived from the Chamorro, the indigenous people of the Mariana Islands, including the Northern Mariana Islands.

Material examined

Holotype

USA – Saipan Island , Northern Mariana Islands • ♀; “Saipan I[sland, [Northern] Mariana [Islands] As Mahetog area, 19.I.45, col. & pres. by Henry S. Dybas, Lot 544, under bark of introduced Acacia - like tree”; BPBM.

Paratypes

USA – Saipan Island , Northern Mariana Islands • 2 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; BPBM • 1 ♀; “ Mt. Tagpochau, alt. 1250 ft., 15.II.45, col. & pres. by Henry S. Dybas, Lot 715, under bark”; BPBM. – Tinian Island • 1 ♀; “ Tinian I[sland], [Northern] Mariana [Islands], Mt.Lasso , NW slope, 17.III.45, col. & pres. by Henry S. Dybas, lot 864”; BPBM • 1 ♀; “ridge, SE section, 27.III.45, col. & pres. by Henry S. Dybas, lot 891”; BPBM .

Description

Female

MEASUREMENTS (mm). Body length 1.5–1.9; LH 0.35; WH 0.25; WF 0.18; WOT 0.08; surface of median clypeal lobe 0.13; HE 0.06; OOL 0.14; LFW 0.85.

COLOR ( Fig. 4A–B ). Head, mesosoma and metasoma castaneous.

HEAD ( Fig. 4C ). Oval, in lateral view; sides almost parallel, in dorsal view; malar space 0.5× HE; median clypeal lobe straight, as long as lateral ones, with pair of lateral carinae, converging posteriorly, lobe delimitation indistinct; mandible with three apical teeth; hypostoma rounded medially; antenna with 10 flagellomeres, pedicel longer than flagellomere I; eye glabrous, contour not protruding; frons polished coriaceous; ocellar triangle with anterior angle obtuse, postocellar line almost as long as DAO.

MESOSOMA ( Fig. 4D–E ). Pronotal flange mostly polished, with posterior margin at most 1.5× as wide as anterior one; dorsal pronotal area coriaceous, posterior margin almost straight; probasisternum with anterior margin strongly angulated, posterior margin angled; epicnemium with anterior margin weakly incurved; mesoscutum longer than mesoscutellum medially; parapsidal signum absent; transscutal fissure conspicuous; mesoscuto-scutellar suture absent; mesopleuron with mesepimeral lobe not evident, anterior mesopleural fovea absent, 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 present; 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 absent; metafurcal pit absent; forewing with prestigmal abscissa of radial 1 oval, 2.0× as long as pterostigma, 3.0 ×as wide as Sc+R vein; prestigmal flexion line present; pterostigma small and circular; hind wing slender with three equidistant distal hamuli.

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

Male

Unknown.

Variations

There are no morphological variations worthy of mention.

Host

Unknown.

Distribution

USA ( Northern Mariana Islands).

Figures

Fig. 4. Megaprosternum chamorro sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (lot 891, BPBM). A–B. Habitus. A. Lateral view. B. Dorsal view. C. Head, dorsal view. D–E. Mesosoma. D. Dorsal view. E. Ventral view. Scale bars: A–B = 500 μm; C–E = 125 μm.