Tylosema dayae, Noort, Van, 2007

Noort, Van, 2007, A world revision of the Pycnostigminae (Cynipoidea: Figitidae) with descriptions of seven new species, Zootaxa 1392, pp. 1-30 : 17-19

Tylosema dayae n. sp. Buffington & van Noort

( Fig. 8 )

Description. FEMALE. Head. Shiny on vertex and cheeks ( Fig. 8 C), weakly shagreened on frons and occiput ( Fig. 8 E); setae present only on frons and occiput, area around ocelli glabrous. Antenna entirely dark brown/ black; scape 1.8x length of radicle, short appressed setae present on all 10 flagellomeres, moniliform. Mesosoma. Lateral aspect of pronotum entirely smooth, shiny, glabrous ( Fig. 8 B). Mesopleuron entirely smooth except for small area below mesopleural carina; dorsal and ventral margins of mesopleural triangle clearly visible, setose ( Fig. 8 B). Mesoscutum entirely shiny (lacking microsculpture) with few scattered setae present anteriorly between notaulices; notaulices incomplete anteriorly, parascutal impression obsolete; area between posterior junction of notaulices delineated by narrow impression ( Fig. 8 C). Disk of scutellum entirely smooth and evenly rounded, margin not defined, gently sloping ventrally ( Fig. 8 C).

Metapleural-propodeal complex. Metapleuron setose along posterior margins ( Fig. 8 B). Propodeum crenulate, evenly covered by moderately long setae; area between propodeal carinae weakly carinate, glabrous. Nucha crenulate, not striate, slightly protruding posteriorly ( Fig. 8 C).

Metasoma. Petiole striate with a few, long setae; obscured anteriorly by syntergum. Syntergum smooth and shiny; posterior portion lacking setae ( Fig. 8 A). Entire metasoma, in lateral view, about as long as deep.

Wings. Pseudostigma strongly sclerotised, no marginal cell visible ( Fig. 8 D).

Legs. Coxae and femora setose, dark brown/black; rest of legs orange, evenly setose entirely to claws ( Fig. 8 A).

MALE. As in female except: 16 flagellomeres present; metasoma two-thirds longer than deep.

Diagnosis. Separated from T. ronquisti and T. nigerrimum by having an entirely smooth scutellar disk (rugulose and/or shagreened around lateral and posterior margins in T. ronquisti and T. nigerrimum ) and lacking a distinct posterior margin (bounded by distinct carina in T. ronquisti and T. nigerrimum ).

Etymology. Named in honor of Jennifer Day, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

Distribution. South Africa: Western Cape, Northern Cape ( Fig. 13 ).

Material examined. Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA. Northern Cape Province. [first label] Kamieskroon, Namaqualand [upland succulent karoo], [second label] Museum staff [ South Africa Museum], 1930. The type is a male, in good condition, having been remounted on a card by M. Sporrong ( Sweden). Deposited in SAMC.

Additional material. PARATYPES: SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape Province. West Coast Fossil Park, (4 km 270° W Langebaanweg) 32°58.444'S 18°06.731'E, 25.ix–2.x 2002, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02- N6-M59, Sand Plain Fynbos dominated by Lebeckia (1 female) [ SAMC]; Anyskop Farm, (4 km 270° W Langebaanweg) 32°58.611'S 18°06.976'E, 11–18 Sept 2002, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-N4-M23, Fynbos on Limestone (1 female, 1 male) [ SAMC]; West Coast Fossil Park, (4 km 280° E Langebaanweg) 32°57.817'S 18°06.837'E, 11–18 Sept 2002, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-R8-M34, Rehabilitated mine dump (1 male) [ SAMC]; Anyskop Farm, (4 km 270° W Langebaanweg) 32°58.611'S 18°06.976'E, 18–25 Sept 2002, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-N4-M40, Fynbos on Limestone (2 females) [ CASC]; West Coast Fossil Park, (4 km 270° W Langebaanweg) 32°58.483'S 18°06.884'E, 18–25 Sept 2002, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-N5-M41, Fynbos on Limestone (1 female, 1 male) [ USNM]; West Coast Fossil Park, (4 km 270° W Langebaanweg) 32°58.444'S 18°06.731'E, 2–9 Oct 2002, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-N6-M76, Sand Plain Fynbos dominated by Lebeckia (2 females) [ SAMC]; Walker Bay Nature Reserve, 34°27.414'S 19°21.393'E, 9 Aug–6 Sept 1997, S van Noort, Malaise trap WB97-M08, South Coast Strandveld, 57 m altitude (10 females; 5 males); De Hoop Nature Reserve, 34°27'S 20°25'E 10.X.1994, on Mesembryanthemaceae in field surrounded by fynbos, sweepnet, leg. Michael Söderlund (1 female) [ ULMZ]; 10 km S of Citrusdal, Koornlandskloof, S 32°40' E 19°02', 7–9.X.1994, at stand of Herrea blanda (Mesembryanthemaceae) on meadow at riverside, Malaise trap, leg. Michael Söderlund (1 female) [ ULMZ]; N of Citrusdal, 1km N of Hexrivier at Olifantsrivier, S 32°26' E 18°58', 6.X.1994, indigenous and introduced shrubs at riverside, sweepnet, leg. Michael Söderlund (5 females) [ ULMZ]; 10 km S of Citrusdal, Koornlandskloof, S 32°40' E 19°02', 5.X.1994, meadow at riverside, sweepnet, leg. Michael Söderlund (1 female) [ ULMZ]; 10 km S of Cistrusdal, Koornlandskloof, S 32°40' E 19°02', 8.X.1994, 17:30–19:00, in flowers of Herrea blanda (Mesembryanthemaceae) on meadow at riverside, leg. Michael Söderlund (3 females) [ ULMZ]; 10 km S of Cistrusdal, Koornlandskloof, S 32°40' E 19°02', 7.X.1994, meadow at riverside, sweepnet, leg. Michael Söderlund (7 females) [ ULMZ].

Image deposition. A MorphBank collection of images of T. dayae can be accessed via http://morphbank.net/Show/?id= 110342. The SEM’s of this image series were created in conjunction with Fontal-Cazalla et al. (2002) because the pycnostigmines were considered an important outgroup taxon for inferring eucoiline ( Figitidae ) relationships. This taxon was referred to as ‘ Pycnostigmus sp.’ in Fontal-Cazalla et al. (2002).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Tylosema dayae Buffington & van Noort, paratype specimen, female. A, habitus. B, head and mesosoma, lateral view. C, head and mesosoma, dorsal view. D, left forewing. E, head, anterior view.

FIGURE 13. Distribution map of South African Pycnostigmus and Tylosema species. Solid dots: Pycnostigmus; open squares: Tylosema.