Ismarus africanus, 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 : 128-131

Ismarus africanus sp. n. Figure 1A− F

Diagnosis.

In the sculpture of the scutellum and metasoma, Ismarus africanus sp. n. is similar to I. rugulosus Förster, 1850. The main difference between these two species is the mesopleural sculpture and radial cell: mesopleuron coriaceous-rugulose and radial cell completely closed in I. rugulosus ; mesopleuron smooth and radial cell open, as venation becomes weak apically in I. africanus sp. n.

Type material

(13♀♀49♂♂). Holotype, 1♀, CAMEROON: Nkoemvon, 16. III– 14.V.1980 (MT), D. Jackson leg., CJDAF010001 (deposited in NHMUK). Allotype, 1♂, KENYA: Rift Valley Prov., Marich Pass, gallery forest along river, 917 m alt., 01°32.18'N, 35°27.48'E, 8−16.V.2004 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010013 (CNCI). Paratype, CAMEROON: 1♀, Mbalmayo, VII.1993 (MT), P. Eggleton leg., CJDAF010002 (CNCI); KENYA: 1♀, Eastern Province, Endau Mountain, indigenous forest, 531 m alt., 1.30026°S, 38.52805°E, 28.X−12.XII.2016 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010009 (NMK); 1♀, Eastern Province, Mulu Musingila farm, farmland near small, seasonally wet area, 689 m alt., 2.11412°S, 38.23989°E, 30.XI−13.XII.2016 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010062 (KNA); 1♀3♂♂, ditto, 13−27.XII.2016 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010001, 010049−010051 (NMK); 2♂♂, Eastern Province, Kibwezi Forest, indigenous forest, 945 m alt., 2.41687°S, 37.95388°E, 4−18.V.2016 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010041−010042 (ICIPE); 1♀1♂, ditto, 18.V−3.VI.2016 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010011, 010043 (ICIPE); 2♂♂, ditto, 30.XI−13.XII.2016 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010053−010054 (ICIPE); 1♂, Eastern Province, Marsabit Forest, indigenous forest, near campsite, 1380 m alt., 2.32031°N, 37.98595°E, 16−30.XI.2015 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010044 (ICIPE); 4♂♂, ditto, 30.XI−13.XII.2015 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010045−010048 (ICIPE); 1♀, Nyanza, Gembe Hills, dry gallery woodland, 1362 m alt., 00°29.36'S, 34°14.60'E, 20.II−6.III.2005 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010008 (CNCI); 1♀8♂♂, Rift Valley, Marich Pass, gallery forest along river, 917 m alt., 01°32.18'N, 35°27.48'E, 8−16.V.2004 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010003, 010014−010021 (CNCI); 1♀, ditto, 23.I−6.II.2005 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010005 (CNCI); 1♀1♂, ditto, 6−20.II.2005 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010004, 010026 (CNCI); 1♂, ditto, 18.IV−2.V.2005 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010027 (CNCI); 3♂♂, ditto, 2−16.V.2005 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010028−010030 (2♂♂- CNCI, 1♂-ICIPE); 1♂, Rift Valley Province, Oloitokitok, edge of indigenous forest, 1853 m alt., 2.94456°S, 37.50714°E, 23.XII.2011−6.I.2012 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010034 (ICIPE); 1♂, ditto, 6−20.I.2012 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010052 (ICIPE); 1♂ (metasoma lost), Rift Valley Prov., Matthews Range, Sarara campsite, shrubland, 1006 m alt., 1.00661°N, 37.38631°E, 15−29.XI.2015 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010055 (ICIPE); 1♂, ditto, 29.XI−12.XII.2015 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010056 (ICIPE); 1♂, Rift Valley Province, Matthews Range, riverine forest, near Wamba, 1459 m alt., 0.97984°N, 37.34599°E, 9−23.I.2016 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010057 (ICIPE); 1♂, Central Province, Kamwana Forest, sweept, near river, indigenous forest, 1824 m alt., 0.38852°S, 37.38458°E, 18.XII.2016, R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010058 (ICIPE); 2♀♀2♂♂, Western Prov., Kakamega forest, 00°14.13'N, 35°51.87'E, 20−27.XI.1999 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010006−010007, 010022−010023 (CNCI); 1♂, Eastern Prov., Kasaala area, just inside isolated wood-land patch, 733 m alt., 2.07836°S, 38.22517°E, 3−17. XII.2015 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010031 (ICIPE); 1♂, ditto, 9−23.XII.2016 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010059 (ICIPE); 1♂, Coast Province, Muhaka Forest, indigenous forest, 41 m alt., 4.32664°S, 39.52462°E, 23.VIII−6.IX.2015 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010033 (ICIPE); 1♂, ditto, 10−24.IV.2015 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010060 (ICIPE); 1♀, ditto, 1−15.XII.2015 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010012 (ICIPE); 1♂, Coast Prov., Marenje Forest, indigenous forest, 76 m alt., 4.52814°S, 39.45814°E, 25.VII−8.VIII.2014 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010032 (ICIPE); 1♂, ditto, 11−25.VII.2014 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010036 (ICIPE); 1♂, ditto, 8−22.VIII.2014 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010038 (ICIPE); 1♂, ditto, 22.VIII−5.IX.2014 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010037 (ICIPE); 1♂, Coast Province, Mrima Hill Forest, indigenous forest, 212 m alt., 4.48576°S, 39.24028°E, 27.XI−11.XII.2011 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010035 (ICIPE); 2♂♂, Coast Province, Kasigau Mountain, indigenous forest, 1065 m alt., 3.82700°S, 38.64875°E, 19.X−2.IX.2011 (MT), R. Copeland leg., CJDAF010039−010040 (1♂-ICIPE, 1♂- KNA); MALAWI: 2♂♂, Chitipa District, Jembya Reserve, 18 km South South East of Chisenga, 1870 m alt., 10°08'S, 33°27'E, 11−20.XII.1988 (MT), J. Rawlins & S. Thompson leg., CJDAF010024−010025 (CNCI); SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂, Natal, Lake St. Lucia, 3−11.X.1977 (MT), J. G. H. Londt leg., CJDAF010061 (CNCI).

Description.

Holotype (Female). Head. Head in dorsal view much wider than long (35:19), slightly wider than width of mesosoma (35:28) (Fig. 1 A–B); POL: 15; LOL: 9; OOL: 14 (Fig. 1B); ocelli large, LOL slightly longer than diameter of lateral ocellus (9:8); 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 much shorter than body length (2:3); scape and pedicel with scattered setae; A3-A15 with dense and short setae; antennal segments in following proportions (length:width): 15:4; 5:3; 10:2.5; 10:3; 7:3; 7:3; 5.5:3; 5:4; 4:4; 4:4; 4:4; 4:4; 4:4; 4:4; 8:4 (Fig. 1A).

Mesosoma. Pronotum in dorsal view smooth with whitish long setae along posterior margin; pronotal shoulders angled; lateral pronotum strongly punctate with whitish long setae upper margin except smooth and concave medially; mesoscutum smooth and convex, with very long setae along posterior margin; notauli present anteriorly, pits merged with the curved notauli (Fig. 1C); humeral sulcus deep and long, longer than length of tegula (3:2); scutellum coarsely rugose, distinctly raised and convex, straight lateral rims, posterior rim truncate with strongly prominent posterolateral corners (Fig. 1C); anterior scutellar pit large and deep, as long as remaining scutellar disc, crenulate at bottom, median keel distinct (Fig. 1C); mesopleuron smooth with deep crenulate line along posterior margin; metapleuron rugose and covered with dense whitish long setae.

Wings. Radial cell open, as venation becomes weak apically (Fig. 1A).

Legs. Fore and mid legs slender; hind tibiae incrassate posteriorly, its maximum width much wider than hind femora (3:2).

Metasoma. Petiole short and expanded (2:3), with strong costae dorsally; tergites strongly rugulose; base of second tergite with several short costae basally and very short median furrow, 0.15 × length of second tergite; sutures between tergites complete and deeply impressed (Fig. 1E).

Colour. Body black; antennae yellowish-brown except A9−A15 brown; tegulae brown; legs uniformly yellowish-brown; wings hyaline, covered with brown setae.

Measurements. Head length 0.54 mm, width 1.01 mm; mesosoma length 1.22 mm, width 0.85 mm; metasoma length 1.70 mm; fore wing length 2.79 mm; body length 3.46 mm.

Male (Allotype). Body length 2.34 mm. Similar to female, but POL: 9; LOL: 4; OOL: 7; antenna brown except scape and pedicel yellowish, legs yellowish-brown except hind tibiae and tarsi brown; base of second tergite with several short costae basally and median furrow deep basally to shallow apically, extending half the length of second tergite; blade-like carina on A4, extending 0.6 × length of A4 (Fig. 1F); antennal segments in following proportions: 11:4; 6:3.5; 7:3; 8:4; 7:4; 6:4; 6:4; 6:4; 5:4; 5:4; 5:4; 5:4; 5:4; 9:3.5 (Fig. 1D).

Variation.

Body length 1.76-3.46 mm, in both sexes. Body colour black, dark brown to brown; colour of female antenna yellowish-brown except segments 8-15 to 10-15 brown, male antenna brown except A1-A2 or A1-A3 yellowish; head weakly or strongly rugulose in both sexes; mesoscutum smooth to weakly rugulose in both sexes; blade-like carina on A4, extending 0.6 –1.0× length of A4; posterior rim of scutellum truncated to slightly emarginated in both sexes; median furrow extending to 0.15−0.60 × length of second tergite in both sexes.

Distribution.

Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa.

Etymology.

This species is named africanus from the Latin adjective meaning African, because it is widely distributed and the most common species of Ismarus in Africa.