Diaparsis (Diaparsis) sinuator Khalaim & Sääksjärvi, 2014

Khalaim, Andrey I., Sääksjärvi, Ilari E. & Roininen, Heikki, 2014, Three new Afrotropical species of Tersilochinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from the Kibale National Park, Uganda, Zootaxa 3794 (4), pp. 536-544 : 540-541

Diaparsis (Diaparsis) sinuator Khalaim & Sääksjärvi , sp. nov.

( Figs 2 , 9–13 )

Comparison. The new species is similar to D. interstitialis , D. nebulosa and D. kanyawara sp. nov. as only these four species of the genus have a white band on the flagellum, but differs from these species by the longer malar space, propodeum having an obliterated basal keel, dark brown hind coxa, and longer and conspicuously apically sinuate ovipositor ( Fig. 13 ). It also differs from D. interstitialis by the second recurrent vein being postfurcal, from D. nebulosa by the longer temple and ovipositor, and from D. kanyawara sp. nov. by the less slender flagellum and well developed foveate groove of mesopleuron. Diaparsis sinuator sp. nov. also resembles D. ramassamy Rousse & Villemant (known only from the Reunion island) by possessing a long and apically sinuate ovipositor, but differs from this species by having the flagellum with a subapical white band, shorter malar space and propodeum with obliterated basal keel.

Description. Female. Body length 3.9 mm. Fore wing length 3.0 mm.

Head moderately strongly rounded behind eyes in dorsal view ( Fig. 10 ); temple 0.6× as long as eye width. Antenna shorter than fore wing ( Fig. 2 ); flagellum weakly narrowed towards apex, with 24 segments; subbasal and mid flagellomeres 1.5–1.8×, subapical flagellomeres 1.2–1.4× as long as broad. Mandible short, with upper tooth somewhat longer than lower tooth ( Fig. 9 ). Malar space 0.9× as long as basal width of mandible ( Fig. 9 ). Clypeus small, flat in lateral view, 2.4× as broad as long ( Fig. 9 ), sparsely punctate in upper half and smooth in lower half. Face, frons and vertex finely and densely punctate on finely granulate background (punctures on vertex rather indistinct), dull. Temple smooth and shining, with fine and moderately dense punctures. Occipital carina complete. Hypostomal carina absent, surface polished.

Mesoscutum finely granulate and densely punctate, dull. Notaulus absent. Mesopleuron densely punctate on finely granulate, dull background (punctures larger centrally). Foveate groove in anterior half of mesopleuron, strongly oblique, rather weak, with transverse wrinkles ( Fig. 12 ). Propodeal spiracle small, separated from pleural carina by one diameter of spiracle. Dorsolateral area of propodeum finely and densely punctate, almost smooth between punctures. Propodeum with basal keel obliterated; basal part 0.7× as long as apical area; apical area widely rounded anteriorly, flat, mostly finely granulate, finely punctate anteriorly; apical longitudinal carinae very weak (partly vanishing) but usually reaching transverse carina.

Fore wing with first abscissa of radius almost straight, much longer than width of pterostigma. Metacarp not reaching apex of fore wing. Second recurrent vein postfurcal. Intercubitus subequal to abscissa of cubitus between intercubitus and second recurrent vein. Hind wing with nervellus distinctly reclivous.

Legs slender. Hind femur 4.6× as long as broad and 0.9× as long as tibia. Spurs of hind tibia almost straight. Tarsal claws not pectinate.

First metasomal tergite slender, more or less round in cross-section at level of mid length of petiole, mostly smooth, with groove and/or striae before glymma, 3.6× as long as posteriorly broad, with distinct glymma near its middle. Second tergite 1.7× as long as anteriorly broad. Thyridial depression about twice as long as broad. Ovipositor weakly upcurved with apex conspicuously sinuate ( Fig. 13 ), with shallow dorsal subapical depression; sheath about 3.2× as long as first tergite and 2.9× as long as hind tibia.

Head, mesosoma and first metasomal segment black; lower half of clypeus, palpi, mandible (except reddish black teeth) and tegula brownish yellow; propleuron, anterior part of pronotum and anterior upped corner of mesopleuron dark reddish brown. Antenna with scape and pedicel brownish yellow, flagellum black with a subapical white band that covers flagellomeres 18–21 (three apical flagellomeres black). Pterostigma dark brown. Fore and mid legs brownish yellow. Hind leg with coxa predominantly dark brown, apically brownish yellow; trochanters brownish yellow; femur brown, basally brownish yellow; tibia and tarsus strongly infuscate. Metasoma behind first tergite brownish yellow ventrally to brown and dark brown dorsally; tergites 2 and 3 dorsally almost entirely brownish yellow, second tergite anteriorly narrowly brownish banded; tergites 4+ dorsally and dorsolaterally brown, with brownish yellow marks on their posterior margins.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. Named on account of its ovipositor which is conspicuously sinuate apically.

Material examined. Holotype female ( ZMUT), Uganda, Kibale National Park, Kanyawara , forest compartment K 13, 20–27.I.2012, coll. H. Roininen et al.

Paratypes. Uganda: 1 ♀ ( ZISP) same locality and collector as in holotype, forest compartment K13, 14–21.XII.2011. 1 ♀ ( ZMUT) same locality and collector, forest compartment K31, 21–28.II.2012 (apices of both antennae absent).

Distribution. Uganda.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Diaparsis spp., ♀, holotypes, habitus: 1 — D. kanyawara sp. nov.; 2 — D. sinuator sp. nov. Scales 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 9 – 13. Diaparsis sinuator sp. nov., ♀, holotype: 9 — head, frontal; 10 — head, dorsal; 11 — apex of antenna, frontal; 12 — head and mesosoma, lateral; 13 — apex of metasoma with ovipositor, lateral.