Ismarus minutus, Kim, Chang-Jun, Copeland, Robert S. & Notton, David G., 2018

Kim, Chang-Jun, Copeland, Robert S. & Notton, David G., 2018, The family Ismaridae Thomson (Hymenoptera, Diaprioidea): first record for the Afrotropical region with description of fourteen new species, African Invertebrates 59 (2), pp. 127-163 : 146-148

Ismarus minutus sp. n. Figure 9A− F

Diagnosis.

The extremely small radial cell, much shorter than half the length of the marginal vein, is a unique character among Ismarus species.

Type material

(1♀9♂♂). Holotype, 1♀, KENYA: Nairobi, III.1982, pan trap, M. C. Lubega leg., CJDAF010093 (deposited in CNCI). Allotype, 1♂, RHODESIA (ZIMBABWE): Salisbury, Chishawasha, VIII.1978, A. Watsham leg., CJDAF010094 (NHMUK). Paratype, RHODESIA (ZIMBABWE): 1♂, Salisbury, V.1982, A. Watsham leg., CJDAF010095 (CNCI); 1♂, ditto, X–XII.1974, A. Watsham leg., CJDAF010096 (CNCI); 4♂♂, MALAWI: Chitipa District, Jembya Reserve, 18 km South South East of Chisenga, 10°08'S, 33°27'E, 1870 m alt., 11-20.XII.1988, J. Rawlins & S. Thompson leg., CJDAF010097-010100 (CNCI); 1♂, ditto, 21-31.XII.1988, J. Rawlins & S. Thompson leg., CJDAF010101 (CNCI).

Description.

Holotype (Female). Head. Head in dorsal view much wider than long (30:17), slightly wider than width of mesosoma (6:5) (Fig. 9 B–C); POL: 11; OL: 6; OOL: 8 (Fig. 9C); ocelli large, LOL subequal to diameter of lateral ocellus (12:11); vertex behind ocelli nearly flat in lateral view; eye large and without setae; inner orbits, frons and temple with few sparse setae; above antennal sockets, face and cheek with few long setae; antenna slightly shorter than body length (12:13); scape and pedicel with scattered setae; A3-A15 with dense and short setae; antennal segments in following proportions (length:width): 14:4; 7:3; 10:1.5; 10:2; 8:2; 8:2; 7:2; 7:2; 6:2.5; 6:2.5; 6:3; 6:3; 5.5:3; 5:3; 9:3 (Fig. 9A).

Mesosoma. Pronotum in dorsal view punctate with whitish long setae; pronotal shoulders angled; lateral pronotum smooth and strongly concave except lower half punctate-rugose; mesoscutum smooth and convex with pair of long setae in front of scutellar pit; notauli present with 5 very small pits anterior margin (Fig. 9D); humeral sulcus deep and short, as long as length of tegula; scutellum smooth and slightly convex, posterior rim rounded (Fig. 9D); anterior scutellar pit small and deep, much shorter than remaining scutellar disc, distinctly crenulate at bottom, median keel absent (Fig. 9D); mesopleuron smooth with deep crenulate line along posterior margin; metapleuron rugose and covered with dense whitish long setae.

Wings. Radial cell completely closed, 1.4 × as long as wide and 0.35 × as long as marginal vein (Fig. 9B).

Legs. Fore and mid legs slender; hind tibiae incrassate posteriorly, its maximum width slightly wider than hind femora (6:5).

Metasoma. Petiole subquadrate, with strong costae dorsally; tergites smooth, with scattered setigerous punctures; base of second tergite with several short costae basally and very short median furrow, extending 0.10 × length of second tergite; suture between T2 and T3 obsolete, remaining sutures deeply impressed.

Colour. Head dark brown except mandibles yellow with reddish tips and antennae yellowish except A14-A15 brown; mesosoma dark brown except tegulae yellow; metasoma brown except petiole dark brown, all sternites and T5-T8 yellow; legs yellow to yellowish-brown; wings hyaline, covered with brown setae.

Measurements. Head length 0.34 mm, width 0.59 mm; mesosoma length 0.68 mm, width 0.50 mm; metasoma length 0.84 mm; fore wing length 1.70 mm; body length 1.85 mm.

Male (Allotype). Body length 1.84 mm. Similar to female, body dark brown except mandible, tegulae and legs yellow, antennae yellowish-brown basally, gradually darkened towards apex; POL: 8; LOL: 5; OOL: 7; notauli present with 4 very small pits on anterior margin; base of second tergite with several short costae basally and very short median furrow, subequal to lateral costae; suture between T2 and T3 obsolete and remaining sutures deeply impressed; radial cell completely closed, 0.6 × as long as marginal vein; blade-like carina on A4, basal 0.8 × length of segment (Fig. 9E); antennal segments in following proportions: 12:4; 7:3.5; 7:3; 8:3.5; 6:3.5; 5:3.5; 5:3.5; 5:3.5; 5:3.5; 5:3.5; 5:3.5; 5:3.5; 5:3.5; 8.5:3.5 (Fig. 9F).

Variation.

Body length 1.83-2.03 mm in both sexes. Male body blackish-brown to dark brown, antenna yellowish-brown basally gradually darkened towards apex to uniformly brown.

Distribution.

Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe.

Etymology.

The specific name minutus is derived from the Latin adjective which means small.